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Old Oct 28, 2014 | 9:55 am
  #18  
dulciusexasperis
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,271
First, you didn't do a very good job of explaining your situation and what you are really asking buttking but I think I understand what you were trying to say.

1. You have a job that can be done online from anywhere.
2. You would like to take advantage of that and spend varying periods of time living in another country while continuing to work online. In simple terms you want to become a Digital Nomad.

OK, first, most of the responses are by people who seem to have trouble seeing outside their little bubble of a world or don't understand your circumstances and what you are asking. So you can just ignore those responses obviously.

Second, as far as I can see, so far, no one who has any experience of living in other countries while working remotely has responded to you. If they have, they haven't said so. So you can ignore most remarks that are not based on experience.

You would do better to post on a forum where you will find a fair number of people who are doing exactly what you want to do.

A site like Lonely Planet's Thorntree for example has plenty of 'Digital Nomads' who post regularly and have experience in doing what you want to do. I would suggest you start by doing some research here: https://www.google.ca/?gfe_rd=cr&ei=...digital+nomads

Then join and post on forums where you will find people with experience. When you post though, post a clear post that provides the relevant info. So for example:

'I work from home online and can do so remotely. Therefore, I am considering becoming a 'digital nomad' for periods of X time per place. I would like to find places where I can live on a budget of Y per month which should include rent, food, high speed internet as a minimum. I prefer Z (cities, village, beach, mountains, etc.) type of locations. Where can you suggest?'

X being time is important because some people want to be a full-time nomad which is different than someone who wants to say spend 2-3 months in a place between returns to their home base. They have different criteria and issues to deal with.

Y being budget, means you don't get suggestions that don't fit your budget obviously and which would be a waste of time for the writer and you the reader.

Z being location, is important since presumably a big part of the reason for doing this is to experience living in other places that are of interest to you. That means you need to say what your interests are (other than work related criteria).

For example, you can live on say a Greek island for around $2K USD per month and for up to 3 months without difficulty. Issues re taxes don't arise if you are under the radar. If however you wanted to live there for a year, then issues of Immigration and taxes do raise their head and you have to deal with them. That is why many Digital Nomads move every few months or alternate between their home base and other locations.

It IS possible to become a 'non-resident for tax purposes' in pretty much whatever your home country is and leave taxes behind you but it is a complicated thing to achieve. GUWonder, just to follow on your comment, unless you have experience in this, I would not make assumptions about it. I lived in ONE country legally for 7 years while being 'non-resident for tax purposes' in any country.

If someone decides they do want to work from a home base rather than become a true Nomad, they should look at where is it best to have their home base for tax purposes. For example if you are an American buttking as people are assuming, some states offer more advantages in terms of no state taxes on your company or personal income. Wyoming as an example has no tax on company or personal income.

Becoming a Digital Nomad can be done simply but to do it well takes some thought and research to see what will be the best way for you as an individual.
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