Originally Posted by
dulciusexasperis
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.
Don't know about the others, but I have spent the last 3 decades working all over the world including a whole bunch of telecommuting.
Originally Posted by
dulciusexasperis
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.
Translation: It's not illegal if you don't get caught. Not the best advice, IMO. If you try it and *do* get caught not only are you nailed for taxes but most assuredly some expensive penalties and likely some time on the wrong side of some iron bars. I don't recommend it.
Originally Posted by
dulciusexasperis
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.
Not in the US. If you are out of the country more than 11 months in a calendar year, you can take an extra deduction on your income, but you still pay full taxes on everything you made above that deduction.
But even coming home for Christmas or to see your family counts toward that 1 month in the US. If you come home 3 times a year for 2 weeks each, you get no deduction. And you have to *prove* to the IRS that you were out of the US. In doing so, you expose yourself to taxes in the country where you were when outside the US. The IRS will talk to tax authorities in those countries.
And before you ask, this is based on at least 10 years personal experience where I qualified for FEIE.
From the IRS web site: "If you are a U.S. citizen or a resident alien of the United States and you live abroad, you are taxed on your worldwide income. However, you may qualify to exclude from income up to an amount of your foreign earnings that is adjusted annually for inflation ($91,500 for 2010, $92,900 for 2011, $95,100 for 2012, and $97,600 for 2013). In addition, you can exclude or deduct certain foreign housing amounts."