I am thinking the US France tax treaty information discussion was started by my comment? Sorry, I will clarify. We filed and paid US taxes, and my spouse works for an international scientific organization which is (somehow) exempt from French taxation. This doesnt mean we don't file the french tax paperwork though. I can't speak for other expats living here, but I know the taxation issue was a pretty big consideration when planning our move here, we just lucked out I guess. Sorry for the confusion and thanks for the advice and information!

I've always had expat contracts with net amounts: the company pays the tax and I know what I eventually will have "in my pocket" for spending in the host country. For an average expat it is almost impossible to understand what his nett pay will be if you are only discussing/negotiating gross amounts.

Cost of living index is another one of those expat typical confusing factors. (a friend of mine was given a 50% raise but then sent to a host country with a twice as high cost of living index as his home country http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif)

I've been an expat here in Paris for about a year and a half, and in no hurry to leave!

It's true that amidst all the advantages, figuring out your tax liability is one of the most complicated downsides. This year I'm being paid in Switzerland, resident in France, and as a US citizen will have to file there as well - I'm not looking forward to the mess of paperwork.

And in the academic world, there is no salary benefit to working overseas - no hardship packages or cost-of-living adjustments, unless you happen to be French and posted in one of their multitude of overseas departments or territories. Usually in sunny tropical locations...

I'm a Swiss expat in Japan. Based in Tokyo but living in Yokohama. My family and I have been here 2 years and quite like it. Taxation is not that much of a problem from a paperwork POV as I pay them locally. I just wish they had the same taxation rate as in Switzerland.....

Wow. That was quick. Apparently I'm facing a potential move to Tokyo in the very near future. I'll probably be sending an email to some of you Tokyo based folks asking some questions - hope you won't mind.

SEA-Flyer,

Fire away.

(For GEOS by any chance?)

Mike

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5+ years in Singapore.
I'm American, from San Diego.

Expat for life I believe.

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Take the road less travelled...but only if it means more miles.

Do you ever lose expat status if you are there for life?

Good question.... another Expat here. In the US from Germany since 97.

Expat Brit. now for the second time round. First time was in USSR/Russia for 14 years. Now in Russia again, so far 2 years.

British ex-Expat, was an Expat in the US on an H1-B for about 2 years, then got permanent resident, then got married, so I'm stuck in the US for the forseeable future http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

(Still think of myself as British though, and the Lord title can be confusing to most Americans http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Of possible interest to Expats and their children...

http://www.overseasbrats.com/

I should have posted this earlier...

http://www.overseasdigest.com

YGM.

Thanks,

Jason

Today I accepted a job offer that will be placing me among the expats.

I'll be moving to Tokyo in March.

Thanks to mjm for meeting up with me last month and talking to me last month about life in Tokyo.

Welcome to the Tokyo FT group. We shall have to welcome you properly when you arrive. In the meantime if you need a hand processing things at this end just e-mail and I shall be pleased to assist.

Congratulations on the job,

Mike

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SIN Mid Jan. 2003.....Let the mileage begin.......