The $18,106 Windfall You Can Only Get If You Live and Work Abroad …

… kiss the U.S. goodbye this year and become eligible for
free cash compliments of the U.S. government … 

Dear Reader,

All you need to do to legally claim this windfall is ask for it.

I’m serious. And it’s only one of the dozens of little windfalls that Americans living and working abroad can claim.

It isn’t just available when you live in an affordable country where your money goes further. It’s available to any American who lives and works in any foreign country.

And it isn’t just the usual windfall that comes with lower property prices, more affordable cost of living – or how much further your dollar stretches when you go abroad.

I’m saying, literally, that if everything was exactly the same about your life – the house, the car, the job, the salary – except you were doing it all abroad instead … you would be as much as  $18,106 richer every single year.

And that’s just if you are a single person. If you’re married, your windfall could be as much as $36,984!

And that’s just the beginning …

… you could pocket an extra $37.57 a day for every day you pay for housing overseas …

… get part of your moving expenses underwritten when you head overseas …

… avoid paying into Social Security … but still collect it when your time comes …

The only trick to getting these little – and not-so-little – windfalls is knowing how to ask for them. It’s like getting a rebate on a product you buy – you send in the little bar code, you get a check in the mail. If you don’t, well … that little check never comes.

The Best-Kept Secret of Americans Abroad

I’m Dan Prescher, publisher at International Living. It’s been nearly a decade since my wife Suzan and I started making our plans to move south of the border. Our reasons for moving were common …

We were all about the sun, the cost of living, the quality of life. We still are.

But we felt like we won the lottery the first year we prepared our taxes after we moved – and realized we didn’t owe one red cent! If we were still frittering away our time living from vacation-to-vacation in the Midwest, we’d have paid about a quarter of our income to Uncle Sam. 

Instead, it was like Uncle Sam paid us for a change. We made the same amount of money … but didn’t have to pay the government a dime. And considering that we’d moved to a place where the cost of living was much lower, the savings in taxes alone almost covered all our expenses!

That’s when we started to wonder – what other tax benefits were we entitled to, if only we knew enough to claim them? After all, when it comes to paying taxes, either here or abroad, everyone’s circumstances are different. And there are dozens of ways to set yourself up to maximize your tax breaks. The only trick to getting them is to know what you’re eligible to claim.

This is even truer when you live and work abroad as it is when you live here in the States.

For example, any U.S. citizen or long-term permanent resident can take a credit for taxes paid to a foreign government – so you never have to pay double the taxes when you move abroad. In fact, almost half of those filing non-resident tax returns show no U.S. tax liability whatsoever!

Then, there are the savings in property and other taxes that can really add up. Recently, as we sat with friends on a Mexican poolside terrace, we got to talking about the hidden benefits of leaving the U.S. behind, and our friend offered:

‘I pay $200 here in Merida [Mexico] for my property taxes,’ he said, ‘in Dallas, I would pay $12,000 in annual taxes for a home comparable to what I have here in Merida—and the $11,800 I save helps pay for a very nice lifestyle.’

Very nice indeed, we thought, as his housekeeper refreshed our cocktails just as our friend finished his sentence.

What You Don’t Know Can Cost You

Then, there are more complicated situations – like the client of a financial adviser I know. Let’s call him Tom.

When Tom's wife, a Foreign Service Officer, was assigned overseas, he planned to launch a computer-programming business. He'd be freelance, essentially. A CPA back in the U.S. told him that his business income would not qualify for a tax-exemption based on the foreign earned income exclusion.

Fortunately, Tom didn’t take his word on it, and he sought out an adviser who better understood how to navigate financial matters overseas. This in-the-know adviser had Tom set up an offshore company. He still wasn’t eligible for the exclusion, but he was legally able to avoid U.S. Social Security taxes on the salary he drew over the five years he lived overseas.

In that time, Tom saved $30,000 in taxes that he'd have had to pay as a self-employed individual or an employee of a U.S. company. Sure, it cost him about $5,000 to maintain the offshore company over the five years. But Tom's net saving was $25,000.

My point is this: when it comes to living and working abroad, what you don’t know will cost you. And what you do know and claim could save you thousands and thousands of dollars …

Leave The U.S. And Watch Your Annual Taxes
Go From Burden To Windfall

The difference between overpaying taxes and missing out on deductions when you live abroad – and turning taxes you’d normally pay into windfall profits – is knowing the rules of the game.

That’s where we come in. Our annually updated publication, Tax Secrets of Americans Abroad: The Complete Guide to Windfall Savings on U.S. and Foreign Taxes gives you the most up-to-date information and a country-by-country rundown on tax benefits and liabilities that you can use to figure out how much you could save before you go!

You’ll discover:

• How much money you could save when you don’t have to pay taxes on your income up to $85,700 … as long as you still file anyway …
• How you can make sure you don’t pay taxes in two countries…and how to make sure you pay the lesser tax rate between the two …
• The best place to do your banking – in the U.S. even after you’ve left, or in the new country where you live …
• Why it matters what state you lived in before you left … and how a little planning could save you thousands of dollars and an entire decade of paying taxes after you leave …
• Which countries offer the best tax scenarios for you, based on how many there are in your family and how you earn your income …
• What you need to know before you start buying and selling properties so you pay the least possible amount in taxes … but still keep it all legal and on the up-and-up…

The information you need to save a boatload of money is often simple, but not readily accessible. You’ll be surprised at how small, seemingly insignificant tips here and there could add up to thousands of dollars in savings every year.

The name of the tax game is access to information you can readily understand and apply to your circumstances. And the truth is, precious few U.S.-based tax accountants know the rules of the game once you head offshore.

Another couple living abroad learned this lesson the hard way. Their regular accountant charged them $1,200 (four times the normal rate) to prepare their taxes when they moved to Ireland. Plus, he missed most of the benefits they were eligible to claim.

They had to redo the entire filing themselves with information they pieced together on their own. And even though the husband was an accountant, offshore taxes weren’t his specialty. So they were fumbling around in the dark, hoping they would get it right.

Not that the IRS doesn’t put out plenty of publications meant to explain their mysterious and obscure code. But they are not exactly page-turners. I know I have to read each sentence several times before I get their meaning. And even then, I’m not sure I know what to do with the information once I get it. It may be precise, but it’s far from user-friendly…

A Rare Find:
Taxes Discussed in Plain English

So when we decided to compile the secret savings available to offshore taxpayers, we knew we needed to find the best of both worlds – expert advice, in plain English.

Richard Leonard to the rescue.

Richard is a tax specialist who worked with the IRS for 28 years – eight of which he spent as an overseas employee himself. He lives and breathes overseas taxation issues – consulting with individuals, families and small businesses alike. But he’s also a down-to-earth guy. Just how we like them at International Living…he knows his stuff, and delivers it straight.

That’s the best part about working with a pro like Richard. He won’t try to impress you with how much he knows, or confound you with bureaucratic double talk. He makes it very simple, plain, and specific.

In fact, it was at Richard’s insistence that we even include forms and examples to illustrate each of the most common scenarios – so you can have completed sets of tax forms that have been properly filled out to use as your guide.

Tax Secrets of Americans Abroad is literally packed with information applicable to just about any situation you can imagine. Whether you are working, retiring, starting a business, buying a property – or even unsure about where in the world you’re going – you’ll find useful information, all rolled into an easy-to-use format.

Whether you are just toying with the idea of moving abroad, or you’re already there and feeling the breath of the next filing deadline on your neck, you will feel an immediate sense of relief when you tackle the tax issue.

Taxes are not only easier than you imagined … they can become a far more lucrative activity when you live abroad than you ever experienced as a resident of the U.S.

Such as:

• How legitimate filing extensions allow you to hold on to your money for at least two and as many as six months later than you would if you lived in the States. No need to make excuses or pay additional penalties or fees as long as you know what form to file, what to write on it, and when to send it in … (Procrastinators might want to move offshore for this reason alone!) … (pg. 16)
• Find out how much money you could save when you use the following IRS terms correctly: tax home, exclusion, bona fide residence, physical presence, allowable housing expense, and more … (pg. 4-5)
• The more money you earn abroad, the more you could save if you know which credits and deductions you qualify for – and which forms you need to fill out to claim them properly … (pg. 6-11)
• How you could run a part-time dream business abroad – like a small vineyard or a seasonal B&B – and write off all of your away-from-home expenses (pg. 130-131),
• How to decide whether you want to work for a U.S.-owned company, a foreign-owned company, or ditch the boss altogether and work for yourself … (pg. 11-13)
• How one move across the state line before you cross the national border could save you tens of thousands of dollars over the course of the first decade you live abroad … (pg. 18-20)
• Why you want to maintain a U.S. bank account, even after you move … and how a discretionary trust could be the best place to park your assets to keep the payouts out of the reach of Uncle Sam … (pg. 21)
• How to properly place your assets into titles and trusts before you move so that you can pay less taxes after you move … (hint: make sure you have a rock solid marriage before trying some of these strategies!) … (pg. 22)

After reading just the first 25 pages of Tax Secrets of Americans Abroad, you’ll know more than most U.S. accountants about filing – and saving – U.S. taxes when you live overseas.
           
But knowledge is only part of the equation. You also need to know how to apply that knowledge to your personal situation. That’s where the next 100+ pages comes in …

Guessing Is An Expensive Proposition…
But Timely Information Is Like Money In The Bank

Once you have an overview – and you know which forms you’ll need to fill out, which exemptions you can claim, and even what your state and local tax burden will be (something that virtually no tax professional off the street would be able to tell you) – you’ll get to do something that might even qualify as fun …

Peek at other people’s tax returns after they’ve been filled out. (OK, it’s true, the names and social security numbers and some of their details have been changed to protect their identity – we’re not crazy!)

Still, if you’ve ever looked at a stack of tax forms that have yet to be filled out, you understand the meaning of the word ‘anxiety’ – which lines apply to you, and which don’t? Are you catching all the possible deductions that are available to a person in your situation?

I guess it’s just human nature, but we worry more about what we don’t know, than what we’re sure of…

That’s why Tax Secrets of Americans Abroad does something that is completely unique – it shows you the entire return of five scenarios who represent the most common scenario’s of U.S. people living abroad: married, single, with children, without, filing separately or jointly, divorced, single, part-year abroad, full-year abroad with intention of returning, and more angles and twists here and there.

It is highly likely that you will see at least some part of your situation reflected in these illustrated examples, and you will see their actual return, along with a plain English explanation, for each scenario.

And these returns have been professionally prepared by Richard himself, based on both his IRS experience, and the hundreds of people he’s helped in his private practice, so you can finally feel confident that you’re holding the right information in your hands.

What Tax Benefits (and Drawbacks) Await You
In A Dozen of the Hottest Destinations

Of course, Uncle Sam isn’t the only jurisdiction with confusing and sometimes onerous tax laws. Bureaucracy knows no national borders. When you move to another country, you also have to consider their tax laws as well as those from your home country. That’s why we’ve also assembled an entire section full of specific information on some of our featured destinations.

If you love Europe, but you hate taxes, you might be in for a pleasant surprise. For example, if you thought you had to avoid France because of the ridiculously high taxes, you’ll appreciate knowing that Americans are generally in the lowest tax group in that country…

If Latin America is more your speed, you’ll probably move Ecuador even higher on your list of most-inviting countries. Not only would your tax liability as a foreign resident be ridiculously low, but your property tax would likely be as low as $75 to $250 a year, depending on the value and location of your property.

All in all, you’ll find extensive details about the top twelve International Living destinations – with information on everything from income to property to inheritance and capital gains taxes.

Find out:

• Why it’s better to be a rich American who collects fine art in France … and why you might want to consider only spending 182 days in France, Ireland, or Italy, and not a day more … (pg. 162-166)
• How you can use a 1031 exchange to save on capital gains taxes for some real estate transactions and not others … (pg. 130)
• Why you might want to live in Ecuador if you positively hate income taxes … (pg. 133)
• Which country has abolished inheritance taxes altogether … (p.159) And which levies no taxes on gifts … (p.147)
• What tax is hidden in the cost of most foreign goods, and which countries have this extra tax dose included in everything you buy … (p. 133-160)
• Plus, you’ll be able to look up the tax treaties and agreements that are in effect between the U.S. and any nation and know whether you’ll be safe from double taxation or not if you decide to go there … (p. 175-182)

Plus dozens more snippets of the kind of specific information that can add up to thousands of dollars, year in and year out.

I’m certainly not proposing that you forgo getting professional help with your taxes (and Richard makes sure to point out that there are times when you simply must). But I am suggesting that putting this easy-to-read, all-inclusive resource to work will show you how to use the well-kept secrets of tax benefits that Americans abroad are enjoying for your own benefit when you take the plunge.

Plus, when you do sit down to actually fill out the forms or call someone for advice, you’ll feel confident that you’re doing it right, saving as much as you can, and yet still staying within the law and not risking costly errors …

Even If You Were Willing To Pay Through The Nose
You Wouldn’t Be Able To Get This Much Information From One Source

Making mistakes on your taxes – whether here or abroad – can be incredibly costly. You simply can’t afford to take a guess without having accurate and up-to-date information.

Just like here in the States, you’re expected to know what you’re doing … even though the rules are quite different, state-by-state and country-by-country.

If you’re moving to take a job … you’ll pay one way. If you’re retiring … you’ll pay a different way. If you’re investing … different rules apply again. Like anything else – it’s relatively simple once you know what you’re doing … and a nightmare if you don’t.

That’s also why we make sure to keep Tax Secrets of Americans Abroad as up-to-date with the latest rules and regulations as possible. And having someone like Richard who specializes in this field is invaluable.

There are 4 million expats living abroad … and counting. Plus thousands more who are considering a move, or doing business abroad. And yet, precious few tax accountants, or the IRS for that matter, can provide meaningful assistance on your tax situation once you get off U.S. soil. And the handful that knows how much they’re worth are not afraid to charge it!

But it won’t cost you a fortune to save a fortune.

You can order your own copy of this guide today for just $149. As an extra bonus, we’ve set it up so you can download it immediately and your bound copy will follow up in the mail shortly. ‘Tis the season where immediate gratification could be the key to a substantial tax savings, so we wanted to deliver.

I am so sure that this newly updated, one-of-a-kind guide is going to help you save money and stay legal, that I’m willing to completely stand behind my offer.

Calculate Your Incentive To Move Before You Even Pack Your Bags

Before you make a move, do yourself a very big, very lucrative favor and add this guide to your arsenal of preparatory publications.

You know how companies offer new employees a sign-on bonus … or credit card companies offer a lower interest rate when you move your balance over? The same idea applies here. You could be looking at a substantial tax windfall when you move out of the country.

Need a break from the economy? Pick up Tax Secrets of Americans Abroad today and see what the offer might be for you to finally fulfill your dream of living, retiring, working or investing abroad.

And if you’ve already made the move – you need this guide the most! There’s no reason to shell out more money – to the IRS, to the government of your new country, to an accountant who has no idea what he’s talking about – none of it.

The Easiest Way To Justify Your Dream … And Start Packing Today

Maybe your friends and family have told you you’re crazy. Or you’re worried – will you pay through the nose to become an expat? Is it the smartest choice you can make – especially in a down economy?

I know from experience, you don't just move someplace for the tax benefits. You move because you want a different life, and you have found a place that speaks to you, where you want to spend your time.

But why not back up your decision with some dollars and cents? Tax Secrets of Americans Abroad will actually make you a little smug next time you talk to your family and friends about moving abroad. After all, what are the odds they’ll be getting up to $18,106 from Uncle Sam this year?

Pretty slim.

It's all about trade-offs. You already know what you want to do. Now, you can justify it. Let Tax Secrets of Americans Abroad show you how to keep your money – and spend it enjoying your new life.

Start adding it up today.

Sincerely,

Dan Prescher
Publisher

P.S. Your timing for moving abroad couldn’t be any better. The economy in the U.S. isn’t going to get any better – at least not for a while. What you’ll save in taxes alone might just be the final straw that allows you to finally make the move. But you won’t know if you don’t check out Tax Secrets of Americans Abroad: The Complete Guide to Windfall Savings on U.S. and Foreign Taxes today. Don’t delay.

Disclaimer: Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future.