Finances

Santa vs Tax Planning

End of the year tax reducing ideas
Getting in the Christmas spirit and year-end tax planning mixes like oil and water. Who wants to think about taxes, you ask, when it’s time for Santa Claus and candy canes.
It may surprise you to know that because of his investment in a fir tree farm in Montana some [...]

Wages vs Self-Employed

The IRS and U.S. foreign nationals living and working abroad
Just because you are a U.S. citizens living and working abroad does not mean that you don’t have to report your yearly earnings to the IRS. However, if you pass two tests and qualify for the “foreign earned income exclusion,” you don’t owe any tax unless [...]

Avoiding vs Evading

Written by Steven Pittser

A few tips on U.S. taxpaying and IRA accounts

“I haven’t filed taxes for six years— ever since I’ve been down here.” That was the comment from my co-expat from the States, who had just bought me a drink at my favorite bar in La Antigua Guatemala. “I have had income [...]