Australian Taxing for Expats

There are many forms of taxation in Australia. Individuals and companies in Australia may be required to pay taxes or charges to all levels of government: local, state and federal governments. As with many other countries, income tax is withheld from wages and salaries in Australia, often resulting in refunds payable to taxpayers. The rules get flexible as Australia sees foreign income’s taxes differently.

“The tax treatment of foreign income by Australian tax residents can be complicated. Tax deducted from foreign income is a further complication is added.

An Australian resident taxpayer must declare all income they earn both here and overseas. Where tax has been deducted by the foreign country this is included in the relevant section on your tax return. The amount of foreign tax paid reduces the Australian tax payable so that this income is not taxed twice.”

Read More From www.smh.com.au

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Tide Turning Against Europe’s Immigrants

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said there are more than 200 million migrants around the world today. Europe hosted the largest number of immigrants, with 70.6 million people in 2005, the latest year for which figures are available. North America, with over 45.1 million immigrants, is second, followed by Asia, which hosts nearly 25.3 million. But is it worth the decision to migrate, especially in Europe, if the status that they get from the country is always on a limbo?

“LONDON, England (CNN) — They are cursed in cities and towns across Europe. On talk shows, in newspapers and in bars and cafes, they are dismissed as parasites, threatening social norms and culture. And when unemployment rises and governments impose cuts on public spending, the eyes turn again to the immigrants.

In France, once seen as a bastion of European egalitarianism, the issue of immigration and racial identity has shot to the top of the political agenda. Roma people, also known as gypsies, have been expelled under government orders, while the wearing of burqas and other Islamic face coverings in public is set to be banned.

President Nicolas Sarkozy has been accused of engaging in Nazi-style ethnic cleansing over the expulsions while the European Commission has threatened to take legal action over the treatment of the Roma.”

It isn’t just France, however, where expats are facing problems. Even with the world becoming a more global market, there are risks all expats face when relocating. Fortunately, the risk is usually offset by a good payment package and the experience itself, which is why despite the problems you’ll see more people picking up to immigrate now than ever.

Read More From CNN

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More American Expatriates Give Up Citizenship

It is a sad outcome for Expats in US to give up permanent residence and citizenship due to the high amount of taxes. Even Americans abroad have the same thinking on this issue. This progressing aggravation is said to be the main cause of the matter.

“What we have seen is a substantial change in mentality among the overseas community in the past two years,” said Jackie Bugnion, director of American Citizens Abroad, an advocacy group based in Geneva. “Before, no one would dare mention to other Americans that they were even thinking of renouncing their U.S. nationality. Now, it is an openly discussed issue.”

The Federal Register, the government publication that records such decisions, shows that 502 expatriates gave up their U.S. citizenship or permanent residency status in the last quarter of 2009. That is a tiny portion of the 5.2 million Americans estimated by the State Department to be living abroad.

Still, 502 was the largest quarterly figure in years, more than twice the total for all of 2008, and it looms larger, given how agonizing the decision can be. There were 235 renunciations in 2008 and 743 last year. Waiting periods to meet with consular officers to formalize renunciations have grown.

Frustrations over tax and banking questions, not political considerations, appear to be the main drivers of the surge. Expat advocates say that as it becomes more difficult for Americans to live and work abroad, it will become harder for American companies to compete.

American expats have long complained that the United States is the only industrialized country to tax citizens on income earned abroad, even when they are taxed in their country of residence, though they are allowed to exclude their first $91,400 in foreign-earned income.

Read More From The New York Times

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Airlines Get More Time to Phase Out Expat Pilots

In the later half of the 20th century, professionals sent by their employers to foreign subsidiaries or headquarters subjugated expatriation. Starting at the end of the 20th century, globalization shaped a global market for skilled professionals and leveled the income of skilled professionals relative to cost of living while the income differences of the unskilled remained large. Cost of intercontinental travel had become sufficiently low, such that employers not finding the skill in a local market could effectively turn to recruitment on a global scale. This has been a normal practice of companies who are looking for experienced employees to fill the posts that they open to offer competitive services in the global market today. This is what the Indian Airline Companies recruitment strategy is in this early part of 2011.

“The civil aviation ministry has granted much-needed relief to domestic airlines, allowing them to employ expat commanders and keep them on their rolls until 2013, as the industry prepares to induct 240 more planes in three years to meet increasing travel demand.

The blanket three-year extension is also a shift from the government’s policy of granting yearly extensions, and is likely to help India’s airlines compete better with carriers in China and South-East Asia in hiring experienced expat pilots.

Foreigners now make up 15% of the total number of pilots in India.

“The deadline (to phase out expat pilots) was to lapse this year. We have now allowed it till 2013,” said a civil aviation ministry official who did not want to be named.

In 2009, the government had asked the airlines to phase out expat pilots on their rolls by July 2011 so that Indian co-pilots could be promoted.

Domestic airlines, under the umbrella of lobbying group Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), requested the regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and aviation minister Praful Patel for a five-year window to hire foreign pilots and keep the current ones on their rolls, Mint reported on 28 September.”

Read More From www.livemint.com

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How Mexico’s Drug War Affects Tourism

According to the World Tourism Organization, Mexico has one of the largest tourism industries in the world. In 2005 it was the seventh most popular. Mexico is the twenty-third highest tourism spender in the world, and the highest in Latin America. The most visited attractions are the Meso-American ruins, colonial cities, and especially the beach resorts. These facts about Mexico’s Tourism seem to be dying down due to a forseen increase of violence caused by drug war

“What can travelers expect from Mexico in 2011? That’s at least a $64-million question, given the many Americans who visit the country every year. And the answers seem to point every which way.

Across Mexico, international visitors and drug-war casualties rose in 2010. As the country moves into its third century — and President Felipe Calderon’s drug war moves into its fifth year — experts say both trends could well continue.

Airlines are adding Mexican destinations. Several notable new lodgings are opening, including a pair in southern Baja California and two more in artsy, historic San Miguel de Allende.

Gloria Guevara Manzo, Mexico’s tourism secretary, has set a 2011 goal of boosting total tourist numbers by 15%.

And yet, “we’re probably going to see similar or higher levels of violence next year,” said Charles Pope, assistant director of the Trans-Border Institute at the University of San Diego.

The Mexican government counted 12,456 drug-war deaths in the first 11 months of 2010, nearly twice as many such deaths as it counted in all of 2009. Although the violence has been spreading, about 45% of those deaths occurred in two states: Chihuahua (which includes Juárez, the murder capital) and Sinaloa.

Read More From www.wqad.com

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Cup to Lure Expats Home

Better pay, big allowances and great benefits are the common enticing offers that expats get for working far from home. It is surprising to know that the Rugby World Cup will be a great reason for expats to consider moving to New Zealand.

“Recruitment agencies are using the hype surrounding the Rugby World Cup to lure highly skilled expat Kiwis back to work here.”

One company is offering free tickets to marquee games to fill skill shortages in the labour market.

Track Me Back, which matches expats with New Zealand employers, is also planning social media campaigns to tempt workers in Britain, Europe and the United States to return next year.

General manager Stuart Maxwell said: “We would expect more people to come back for the World Cup; it’s just a question of whether they stay long term.”

Maxwell said expat employees were appealing to businesses. “They’re well travelled, highly skilled and they are usually ready to settle down.

“But the Kiwis who are working offshore want to know that they’ve got jobs to come back to before they pack their bags.”

Between 20,000 and 25,000 New Zealanders return home to live each year - a figure that is expected to surge next year.

Economists say that the return of even an extra few thousand of the estimated one million Kiwis living overseas could provide a huge boost to the economy.”

Read More From nzherald.co.nz

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New Visa Regulations for UAE expats

With the aim to augment competitiveness in the job market and alleviate big losses for the employers, New United Arab of Emirate Visa set of laws is to be implemented.

“As part of a plan to streamline the labour card and visa system the length of time covered is being reduced from three years to two years.”

According to a statement by Humaid Bin Deemas, acting director general of the Ministry of Labour, the UAE Cabinet has reduced the validity of labour cards of all categories of people who work in the private sector from three years to two years in a bid to regulate the labour market.

Officials at the Labour Ministry confirmed the new rules will come into force next month. ‘As the labour card will be for only two years, naturally the residency visa will also be for two years,’ he explained.

The Cabinet decision aims to streamline the system for all work categories. Currently drivers, domestic helpers and other similar categories are entitled to two year labour cards and residence visas by the Department of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, while other professions get three year labour cards and three year residence visas.

Read More From The Move Channel

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Emotive Reasons Bring South African Expats Home

A strong bond on culture and family and the convenience of living in their own country push African expats to leave their promising careers abroad.

And even if a crime is a recurring problem at home, most are still compelled to go home to their families and enjoy the massive South African landscape and sunny weather.

“Brigitte Lightfoot, managing executive of Homecoming Revolution, said the organization receives about 160 enquiries a month from South African expatriates.

‘The most common questions they ask have to do with employment opportunities and practical things such as how to open bank accounts, convert driver’s licenses, and about schools for their children,’ Lightfoot said.

Lightfoot says there are more than 500000 South Africans living abroad. According to Lightfooot, the main reasons migrants have for considering returning are emotive.”

Read More From www.sowetanlive.co.za

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Money Equates Social Exclusion

Everyone needs something; and the level of need vary among individuals. An expat automatically bids goodbye to social inclusion by leaving his homeland to work abroad for a bigger pay. It’s a tough road, especially for those working in the Gulf Countries, but achieving financial stability is not far from their reach.

“Most expatriates in the Gulf say they work extremely long and hard. But the financial benefits can be considerable, with mostly tax-free income and generous allowances for schooling, housing, transport, medical insurance and travel to and from home. (The latter is generally once a year but, depending on company and rank, can be as much as four times a year.)”

Read More From the Financial Times

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China, New Home for Artists

China, the giant empire of the east, has not only awoken to shake things up in the global market, but has also created a sanctuary for creative minds.

Legions of Western artists have set foot on China for the promise of creativity innovation and work.

“Like the artists’ colony, the country offers challenges, but expatriates here say that the rewards outweigh the hardships. Mr. Rolandi is one of many artists (five are profiled here) who have left the United States and Europe for China, seeking respite from tiny apartments, an insular art world and nagging doubts about whether it’s best to forgo art for a reliable office job. They have discovered a land of vast creative possibility, where scale is virtually limitless and costs are comically low. They can rent airy studios, hire assistants, experiment in costly mediums like bronze and fiberglass.”

Read More From The New York Times

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