ExpatFinder Blog

For American citizens, when the month of April rolls around there is only one thing really on the mind: taxes. For those who filed early, this is no problem, but for the majority of the population, the clock is now ticking.

For American expats living overseas, this can be an even more confusing and troublesome period, as they are not exempt from filing despite living in another country. However, finding clear information about how their tax situation stands is often difficult. There are many things you will need to take into account before filing your US taxes, including:

Must you file? What is the minimum threshold?
When exactly are taxes due?
What is the maximum you can earn before the US will tax your foreign income?
Do you still need to file state or local taxes?

There is some good news. Overseas Americans automatically have an additional two months to file taxes. In addition, you can get an entire 6 month extension if you file form 4868 to request such. However, note that if you decide to file later the amount you may owe will collect interest during the period.

The minimums change every year and if you only make a small amount it is always wise to check and see if you must file. Your maximum income before you must file will depend on many things including your age and if you are married. For the majority of citizens, the chart below applies:

If the above does not apply to you, the best source to see if you need to file comes direct from the IRS itself here.

The date for taxes, usually April 15, has been extended a few days until the 18th. For all dates, you can check out the site efile.com or see the chart below:

More good news for expats: your foreign earned income will not automatically be subject to US taxes. That’s right, for the first $91,500 of earned income you will not need to pay taxes, you just need to file and let the IRS know. After that amount you will likely owe, and it is at that point the need for a tax professional is much more necessary to ensure you are not paying more than you must.

Filing state taxes can be even more confusing. Many states will still consider you a resident for tax purposes if you own property, have a drivers license, or qualify any other of their many criteria, even if you’ve lived abroad for years! For information on your specific state, consult with a tax professional or try to find the information online or through your state website. Don’t assume you no longer need to pay state taxes while living abroad, if you do return to the US you may have a very unwelcome surprise.

In the last few years the US government has begun cracking down on Americans abroad who are not paying their taxes. If you are caught you may have to endure hefty fines and a long process to legalize your tax status again. For that reason it is very important you stay up to date on your requirements and consult a professional if necessary.

Some other tax websites that may help:

ExpatInfoDesk

ExpatAdvisor

And to find a tax professional who can help you get your things in order, get a free quote here

ExpatFinder.com is here for you during your move or while living abroad:

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Find answers to all your questions about moving worldwide.
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Tax Filing, Tax Information, Taxes, US Tax

Mar

Earth Hour 2011 Around the World

admin Climate Change, Culture, Event, Expat community, Holiday, Travel, Volunteering, Website, expat travel, life abroad, video Add you comment

The World Joins Together for Earth Hour 2011

Earth Hour began only a few years ago in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when two million individuals and two thousand business turned off their lights for one hour to protest inaction on climate change. Since then, nearly every country around the world has joined in, and this past Saturday, April 26 at 8:30pm local time saw many major cities and homes using candles for light for one hour.

You can find more information on Earth Hour and stay up to date on future Earth Hours from the main website here. To answer any questions you may have, you can find a FAQ page detailing Earth Hour here.

The ExpatFinder blog is pleased to present some of the best pictures from Earth Hour today.

United States

Las Vegas saw some of the most iconic buildings and millions of homes darkening.

Canada

In Vancouver:

France

Even the Eiffel Tower in Paris was turned off for the hour.

Sweden

Russia

The Dvortsoi Bridge:

Greece

Even the lights on the Parthenon in Athens were shut for the period.

Egypt

Arguably some of the most iconic structures in the world, the pyramids at Giza were left unlighted for the hour.

China

A long stretch on the Great Wall:

Hong Kong

Even in the middle of the city, the difference in Hong Kong was notable.

South Korea

Indonesia

Indonesia took part as well, darkening their skyline for the hour.

While Earth Hour 2011 may have just finished, it’s never too late to begin conserving energy. You can browse the Earth Hour site for tips on how to save more energy during your daily life and start making a change today.

ExpatFinder.com is here for you during your move or while living abroad:

Compare International Health Insurance and get free quotes online.
Browse Thousands of Serviced Apartments in around the world.
Get the best rates when moving money or making regular payments to another country from Expat Foreign Exchange Companies.
Find answers to all your questions about moving worldwide.
Search the largest selection of International Schools in Japan.

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Images for: main picture, Indonesia, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Egypt, Russia. Sweden, Canada from Reuters.

Images for United States: Getty

Image for France: AFP

Image for Greece: AP

Canada, China, Conservation, Earth Hour, Egypt, France, Greece, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Russia, South Korea, Sweden, United States

Mar

Expat Recommended Reading Lists

admin Americans overseas, Canadians Overseas, Checklist, Culture, French Overseas, Guide, Living in Africa, Living in Asia, Living in Eastern Europe, Moving to Singapore, Tourism, Travel, british overseas, expat travel, moving to china Add you comment

Expat Books to Read

Before you head off to your next expat assignment, it may be worth your while to read a bit about the country you’ll be living in. While travel or culture guides may be helpful, they can never give a person an in depth look into the mentality and lifestyle of the citizens or expats who have made the country their home. Fortunately, there is a wealth of actual literature from other expats and local authors in nearly every country a bookworm expat can check out to get the full experience.

Here you can find a few lists of books to check out from lists on Amazon in many countries. You can look for the books at your local book shop, library, or order them right online. If you don’t see your country listed, don’t despair! Simply do a search through the lists here and you should be able to find just what you’re looking for.

United States

American Diaries

Through America’s Heartland

Canada

List of books by mostly Canadian writers and expat Canadians

Mexico

Mexico as seen by British writers

Argentina

Everything from cook books to travel guides to history and Argentine literature

Panama

Recommended reading for anyone interested in Panama or anyone relocating

Spain

Tales by Spanish writers, travel guides and music to get you into the cheerful Spanish spirit

France

Top five books before you move to France

Books from and about France

Books for people moving to France

Ireland

Books from every county in Ireland

Russia

Books from and about Russia

Turkey

A list of history books and books by Turkish authors

Books on Turkish life

China

Essential books for expats in China

Another China expat collection

Books on any Chinese subject you can imagine

Vietnam

Books offering a greater understanding of Vietnam

Thailand

A specialized expat list for those in Thailand

Singapore

A great Singapore-centric reading list

Japan

Specialized for women expats living in Japan

Africa (general)

Expat life in a variety of African countries

Expats writing about Africa

Asia (general)

Books that center on an Asian theme and may be useful for expats

Global expat (general)

An expat reading list

Expat stories, wisdom and advice

Outstanding world and travel literature

Great travel books for around the world

While reading books by other expats and local writers can be beneficial to anyone living or planning to live in another country, by taking the time to read literature directly related to your new home you are exposing yourself more deeply to the culture than you’d otherwise be able to. We recommend everyone spend some time catching up on these and other country specific books to get the full immersion of living abroad.

ExpatFinder.com is here for you during your move or while living abroad:

Compare International Health Insurance around the globe and get free quotes online.
Browse Thousands of Serviced Apartments in around the world.
Get the best rates when moving money or making regular payments to another country from Expat Foreign Exchange Companies.
Find answers to all your questions about moving worldwide.
Search the largest selection of International Schools in Japan.

Read more tips and advice to help you with life abroad. Join the Expat Communities!

Join the Network for Expats on Linkedin.com 25,000 expatriate managers & recruiters
Expats Can Follow Us On Twitter List

Ask us questions, Contact us today

africa, america, Argentina, books, Canada, China, Expat, expatriate, France, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, panama, reading, relocation, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Travel, Turkey, Vietnam

Mar

Wines from Around the World

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Expat’s List for Top Wines Worldwide

From Germany to Australia and South Africa to Italy, expats are tasting and enjoying wines all around the world, as they have been for much of history. While it would be no surprise to see France on the list of top wine countries, other countries, such as Chile, are quickly becoming top contenders as well.

Before you hop on your plane heading to the next destination, take a look at Professor House’s list of the top eight countries to get the best wine in the world. You’ll see some background and interesting information on the countries listed- France, Italy, (Northern) California, Portugal, South Africa, Chile, Germany, and Australia.

Of course, not every wine can be a perfect pick, even in the top wine countries. For that, you’ll want a closer look into the specialties and recommended wines from each area. We’ve compiled a list of where to find information on the best of the best in every price range. You’ll also find some information on how to go about ordering these wines worldwide if you aren’t located in the countries but would like to try the wines. Our advice- try a few off the list as well, you may just stumble across a hidden gem.

France

Long regarded as the world’s best region for wine, seeing this country on any wine expert’s list is hardly a surprise. The good news is you can find excellent wine that is easy to get a hold of and reasonably priced, the bad is that the top wines are the exact opposite in both price and availability.

Never the less, you can find a list of delicious recommended wines for a budget here.

To order wines directly from the vineyard, you can go through the interactive site here and select by region to get the full address, telephone number, and email address from hundreds of producers, along with reviews of wines priced for any budget.

Italy

Another well known producer of fine wines, Italy hasn’t lost its touch yet. Along with France, this country is well known as a wine hub and you shouldn’t have any problem finding good wine for cheap.

You can find a long list of recommended wines here to choose from.

If you are looking to purchase some Italian wine from abroad, you can find a good selection not just of Italian wines, but wines around the world here.

For those who are new to the wine world, you can pick up a comprehensive book detailing all you should know here.

California

Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley are two areas that can’t escape the reputation of good wine, not they’d want to.

A good comprehensive list to fine wine from California for all budgets can be found here.

Also with a selection of international wines, this site is set up in California for easy access. They specialize in the hard to find, and you can find them here.

South Africa

Although South Africa is not as marked for wines as France or Italy, they are able to boast of a wide range and an increasing presence in the industry.

You can find a list of 100 South African wines worth trying here.

There are a surprising number of options available if you are looking to have South African wines shipped to your home country. For residents in South Africa, the UK, US, or Europe, an easy to use and comprehensive site is found here. Another option can be found here.

Chile

The newest addition to the list, Chile has only relatively recently begun producing world class wines. They are quickly rising in the list and in the eyes of experts and producing wines for every palate.

A nice, though not so long list of top rates Chilean wines can be found here.

For an easy to use site that works with your current location, you can find a selection of Chilean wines listed for shipping here. For UK residents looking to get involved with other Chilean wine lovers, this is the place to look.

Portugal

Portugal falls in a region renown for fantastic wines. If you are an expat in Portugal or planning a trip, it is worth the time to sample some local specialties.

A good list of good Portuguese wine can be found here.

Shipping Portuguese wine can be a little tougher unless you are a UK resident, in which case you can easily search by wine or location here. Otherwise, your best bet is to use one of the international wine sites listed above.

Germany

Though Germany is usually thought of first for its beer, it would be unwise to exclude it from wine listings as well, as their wines are well sought after by connoisseurs.

A short list of Rieslings can be found here, and a slightly more comprehensive list here.

Within the US, you can have German wines mailed to you from this site. Otherwise, international sites like Snooth should be your main choice.

Australia

Australia keeps a lower profile than many of the other countries on this list related to their wine. However, that doesn’t mean that it should be disregarded, as Australian wines are some of the finest in the world.

To get you started, you can find some reviews and recommendations of top Australian wines here and here.

For UK residents, Australian wine can be shipped through a specialized site here. For other residents in the US, Europe, or Australia itself, the go-to site is here. International sites work best for anyone outside of this area.

Each year countries and wineries around the world produce many millions of bottles for the enjoyment of everyone. Knowing where to look for your wine and which is worth your money is a huge step toward becoming knowledgeable in this area. If you have the opportunity to visit any of the wineries listed personally that would of course be your best option, but for those who cannot, there are plenty of ways to ensure you can get the top quality wines as well. Of course, please do drink with moderation and plan a safe way home rather than driving, no matter what country you are visiting.

ExpatFinder.com is here for you during your move or while living abroad:

Compare International Health Insurance around the globe and get free quotes online.
Browse Thousands of Serviced Apartments in around the world.
Get the best rates when moving money or making regular payments to another country from Expat Foreign Exchange Companies.
Find answers to all your questions about moving worldwide.
Search the largest selection of International Schools in Japan.

Read more tips and advice to help you with life abroad. Join the Expat Communities!

Join the Network for Expats on Linkedin.com 25,000 expatriate managers & recruiters
Expats Can Follow Us On Twitter List

Ask us questions, Contact us today

Mar

How You Can Help Japan

admin Aid, Calamity, Economy, Expat community, Guide, Living in Asia, News, Volunteering, Website, british overseas, expat travel, video Add you comment

Japanese Disaster Relief From Around the World

(Photograph from Asahi Shimbun, Reuters)

As the devastation from the recent disaster in Japan becomes more clear, it is also becoming obvious just how much help is going to be needed to assist the millions of people affected.

Over the recent days, the world has been watching Japan. But no one has been sitting idly by, and Japan has seen aid rolling in from around the world. From personal monetary donations to rescue workers and relief supplies to just getting the word out, literally millions of individuals and organizations are working together to rebuild the nation.

If you would like to offer assistance but are unsure how, here are some resources to get you started.

Country specific assistance- Nearly every country has set up specific resources to help citizens in sending donations, care packages, and other aid. A google search is all it takes to quickly find out how organizations in your areas are helping out and how you can get involved.

For US citizens and residents, you can find resources to help here.

For Singaporeans, you can find organizations listed here.

For those in the UK, links to help are found here.

Other links to assisting organizations can be accessed directly from the yahoo.com and google.com homepages, as seen below:

and

Help people get in touch- Several sites have been set up to help those separated get in contact. If you know of the whereabouts of anyone in Japan, contribute to the listings. If you know of anyone looking for a relative or friend, you can help them find their loved ones by checking here or here.

Let others know- Not everyone can afford to make donations, but that doesn’t mean you can’t help. Many sites and individuals around the world are offering donations per number of hits or clicks. Take advantage of these and spread the word.

ExpatFinder.com is here for you during your move or while living abroad:

Compare International Health Insurance in Japan and get free quotes online.
Browse Thousands of Serviced Apartments in around the world.
Get the best rates when moving money or making regular payments in JPY from Expat Foreign Exchange Companies.
Find answers to all your questions about moving worldwide.
Search the largest selection of International Schools in Japan.

Read more tips and advice to help you with life abroad. Join the Expat Communities!

Join the Network for Expats on Linkedin.com 25,000 expatriate managers & recruiters
Expats Can Follow Us On Twitter List

Ask us questions, Contact us today

Photograph from Asahi Shimbun, Reuters

Aid, Japan, News, Volunteering

Mar

Expat Daily: Pension Freeze

admin Expat Immigration, Expat community, Insurance, Medical, Retired, Taxes, life abroad, retirement, survey Add you comment

Pension Woes For British Expats

As the growing number of retirees migrating to other countries continues, the issue on pensions being frozen by the government has been getting louder. By mere migrating, the UK government saves funds as the retirees won’t be utilizing social and medical services. However, if the pensioner migrates to a “frozen” country, they won’t have access to their basic state pension.

“Politicians and the media alike are currently fixated on Britain’s aging population. According to the Government, the UK will have 626,900 people aged 100 or more by 2080, 53 times the current number of centenarians.This type of shock statistic was released with a very concrete objective – to sweeten the pill of controversial public sector pension reforms.”

ExpatFinder.com is here for you during your move or while living abroad:

Compare International Health Insurance in the United Kingdom and get free quotes online.
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Get the best rates when moving money or making regular payments in GBP from Expat Foreign Exchange Companies.
Find answers to all your questions about moving worldwide.
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Photo From Mr Anderson

Australia, british abroad, british expat, Canada, New Zealand, Pension, Retired, Retired British Expat, UK

Mar

Expat Daily: Bahrain Unrest

admin Aid, Expat community, Living in the Middle East, Politics, life abroad Add you comment

Expats Advised to Leave Bahrain Due to Unrest

As the escalations in Bahrain continues to flare up, The US Department of State had encouraged its citizens to depart Bahrain and avoid possible dangers. The UK also had weighed-in against traveling to the said country.

“Western countries seem to have taken note of the threat Bahrain’s civil unrest poses to their citizens. The UK advised against travel to the country yesterday, and now the US is asking its expats in Bahrain to consider leaving because of the “breakdown in law and order”.

ExpatFinder.com is here for you during your move or while living abroad:

Compare International Health Insurance in Bahrain and get free quotes online.
Browse Thousands of Serviced Apartments in around the world.
Get the best rates when moving money or making regular payments in BHD from Expat Foreign Exchange Companies.
Find answers to all your questions about moving worldwide.
Search the largest selection of International Schools in Bahrain.

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Photo From evgeny drokov

American abroad, Bahrain, Expat, Expat in Bahrain, Living in the Middle East, UK Expats

Mar

Expat Daily: British Expats - Japan Earthquake/Tsunami

admin Aid, Calamity, Living in Asia, Medical, News, british overseas, expat health, life abroad Add you comment

Despair Looms Over British Expats Affected by the Tsunami

Inquiries regarding British nationals’ whereabouts are rising as Japan’s worst hit areas are being scoured to locate the affected expats. The British embassy has also sent delegates to assist on the forage.

“At least 14 Britons are listed as residents of Sendai, and others live in surrounding areas. Most of them have homes in areas that escaped the worst of the damage.

The Foreign Office said there were no confirmed casualties from Britain, but they have received more than 3,200 calls from concerned friends and relatives.”

ExpatFinder.com is here for you during your move or while living abroad:

Compare International Health Insurance in the United Kingdom and get free quotes online.
Browse Thousands of Serviced Apartments in around the world.
Get the best rates when moving money or making regular payments in GBP from Expat Foreign Exchange Companies.
Find answers to all your questions about moving worldwide.
Search the largest selection of International Schools in the United Kingdom.

Read more tips and advice to help you with life abroad. Join the Expat Communities!

Join the Network for Expats on Linkedin.com 25,000 expatriate managers & recruiters
Expats Can Follow Us On Twitter List

Ask us questions, Contact us today

Photo From Loco Steve

british abroad, british expat, Donating Earthquake Relief, Expats in Japan, Japan

Mar

Expat Daily: Japanese Expats Turn to Web and Social Media for News

admin News, Twitter, Uncategorized Add you comment

Beyond Traditional Media

In the aftermath of a massive earthquake that caused a tsunami, Japanese expats turn to the web and social media, specifically Twitter, to get real time news and updates.

It’s also only through the web that they can get in touch with families and friends back home, as telephone communications across the country have been disrupted.

“It took a massive earthquake back in her homeland to persuade Yuki Kosuge to look beyond traditional news sources and log in to Twitter for the first time.

‘I was relying on conventional media initially, but Twitter is by far the best,” said Kosuge, a 35-year-old music manager living and working in London. “You realise you can share the sense of fear more easily, it makes you feel close to the people affected and those who are concerned about Japan.’”

ExpatFinder.com is here for you during your move or while living abroad:

Compare International Health Insurance in Japan and get free quotes online.
Browse Thousands of Serviced Apartments in around the world.
Get the best rates when moving money or making regular payments in JPY from Expat Foreign Exchange Companies.
Find answers to all your questions about moving worldwide.
Search the largest selection of International Schools in Japan.

Read more tips and advice to help you with life abroad. Join the Expat Communities!

Join the Network for Expats on Linkedin.com 25,000 expatriate managers & recruiters
Expats Can Follow Us On Twitter List

Ask us questions, Contact us today

Photo From TrendsSpotting

Japan, Japanese Expats, Social Media

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ExpatFinder’s New Country Assistance on LinkedIn

What American Expats Need to Know About Taxes

ExpatFinder.com is here for you during your move or while living abroad:

The World Joins Together for Earth Hour 2011

United States

Canada

France

Sweden

Russia

Greece

Egypt

China

Hong Kong

South Korea

Indonesia

ExpatFinder.com is here for you during your move or while living abroad:

Expat Books to Read

United States

Canada

Mexico

Argentina

Panama

Spain

France

Ireland

Russia

Turkey

China

Vietnam

Thailand

Singapore

Japan

Africa (general)

Asia (general)

Global expat (general)

ExpatFinder.com is here for you during your move or while living abroad:

Expat’s List for Top Wines Worldwide

France

Italy

California

South Africa

Chile

Portugal

Germany

Australia

ExpatFinder.com is here for you during your move or while living abroad:

Japanese Disaster Relief From Around the World

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Pension Woes For British Expats

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Expats Advised to Leave Bahrain Due to Unrest

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Despair Looms Over British Expats Affected by the Tsunami

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Beyond Traditional Media

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