Some questions about living abroad

[NewHampshireDem]

Well, I finally convinced my wife that NZ might not be such a bad place to raise the boys. We're working on the appropriate apps and hope to have some information before the end of the summer.

Anyway, those of you who live abroad, could you help me out here?

1. How do you vote in US elections from overseas? I know you request an absentee ballot, but from whom? I mean, what state do you vote in?

2. As a follow up to #1 ... do you need to then pay state income taxes in that state?

3. What to do with all of the money we've saved in our retirment accounts? Can we keep those accounts active?(We're far from retirement age, btw.)

Sorry if these are stupid questions, but it is hard to find this kind of advice for ex-pats on the internet.

Thanks! :wave:

[307 MMS]

1. Sites

expatriates.com or transitionsabroad.com
You might try these.

[stephinrome]

2. on voting

You'll find much info on the Federal Voting Assistance Program site:

http://www.fvap.gov/index.html

Basically, you fill out the FPCA (Federal Post Card Application), available on-line at:

http://www.fvap.gov/services/fpca.html

It asks your current overseas address (where ballot will be sent) as well as the last address from which you voted in the US (this will be the state you vote in). Some rules vary per state. See this page for info on filling in the FPCA for your state:

http://www.fvap.gov/pubs/vag/vagchapter3.html


Steph

[NewHampshireDem]

3. Thanks Steph!

That was exactly the information I was looking for. :applause:

[FILAM23]

4. I am also getting ready to move abroad

but I have been planning mine for a long time. So to answer your questions.

1. Keep a DL in your current state, you will be considered a resident, vote in that state.

2. Depends on the state, but I do know that federal income tax is still required.

3. Yes you can keep them active, if any are 401's or other type of employer paid plans it
might be wise to roll them all over into an IRA.

[cyclezealot]

5. We live in France.

When you get your French drivers license, they take your US license. Seems I recall some federal court decision, that unless you claim a given state for your legal residence, the
claimn otherwise, that state can't tax you for it's income tax? Seems, I recall California tried to tax it's retirees' in other states, and they failed. Unless that retiree claimed CA as their home state. ?
About voting. We got our San Diego primary ballot, but it was sent so late, we wonder if it got back in time. Some states will allow the counting of a ballot for one week after an election.
California, it has to be in the day of the election.
I wonder if California will issue a state ID given to those who do not vote; when one has their US drivers license confiscated?

[Rydz777]

6. State taxes

If your time and circumstances permit, before you leave the country you might want to establish residence in a state (e.g. Florida, Texas, Tennessee, and there are others) that do not have a state income tax.