US based flight attendant living in EU. (With EU spouse)
Posted by Total_Low_2112@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 20 comments
I’m a US based flight attendant and my EU spouse is looking to move back to EU. Not sure of the country, but that’s another post. Since I’d be working in the US and spending at least 183 days stateside would that change where I pay my taxes. Not looking to save money, just want to understand. My spouse thinks it’s as simple as packing up a suitcase. And we all know it’s not. Figured I’d start with this question.
LeSpatulas@reddit
Trump said he would stop the double taxation. Realistically there is a small chance this could happen, thought I should mention
unsurewhattochoose@reddit
For most Americans living abroad, there is no double taxation anyway. You just have to file the documents every year, which is annoying, but no taxes are owed to the US unless you make a lot of money
samelaaaa@reddit
Wait really? Can’t believe I’m agreeing with a Trump policy but man, that would make my life a lot simpler
LeSpatulas@reddit
Yup, not sure if he was trying to get votes or really cares about it tho lol
1ksassa@reddit
It is a policy that mainly benefits the wealthy, so I think there is a good chance.
samelaaaa@reddit
I mean, that’s kind of the thing with Trump lol. We’ll all find out what he was serious about and what he was just saying over the next few years
techrmd3@reddit
NOT simple
your airline will base you - your state of resident and pay state related taxes, so you will in theory still be a resident in the state that your Airline say you live (really no way to get around this, as your airline will likely NOT support you as a foreign employee (long story as to why... short is it costs a lot! to have a US person work overseas in EU)
But as long as you pay local taxes, federal taxes and come back to file your taxes in your case it can be like picking up a suitcase.
Florida would be a good place to live and be based out of due to no income taxes.
I would get a relocation advisor to sort out the details.
I DO HOPE it's not EU France you are going to.
mvhawk@reddit
Why not France?
Total_Low_2112@reddit (OP)
And I’m based out of Massachusetts. I have roots here so I wouldn’t relocate to Florida. Even if it means higher taxes. MA has paid family medical leave and I can use it no matter where I Iive. And I’ve already used it this year due to a serious family illness. It’s a godsend
techrmd3@reddit
Mass is geographically really nice to support a European residency
you really really need paid expert advice on this... I am mostly riffing but France is not a country to play games with... Ask spousy poo if they will accept another EU country like Ireland (which is CLOSE to Mass) that way you guys don't play in the French government casino with your job
so you pay those no matter what
1ksassa@reddit
What games and what's wrong with France?
Total_Low_2112@reddit (OP)
I would always be US based. Not another option. I don’t need to work in the EU. I could live in France as I speak the language. I know they have high taxes. There are only a few countries I would commute from though and that’s one of them. It has to be near an airport with lots of direct flights to the US. I once knew someone who lived in remote Italy. She had an hour drive, then a 2 hour train ride and then flew to the states from Rome. Yikes. I know there are so many pros and cons
Able-Exam6453@reddit
Shannon airport is the obvious suggestion, with easily commutable towns nearby. (Depends on spouse’s career of course) You’d be liable for taxation, living here half the year of course.
techrmd3@reddit
yeah well france is a problem
I would talk to some kind of relocation specialist
It's not about "taxes" it's about you coming in on what kind of visa while you are working in the US... paying for healthcare France is nationalized and if you are not having that paid by your US company France will hunt you down... very bureaucratic those French people
AND they will likely inquire to the IRS as to your employer so they can then BILL the employer for your national insurance (which will probably make your current employer who thinks you are actually in the US... to fire you for cause)
Anyway I think you need to talk with a specialist who is familiar with EU and French law, labor law for your situation.
Most other countries its a don't care but FRANCE will hunt you down the second time you hit french soil looking like you live in France but work in US.
If you have flexibility and with consultation with an immigration expert you might get French citizenship
(which of course requires very good French... so I hope you really really do speak it)
takes time, looks like you will need to spend some money to pay for expert guidance. Or you can always roll the dice... except it's France who will Bill your US Employer... probably BEST not to roll those dice actually.
Total_Low_2112@reddit (OP)
My company doesn’t care where I work. And I have a EU spouse so I can live anywhere. Yeah, the French paperwork is not for the faint of heart. Definitely would use a relocation specialist.
techrmd3@reddit
when they get a bill from the French Government of about 20k for your yearly health care I BET THEY WILL CARE!
Again don't play with this any other EU country is much better than France
SeanBourne@reddit
Firstly, the US requires all citizens to report (e.g. file) every year, regardless of where we live. This almost never (would be the edgiest of edge cases that I still haven’t come across) means paying the US any additional tax vs. what you’ve paid your EU country. I can explain this in gory detail, but not the main point I’m trying to make here.
If you’re ‘at least’ 183 days stateside, try to make it MORE than 183 days in the US - that way you can avoid becoming tax resident in the EU. This will save you a ton of money as nearly every (and certainly every major and mid-sized) country in the EU has far higher taxes than the US. (Malta and Cyprus might be exceptions if you’ve got the right arrangements … but they are really small and off the beaten track.)
Usually the primary rule for being tax resident in residence based taxation countries used to be the ‘183 day test’ (and they count partial days, e.g. if you departed on the AM of day 183, you stayed the full 183). However, if you accidentally become a tax resident, becoming ‘unresident’ is considerably tougher with webs of ‘secondary tests’ effectively designed to trap you unless you basically do a wholesale move back.
Far better that you don’t get in the EU tax net to begin with.
Hopefully you already have your DL, mailbox etc., in a low (or better no) tax US state, but make that move. If you’re in a high tax state currently - that’s free money.
Happy to elaborate on any of this.
atlcollie@reddit
I’m also a US based F/A and I’m married to a U.K. national. We’re both duals now and living in the US, but I did commute for several years from England to the US. You will have to file US taxes. There are some job related commuting expenses that you can take off as well, just talk to a tax professional when it comes time. Good luck, international commuting is exhausting!
Total_Low_2112@reddit (OP)
I commuted for almost 15 years and haven’t commuted in a long time. I dread it. I want to wait a few years and go when our kids our out of school. But it may not wait
a_library_socialist@reddit
If you're a US citizen, you're going to file with the US every year.
If you live in another country 183 days a year, they will consider you a resident, and you'll pay taxes there.
When you file with the US, you can deduct the taxes you've paid to the other country from your US taxes, and you pay the difference, if any, to the US.
If you're at least 183 days stateside, and paid in the US, nothing will change for you.