Articles
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Foreign Source Income, Some Clarification
Income source is one of the aspects of international tax law that causes the most confusion, the most misunderstandings. In this article, I provide some clarification on how source determination works.
Guide To IRS Forms W8 And W9
If you or your business receives income from a US payer, there is a good chance you will be asked to file a W8 or W9 form. In this guide, I explain why and how to fill the form.
Living On A Remote Island, Possible?
I have always had a passion for the remote, especially far away islands. I have often wondered whether it would be possible to live on one as a location independent entrepreneur. I finally embarked on a journey to answer that question and in this article, I share my findings.
New Zealand, an unlikely tax haven
New Zealand is undoubtedly one of the world’s most beautiful countries and one of the best in which to live. It is far removed from the world’s troubles, offers high standards of living and excellent economic opportunities. In the context of location independence, it offers the opportunity to live tax-free, legally, thanks to a four year foreign sourced income exemption for new residents. This guide covers how the exemption works.
The Five Flag Theory
The five flag theory is a tax optimization strategy that leverages location independence and geoarbitrage to increase personal freedom, reduce tax liabilities and minimize costs. This guide covers how it works and how to implement it.
The guide to retiring overseas
Geo-arbitrage is a useful tool at any stage of one’s life but especially so during retirement, when being in a high income area no longer matters and when priorities shift to quality of life, cost of living, access to medical care etc. In this guide, I explore the pros and cons of retiring overseas, detail how to get started and share some useful advice.
Tax guide for UK nomads
A growing number of Brits are making the transition to location independence. This transition often comes with tax consequences and in this article, I explain what they are. I also cover how UK taxation works for non-residents.
Tax guide for Canadian nomads
A growing number of Canadians are making the transition to location independence. This transition often comes with tax consequences and in this article, I explain what they are. I also cover how Canadian taxation works for non-residents.
US FEIE And FTC
While it is nearly impossible for US citizens and permanent residents to escape the long arm of the IRS, it is possible for them to keep their tax burden to a minimum thanks to a number of exemptions built into the US tax code. The most popular such exemptions are the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) and the Foreign Tax Credit (FTC). In this article, I explain how they work.
Place Of Management Rules Guide
Place of management rules exist, primarily, to prevent the use of foreign registered legal entities to gain a tax advantage. While they vary from country to country, they generally work by awarding a legal entity’s tax residency to the jurisdiction where the entity actually operates or is managed from. In this guide, I provide a detailed summary and present case scenarios.
Tax Guide For Australian Nomads
A growing number of Australians are making the transition to location independence. This transition often comes with tax consequences and in this article, I explain what they are. I also cover how Australian taxation works for non-residents.
What Happens If You Die Abroad
Location independent individuals tend to be an optimistic bunch and the possibility of dying abroad is not something most think about. It is, however, a possibility and being well prepared is very important. You want to make things as easy as possible for your family in case the worst was to happen. In this article, I explain how.
The Guide To Disappear
The idea of disappearing is one that has always fascinated me. In this guide, I share my own theories on how someone might pull that off in our hyperconnected world. I also explore the reasons why, the mistakes to avoid and whether going back is possible.
ITIN Guide, unlock US banking and credit
The US banking sector offers some of the best credit products in the world, and for non-US residents, the ITIN represents an easy way in with very few downsides. In this guide, I explain how to apply for one.
Guide to the British Columbia LLP
Canada is rarely, if ever, associated with tax optimization. That is despite many of its entities offering some of the best tax benefits anywhere in the world. In this guide, I provide an overview of one such entity, the British Columbia LLP. I also explain how to register one and how to handle compliance.
Guide to the US LLC
The US LLC (Limited Liability Company) is a business structure, offered by all US states, that can be run tax-free in the US when certain conditions are met, such as being operated from outside of the US by non-US residents. In this guide, I provide an overview and detail how registration and maintenance works.
CRS Explained
In a bid to fight tax evasion and money laundering, the OECD developed CRS, an information exchange mechanism, and managed to convince most of the world’s countries to implement it. In this guide, I cover how CRS works and what is reported.
Tax guide for US nomads
Nomadism has always been an important part of American culture, from yesterday’s train hoppers, hobos and migrant workers to today’s digital nomads and remote workers. Unfortunately, US tax law has never been friendly to this demographic and can often be a complicated mess to navigate. In this article, I explain how the US taxation system works in the context of location independence and answer frequently asked questions.
Portugal’s Hidden Gem: The Azores
The Azores is a volcanic archipelago located in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, part of Portugal and the EU. Thanks to the NHR program, a number of tax benefits available to Azores residents and a high quality of life, it is one of the best places in Europe in which to establish a home base, for those looking for tranquility and a slow pace of life. In this article, I cover the aforementioned tax benefits, some of the other benefits and share my experience on the ground.
CFC rules guide
Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) rules are a useful set of tools that many countries use as part of their fight against tax base erosion. They are useful because they allow specific types of income to be targeted, in specific countries and circumstances, without directly impacting (in most cases) the businesses they target. In this guide, I explain how they work and how they may affect you.