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Topic: Thinking Ahead  (Read 1224 times)

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  • Paul & Terri O'Neale
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Thinking Ahead
« on: July 03, 2006, 02:10:35 PM »
I just arrived in the UK, but I#m already thinking ahead to the horrid double tax thing. And with both my husband and I working we will propably exceed the $80,000 limit. If not this year then next for sure. My question are:

1) Do I file married filing separately or is it better to file jointly? My husband would like us to return to the US in a few years and I know that they put a lot of value on filing jointly when they consider your visa applications. So does this make a difference?

2) My husband has never lived or worked in the US so he has no social security number. If we file jointly can we get him one or do we simply get a ITIN? And where/how do we get them?

I'm sure I'll have a million more questions between now and April 15 (June 15), but those are a good place to start.

Thanks!
Terri P O'Neale


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Re: Thinking Ahead
« Reply #1 on: July 06, 2006, 02:56:33 PM »
If your husband is not a US citizen, you can file MFS without him, provided you haven't made any previous elections to file jointly with him.  You can also file jointly with him, applying for an ITIN at the same time as you file next year's return.  Sometimes one saves more money than the other, but you can't switch back and forth nilly-willy, so you need to have a clear picture in your mind of not just the benefits in this year, but for the long-term future, including inheritance tax issues and immigration issues.

The best way to plan whether to file jointly or not is to have an income-and-inheritance tax planning session with a qualified dual professional to determine what the short-term and long-term benefits and drawbacks are to your international marriage.  You can then make informed decisions to get your life sorted.  Total time:  1 hour investment of your time.  Think about how much time you'd like to spend sorting out these issues on your own. 
Liz Z i t z o w, EA
British American Tax


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  • Paul & Terri O'Neale
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Re: Thinking Ahead
« Reply #2 on: July 06, 2006, 05:03:29 PM »
Is there a listing of such dual professionals on-line? Or someone affiliated with UK-Yankee?
Terri P O'Neale


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Re: Thinking Ahead
« Reply #3 on: July 08, 2006, 11:13:05 AM »
As far as I know, there is no "official" site listing everybody.  No one is officially sponsored by UK/Yankee either.

A websearch can yeild results, asking others for a recommendation can help, and association websites like E-ATI list dozens of members:  http://www.e-ati.com/member_organizations.lasso?country=United%20Kingdom
Liz Z i t z o w, EA
British American Tax


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