The things that come to me while out for walks...

Got to wondering about future taxes again....especially if I die before my wife (likely). We have our money in cash (no problem there), my TSP Govt account and Vanguard. The Vanguard money has just been moved into just the VTI Total Stock ETF, except for the ROTH Moderate growth which the US+UK don't seem to care about anyway. I will be trying to get my wife (UK) off of the US IRS books for this last year (2014) and getting rid of the Green Card etc in the next few months I hope.

Worse case scenario.... I get hit in the head with a golf ball after we move back and die......or choke while eating too much Vindaloo...either way, dead.
1. The money in Vanguard is in $$. The ROTH is no problem, but if I leave it like it is she will owe US taxes on any money the VTI non-ROTH makes. So she is back on the US IRS treadmill. Is it worth trying to change all that over to UK Vanguard/Pounds? (About $121K right now without the ROTH).
2. My TSP money ($510K) is of course in $$. If I die and she needs to take it out (of course she will).....back to paying the IRS, and they will want the tax to be paid on that money. I really wanted to leave the money in the TSP because of the great G fund. But.....is there a way to change this over to a regular IRA (yes) pay the taxes somehow and move that money as well (Vanguard funds??) over to Pounds? I can't use the money for another 2 years until I hit 59.5. I am assuming if I were to take it out over lots of years I would be paying 15% (they take out 20% but I should get the 5% back). If I take it all out I would get hit with a massive tax % wouldn't I? But at least it would be paid for and if it was in a Pound Vanguard account she would only have to worry about UK tax.

Kind of another side thought.....moving that money if possible to Pounds while the Pound is low might be at a loss, but might not be as bad as I think if the Pound rises back to it's usual rates.

Well, you had to do it, didn't you. You had to open another can of worms! 

I won't comment on your pensions and investments, but if you ever find a reliable source of information regards the situation of inheritance, especially for a US citizen married to an NRA, let me know. It seems impossible to get a straight answer as to the possible problems involved.

The only reasonable solution......is that I can't die......at all.....ever. 

The only reasonable solution......is that I can't die......at all.....ever. 

Or live long enough to get UK citizenship and give up US citizenship.

You might consider a term life insurance to help your wife pay for legal help should you croak first before you get your situation resolved into something that will help you to stop worrying so much about what will happen if you croak in the next 5 to 10 years. Just a thought.

Or live long enough to get UK citizenship and give up US citizenship.

You might consider a term life insurance to help your wife pay for legal help should you croak first before you get your situation resolved into something that will help you to stop worrying so much about what will happen if you croak in the next 5 to 10 years. Just a thought.

The insurance is something to think about. How would giving up my US citizenship solve the problems mentioned in the first post? I don't mind giving up citizenship as long as my pension and SSecurity keep coming to me (when I'm 62 of course). But I don't know how that would make it easier to convert my Vanguard and TSP from Dollars to Pounds.....which is the only way I can see allowing my wife to keep avoiding the IRS. The IRS is going to want that tax money.....especially from the TSP. Other than taking it out (or maybe over a couple of years) quickly and paying the tax on it........if I leave it like it is she will have to pull the money she needs out every year and fill out the US tax forms every year. I can't see how I can avoid pulling the TSP money out at some point.....hopefully over a few years to avoid a 39% tax on that money......where I was hoping to pull it out over a long period of time and stay either at 15%...or hopefully no worse than 25%.

The insurance is something to think about. How would giving up my US citizenship solve the problems mentioned in the first post? I don't mind giving up citizenship as long as my pension and SSecurity keep coming to me (when I'm 62 of course). But I don't know how that would make it easier to convert my Vanguard and TSP from Dollars to Pounds.....which is the only way I can see allowing my wife to keep avoiding the IRS. The IRS is going to want that tax money.....especially from the TSP. Other than taking it out (or maybe over a couple of years) quickly and paying the tax on it........if I leave it like it is she will have to pull the money she needs out every year and fill out the US tax forms every year. I can't see how I can avoid pulling the TSP money out at some point.....hopefully over a few years to avoid a 39% tax on that money......where I was hoping to pull it out over a long period of time and stay either at 15%...or hopefully no worse than 25%.

True about giving up your USC not really helping your wife.  If you have moved over the money to the UK in the coming years you would still be filing taxes to the IRS as a USC which is not your wife's problem except in the year you died, and possibly in the years before your death if you have lot the mental capabilities to file.

Happy thoughts eh?

I tend to think way into the future as well, and worry about living in the UK when we die while our children are living in the US and them having to sort out the ensuring tangle of assets and wills on both sides of the pond.

I think I will just have to hope I am going to live for a good while.....no reason why not. I'm only 57.....exercise a lot....unfortunately I eat like a pig and drink beer...but with my genes, unless something gets us we usually live a reasonable time. We had a talk again last night about going over a plan on what to do.....she really doesn't want to deal with it. Then once I turn 59.5 in 2 years.....to play it somewhat safely??? instead of taking out only enough to keep me in the 15% bracket I may just have to suck it up and boost that up to the 25% range or so and just cry in my beer. At least I should be able to drain the account over a reasonable number of years.....but damn I'll miss the G fund.  But the thought of my wife just taking it all out at once to get it over with and paying 39% is not something I want to think about. I just can't die for at least 10 years.....

I would wait a few years and see how easy or difficult it really is once you are filing each year, then you may decide that your wife, with help from a tax pro, would be capable of continuing to file without bringing it all over at once and taking a big tax hit.

I certainly wouldn't rush ahead and start moving it over too quickly just yet.

A few years ago my wife asked me to write up a list of things to do to manage the accounts should I pop my clogs.  It was a useful thing to do, and I review/update that list once a year.  The list is kept with a copy of our will so she knows just where it is.

Especially since I haven't even got a VISA yet. It shouldn't be a problem, but who knows. The bad thing at the moment is I think we are turning our 2 dogs back into the Humane Society when we go.....causing quite a bit of angst at this time. We hadn't really looked into it since we thought we were good since the UK relaxed their dog rules a few years ago. Nope.....the chips we have are the wrong ones. Need new ones and then a blood test sent off to Kansas City....then wait at least 6 months.....then pay $5k or so to move them.

Especially since I haven't even got a VISA yet. It shouldn't be a problem, but who knows. The bad thing at the moment is I think we are turning our 2 dogs back into the Humane Society when we go.....causing quite a bit of angst at this time. We hadn't really looked into it since we thought we were good since the UK relaxed their dog rules a few years ago. Nope.....the chips we have are the wrong ones. Need new ones and then a blood test sent off to Kansas City....then wait at least 6 months.....then pay $5k or so to move them.

That is sad that you will have to turn the dogs back in  

But did you know the blood tests are not required anymore, they just need to have rabies shots at least 21 days prior to the flight into the UK along with tapeworm treatment and as for the chips, more then likely the pet reception centre at your UK airport will have US scanners, if not, a scanner can be rented to read your dog's chips....?

That is sad that you will have to turn the dogs back in 

But did you know the blood tests are not required anymore, they just need to have rabies shots at least 21 days prior to the flight into the UK along with tapeworm treatment and as for the chips, more then likely the pet reception centre at your UK airport will have US scanners, if not, a scanner can be rented to read your dog's chips....?

? I thought we were on the correct site. Now I have to go back and look. Any particular site you were on?

We have gone back to the UK Govt site.....which is not very clear. If I understood what that site said....
1. Dog must be chipped first.
2. Dog must get rabies shot.
3. The dogs only need blood tests if they are from the "non-listed" countries. This part was a bit confusing, but it looks like the US is on the non-EU listed list.

We would then possibly need to buy our own scanner. Although the UK incoming port (probably Manchester) might have their own. 

? I thought we were on the correct site. Now I have to go back and look. Any particular site you were on?

We have gone back to the UK Govt site.....which is not very clear. If I understood what that site said....
1. Dog must be chipped first.
2. Dog must get rabies shot.
3. The dogs only need blood tests if they are from the "non-listed" countries. This part was a bit confusing, but it looks like the US is on the non-EU listed list.

We would then possibly need to buy our own scanner. Although the UK incoming port (probably Manchester) might have their own.  

I brought my cat & dog to the UK (via Paris, France) in 2013, I see the forms have been changed since then, but basically you need to read through all the links I gave you here and the dogs need to be microchipped & have rabies shot 21 days prior to arrival in UK and tapeworm treatment within 5 days of arrival in the UK.  All of this needs to be documented on the forms listed below and filled in by a USDA accredited vet IN BLUE INK    Then you need to have the paperwork signed/stamped by the USDA vet for your state (see link below) also need to have the health certificate signed by the statewide USDA vet all within 10 days of travel.  In the meantime contact your airline and find out their requirements for crate size etc.  
Also a good site for your doggie travel accessories is Dryfur.com, they have crates, wee pads, airline packs to get your dog/crate ready for travel and great blogs/articles to get you started!  It seems very daunting, but as long as you educate yourself and make sure all your forms are completed correctly (because unless your vet sends  pets off on international journeys all the time he/she might not be up on the correct paperwork).
Also contact Manchester Airport Animal Reception Centre about your questions, they would rather you ask them prior to travel so everything is done correctly then get there with dogs and incorrect paperwork    
Good luck and I checked all the links so hopefully they still work once I hit Post!
 


UK site:

https://www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad/overview


Here is the US site:
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?
navid=PETS&navtype=RT&parentnav=TRAVEL_RECREATION

More US info:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wps/portal/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/sa_export_from_us/sa_live_animals/sa_international_regulations/sa_by_country/sa_u/ct_animal_united_kingdom/!ut/p/a1/lZDbasJAEIafpQ-wzGS7yWQuTXPaHKoSbJq9KbseSqi1ClLo2zeKeFHQ0LmagW_4D2DgFczOfvfv9th_7ez2dJvgrZjm0otQ6qzhBPXzS1qHFT1OczUA3QA8ZZNcUYWIKpSo4yiPiWtEHYz9t9DFYA7ltq3nYMDsl_0KujV7CqWUQpFjoawiwUt2IvDZc8wBEa8v0nhjJjgubf4gWRINSFrNqCwklv4FuJfuDNzx0A0m6aYLVtD8M3UxGiu59tmm13X_ufhw_qbRwrrwRz_8AuXEnXM!/?1dmy&urile=wcm%3apath%3a%2FAPHIS_Content_Library%2FSA_Our_Focus%2FSA_Animal_Health%2FSA_Export_from_US%2FSA_Live_Animals%2FSA_International_Regulations%2FSA_By_Country%2FSA_U%2F

US Paperwork:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/downloads/ee_new_non_com_pet_dec14.pdf

Instructions on completing paperwork:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/downloads/ee_updated_ann_new_eu_non_commercial.pdf

Manchester Airport Animal Reception Centre:

http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/manweb.nsf/Content/PetTravelScheme

USDA Vet info/by state:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wps/portal/aphis/home/!ut/p/a1/04_Sj9CPykssy0xPLMnMz0vMAfGjzOK9_D2MDJ0MjDz9vT3NDDz9woIMnDxcDA2CjYEKIoEKDHAARwNC-sP1o8BKnN0dPUzMfYB6TCyMDDxdgPLmlr4GBp5mUAV4rCjIjTDIdFRUBADp5_lR/?1dmy&urile=wcm%3apath%3a%2Faphis_content_library%2Fsa_our_focus%2Fsa_animal_health%2Fsa_vet_accreditation

Dryfur.com website:

http://www.dryfur.com/

Another good website/blog for international pet travel!

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&sqi=2&ved=0CB4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dogjaunt.com%2F&ei=Cv7TVJPlFY-UyASSkoDABQ&usg=AFQjCNFe_qjsQMBbN3UDZE9F_HN9t4PIpg


So you can see what completed paperwork looks like: (this is for France not UK, but it is still completed the same)!

http://www.dogjaunt.com/posts/what-it-looks-like-paperwork-for-importing-your-dog-into-francee-u-from-the-u-s/

Awesome.....we will read through it. Thanks

You are welcome 

I just wanted to add that we were in a muddle with chips because none of our local vets has ISO compliant chips then I found this:

http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/port-health-and-animal-health/animal-health/heathrow-animal-reception-centre/importing-your-dog-cat-or-ferret/Pages/pet-travel-scheme.aspx

and I contacted AVID (who make 9 digit and 10digit non compliant chips) and was assiured that Heathrow have AVID scanners.

So it seems from the link that heathrow animal reception can read just about any type of chip, regardless of the UK "rules" that the chip must be ISO compliant.

We're planning to bring two cats through Heathrow this summer.