Changing Mindset

Be aware that competition is stiff. I have 25 years as a mid-level administrator (not an AA) in government/universities. The best I've been offered has been entry level at 1/3 of what I was making when I left the States, and that took almost 8 months to materialize with me beating the bushes. (Due to logistics and the actual amount of duties they expected me to perform for that pay I turned it down.) You may have to take a considerable demotion, and then work your way back up the ladder, unless you have connections. Be sure that if you're doing virtual that it's UK virtual, and not working for a US company that doesn't have a presence here unless you've carefully done the research regarding taxes, employment law, etc.

Not meaning to be discouraging to you, just want you to be ready and understand that you are no longer on the same playing field you were when you were in the States. You have the significant disadvantage of being a foreigner with no UK work experience. Not insurmountable, but it may be a shock.

I'm expecting to start at the bottom again, and I wouldn't even attempt executive assistant there to begin with. I would want at least a year or two of work in office to learn the different standards before trying to move up the chain. Husband even knows I'll take a job at Aldi just to ensure we have income. I'm not going to be selective in work (to a point) but also try to get into the field I have experience in.

As for the freelance work, I would do more research but also will have valid home address and license and residency in USA still. And all income would be to a USA bank account (hoping to cover just enough for student loans). I would be talking with a tax specialist who handles both US and UK. Since it is freelance work, I do not believe that company would have to have a UK presence legal wise. Though, more research will be required to ensure all points are covered legally.

I'm expecting to start at the bottom again, and I wouldn't even attempt executive assistant there to begin with. I would want at least a year or two of work in office to learn the different standards before trying to move up the chain. Husband even knows I'll take a job at Aldi just to ensure we have income. I'm not going to be selective in work (to a point) but also try to get into the field I have experience in.

As for the freelance work, I would do more research but also will have valid home address and license and residency in USA still. And all income would be to a USA bank account (hoping to cover just enough for student loans). I would be talking with a tax specialist who handles both US and UK. Since it is freelance work, I do not believe that company would have to have a UK presence legal wise. Though, more research will be required to ensure all points are covered legally.

All I would suggest is to be careful you don’t screw yourself over when it comes to US taxes. I would strongly suggest talking to the tax specialist you know BEFORE getting potentially tangled up in a situation. Better to walk into it with eyes wide open.


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And be sure you understand UK tax law. If you are physically present in the UK, you are subject to UK tax and employment law, as I understand it. Regardless of if you are freelancing/paid employee and paid only in the USA to a USA bank by US clients.  There are a couple of threads about this on the board, you might want to look into it very carefully. 

And be sure you understand UK tax law. If you are physically present in the UK, you are subject to UK tax and employment law, as I understand it. Regardless of if you are freelancing/paid employee and paid only in the USA to a USA bank by US clients.  There are a couple of threads about this on the board, you might want to look into it very carefully. 

Yeah I can't imagine there being anything worse than getting stuck paying DOUBLE taxes for 1 job!

Yep, I've started reading the information.

Based off my knowledge so far I wouldn't have to worry about paying taxes in US, because under the required amount earned. I would be earning less than $10k a year. I just need few hundred a month so that would be less than $5k a year. As for any income I and maybe hubby have we can use the foreign earned income. I file taxes jointly with my husband now and all his still under $90k so it's all excluded. I don't see my husband and I making even together over $90k. What I fear is when his parents pass, we are going to professional to have all that sorted out. Though I will have to report to USA taxes having any money over $10k in foreign bank accounts and property.

People worry about double tax, but it's only on income earned over $90k if foreign earned. (Well it was $90k ish when I did my taxes last year, I still have to do them this year. I just hate the forms and its a chore to maneuver in TurboTax, but the returns are nice for joint filing with one income.  )

Now, I would be filing any income earned USA based or not, with UK tax authority. I would be very up front and clear on that. I know you don't eff with the tax man in any country! And even if under the minimum requirement for taxes in USA, still have to file yearly, even if mostly for just foreign earned exemption. (All knowledge and statements in this post are based off own research that I must still complete! Though I do positively know, I can file foreign earned income for my husband's jointly without any trouble and accurately. Been doing so for 3 years now...and 4th year coming up. I'm a master at this LDR thing....and I wish I wasn't.  )

Yeah it's more just making sure whatever entity you're paid with is set up correctly, whether it be self employed or as a business. The thing you don't want is foreign employment income paid to you as an employee, in USD and on a w2 after you've moved to the UK. You will just need to know which sections of the tax treaty to use when filing your self assessment, it sounds like you'll probably be under the UK limits as well.

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Is your husband American?  If not, I suspect he will be able to stop filing with the IRS each year.  Which makes the filing limit $5 for Married Filing Seperately.  Seriously, it’s $5. 

Yeah it's more just making sure whatever entity you're paid with is set up correctly, whether it be self employed or as a business. The thing you don't want is foreign employment income paid to you as an employee, in USD and on a w2 after you've moved to the UK. You will just need to know which sections of the tax treaty to use when filing your self assessment, it sounds like you'll probably be under the UK limits as well.

As freelancer, there shouldn't be any W2s as an employee. It will be all work from UpWorks (former elance that I used). Depending on how they changed their site over the years, I may just work for the UK positing vs USA. Depends on what's available at the time. But yes, more research for UK tax treaties will be needed.

Is your husband American?  If not, I suspect he will be able to stop filing with the IRS each year.  Which makes the filing limit $5 for Married Filing Seperately.  Seriously, it’s $5. 

Hubby is UK, but he has  ITIN so I could file jointly while since 2015. We've been in immigration limbo since January 2016. The USA system just sucks. Hubby did have stupid error in boyhood, that we fighting. But with Trump in office USA is taking hard stance on all waivers. I'm watching the visa spousal thread for updates and am amazed how fast the process is. Three months... maybe little bit more since of errors. And they are so open and able to find out what is going on by contacting the MPs. I'm just loss for words on how smooth it appears. We in the final step to try for USA first... we just didn't want to close off any doors for living in either country, so we tried the hardest one first since I have a really good job. At least, if I moved there, I can provide solid evidence of reduction of pay.

Thank you everyone in this thread and the forums. Since I've been here, I had seriously able to cope and even look forward to idea of moving to UK without dread. (Hubby knows buying washer/dryer is one of top priorities. I'm such a spoiled brat, I break out in rash from clothes/towels air dried because they so coarse.) We are even reviewing cars - I get my Mini! (If UK is to be our home.)