What
responsibilities do I have in my home country before
I go?
Should I
keep a mailing address in my home country?
Do
it right - take care of all your obligations - debts,
bills, taxes, etc. before you go. Get a permanent
forwarding address - so that important mail can find
you. Most of us use our parents or relatives for this
at first. But know that they grow tired of this after a
few years.
Get
a Commercial Mailbox
I'd
like to encourage you, if you are going to spend more
than a couple years overseas - to do it in an adult
way. And, to me, an "adult" takes care of their
business and doesn't leave it to others to take care of
it for them. So . . . I encourage you to use a
commercial mailbox service - rather than leaving it to
your family or friends.
Look at a company called
USABOX.com
- they are the least expensive I have seen. They will
also do a little shopping for you and send it to you
cheaper than any other company. Want a little treat you
can't find overseas? They will send it to you.
Do
I really need a home country address?
I
think so. In a few years, if you would like another
credit card, if you want to maintain a credit history or
to buy a house, for example - it is useful to have a
permanent home country address.
Get
a CPA for your taxes
Taxes are not difficult to do - but if you hate doing
them (I do!) - line up a CPA to do them for you before
you leave. Also, over a period of time, taxes can
become complicated as you lose contact with all the
changes and as you invest in property and/or stocks.
I
have a VERY reasonable accountant/CPA who charges me
about US$450 per
year for a joint return for my wife and I (we both work) - and that includes all the
required reporting and accounting for several income
properties and mutual fund investments. A bargain for
the peace of mind - knowing that it has been done
correctly.
