Expat-Matters Archives

The Secret of the FEIE: Your Ticket to a Tax–Free Life Overseas

By Nick Hodges |

March 19, 2016

Living and working overseas provides opportunities for new vistas, new cultures, great food, more sunshine, and a much lower cost of living. But did you know that it can also provide you with a huge tax beneﬁt? Maybe you are overseas as an employee for a corporation, a local B&B, or even a tour company. Perhaps you operate abroad as an independent consultant, freelancer, or business owner. If you are a U.S. citizen living and working outside the U.S. for most of a year, you may qualify for what’s known as the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE). With this, you could completely eliminate your U.S. tax liability.

Find Your Own Fountain of Youth Overseas

By Edd Staton |

March 19, 2016

You read it here first—I’ve discovered the Fountain of Youth. Funny thing is, turns out it’s not a fountain at all. Nor is it located in just one place. In fact, it can be found in many places if you know where to look. Confused? Let me explain. I celebrated a birthday recently and it was a weird feeling. No, not that I’m getting older: actually, just the opposite. Since we moved to Ecuador almost six years ago, I know I feel younger than when we arrived, and I believe I have aged less than the number of years marked by the calendar (the same is true for my wife, Cynthia).

Enjoy Life from Outside the Political “Bar Fight”

By Dan Prescher |

February 20, 2016

When my wife Suzan and I first moved abroad in 2001, it was a time of extraordinary political turmoil in the U.S. Or so we thought at the time. Now, after 15 years of following our homeland’s political hubbub from various beautiful, affordable, and relaxed locations overseas, it seems to us that the U.S. political system is never not in turmoil.

Good Living on $1,000 a Month in Bolivia’s “Garden City”

By Miranda Booher |

January 24, 2016

You’re on the way home from the largest outdoor market in South America, where you loaded your shopping bags with farm-fresh produce for less than $5. The warm weather tempts you to enjoy an easy stroll through one of the plazas and parks that dot the city. Decked out with blooming flowers in vivid patterns, they offer the perfect retreat from the market’s hustle and bustle.

The Key to a Safe Retirement Overseas

By Dan Prescher |

January 24, 2016

As exciting and adventurous as the idea of moving abroad can be, it sometimes packs a little zing of anxiety with it. It’s the anxiety you feel when you wonder how safe you’ll be in a foreign country. It’s a perfectly natural feeling. Safety— for ourselves and our loved ones—is one of our most basic needs. None of the other beneﬁts of living abroad mean much to us if we don’t think we’ll be safe in our new home.

The World’s Top Retirement Havens for 2016

By International Living |

December 22, 2015

Retiring abroad is easier and more affordable than ever before. These days it really is possible to spend your days relaxing beneath palm fronds on a Caribbean beach, enjoying farm-fresh produce in a mountain haven with year-round spring weather, or wandering the storied streets of a historic and cultured European city…or all of the above. But with so many choices available, finding the right one can seem daunting.

How to “Leverage” Your House Back Home When You Go Overseas

By Suzan Haskins |

November 19, 2015

If you retire overseas, owning a home back in North America can be a huge asset. If you want to live abroad only part-time (as a snowbird, for instance), it gives you somewhere to stay when the weather back home improves. Or you may simply want a place to return to on occasional trips. Better yet, that place back home can generate a respectable income if you rent it out while you’re gone, whether you’re away for good or just for a few months each year. This can be a great way to earn some cash on the side—funds that can go even further if you’re living in a low-cost country like Panama or Ecuador.

The Five Best Up-and-Coming Beach Towns for Retirees (Part Three)

By International Living |

November 19, 2015

With its light-brown beaches, prominent white lighthouse, and whitewashed seaside homes, it could be a U.S. Atlantic-coast beach town 60 years ago. If it weren’t for the Spanish-speaking locals, modern cars, and surfers paddling out on modern boards, you might be convinced you’ve been transported back in time. But this place exists today—just in a different country in a different hemisphere. You’re in La Paloma, Uruguay’s up-and-coming beach resort, home to ﬁne food, good ﬁshing, great waves, and vast tracts of pristine sand for you to enjoy.

Gun Laws in Three Expat Destinations

By Conor William O'Brien |

October 19, 2015

Whatever your personal opinion on gun ownership in the United States, there’s no denying that millions of U.S. residents feel a great fondness for their ﬁrearms. So it should come as no surprise that many aspiring expats want to bring their guns with them to their new home. While it’s possible in some places, be prepared for a lot more red tape and tighter controls than you typically face in the States. Bear in mind that gun laws are liable to change, so you need to do your due diligence if you plan to import or buy a gun overseas.

In Santa Fe, Panama, $1,500 a Month is “More Than Plenty”

By Linda Card |

October 19, 2015

From our porch we can see down to the river, where we have our own little private beach and swimming hole,” says Albuquerque native Bob Caragol of his and his wife Irma’s new home. “We just fell in love with the area. There’s no crime and no pollution, and my asthma symptoms improved immediately.” Their story is typical of expats living in the scenic mountain town of Santa Fe, located in Veraguas province in west-central Panama.