Moving to another country. Any good ideas?
 

Me + wife + 1 year old daughter are thinking about moving to another country. Somewhere warm, like southern Italy, southern Europe, or Florida/US or similar! Somewhere with low taxes, yet a comfy and safe place to live. Somewhere nice where the family can grow larger, somewhere nice where the wather is better than here, somewhere safe, comfy, clean, and honest. Like paradise on earth.
Does such place really exist?
Any recommendations?
:)

Canada of course :thumbsup

where do you live now?

Northern Europe, weather SUCKS, and taxes are eating everyone up. Up to 60 percent in incometax, do you beleive it? The wather is the main reason thou.

whee:
My husband and I just moved from Florida to Rosarito Beach, Mexico (15 minutes South of Tijuana), to spend 6 months out of the year.
It is great! The temperatures are from 50 to 77, never higher. You have the US border right there, in case you need something from the States, and the prices are simply GREAT!

Plus, porn and prostitution are legal!
This is webmaster paradise!

Let me guess: Denmark.

plus you don't pay tax. Only corporations pay taxes (34%), but general population don't.
Also, there are over 10,000 Americans in Rosarito Beach, so if you live by the beach (where the 'gringos' live), you'll feel right at home!

Mexico

Were in Mexico few months ago, GREAT weather there. But the places we were at were dirty, and people were begging on the streets. Well, one could establish a good home there, the right place that is. Your info I'll check out for sure thanks :)

Greece :thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup

Hahaha.. yea, I had Portugal on the list but now I dont know... lol
Greece is a mighty fine place too. Been there couple times.

whee:

Know the feeling :winkwink:

Have a look at Costa Rica. The climate is.. "anything you want it to be" - there are about 8 microclimates and you can have anything from a "desert island paradise" to "Switerland" (complete with Swiss cows and chalets *s*).

Taxes?? You mean the things that hold down carpets??
There are little taxes in Costa Rica and there is no reason why any webmaster would have to pay any - and, before anyone says "illegal" - it is totally legal.

The other main factors are... the education and health systems are on par with the US, but a fraction of the cost. (Think it costs $240/year for *complete* healthcare coverage for a family of four). The country is *very* stable, does not have an army and stays neutral and friendly with all.

We know a good number of people who have moved here, especially those with families - it's a far more interesting and better enviornment to bring up children.

Nice..., Were in Costa Rica few months ago too, and the place was great. Did not spend that much time to get to know it very well thou. 8 Hours only. But the general impression for me was, it's a poor country, people still begging on the streets. Quite dirty too, but generally a nice place. The right places that is.... Im sure.
This one will be on my list of more investigations too! Thanks for the input.

whee:

And the people in Costa Rica are... in my opinion... the second on my toplist for "friendlyness". There is no "attitude" from "officials" like police etc - they are there and willing to roll their sleeves up to help - and nothing is a problem that can't be sorted :-)

The top of the list is the island of St Maartin in the Caribbean - got be "the" most friendly place in the world and unlike some of the other islands..

Anyone thats a US citizen that moves to another country still has to pay taxes to the US. The only way around this is to give up your citizenship.

Webby do you live in an area with others Americans and/or Europeans or do you live with the general population? By general population, I'm referring to the middle/upper-class Costa Ricans...

portugal/spain maybe?

whee:

Yep... there are still beggars on the streets, especially around San Jose. They are usually illegal immigrants from Nicaragua and the government is trying to deport as many as possible at the moment - but hell.. they will just come back :-)

The rest of the country outside "Central Valley" is very different and offers much.... There are still "poor" people, but there are also many extrememly wealthy folks who have assets beyond anything I'd ever want:-) Here are some pics taken on and near an "estate" we bought on the coast -

http://virtualaspects.com/crjan2004/index.htm

Move to Antigua! Caribbean lifestyle. work permit is about $1,300US and taxes there is 9%

Nice info and nice pics! Reminds me of a trip to Madeira/Spain once. Quite similar nature and colors.

Sly_RJ:

I got a place in Central Valley near San Jose... it's typical "gringoland" with Macdonalds and the usual stuff. The homes are in the price range of about... 250K to 1 mill plus. But to be honest, I prefer *anywhere* outside this area. We have been buying land here in locations which are really not even comparable to much of Costa Rica - these places are "real paradises" with loads of wildlife and views - the kinda places Costa Rican people would want to live in:-)

i hear fallujah, iraq is a safe place.. :)

pornstar2pac:

The actually charge taxes there now? That's new - the must have bought a new PC as the "infrastructure" in the revenue department :winkwink:

You there now pornstar? I lived there a few years back!

vas:

Don't knock it - the real estate values are gonna rise there! :glugglug We just need to explain to the locals we don't want em running around with RPG's :winkwink:

i guess its ok, if you dont mind the occasional head choppings and kidnappings... if we offer them our porn then they may settle down :D

vas:

We might have to practice ducking the flight paths of RPG's - but with a double vodka in the local bar we may come to an "understanding" and have some contacts with Osama to quit his shit for a while :winkwink:

vas:

We might have to practice ducking the flight paths of RPG's - but with a double vodka in the local bar we may come to an "understanding" and have some contacts with Osama to quit his shit for a while :winkwink:

damned double posts :-)

9% was from the company I worked for. it was nice every two weeks to see my net and gross almost the same


lived there from 2001-2003 I moved there 5 days before 9/11 --2001


had a villa at Jolly Harbour was 100 steps from the whitest beaches . The online Sportsbook I worked for paid for everything.. I loved it there and will go back in a year or two for good

pornstar2pac:

Yes.. understand about the 9% now! :-)

I know Jolly Harbor well! :winkwink: You ever hang out at Putter's near the airport side? Used to enjoy drinking there thru the night and having breakfast at dawn!:-) (Think it may no longer be there now?) ..

These are years I was not there - but still got "commercial ties" and probably get back there soon! :winkwink:

hmm....iraq?

portland, oregon

alexg:

hmm...it's a matter of judgement :winkwink:

yeah that side(putter's) is for the families and people who didn't want to hear loud music. we were on the other side right on the beach and we partied everynight. there was about 10 of us same age, 3 different sportsbooks but we were all homies.

yeah like anyone pays taxes once they gone. Haha like they could track it.

don't come to england!

pornstar2pac:

:1orglaugh Was that the constant "thumping" sound I was hearing all night that drowned the sound of the night critters?? :winkwink:

You in England spanno?? You need to escape!! :winkwink:

Cyprus is the place man !!! Hot and offshore ! or Costa Rica

Canada, low taxes?

HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH

they built a new 3 story casino on that side so it's the happening spot. you ever try a Dogwatch Burger before? the best in the world:thumbsup

MrJackMeHoff:

Mmm.. the IRS sent out some questionaire to US folks living abroad - about half never replied - about 10% answered and had been paying taxes back to the US. The remainder .. for some strange reason replied and put themselves in line for "problems" since they had not made tax returns :-)

Now they have changed the system for US people living abroad - when their passports come up for renewal - there is a cross-check with the IRS and if they owe - no passport!

They only real way to "escape" is dump citizenship and become a citizen of some less-demanding country. Apart from places like Lybia and Saudi, the US is an exception on this in tracking their citizens the world over for taxes.. The golden rule is "obey the laws of the country in which you reside" or else move... :winkwink:

I love dumb people... :1orglaugh

If you are a full time resident abroad for a full calendar year, or live there for 330 days out of any consecutive 12-month period, you can exclude up to $80,000 of earned income from U.S. Income Taxation for 2003, 2004, and beyond. If you are married, and both of you earn income and reside abroad, you can also exclude up to another $80,000 of your spouse?s income from taxation. These exclusions can only be claimed by filing a tax return and are not automatic if you fail to file your Form 1040 for the year it applies (as well as the appropriate forms claiming this exclusion). Earned income is income you earn for your work or services and does not include rental income, dividend or interest income, or other types of income that are not paid for your own personal efforts. You can also claim an additional exclusion or deduction for your foreign housing expenses exceeding a standard amount established by the Federal Government.

If you want low taxes, stay the hell away from US and Canada.

Mexico is prolly pretty cheap to live in... espically if you bribe the right people... you wont have to pay anything all most likely.

Dont worry! Me hates rain :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

pornstar2pac:

Hell.. that sounds like progress!! :winkwink: There was only places like the King's Casino in "town" when I was there. How's the Godfather (Bird) doing these days - still in power and ripping everyone off?? :winkwink:

BTW.. You ever come across Bird's "deputy" - "Asshole Michael"?? That guy is a joke for a member of any government! :-)

The stuff about em is unbelievable - and I know a lot is true - they have many millions stacked in banks outside the island - and get lumps of backhanders from the US govt for "favors"...

No.. ain't had a Dogwatch yet - sounds like I gotta get back and catch up! :winkwink:

erehwon:

I think the point is.. you still have to account for yourself to the US and pay "whatever" is due in taxes. When you complete the tax docs, it's going to be hard not to "declare" interests in other stuff such as "offshore" activities and means you would be committing an offence.

It also defeats the purpose of "offshore" since *no* person or government has the "need to know" and it is usually a criminal offense for any lawyer/bank etc to divulge *any* information concerning offshore companies.

If you simply want to live abroad and benefit from around 80K in taxes - no problem!

Bird lost the election this year. his family don't have the power anymore. big changes coming for Antigua. yes, I know many of Bird's henchmen and lucky for me the company I was with is in like flynn with them. I never have to worry about them even when I go back. I made great friends with the right locals. I was also good friends with the ladies son who runs the Eric Clapton rehab center there. very cool people. I used to see Eric and his 26 year old wife shop at the woods centre all the time.. funny looking at Eric push a shopping cart..lol:1orglaugh

webby, where do you live now?