Leaving your home country usually does not mean that you are beyond the reach of its tax authorities unfortunately. Any income from investments or other sources that is in effect in your home country usually remains subject to tax. Your earnings abroad may be taxed directly by your host country.

In most cases as an expatriate, you will pay taxes to your country of residence, however that may be defined. In some cases, your country of residence may have an agreement of exemption, or double-tax treaty, with your home country. This means that your home country credits your payment to your host country, so that the same income is not taxed twice.

Receive tax advice before leaving:
Many employers provide tax counseling and assistance to their expatriate employees, either in-house or through outside consulting firms. If this service is not provided by your employer, you should establish your own contacts with an international accounting or consulting firm specializing in international tax matters.

Tax responsibilities for expatriates
Contact your respective government agency for information on what your tax responsibilities will be while living away from your home country. In addition to contacting your appropriate government department, the consulate of your destination country may be able to provide useful information.

By knowing the tax laws in your new city overseas and learning about your tax responsibilities here, you won’t be taken surprised by a big tax bill at the end of the year and best of all, Uncle Sam won’t be knocking on your door.

Safe moving!

When you are moving overseas whether it’s for employment reasons or you just want a different scenery and lifestyle, it’s ideal to make sure you have all your ducks in a row before jetting off. Throughout my career at Rainier Overseas, I’ve seen many blunders people make when moving to another country.

Relocating overseas is hard work and there are plenty of potential problems to trip you along the way. I’m going to share with you the six major blunders I’ve seen people make so you can avoid them like the plaque and have a safer and successful move to a foreign land.

Six big blunders:
1. False premise – vacationing at your destination will be the same when you live there:
Taking a vacation is a lot different than living there long-term. No matter where you live, you will always have daily frustrations and routines. In other words, unless you are Bill Gates, you will still have to go to work, access public services, and clean your toilet wherever you live in the world.

Just because you live in a picturesque town in a warm climate, you will still have to adapt to a new life and system, potentially new language and adaptations that accompany any relocation. Set realistic goals for your new life and don’t assume that all your worries will disappear and your life will become perfect.

2. Not doing your research:
Make sure you do your research before you move. Research should include looking into local laws, customs, taxes, building regulations, the health and education systems, and the public transport systems. These all will be part of your daily life and in case of things like the health system, we are talking about your health and the quality of it.

Learn about the country’s property taxes if you are buying a property, tenants and landlords rights if you will be renting, and school policies if your kids will be in the local school system. Talk to expatriates living there and about any issues they had to deal with during their first few months in the country.
Safe moving!

3. Job over-commitment:
Just because you’ve always dreamed about teaching English in Brazil doesn’t mean you will love it in reality. Don’t sign too long of a contract for work because if things don’t work out, or and for whatever reason you can’t overcome the barriers, it will reflect badly on you with your employer if you break your contract.

Instead, ask for a few months for a gradual commitment to allow you time to adjust and really know if you will like living in the country. This will benefit both yourself and your employer.

4. Purchasing too soon:
Be willing to rent for several months before you decide to purchase a new home. This will save you a lot of headaches because you may learn that your new neighborhood is unbearable during the offseason, noisy at peak times, and your beautiful old home is right in the path of floodwaters in the rainy season or beautiful mountainsides are vulnerable to forest fires in the summer. Renting will give you the opportunity to learn where the best places to live in your relocated city or town.

5. Not learning the language:
Become part of the local community by learning the country or city’s language. Your new language skills are best learned by interacting with the natives. It’s easy to fall in the “English” trap by interacting only with those that speak English and not the local language.

Not to mention that the lack of language skills can actually be dangerous if, for example, you are not able to communicate with health care professionals or report a crime to the police. No one likes to think of such humdrum necessities when planning an exciting new life, but they are a part of everyday life and, at some point, they will need to be dealt with. Plan to start learning the new language before you plunge into your new life with lessons but lifetime of lessons can’t replicate getting out there and using the local language in everyday settings and interactions.

6. On vacation 24/7:
Spending money like there’s no tomorrow, hanging out in bars every night and sitting on the beach all day are fine for two weeks but insolvency, alcoholism, and skin cancer will do little to enhance your living abroad experience much less your pocket book and liver.

Immerse yourself in the culture and move away feeling like a visitor and become more of a member of the community. Adapt to the local customs, attend local festivals and other events, and live the same way locals do.

Avoiding these six blunders when moving overseas will lessen a lot of stress and hassle. By simply accepting the fact that things in your new country will be different, not necessarily better or worse, just different, you will be on your way to a much more fulfilling life in your new overseas home.

Safe moving!

If you plan to move overseas any time soon, it’s important that you have all of your documents in order before you move. Many tend to forget that you must provide proper paperwork documenting your identity when living abroad. In addition, it’s also important to have employment contracts, lease and rental agreements in hand as well as medical insurance and records especially if there is an unforeseen medical emergency while traveling to your overseas destination.

Documents on the plane:
When you are boarding the plane to head overseas, besides your passport and visa, make sure you have the following paperwork not only for you, but for each member of your family too if appropriate or anyone else that’s moving with you:
• Identification
• Driver’s license
• Certificates of citizenship for naturalized individuals
• Marriage certificate
• Adoption papers
• Divorce and child custody papers if your children are accompanying you abroad (if applicable)

Depending on the country you’re traveling to, you may also need passport-size photographs for your visa upon your arrival, as well as the lease or rental agreement for housing in your new country so authorities know where you’ll be living. Also, make sure you make a copy of your passport and visa just in case you lose either one of them or both when traveling. It’s much easier to go to an embassy or consulate with copies of your passport and visa so officials can look you up right away. Without copies, it could take up to several days. This is a good tip when you are generally traveling overseas or on vacation.

It’s also useful to have several copies of employment contracts. If you don’t have a contract, you should have a letter from your employer outlining terms of the overseas assignment such as length of stay, salary, housing arrangements, and any other pertinent considerations. Your employer may already have secured the necessary permits and approvals for you to live and work abroad, having such documentation handy may answer any questions that arise when dealing with local host-country authorities.

In case of an emergency:
In addition to the documentation necessary for your family to enter the country, you also want to have important paperwork close by in case of emergencies. You should include the following:
• Medical insurance coverage
• Medical records
• Dental records
• Property and motor vehicle insurance records
• Income tax records for several previous years
• Wills
• Power of attorney
Remember to make multiple copies of every important document to take with you and don’t accidentally pack them away with belongings you’re shipping. Gathering all of this essential paperwork ahead of time will help to ensure you’re prepared for your transition to living in a foreign country.

Safe moving!

When moving overseas whether for business or if it’s personal, you may wonder what makes sense to pack yourself and what to leave to professional movers. Some things are easy for you to pack but most important things, you should leave it to the mover. Like I’ve mentioned before in previous blogs, packing items yourself will put your possessions at greater risk for damage but more importantly, it won’t be covered by insurance if items get ruined en route to your final destination.
Here’s some important information to consider what you can pack and what to leave for your mover to move. Keep in mind, I highly recommend for your mover to do all the packing for you, less hassle and will save you time and money in the long run. But I know some people like to pack items themselves and if this is the case, here’s some important information to consider:

• Make sure to ask your mover what boxes and containers they have to offer. Cardboard boxes from grocery stores are not appropriate especially when moving overseas. They are easily damaged, can get soiled and won’t protect your personal belongings like professional moving containers can.
• Request a surveyor to come out and assess all of your belongings, he or she will let you know how many containers you’ll need to move your items and can provide them to you for the goods you plan to pack yourself. You need to have a surveyor come out anyway and remember, it’s free to receive an in-home or office estimate.
• If you do some of your own packing, goods I recommend are items that don’t break and are easy to pack include the following:
o Books, paper files
o Sheets, pillows
o Blankets, towels
o Other unbreakable type of goods
• Keep in mind, any items you pack yourself won’t be covered by insurance because your mover will not be able to verify the items you packed were properly protected for transportation overseas or elsewhere.
• Ensure your boxes are properly identified by labeling each container appropriately (your mover can assist you with this).

If you plan to move items yourself, make sure to get a head start and pack early because it does take time. Use these tips if you are the “packing type,” but to save you time and heartache, leave it to us to do all your moving so your personal possessions are insured and you have peace-of-mind.

Safe moving!

When you are moving to another country, it can be a hassle at times if something should go wrong. Rest assured, consulates and embassies are there to assist you when you become a foreign citizen in a new land.

More often than not, you’ll be dealing with a consulate most of the time but there are times when you may need to utilize an embassy. Here’s some important information about consulates and embassies and what type of diplomatic services they can provide to you if needed when heading overseas.

Here’s what you need to know about each of them:
Embassies
They are the official diplomatic representation, or mission, of one government to another. The person in charge, usually an ambassador, is the personal representative of the respective nation’s head of state. Embassies are responsible for government-to-government relations. A country has only one embassy in each of the other countries with which it has diplomatic relations. It’s typically located in the nation’s capital city. In some countries, renewing passports for citizens while they’re abroad might occur only at an embassy, not a consulate.

Consulates
Consulates may be established in other large or commercially important cities. If nations don’t have full diplomatic relations, one country might establish a consulate, but not an embassy with an ambassador. A consulate’s primary function is to provide services for residents or travelers.
Some of the services consulates can provide include the following:
• Renewing passports
• Replacing lost or stolen passports
• Providing aid in obtaining medical and legal assistance
• Notarizing documents
• Assisting with tax returns and absentee voting
• Making arrangements in the event of death
• Registering births to nationals abroad
• Certifying—but not performing or granting—marriages and divorces abroad
• Providing information on dealing with host country authorities
• Arranging for evacuation or other assistance in emergency situations

Some consulates may have a community liaison officer who maintains contact with nationals residing in the area. It may be a part-time position filled by the spouse of a consulate official, but the officer is likely a valuable person to know.
Before you move, know the location and contact of the consulate or embassy so if you are in need of any diplomatic services, you know exactly where to call and who to be in touch with.
For a list of embassies and consulates, please visit USEmbassy.gov and or GoAbroad.gov for a specific consulate or embassy by country.
Safe moving!

When you decide to move overseas or within the U.S., you need to do your research so you find not only a reputable mover but a mover that has a strong track record of ensuring your personal belongings are moved safely. There are plenty of reputable moving companies to choose from, but if you are looking for an awesome moving company that has the “Midas” touch, you found the right mover.
We are a boutique moving company that provides hands-on service to all of our clients. In other words, when you decide to move with us, you will receive personal service from our experienced movers instead of being assigned to a novice mover with little experience like many of our competitors do.
Testimonials are a great way to assess if a moving company has the “right stuff” to move your household goods safely and on time.

Below are some testimonials from this year I’d like to share with you from our customers who used our services at Rainier Overseas and were more than pleased with their moves:

“I’m very thankful for your services and will be quick to recommend you to anyone who might be looking for a moving service.”

Steve B.
(New York, NY)

“Thanks so much for your help, definitely a much easier process than I expected and the best money I’ve ever spent.”

Meredith L.
(St. Louis, MO)

“I wanted to write and thank Rainier Overseas for an excellent job in shipping, storing and delivering our household items to us yesterday. Everything looks great and the service has been exceptional, both in Denmark and in the US. The goods were packaged extremely well and the packaging and delivery people on both sides did an outstanding job. I also appreciate the excellent communication from all parties with regard to our shipment/delivery. My family very much appreciates this level of service.”

PV S.
(Los Angeles, CA)

“We thank you very very much for everything and the amazing job you did we are so very pleased, appreciating your hard work and happy we chose you to do our move if you need any recommendation please let us know.
Have a great day!”

Beny R.
(Seattle, WA)

“Over the past few months, Cesar Castro’s attention to details, precise information and guidance helped me decide that I should hire Rainier. I had other options and spoke with a few other companies but the service from Cesar and Missy was above expectations. All my questions were answered by him and Missy almost immediately. The agent in Brazil – Denilson – was fantastic! Congratulations on having a strong team.”

Andre Suaid
(San Francisco, CA)

“We received the lift last week and wanted to thank you all for the excellent delivery, everything got to our apartment in perfect condition (and we noticed just how well everything was packed back in Albany) and the delivery went smoothly!
(We just gave our recommendation to another couple in the UC village). Thank you very much for the excellent service!”

Rinat Rosenberg K.
(Palo Alto, CA)

Want More? – https://www.rainieros.com/testimonials/ 
Safe moving!

You know what happens when you assume anything because it makes…well, you know the rest. When you are moving overseas, don’t assume that your familiarity with the requirements of passports and visas will prepare you going into another country. Each country has their own regulations and documentation requirements and procedures are very detailed complicated and often subject to change.

A little planning and forethought to make sure you understand the requirements, complete all the forms and account for any government bureaucracy, will help to ensure everything goes smoothly. To ensure your required documents such as your passport, visa and permits etc. are correct, start by contacting the consular office of your host country’s embassy. They know the latest rules and registration requirements because documentation regulations may change on short notice.

Passports
A passport is an official verification of the holder’s nationality and, with a few exceptions, is required to enter another country. In many cases, a visa will not be issued unless you have a passport. Each member of your family should have a passport. Some countries will refuse entry to visitors whose passports expire during the period of their stay, so make sure passports for you and your family members are valid for well past your stay.

Visas
A visa allows a foreigner to enter a country for a specific purpose and duration. It’s usually stamped in the visitor’s passport, although sometimes it may be on a separate document. It may authorize a single visit or multiple entries to the country.

Once you’re ready to make the big move, countries require longer-term visas. When inquiring about the regulations, make sure you specify that you are relocating to the country. Real problems can result if you obtain the wrong type of visa. The last thing you want, when starting your life abroad, is to find yourself escorted across the border in the wrong direction.

The country you are visiting may issue a visa via its consulates and embassies. You may need to obtain your visa before traveling, although in some cases visas can be obtained at the port of entry. Most countries in Europe no longer require a visa but it’s always good to check with the consulate.

By preparing and making sure your passport and visa and other documents are all in order, it will ensure your move will be uneventful.

Safe moving!

Moving can be a daunting task and stressful especially if you have other family members that are moving with you like a spouse, partner, children and even pets relocating somewhere overseas. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed at times and have anxiety but it can be significantly reduced with moving stress-relievers.

One moving stress-reliever is leaving all the moving to us including packing your personal belongings. We will come to you with a professional surveyor to itemize your possessions and let the movers take care of it from day one until your final destination.

Another stress-reliever is having the moving company pack all of your belongings for you and even better yet, have them unpack everything for you as well at your final moving destination. Much of the stress in moving is packing and unpacking. Leave that to us and you’ll have extra time for other important things in your life. Movers are stocked with moving supplies like excellent moving boxes, moving pads, straps and stretch wrap to ensure your possessions are packed and safe during your move.

If your employer has asked you to relocate to another country, more often than not, the company usually pays for your move. If not, ask your supervisor or human resources representative and put together a rough estimated budget (I can assist you with this) and present it to your employer. Your company will be interested in keeping your stress levels to a minimum so you are able to adjust to your new home, location and position without having to stress about moving.

When it comes to a financial stress-reliever, your moving is if it’s for work is tax deductible. In addition, there are plenty of resources you can tap into in order to make your move hassle-free. Rainier Overseas is a member of the International Association of Movers (IAM) and the industry’s largest trade association has plenty of resources for you and services in more than 170 countries. You can visit them at http://www.iamovers.org/.

By allowing a moving company to do everything for you from point A to point B, it will limit the stress and free up time for you to focus on the things that really matter to you like adjusting your family, discovering your new city, and getting to know new friends and neighbors.

Safe moving!

If you are thinking about moving to Latin America, we have you covered. The Americas, especially this summer, is a perfect time to make a move but you need to book early since it is the busiest moving time of the season. The 2016 Summer #Olympics is underway and summer is in full swing with warm weather, blue clear water and white sandy beaches.

Rainier Overseas is a proud member of the Latin America and Caribbean International Movers Association (lacma). Lacma’s membership consists of experienced and prestigious moving and relocation companies from the Americas and throughout the world.

In March, we were part of the lacma convention that was held in Bogota, Columbia. The convention brought together some of the most innovative and award-winning moving companies in the world. Moving to the Americas can be challenging at times and it’s important to make sure to hire the most experienced and knowledgeable movers in the industry. We work with excellent lacma members who are well-known in the market for their strong customer support, reliability and availability as well.

Lacma members are the best at what they do and their services are second to none. Your shipments and overall move will be in the best hands possible.

As a lacma member, Rainier Overseas will ensure your move to be the smoothest and safest ever. If you plan to make a move somewhere in Latin America or the Caribbean, please feel free to email Cesar Castro and you’ll receive personal service directly from me and the best that lacma has to offer. Please visit their website at http://lacmassoc.org/index.php for more information.

Knowledge is key in the moving industry and there are few people out there that have more knowhow that Doug Wiviott, a long standing partner with Rainier Overseas. He was recently interviewed by Expatfinder.com. http://www.expatfinder.com/hr-global-mobility/interview/doug-wiviott-partner-at-rainier-overseas-movers/6558

Happy Moving!