Hello Robert, Congratulations!! I read your email with considerable interest. If your company is offering you (key words here), then they should be the ones to address all of your concerns, in detail, to your satisfaction. If not, then I would truly question this move as it involves an adjustment of your lifestyle as well as that of your family. Best to have everyone on board realising the good and bad.
Actually, you are in the drivers seat, so to speak, and you should really flex (or leaverage) this for negotiations with your firm. ... keep in mind "You get only what you negotiate". The company has a service (you) that needs to go to market (Australia) and they want to bring this product to Market at the least possible cost. Sound familiar? OR, the company sees potential in you as most senior posts happen after an individual has spent some time in overseas locations (HUGE cultural and business operations challenge - hence a proving ground!!) Look seriously at your long term goals and negotiate accordingly, which means you may have to compromise .. MAY!! Nevertheless, I would suggest the following for consideration (also contingent on where you are in this agreement with your company): 1. Contractual Clause - if you/your family does not like it, or cannot adjust for whatever reason, you can return to the USA with job etc. in hand. However looking at upward mobility within the company, I would try my hardest to adjust; 2. The company should provide educational subsidy (50 to 100%) is not unheard of, for children to attend a comparable educational institute in the host country. Note that educational institutions curriculum etc. varies considerably country to country. Consider also your long-term educational plans for your children. Meaning if they are to attend a USA University, then it would make sense to ensure any primary/secondary (high school) curriculum meets the USA requirements. Many countries have schools that offer USA and/or UK based curriculums; 3. Tax inquiries, or advice, SHOULD be provided by your employer. However there is such a "temporary residence" clause that allows one only to be taxed by the hosting jurisdiction. Additionally, you will still have to file to the IRS, however there is a level of income by which you may not have to pay any taxes. Again, your company should provide you with this information prior to your move. Consider also what the hosting country provides with high taxes and whether you as an Expat will be afforded the same privileges; 4. Housing, should actually be given by your company or a 50% allowance is not unheard of. 5. Finally, it would do you well to understand the host country offerings for the categories that you mention. It's not a lot of effort as the Internet can/will provide you with the answers you seek. All the best to you and your family as living oversease is an experience that you and your shildren would never forget and would be eternally greatful. Send me an off line email and we can discuss further if you like: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (opps just revealed this to everyone now!! Ho hum!!) OK, I am going back in silent/lurk mode now and look for things on topic. Many thanks for the reponse to my previous post. To the guy from India ..... well let's just say, I could write a few pages to your point. And Bruno ...... sorry to hear about your situation mate!!!! Fast Food is good though and who knows you may be a regional director in Spain one day. But I would seriously look inside before looking outside. Hope you get it. Many thanks to the moderator for posting my email. With kind regards to all --- Robert Freeman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Greetings: > > I work for a high-visibility US company and I've > been recently offered a > position within my company overseas in Sydney. At > the moment, I am enroute > to Sydney to oversee a project and discuss this new > opportunity. If I may, > I'd like to ask you for a bit of advice for a > potential expat. First, what > sort of housing "subsidy" do you think one should > expect? Personally, that > would be nice given the astronomical Oz tax rate. > Secondly, might I inquire > how you handle US taxes. Unlike a lot of counties, > the USA taxes its > citizens anywhere in the world, although that is > clearly taxation without > representation (additionally, on a side note, > citizens that renounce their > citizenship for the purpose of stopping taxation can > be taxed for an > additional period of ten years!). Although Oz taxes > are higher than in the > US and subsequently I doubt that I'd have to pay > anything in addition, > filing taxes twice has got to be a real pain in the > ass. Therefore any tips? > Finally, if you have any other words of wisdom that > might be helpful, I'd > appreciate it. > > > With great respect, > > Robert > > __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com
