Expats living abroad, who maintain a Virtual USA Mailbox. - Questions

[ShokWaveRider]

These questions are for Expats who actually live abroad or overseas with respect to their US residency and maintain a US Virtual Address.

1) Do you have you US SS paid into a US Bank or Credit Union, and is your Virtual Mailbox address adequate?

2) Is a virtual mailbox adequate To Maintain a US driver's license? Not applying for a NEW one just to maintain an existing one?

3) Filing US Taxes?

Anything else I have forgotten?

Thanks in Advance for you applicable responses.

 

[candrew]

We are expats living outside the U.S.

In answer to your questions 1-3

1. Currently not yet taking SS. We do however have our pensions deposited into a U.S. credit union. In addition, we have a Schwab high-yield checking account that permits ATM withdrawals worldwide. ATM fees are reimbursed monthly. Our regular IRA withdrawals are deposited into Schwab.

Our virtual mailbox address with Traveling Mailbox works for our CC's, Fidelity, Credit Union & DW's Medicare. Maybe I'm missing something, however, I see no reason why it wouldn't work for SS.

2. We maintain AZ driver's licenses. We do know of people who have obtained licenses in other states, i.e. South Dakota & Florida. I've heard of folks getting FLA licenses using a virtual mailbox address. YMMV.

3. Not sure about taxes as we use our son's address in AZ for filing.

 

[Alan]

We are expats living outside the U.S.

In answer to your questions 1-3

1. Currently not yet taking SS. We do however have our pensions deposited into a U.S. credit union. In addition, we have a Schwab high-yield checking account that permits ATM withdrawals worldwide. ATM fees are reimbursed monthly. Our regular IRA withdrawals are deposited into Schwab.

Our virtual mailbox address with Traveling Mailbox works for our CC's, Fidelity, Credit Union & DW's Medicare. Maybe I'm missing something, however, I see no reason why it wouldn't work for SS.

2. We maintain AZ driver's licenses. We do know of people who have obtained licenses in other states, i.e. South Dakota & Florida. I've heard of folks getting FLA licenses using a virtual mailbox address. YMMV.

3. Not sure about taxes as we use our son's address in AZ for filing.

In looking at the requirements for an AZ DL it requires 2 proofs of residence. How do you manage this since you are not resident?

https://apps.azdot.gov/files/mvd/mvd-forms-lib/96-0155.pdf

Since you put your home address on your 1040 as that of your son in AZ do you also pay AZ State taxes?

 

[Retireby45ish]

I’ll pose another question for those living abroad:

Is it worth changing your state of residence (either using these virtual addressses or another means) to a no income state like FL?

I worked abroad for a few years and some of the expats had a tax attorney file some papers so their intended state of residence (apparently it’s all about the intent to move back there, whether you do or don’t eventually) when they returned was FL. This saved them a lot in state income taxes. I didn’t do it since I knew I would be back soon enough but if it’s possible and you are an expat I would think this would be a huge $$ saver (in state taxes on SS or cap gains, divs, etc) for those who will be overseas for years.

 

[candrew]

In looking at the requirements for an AZ DL it requires 2 proofs of residence. How do you manage this since you are not resident?

https://apps.azdot.gov/files/mvd/mvd-forms-lib/96-0155.pdf

Since you put your home address on your 1040 as that of your son in AZ do you also pay AZ State taxes?

Yes on both counts.

 

[candrew]

I’ll pose another question for those living abroad:

Is it worth changing your state of residence (either using these virtual addressses or another means) to a no income state like FL?

We had thought about changing our state of residence to S.D. or FLA and obtaining driver's licenses there, however, we continue to maintain a presence in AZ and pay state income taxes. Both of our sons and their families live in AZ, our 5 grandchildren attend public schools in AZ, I have a marketplace health plan there and we make return visits several times each year. After selling our home in AZ, we did a change of address with DMV using our son's home address where we stay during visits. Along with enrolling in Medicare this fall I also have to renew my driver's license. AZ DMV now permits online renewal.

Once our grandkids are grown and out of school we may look into obtaining residence in a no tax state.