Permanent Resident With Online US Income

abthree wrote:

My recommendation would be to identify a trustworthy public accountant through your wife, or her family or your friends, and discuss your situation with that person.

It turns our that a few family members on my wife's fathers side are pretty keyed in to this whole process. Also we were able to ask some of my wife's colleagues who work at an English school who are familiarized expats.

Also I never knew there's an official computer program for doing taxes here in Brazil! It's like the future. How about we save some paper United States!

Thanks for the help!

jland912 wrote:

We asked this same question to my wife's accountant and he pretty much said the same thing Don't worry about it. I'm not sure how he lists me on her taxes. If your wife uses an accountant you might get advice from them.

We are pretty much doing our best guesses at the moment until we learn more from other family members. Because tax day has already passed, we had to go with out gut. If something goes wrong and we need to change it, it's just a matter of revising and paying the penalty. We will be better prepared next tax season though

Thanks!

acornbringer wrote:

Hi

I'm a self-employed game developer from the US who sells games, game assets, and art services online and receives self-employment income digitally through Paypal or by direct transfer to my US bank account. I've been living in Brazil since last April (2017) and became a permanent resident on August 30th 2017 shortly after getting married to my Brazilian wife. All the money I earn is held in my US bank account and I use my credit card for any purchases here in Brazil.

This being my first year in Brazil, I'm still trying to understand how I should be filing my taxes here. I have already reported my income in my US taxes as usual but I would like to know if I'm expected to do the same for the Receita Federal given my situation.

Any incite would be appreciated

I'll throw out something to think about ,as I'm not and "expert" on this . As an American Citizen , you have to file your income with the IRS ... As I understand it , the upper limit for income generated when we are living Outside the USA is greater before you cross the line to PAY taxes .
There are forms an Expat needs to file(while your living outside the USA) with your 1040 ,plus IIRC above $50K (yearly total held in Brazilian banks ) needs to be reported (to the USA /IRS).  The Brazilian banks (if you've opened up accounts here) take your SS # so if they need to report anything to the IRS ,they can) They did when I opened a account  few months ago.

Like most things involving the IRS , it's not made simple or easy ,imo.

I just did my 1st filing this year . which was "relatively worth it" having it prepared rather then trying to figure it all out ..Time vs. Money plus less headaches .... But not cheap and mine was a "simple" return for this year .
The above posts have good info in them , But I'd consider contacting one the big chain tax  companies and look into online programs they sell . I used H&R ... while not cheap ..they did everything . I Uploaded my docs and they did the rest ....
IIRC, Turbo Tax's software accepts some or all of the Expat forms needed to file . I'm nt sure as I have never used it .

IIRC , once you've done what is mandated by the USA , , there are ways around being "double taxed" ,so you do not also wind up having to pay Brazil for income earned while you are here ... Some papers to file ,Which an accountant who knows international taxes should be able to help with ,without much issue .... I think it is 1 form that needs to be filed ....

As long as you are an American Citizen , doesn't matter where you keep or make your $$$$(as I understand it) , the USA takes 1st crack and keeps it's claws in you ..... they only way to get ride of this, is to denounce your Citizenship . Which I would not recommend doing .....