INSS/Social Security-2018 bilateral agreement-looking others

mberigan Serial expat

Member since 21 January 2020

mberiganSerial expat25 March 2021 14:17:00

377

I was sort of hoping that, over time with the newer 2018 bilateral agreement between the Social Security Admin. and INSS, that some feeder industry might grow to assist people locally in Brazil who have no experience with the Social Security Administration and tax filing needs for people earning income from the USA.

Specifically, I was hoping to see tax consultants with either USA tax law experience OR both USA tax law and Brazilian tax law begin advertising or making themselves available to potentially a new group of beneficiaries here in Brazil that might not have a) English language skills b) the foggiest idea of tax filing requirements.

My problem: my partner speaks no English, has never lived in the USA, has zero experience in filing taxes in the USA.

It isn't a problem as long as I'm here but should, suddenly, things change and she becomes a "survivor" who is entitled to benefits and has accounts in the USA and responsibilities in managing those affairs, well then what does she do.

I know that abthree usefully suggested routing income directly to a jointly held Brazilian bank in order to ease access to the income (and that's part of my plan) STILL the poor dear doesn't have a chance understanding the tax system on her own. Trust (of service providers) is also an issue for I could probably look up and find a number of "tax accountants" in Miami that are bilingual but who says they aren't simply "picaretas" waiting for easy prey. There are also high end providers but some are expat-focused and not for the non-citizen-never-spoke-a-drop-of-English folks OR they exist to deal with people with huge incomes (not us).

Has anybody here ever seen a listing of tax accountants (U.S.A. income taxes) that speak Portuguese and have familiarity with the IRS??

Is there anybody in this online group that is in my hybrid situation of having a Portuguese-speaking (only) partner that potentially will have tax reporting responsibilities.

I guess I'd like to hear from those offline (direct message) but I also guess that my situation is probably rare.

Thx
MattB

See also

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GuestPoster279 Guest

GuestPoster279Guest25 March 2021 15:12:53

Hi Matt:
I cannot help you with the tax accountant, but can give you some information on Social Security.
If you are not aware, all SSA issues for Brazil residents is handled from within the US Embassy in Lisbon. Obviously they are bilingual.
Go to the US Embassy website in Brasilia> Federal Programs> Social Security.
You send them an email and they reply within a few days.
Prior to the pandemic they had limited phone hours, not sure now.

Hope this helps one issue.
Regards

Inubia Serial expat

Member since 17 December 2020

InubiaSerial expat25 March 2021 15:20:37

293

Im certainly headed in that direction. passo e passo.
I have worked out a general method of testing strangers from different cultures .... depending upon what they have that might be of service to me, I give them a certain amount of money and then watch closely how they behave....
Theoretically my little country girl in Bahia could inherit multiple rented real estate in Maryland but hopefully by the time that happens she will have working relationships with partners I have who can guide her and help her out.
It certainly does keep me busy!

mberigan Serial expat

Member since 21 January 2020

mberiganSerial expat25 March 2021 15:23:18

377

PaulDe,

Yes! The folks at FBU in Lisbon are awesome. They've been so incredibly responsive on questions of Social Security and Medicare.

HR Block Expat helps me with taxes only they're not bilingual.
MattB

abthree Brazil Expert

Member since 28 December 2017

abthreeBrazil Expert25 March 2021 16:02:05

6388

Matt,

You may want to arrange your US-based estate planning in such a way that your executor liquidates the US holdings that you intend for your partner completely and transfers the balance to Brazilian accounts you've set up beforehand in her name, saving her the whole ongoing hassle.

BTW, Brazilian estate taxes at the state level on estates inherited abroad have recently emerged as a hot issue in São Paulo. Your planning should definitely include a talk with an attorney in Paraíba to know whether to expect any unpleasant surprises from that direction.

I think you've got Social Security covered with the Lisbon FBU.

Advance planning is good; I hope that you won't need it for a long time to come.

Texanbrazil ViP

Member since 10 February 2018

TexanbrazilViP25 March 2021 16:26:57

2744

Tough call Matt.
Finding a person in Brazil as your personal rep that you can trust is hard.
It took me 7 years to find an attorney and PR I trust to handle US assets. My will had to be altered to comply with BR estate laws. Attorney did such and filed.
I also set up TOD (Transfer on Death) accounts on most assets and introduced my wife and PR to the Bank just so they know what and who will handle the estate. Plus IRA's early withdrawals can hit assets hard if people do not know the tax laws.
My wife would be like a "deer in the headlights" if I did nothing.
As said I found a person who lived in the US and paid taxes, someone speaking English/Portuguese, I was lucky.
SS as said go with Lisbon FBU

ohhi New member

Member since 08 August 2020

ohhiNew member25 March 2021 19:12:02

I used for several years the services of Alonso e Garcia:

http://www.international-tax-services.c … triate.htm

One of them (Stephanie) speaks Brazilian Portuguese.
(But since last year I am just using TurboTax)

A difficulty which I am having right now with US tax: in the wake of Nigerian attacks
became virtually impossible to request tax transcripts. If somebody knows a good
algorithm for doing that, please share...