Best Places In The World To Retire

Mexico may quarantine an animal entering the country if the owner doesn’t provide a veterinarian certification.
 
If you bring your pet on a flight they generally always check, and if your pets arrives without the certification, then they can quarantine the pet until a Mexican veterinarian checks it out. Relative to driving to Mexico, many of my clients say they were never asked for their animal’s papers, but it’s possible that they will ask, so it’s good...

Mexico may quarantine an animal entering the country if the owner doesn’t provide a veterinarian certification.
 
If you bring your pet on a flight they generally always check, and if your pets arrives without the certification, then they can quarantine the pet until a Mexican veterinarian checks it out. Relative to driving to Mexico, many of my clients say they were never asked for their animal’s papers, but it’s possible that they will ask, so it’s good to get the certification.
 
I believe you need to get the certification 7 or 10 days before you leave that states that your pets have all of their vaccinations and they don’t have certain diseases. For people who have multiple pets, you can bring in somewhere in the area of three pets per person. As a result, it’s important, for example, if you have five pets and you’re two people, you put up to three pets in one person’s name and the other in the other person’s name because if one person has more than three pets, they will pay a tax.  By mistake, some people will just say, “Oh well, the wife will go to the vet and put all the pets in the wife’s name,” but when they come on board the plane, they hear “You have five animals in your name. You need to pay a tax because you’re only allowed to bring in three.”

 

(Dog riding in a car, pictured.)

Many of the doctors in Panama are bilingual, board certified and accustomed to working with the same medical equipment and technology used in the United States and Europe. Most of of them have been trained in the U.S. where they went on to practice for several years. They return to Panama to work in first-rate facilities boasting state of the art medical equipment, such as in San Fernando Hospital.
 

Many of the doctors in Panama are bilingual, board certified and accustomed to working with the same medical equipment and technology used in the United States and Europe. Most of of them have been trained in the U.S. where they went on to practice for several years. They return to Panama to work in first-rate facilities boasting state of the art medical equipment, such as in San Fernando Hospital.
 

There's quite a bit of misinformation and fear surrounding FATCA, but the bottom line is that it's not a big deal at all (assuming that you are OK with being 100% honest and open when it comes to complying with your U.S. federal income tax responsibilities).

 

If all you do is move your residence overseas, then FATCA will have no effect on you whatsoever.  You could live your whole life overseas and never say or read "FATCA" ever again.  Some...

There's quite a bit of misinformation and fear surrounding FATCA, but the bottom line is that it's not a big deal at all (assuming that you are OK with being 100% honest and open when it comes to complying with your U.S. federal income tax responsibilities).

 

If all you do is move your residence overseas, then FATCA will have no effect on you whatsoever.  You could live your whole life overseas and never say or read "FATCA" ever again.  Some people seem to think that FATCA requires 30% withholding on all international wire transfers or all amounts paid to persons who live overseas, but that is not the case at all.  FATCA withholding only applies in very limited circumstances generally related to U.S. banks and brokers paying interest or dividends to non-U.S. persons.

 

Now, if you also move some assets overseas with you, or otherwise invest in non-U.S. assets (e.g., by forming a non-U.S. corporation, or opening non-U.S. bank accounts), then FATCA will be something you'll need to think about.  However, it still won't negatively affect your life (as long as the assumption in the first sentence of my answer holds true).

 

FATCA is mainly an information-gathering tool for the IRS, and it has two parts.  

 

First, FATCA requires some additional disclosure on your U.S. tax return--this is IRS Form 8938.  So, you'll need to add a few extra pages to your return to tell the IRS about your non-U.S. bank accounts or interests in non-U.S. entities.  No big deal (assuming you have your U.S. tax return prepared by someone knowledgeable in this area).

 

Second, FATCA essentially requires non-U.S. banks and brokers to provide information about their U.S. account holders.  (I say "essentially requires" because FATCA subjects them to a punitive withholding regime if they don't comply.)  So, when you open a non-U.S. financial account, you'll have some extra paperwork to fill out.  Then, if you invest through fancy offshore structures, you'll need to make sure it is structured in a way that makes FATCA compliance easy (you'll need a tax attorney on board).  Again, FATCA should not ultimately have a negative impact on your life.

 

So, no need to worry about FATCA--just enjoy your new life abroad!

 

(Lake Nicaragua  and the island volcano Ometepe, Nicaragua, pictured.)

Belize is situated on the Caribbean Sea, just south and bordering of Mexico.

 

Even though Belize is a small country, it is busting with diversity, from its majestic lakes and waterfalls, to pristine beaches and breathtaking Maya mountains to its accessible and abundant rainforest.
 
The natural beauty of Belize is astounding.

Belize is situated on the Caribbean Sea, just south and bordering of Mexico.

 

Even though Belize is a small country, it is busting with diversity, from its majestic lakes and waterfalls, to pristine beaches and breathtaking Maya mountains to its accessible and abundant rainforest.
 
The natural beauty of Belize is astounding.