six months in colombia and six months in usa

Simon says on May 15, 2008, 11:09:

Damn, you're lucky! I wish I could do that.

HERE'S SIMON!!!!

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ColombianoGringo says on May 15, 2008, 11:11:

Yeah. Sounds great. Good luck.

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Mononoke28 says on May 15, 2008, 11:17:

My mom does it because we still have a lot of family there and she has us over here. She's a US citizen so she can do it.

Diana

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poco says on May 15, 2008, 11:35:

Quote: is there any members that spend 6 months in colombia and six months in their respective countries, i am planning on doing this next year feeling for a change in my life
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Yes, I've done this for 6 years. However, I wouldn't be caught dead (no pun intended) in a Colombian city. DANGEROUS. I've always lived in the mountains.

Six months is PLENTY of time in Colombia. I'd never move there or invest,, too shakey. The U.S. is still one of the best places in the world to live.

However,, if you are a poverty sticken dumb smuck,, then,, you probably won't like the U.S.

That being said,, why would you need to know?

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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kat1 (Moderator) says on May 15, 2008, 13:55:

that's my future plans too, but some years will vary, maybe i want to stay longer than 6 month in Colombia or viceversa...

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Alma del Norte says on May 15, 2008, 14:13:

That's exactly what I used to do, but now that I have my rentista visa, I intend spending something like 9-10 months in Colombia and the rest in the UK. I go back, work like a dog, (usually housesitting for friends), and that gives me enough for the basics here. I know, I am very fortunate, but it took years to get into this position.

La vida es una rutina

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Mononoke28 says on May 15, 2008, 14:20:

It's great to be able to be in both countries for that long. By the time you're sice of one all you have to do is hop on a plane and get to the other one. Then do the same 6 months later.

Diana

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tomtom33 says on May 15, 2008, 14:58:

I have been spending 8 months in Colombia and 4 in the US for about 5 years. But I prefer Colombian cities, first Cartagena and now Medellín. There are dangers in the mountains as well. And the dangers in the tourist zone of Cartagena are virtually nil. For now this split works great, but it may differ in the future.

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bickerss says on May 15, 2008, 15:03:

I do 6 weeks wrk then 6 weeks leave in Colombia - its great!!

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Atrevido says on May 15, 2008, 15:53:

I don´t think it´s realistic on a practicle level. What do you do with your place in the US while in Colombia and vice versa. Can you really find people to rent your places in each country for just six months? What about paying bills so services don´t get cut off? That´s feasable in the US with online banking but not in Colombia, debito automatico only works for a few entities. Also what about your stuff? Do you use any reference material/books in your activities? Schlepp them back and forth? I think your life would have to be awfully simple for it to work.

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aztec says on May 15, 2008, 16:06:

If you stay six months or more it changes your tax situation.

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poco says on May 15, 2008, 16:30:

Quote: What do you do with your place in the US while in Colombia and vice versa.

Lock the doors ? I like coming into the U.S., turning on the electricity, starting the car,, going to the store,,, and,, life is good.

Since I don't own,, the girl I'm with takes care of her house and other stuff,, plus,, feeds my Parrot.
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Quote: If you stay six months or more it changes your tax situation.
No,, it does NOT change your tax situation in the U,S. if you are in Colombia six months and the U.S. six months. You must be taking to Rubito because you are Wrong,, wrong,, wrong.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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tomtom33 says on May 15, 2008, 16:33:

Atre, of course it is realistic. Many of us here do it.

My condo in the US stands empty for 8 months. My car sits in the garage with the positive battery terminal disconnected and Stabil in the gas tank. All US bills are paid electronically, and my mail is forwarded to a buddy's house.

In Colombia, my novia handles all the bills. My house in Colombia is sometimes occupied by my novia when I am gone. No one rents the house, either.

Both homes are fully furnished, and I do not schlep anything back and forth.

It is really not a lot different from many people in the northern part of the US who have winter homes in Arizona or Florida. I just went a little further south.

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Frank Rizzo says on May 16, 2008, 01:06:

Please read Aztec's short but VERY PROFOUND comment above 5 times before doing anything !!!! He is EXACTLY right......

What he says is the most important statement regarding this subject.

I don't know Aztec personally, but he and I have a common friend (viewpoint) and we all have been subject to this.

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Brians says on May 16, 2008, 05:25:

I disagree with Fran Rizzo and Aztec even though I like them both...I do not know of any issues with tax status. You still file returns on interest income and US earned income. If you have income internationally in a tax treaty country then you can exclude that up to I think $80,000 if you live outside US for 330 days out of the year. However I am not a tax account but this is how I understand it so correct me if I am wrong. You go to Colombia and only earn interest and dividends and rent on US assets and work 6 months in US. Then you simply pay taxes on that amount. Now if you are earning an income overseas hen technically you need to report it and pay taxes on it if you are in a non-tax treaty country (How will they ever know?).

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Frank Rizzo says on May 16, 2008, 06:49:

Hi Brians....i'm no accountant either....but have them in cali and medellin....they tell me 181 days in colombia in a year = taxes to DIAN on the colombia side as a resident...i'm sure Aztec and Gator have more info than i do on this....

A point to add....i'm a workaholic in the USA and probably will never spend 181 days a year in colombia..jajajaj....so probably a moot point for me....LOL

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Brians says on May 16, 2008, 07:03:

I was speaking to US taxes. However if you earn income in Colombia then you have to pay taxes. I own real estate and pay taxes on this as well. I would assume all earned income in Colombia is taxed but I earn $0 in colombia so not issue with me either.

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tomtom33 says on May 16, 2008, 07:07:

Actually I doubt that any two DIAN officials could give the same answer. But I believe that the potential taxation of worldwide income doesn't really come into play until you have been in Colombia for 5 years with over 180 days of residence in each year. I say potential because nothing is certain in Colombia.

I have not exceeded that 5-year mark yet. I have filed returns with DIAN for the last 4 years and used Colombian accountants to make the filings. I intend to continue to spend more than 180 days per year in Colombia. If at some time in the future I get bit by Colombian taxes badly, I will pay. Then I will assess my future options.

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Frank Rizzo says on May 16, 2008, 07:17:

Hi tomtom and brians...there are strageties for this.....i learned from viewpoint (very smart cookie)...i'd be happy to share in private if you want...

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tomtom33 says on May 16, 2008, 07:42:

Frank, PM sent.

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morphus says on May 16, 2008, 07:53:

You can live in an RV when you get back to the US...no rent or mortgage to worry about.

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Frank Rizzo says on May 16, 2008, 08:05:

Hi tom...shot you an email.

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Alma del Norte says on May 16, 2008, 08:10:

Quote WSOTB: "Do you have a point to your post which can benefit the site or anyone for that matter?"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Who rattled your cage?

La vida es una rutina

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rjstuff says on May 16, 2008, 08:22:

tomtom wrote : If at some time in the future I get bit by Colombian taxes badly, I will pay. Then I will assess my future options.

Actually you do not need to worry about this at all. When you are taxed by Colombia, you can take a tax credit for the taxes paid to Colombia on your US return (so in fact you avoid double taxation). Its not too hard from what I have read so far. For people staying 6 months or under - you avoid the hassles of doing this - calculating the moneys you made in Colombia, number of days you lived there and filing US taxes and filling out forms for exclusion of foreign income and tax credits etc. But if you are already part of this as tomtom is, then you are OK without worrying too much about more taxes - as a matter of fact, if you move out of USA completely, you do avoid State income taxes (we have them in Colorado - Florida, Texas and a couple other states do not have these. So, some people become residents of Texas or Florida for tax purposes if they are choosing to live 6 months in and 6 months out - savings of about $1500 for me if I were to do this - but I am not there yet.)

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Frank Rizzo says on May 16, 2008, 08:26:

Hi RJ....good info for sure. thanks !!....though the taxes that i'm talking about are bulk asset holdings in colombia. They add up any/all public assets like cars, homes, etc...and it goes into an equation....at DIAN....and the come with their hand out....trust me on this one...

There are ways though...

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tomtom33 says on May 16, 2008, 08:54:

I am just a simple retired bum. Fortunately, I have a good US CPA firm and a good US law firm. And I am trying to establish good Colombian professional help.

Thanks for the tips, Frank.

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robert555 says on May 16, 2008, 09:04:

i was just intrested too see if anybody lived a life style of 6 months here and six months there it seems a few colombians in orlando do that .work hard here then enjoy 6 months in colombia, i want to go soon at the age of 48 not when im am 65 i have already an appartment in cali, i am just trying to get some ideas, trying to organize things and think to what i am going to do there for 5 or six months

robertscotland

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morphus says on May 16, 2008, 09:11:

Why not? As long as you have enough money saved to sustain yourself for a couple of years without working. What are you doing now? Do you work or have a business?

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Frank Rizzo says on May 16, 2008, 09:16:

Hi Robert...there are tons of fun things to do in cali....do you have a truck yet?? skip the car in cali...go with a truck with big tires...too many pot holes..no?? jajajaja

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robert555 says on May 16, 2008, 09:32:

i just have a menial job here in orlando in a hotel, which provides me with an income to survive on, i have no intentions of having a car in cali i know the bus system inside out.would just like to save some money and take a break away from the usa , enjoy my appartment and my friends and do something different for a change , then come back to orlando hopefully find another dead end job in a hotel and repeat the scenario am i crazy to be hinking like this

robertscotland

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morphus says on May 16, 2008, 09:58:

Go for it! There are plenty of dead end jobs in the US waiting for you when you get back.

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robert555 says on May 16, 2008, 10:28:

thank you for you input

robertscotland

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Robert Jorge says on May 16, 2008, 16:56:

I did it robert555. So I guess I am crazy too. I quit my dead end job, moved to Colombia for several months, came back to Florida and have had 3 sucky jobs since. Do you own your house in Orlando or rent? If you own, try and rent your place for the 6 months your gone. It takes some planning, and a little help from a good friend or two, but is totally do-able.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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Chriscan says on May 16, 2008, 18:03:

I'm doing it between Canada and Colombia. Last year was 5 months in Colombia and this year will be 6-7 in two trips.

It's not the idea situation that I thought. I find that I work too much in Canada and have too much free time in Colombia.

I realise now that Canada has a lot more to offer but if I stay too long the lack of fredom might make me wish to be in Colombia again.

My life in Canada has been worked out over years and couldn't really be any better. I think that I have to try some different things in Colombia to work out a lifestyle that suits me more.

My advise is try things out. It's better to try something and find out it's not what you want than to spend you time wondering what could be.

************* WARNING ************* my words often come from my ass

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robert555 says on May 16, 2008, 22:09:

thanks both of you for replying, if i may ask what did you do in colombia while you were there, thats what i have been thinking lately what am i going to do to pass the time

robertscotland

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Chriscan says on May 18, 2008, 18:35:

I go to the beach, snorkle, and travel when I can. Not having enough to do is a problem. On my next trip I{m going to find an old motorbike to fix up or maybe try to do some english teaching or be a tour guide.

I think that it will be a full year or two before I return after the next trip and if I do it will probably be to San Gill where I can do some rafting and other fun stuff. I know that won{t get old for me.

************* WARNING ************* my words often come from my ass

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