Working from home what are your thoughts?? And possibly aboard

[JHW]

There are some tax implications as an American working abroad that you have to be aware of. I lived and worked outside of the US for several years, so I speak from experience. You need to have a good tax accountant or have the company pay for one on your behalf that specializes in this type of expat tax.

Even though you live and work overseas as a US citizen you still have to file taxes in the US and you can't use the regular 1040ez. The paperwork is more complicated. If you decide to use a tax attorney who specializes in this it could cost up to 3-5K per per year to file. On top of that depending on how much you and your wife makes it maybe taxed in both the US and the UK. According to a quick google search ~ For tax year 2020, the maximum foreign earned income exclusion is $107,600 ($215,200 for a married expat couple). So anything over that you may have to pay taxes in both countries.

Anyway..something to consider. There are other cultural issues that you will have to navigate but that's a whole different topic.

Thanks for that thankfully I have an accounting background so I would be able to handle our US taxes the UK is foreign to me so that will be something I will have to research. That is a very good point

 

[JHW]

I’ve visited the UK and i thought it was wonderful but we didn’t visit big cities . We toured a lot of rural areas with a gospel choir .

not gun-friendly but if you stay out of the big cities it’s very unlikely you’d see any kind of crime.

I have not been yet I was supposed to go but with COVID it is not likely at least for a little while longer. I have been outside the US several times but never to the UK or Europe. We would be on the outskirts of London so I think we would be ok crime wise but will probably want to research that

 

[JHW]

I've worked from home since 1997. First few years, had some gigs with clients that took me to their locations 3 or 4 days a week. Starting in 2001, worked from home. Took me a couple of years to adjust after 15+ years of working in offices. I don't mind offices, but I truly love working from home.

As for the UK part, if you can swing it, it sounds like a great opportunity. Not many people get to live an work abroad for a year. Do it, if you can, for no other reason than the experience.

If you still had a large amount of your career left do you think you would want to be in the office more?

I sometimes think that but with the ability to work remotely I can live in cheaper areas save more, and travel more.

My company is currently located in Connecticut and I looked at moving up there and by the time I got finished with housing transport etc my great GA salary turned into getting by up there which is what really turned me away from moving.

 

[rbstern]

If you still had a large amount of your career left do you think you would want to be in the office more?

That's a tough question for me to answer. Probably not. The biggest thing I hate about office life is the commute, so alot of the answer to that is how much travelling each day.

I'm very used to the work from home. Could re-adapt to office life, but wouldn't be a first choice.

 

[Ex313]

I recommend that you go to the UK. It's only a year and if you don't like it there you won't be there very long.
You can work your normal week there and use it a a jumping off point to visit the rest of Europe. Get a Brit Rail pass (if they have one) and UK travel is a lot cheaper.
You will end up kicking yourself if you pass up this opportunity that most Americans only get to experience if they enlist.

 

[zesty]

If you're young and don't have kids, make the move and try something new. If you don't like it, move back.

Regardless, why would anyone want to go into the office if not forced? I never hang out with people from work anyway, lol.

 

[GeauxLSU]

You are early in career. I would absolutely prefer to be in an office in that situation if I had any aspirations of upward movement at all. There are simply certain relationships and interactions that will facilitate your promotions that are infinitely easier (and in some cases only possible), face to face.
I've done both and by the far the best situation for me was a hybrid/mix.
If I could choose my 'perfect' scenario at this stage of the game (late career) I'd STILL want to be in the office at least part time. Either 1 or 2 days a week or one week a month.
As far as London, I've only been once in another life (toured the country with a girl that was from there, we were dating at the time). London absolutely sucked to me. Couldn't even breathe the air. The history is amazing, but I was very happy to put it in my rear view and hit the country side (which is incredible). But, some people like big cities. That would not be me. If you've been to NYC and 'like' it and think you could live there, then I'm sure you'd like living in London. And of course you'll have the anti-American sentiment. Of course we have that here now.

 

[BH-ATL]

I worked for a company that often offered temporary overseas assignments. Most people who took these ended up moving up rapidly in their career, however, some had some major hiccups. If there is a major re-org while you girlfriend is overseas she may not have a job to return to and, depending on the work visa rules. may be forced to leave the UK if the job is eliminated. It is good to have a exit strategy in case the company forgets about her.

 

[JHW]

That's a tough question for me to answer. Probably not. The biggest thing I hate about office life is the commute, so alot of the answer to that is how much travelling each day.

I'm very used to work from home. Could re-adapt to office life, but wouldn't be the first choice.

Completely understand sometimes I have long hours and the fact that I do not lose 2 hours of my day to commuting really makes that much more manageable. Plus the ability to cook at home and more flexibility in my day.

 

[JHW]

You are early in career. I would absolutely prefer to be in an office in that situation if I had any aspirations of upward movement at all. There are simply certain relationships and interactions that will facilitate your promotions that are infinitely easier (and in some cases only possible), face to face.
I've done both and by the far the best situation for me was a hybrid/mix.
If I could choose my 'perfect' scenario at this stage of the game (late career) I'd STILL want to be in the office at least part time. Either 1 or 2 days a week or one week a month.
As far as London, I've only been once in another life (toured the country with a girl that was from there, we were dating at the time). London absolutely sucked to me. Couldn't even breathe the air. The history is amazing, but I was very happy to put it in my rear view and hit the country side (which is incredible). But, some people like big cities. That would not be me. If you've been to NYC and 'like' it and think you could live there, then I'm sure you'd like living in London. And of course you'll have the anti-American sentiment. Of course we have that here now.

Interesting that is was I have always thought 1 or 2 days in the office get all the status updates and meetings over with then focus on the work at home.

I was thinking that as well I think it will be curious how many people actually come into the office after all this. I know on my current team of 13 only about 2 want to come in the office now.

NYC is not my favorite city but I was thinking the area we were looking at was outside of London though I have heard the city itself is not great