nz/usa income tax obligations?

[doc]

hi everyone,
so it looks quite likely that my oh and i will be relocating to taupo for a 12 month work gig. we will both be employed and i wondering if anyone has any advice concerning the income tax obligations of both countries.
thanks for any thoughts,
doc

[Oregonkiwi]

IRS Publication 54 is a good place to start:
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/...=97324,00.html

[SueDonim]

Unfortunately I don't know the name, but several US expats I spoke to in Wellington said there is a top notch accountant in Christchurch. The rules, I hear, are very complicated, but this guy is supposed to be on top of it all. Sorry I don't have a name.

[Ana&Steve]

The way I understand it is that if you are earning NZ $, you still file US taxes but will not have to pay more than what you've already paid in NZ taxes unless you make over a certain amount ($90k?) That's the watered down version, but the constant is that you still file for the US.

[ColeyNZ]

I'm no CPA but the basis is this:

There is a reciprocal tax agreement between NZ & the US. But there is a limit and that limit is $91,400. You will have to file Married but filing separately and I'm not 100% at what point a currency valuation is done.

http://www.expatcpa.com/expat.htm

This group specialises in American tax advice:
http://www.expatcpa.com/

Jeff Owens is a good advisor:
http://www.owenstax.com/

Here is a link that lists all the top accounting firms in NZ:
http://www.financejobs.co.nz/cm/acco..._nz_accounting

[doc]

thanks everyone,
doc

[Oregonkiwi]

You will have to file Married but filing separately and I'm not 100% at what point a currency valuation is done.

We always file as 'Married filing jointly', we do one 1040 between us and a 2555-EZ each (although obviously everyone's situation is different and ours is very straight-forward) and we use the exchange rate provided by the US Embassy
http://newzealand.usembassy.gov/irs.html

The Embassy also has a list of tax specialists
http://newzealand.usembassy.gov/cont...rs.html#tx_spc