would you move to the usa ? | ExpatWoman.com
 

would you move to the usa ?

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 July 2015 - 03:20
I'd definitely move <3
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 06 March 2014 - 21:20
I would move to the US in an instant, in fact DH has taken a job with a US company with this in mind. Forgetting about nice places to live you said you want to start a business. Many businesses seem to be started up in Texas, I assume there is some kind of tax benefit or perhaps it is more straightforward for foreign investors. It wouldn't be my choice of state, I'm a keen skier and going from one desert to the next would totally suck for me, oh and they have guns, lots of guns. I like guns just nice English ones hand engraved with walnut stocks not handguns openly carried around. Anyhoo I would recommend going through a list of all the states and working out the tax benefits/implications from them all then making a short list based on that to look at individual states from there. Bear in mind the US seems to have a lengthly list of hidden taxes. Sales tax, income tax, employment tax, property tax, corporate income tax, gross receipts tax the list is endless. Obviously federal taxes are on top of this it seems America likes to keep the tax accountant busy with the most complex tax laws in the world. My choice of states? Based on being a bit too English and liking cold weather, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, Illinois and possibly Colorado if only for the skiing (and only if they decide to make drugs illegal again). However I am informed most of these states suck for taxes. <sigh> Where to being with all the inaccuracies?! I have no idea why you think Texas is where most businesses start. Pure fact is that most businesses incorporate in Delaware ([url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/01/business/how-delaware-thrives-as-a-corporate-tax-haven.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0'>link[/url'>). Texas is a very large state with inexpensive labor (close to Mexico) and zero state income tax. It is NOT a desert. Not at all, it is actually very green in the larger cities such as Houston, Austin and San Antonio. Guns are not carried out in the open - I lived there for 10 years and never saw one except at a shooting range. There are no hidden taxes in the US. Actually I think there are more "hidden taxes" in the UAE than in the US (e.g. why do I pay 40% more here for the same clothes vs. the US even though I am closer to the manufacturing point?). Just because you don't know about them, doesn't make them hidden. There are good and bad places everywhere - that goes for the US as well. I wouldn't cross off an ENTIRE state based on a few stereotypes. edited by HotRice on 06/03/2014 Blimey. I cross off Texas because I want SOME FROST!!! I said this was personally for me. I was actually suggesting for someone who is NOT ME that they might WANT to consider setting up a business in Texas as many many people I know who have gone to the US have found it a good place to set up a business. I also said of the states I prefer (the FROSTY states) many of them happen to have really bad tax laws for new businesses (apparently). As for guns, Texas has more guns that most of the northern states and is about medium on the gun crime. It's neighbours, Louisiana, New Mexico have some of the highest gun crime rates, Oklahoma is also high whilst Illinois and much of New England has low gun ownership and gun crime rates. The only high gun ownership state I would consider is Colorado and as said purely for the skiing, it having some of the best in the world. Of course they legalised drugs there so now you can have gun toting stoners. In any case I am quite sure fine English guns are not a popular buy in many US states where guns are popular. Of course the bulk of my post was to advise the OP to look at the taxes of each state and decide from there. Taxes in the US are complex, every state has different tax laws. For a foreigner looking to move there who is used to national income tax, corporate tax, National Insurance and council tax to suddenly add in all these state taxes, city taxes and property taxes makes things more complex. Choosing a state to live in the US is not at all like choosing a county to live in the UK. Council tax from county to county can change marginally in the UK but all the other taxes stay the same. As for expensive clothes in Dubai, erm because shops are greedy?!
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 06 March 2014 - 20:59
Texas is only .08% desert. It's a common misconception that TX is all desert. There's no state income tax there, which is beneficial. Houston in particular is where the job market has remained strong despite the downfall elsewhere. I apologise for my exaggeration this was a personal preference as indicated I would suggest looking at tax benefits of each and every state when making a decision on moving to the US. I personally am looking for a city where the summer temperatures rarely reach above 30 and the winter temperatures always assure a good frost for a three to four months of the year plus some snow (so minus figures for a good few months). Seeing as the annual average low for the coldest month in Houston is 7 degrees and Dallas is 3 degrees Texas is most certainly not the state for me regardless of how much sand there is or is not.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 March 2014 - 20:48
I would move to the US in an instant, in fact DH has taken a job with a US company with this in mind. Forgetting about nice places to live you said you want to start a business. Many businesses seem to be started up in Texas, I assume there is some kind of tax benefit or perhaps it is more straightforward for foreign investors. It wouldn't be my choice of state, I'm a keen skier and going from one desert to the next would totally suck for me, oh and they have guns, lots of guns. I like guns just nice English ones hand engraved with walnut stocks not handguns openly carried around. Anyhoo I would recommend going through a list of all the states and working out the tax benefits/implications from them all then making a short list based on that to look at individual states from there. Bear in mind the US seems to have a lengthly list of hidden taxes. Sales tax, income tax, employment tax, property tax, corporate income tax, gross receipts tax the list is endless. Obviously federal taxes are on top of this it seems America likes to keep the tax accountant busy with the most complex tax laws in the world. My choice of states? Based on being a bit too English and liking cold weather, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, Illinois and possibly Colorado if only for the skiing (and only if they decide to make drugs illegal again). However I am informed most of these states suck for taxes. &lt;sigh&gt; Where to being with all the inaccuracies?! I have no idea why you think Texas is where most businesses start. Pure fact is that most businesses incorporate in Delaware ([url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/01/business/how-delaware-thrives-as-a-corporate-tax-haven.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0'>link[/url'>). Texas is a very large state with inexpensive labor (close to Mexico) and zero state income tax. It is NOT a desert. Not at all, it is actually very green in the larger cities such as Houston, Austin and San Antonio. Guns are not carried out in the open - I lived there for 10 years and never saw one except at a shooting range. There are no hidden taxes in the US. Actually I think there are more "hidden taxes" in the UAE than in the US (e.g. why do I pay 40% more here for the same clothes vs. the US even though I am closer to the manufacturing point?). Just because you don't know about them, doesn't make them hidden. There are good and bad places everywhere - that goes for the US as well. I wouldn't cross off an ENTIRE state based on a few stereotypes. <em>edited by HotRice on 06/03/2014</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 March 2014 - 20:42
Texas is only .08% desert. It's a common misconception that TX is all desert. There's no state income tax there, which is beneficial. Houston in particular is where the job market has remained strong despite the downfall elsewhere.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 06 March 2014 - 20:30
I would move to the US in an instant, in fact DH has taken a job with a US company with this in mind. Forgetting about nice places to live you said you want to start a business. Many businesses seem to be started up in Texas, I assume there is some kind of tax benefit or perhaps it is more straightforward for foreign investors. It wouldn't be my choice of state, I'm a keen skier and going from one desert to the next would totally suck for me, oh and they have guns, lots of guns. I like guns just nice English ones hand engraved with walnut stocks not handguns openly carried around. Anyhoo I would recommend going through a list of all the states and working out the tax benefits/implications from them all then making a short list based on that to look at individual states from there. Bear in mind the US seems to have a lengthly list of hidden taxes. Sales tax, income tax, employment tax, property tax, corporate income tax, gross receipts tax the list is endless. Obviously federal taxes are on top of this it seems America likes to keep the tax accountant busy with the most complex tax laws in the world. Oh North Carolina was voted one of the worst places for business taxes recently due I think to high sales taxes and income tax. However corporate taxes I think are reasonable so it is really dependent on the kind of business you want to set up. http://taxfoundation.org/blog/map-2014-state-business-tax-climate-index My choice of states? Based on being a bit too English and liking cold weather, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, Illinois and possibly Colorado if only for the skiing (and only if they decide to make drugs illegal again). However I am informed most of these states suck for taxes. <em>edited by RuthM on 06/03/2014</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 March 2014 - 14:44
I believe that South Carolina is also very nice. There has been a lot of recent buzz around Charleston ... it wins all sorts of awards as a great place to live and visit.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 06 March 2014 - 14:15
I have not been to either of the Carolinas but the vibe I get is that the South feels more like the Deep South and is more rural, while the North is more similar to Virginia
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EW GURU
Latest post on 06 March 2014 - 14:10
I wouldn't go to SC but that's just me. SC is more of a poor state where NC has the area around Raliegh Durham that has a lot of finance and technology companies.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 March 2014 - 12:35
what about south carolina ?
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EW GURU
Latest post on 06 March 2014 - 11:43
North Carolina is a very mainstream state, I am sure it will be near the nationwide averages for most social indicators and home prices, cost of living etc. I expect weather to be good as well, 4 seasons, not extreme hot nor extreme cold It is also well located in being within a day's drive from any point in the East Coast.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 March 2014 - 11:39
predominantly south and north carolina .That is where the family network is .
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EW GURU
Latest post on 06 March 2014 - 11:29
What cities are you going to see?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 March 2014 - 10:45
thank ladies - i am off to visit soon so will have to figure out what to do when i am there .
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EW GURU
Latest post on 05 March 2014 - 21:27
NC is a gorgeous state!! It has great beaches on the East with the Atlantic ocean and beautiful mountains in the West with the Great Smokey Mountains National Parks. They have good schools and good universities and it's a very friendly state. I would go in a heart beat!
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EW GURU
Latest post on 05 March 2014 - 20:51
I'm with pollydxb, I'd do it in a nanosecond as well. I am from the US as well, but I'd give anything to go back now - years older and wiser -- and do something. I am so over Dubai--20 years is enough. Personally, go and don't look back.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 March 2014 - 20:35
What is so bad about driving? Yes, in North Carolina you will have to drive. But the roads have wide lanes, good shoulders and there is parking everywhere. It totally beats having to get into stinky cabs everyday! You will like it there. People are SO NICE in the South. Food is excellent (mmm, BBQ) and cheap. Most things are very accessible and priced reasonably. I wouldn't fear it, I would be happy :)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 March 2014 - 20:22
Not too familiar with North Carolina but if I had the chance to move back to Cali… I would be there in a nano second. I think the USA in general is similar to the UK as far as infrastructure and overall culture but I'm not too familiar with the exception of my London vacations over the years. However, as far as lifestyle and starting a business you would find it easier in general there. We have businesses here and there so I am back and forth a lot and can tell you its different and there are perks in both, but the US does it for me:) I wish you the best of luck and hope you enjoy your experience.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 March 2014 - 15:50
north carolina - you have to drive everywhere !! <em>edited by stylex1 on 05/03/2014</em>
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 March 2014 - 12:56
i am from uk so have never been to the usa . have started a business here but we feel that with the cost of living increasing - it will be like its all work with not much savings to show for. the only downside for me is that i dont have any immediate family in the usa besides my in laws . i have also grown used to dubai's lifestyle - convenient with taxis , metro and all ... really dont know what to do !! guess i am scared You think the US doesn't have taxis and metros? It's not living in the stone age! Why don't you go visit before you commit to moving there? Hahaha thats why I asked what part of the US - Have a place in Calabasas, CA and you have to drive everywhere but obviously in LA there is transport
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EW GURU
Latest post on 05 March 2014 - 12:45
i am from uk so have never been to the usa . have started a business here but we feel that with the cost of living increasing - it will be like its all work with not much savings to show for. the only downside for me is that i dont have any immediate family in the usa besides my in laws . i have also grown used to dubai's lifestyle - convenient with taxis , metro and all ... really dont know what to do !! guess i am scared You think the US doesn't have taxis and metros? It's not living in the stone age! Why don't you go visit before you commit to moving there?
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 March 2014 - 12:16
Can you be more specific? Where in the US - its like asking "Would you live in the Middle East" - I wouldnt live in Syria but I live in Dubai so the question is hard to answer
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 March 2014 - 11:32
I would move to the USA tomorrow, no question. But the taxes are high, but you pay them whilst you are here as well, so you are used to it already. am from the uk - so not exposed to the usa system
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 March 2014 - 11:27
i am from uk so have never been to the usa . have started a business here but we feel that with the cost of living increasing - it will be like its all work with not much savings to show for. the only downside for me is that i dont have any immediate family in the usa besides my in laws . i have also grown used to dubai's lifestyle - convenient with taxis , metro and all ... really dont know what to do !! guess i am scared
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 05 March 2014 - 10:51
I would move to the USA tomorrow, no question. But the taxes are high, but you pay them whilst you are here as well, so you are used to it already.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 March 2014 - 10:50
We are planning to move to the states end of this year/early next year. Some thing are cheaper (housing/renting prices) but there is also tax. We have more family there than anywhere else at the moment, and we're moving because the cost of living has gone up so much here, and we want to settle there and start a family.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 March 2014 - 10:43
Couldn't you start the business while you are living here and then move back when it starts to take off...
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 March 2014 - 10:41
dh wants to move back and start a business there - just wondering if we could save more there etc ..we have no kids