- A month is a very long time between entries. So much has happened between then and now. I think that was a different person who posted that.
- Anger is an odd thing to blog about. I remember toning down that entry, but it still has a bitter edge to it. I really am really a nice person.
So one month on, what's up? Well, I've done my taxes: US Taxes.
Yep, US citizens (and US resident aliens) still have to file taxes, on their worldwide income. The good news is that there's an $80,000 foreign earned income exemption, which kicks in after being here a year. But it is more complicated than just that. Tax laws are just like API: Lots and lots of details, but understandable by determined, intelligent people. I read through some of them, but did decide to contact a tax pro. Fortunately ours were simple enough for TurboTax, though next year... ?.
UK Taxes? I'm not there yet. The UK tax year isn't calendar year, and ends April 5. I've read that one strategy is to file an extension on US taxes then do the UK taxes first. I'm expecting my UK taxes to be fairly simple, but then again the family and business have a UK accountant here. (Always work with a net. :-)
In other news... I canceled my AT&T iPhone contract. Guess what? They billed me the early cancel fee, in full. Yes, there's now a proration, but it wasn't in the contract I agreed to on June 29, 2007. AT&T did offer me an out, via fax. But then said, oops, they really require a mailed utility bill showing my new address not served by them. (Insert frustration yell here.)
Utility bill in your name. That's important. Maybe I'll write about that next time. (Want a bank account? You need a proof of address. Even just to get added to an existing account.) We are getting our own BT landline and Internet service, in our own name. Convenient and cheaper than mobile. Lots of things to blog about for next time.
P.S. The canceling of the AT&T iPhone contract coincided with my no longer needing to Jailbreak & unlock my iPhone to use the O2 SIM. Happy to be "legit" again!
