Bah, taxes

The US government is annoying. It requires all citizens to file and pay taxes, regardless of where they are resident.

In practice, I am required to pay nothing: the US and UK have a dual taxation treaty, so if I earn money here, I don't have to pay US tax on it. (Moreover, there's an $80K exemption for foreign earned income.)

However, I still have to file. Well, sort of. See, last year, my income was less than the limit, so theoretically I don't... except you need all your back tax returns for your I-864. Since I'm technically a foreign resident, married filing separately, I have to use a 1040 long form. I have to fill out 2 pages of junk, mostly with zeroes. I also had to do 2 back returns I kept forgetting to file *cough* (Oh, the IRS doesn't care. I don't owe them, they don't owe me. I've heard of expats forgetting for years. The IRS only cares if you owe them money.)

Next year's taxes are going to be a nightmare (income/savings in 2 countries). I'm getting an accountant. (OK, my mother's cousin Sidney the CPA. World's Most Boring Man.)

bah, US embassy!

Last week:

"As of March 17, 2008, we are processing petitions filed on January 7, 2008."

Today:

"As of March 25, 2008, we are processing petitions filed on January 7, 2008."

A week and you haven't gotten through ANY petitions? I hope that's a typo.

(Our petition was filed on 14/01/08.)

poor girl

Her fever is gone, but she's still coughing and isn't very interested in food. Today she's had 3 bottles of milk--it was all she wanted. (normally she has 2--one in the morning, and one either in the afternoon or before bed, depending on when we have dinner.) She fussed and fussed till I gave her a bottle at 2:30, and wanted another one a little while ago. I hope she actually eats some dinner tonight...

(awww! I've put on Shaun the Sheep, and one of the lambs just popped in a binky and went to sleep. i'm not sure if I want her to get ideas or not: we're supposed to be debinking her!)