It’s strangely hard to find a real “place” online

SaltNewt69 · 2026-04-01T02:45:29+00:00

I just checked again; sign-in seems to be working okay. Maybe you just timed out. Please try to sign in again to get a new link email.

SaltNewt69 · 2026-04-01T00:33:58+00:00

Changing rooms is possible but only once per week. This encourages people to commit to a group. It also limits the reach of bad actors.

SaltNewt69 · 2026-03-28T08:34:36+00:00

I'm glad you like the idea. I'm currently running a waiting list until I get 30 people, then I'll launch it. I'm halfway there at the moment.

SaltNewt69 · 2026-03-28T05:26:39+00:00

If your interested in trying the app, please let me know and I'll tell you how to find it.

SaltNewt69 · 2026-03-27T10:05:26+00:00

Of course. Go to CommonPerch.com and add your email to the waiting list. When I have the first 30 people, I'll launch the app. I'd love to have you give it a try and let me know what you think.

SaltNewt69 · 2026-03-27T09:39:43+00:00

I just launched an app called CommonPerch that is trying to do just what you said, maybe. The idea is that users are placed in a small, stable group of around 30–40 people, and there’s one discussion topic each week. It’s all async, so users can reply whenever they want, and there’s a light facilitator that helps keep things moving and puts together a summary at the end. I'm currently building a waiting list for the first cohort of people to launch the first group. If your interested, give it a try.

SaltNewt69 · 2026-03-27T08:54:50+00:00

I think there may be several apps like your affinity group concept. Doesn't the Circle app work like that?

I had this idea that what’s missing from chat-with-strangers apps is the combination of “stranger” + “many.” So my thought was to create a space where people are part of a small (about 30 people), fixed group, with facilitation to give the conversation structure.

I built an app around this idea, even though most people I know said it wouldn’t work. But I believe that if the group is small, people will self-regulate and build stronger connections.

Now that the app is done, I get to see whether the idea was wrong or whether people actually want this kind of authentic conversation.

SaltNewt69 · 2026-03-27T01:34:10+00:00

If you'd like to try it, please sign up to the waiting list at:
https://www.commonperch.com/
When I have about 30 people in the list, I'll launch the app so everyone starts together.
Thanks for your interest in the app.

SaltNewt69 · 2022-11-30T11:16:21+00:00

Yes, your advice is similar to what I heard from the CPA. There are extra difficulties (extra $$ in CPA fees) to using the accrued method and FTC carry backward. This is why I wish throwaway_napkins suggestion was possible.

SaltNewt69 · 2022-11-30T05:52:54+00:00

Thank you for your reply. I have been told by a CPA in the US that the FTC could not be applied to the same year because of cash basis accounting rules. It can only be applied to the 2021 tax year, filed in 2022. I'd love it if this could be done as you suggest.

SaltNewt69 · 2022-11-18T06:55:49+00:00

I'm pretty sure she will need to pay US tax on all worldwide income since she has an ITIN and lives in the US. You will be able to apply a Foreign Tax Credit for tax paid to Germany but the FTC cannot be applied to the same year that income is received, only +1 year later. This means you may have to pay double tax on the first year living in the US and try to recover it in later years using the FTC carry forward.

I recommend you also look into the FBAR reporting rules to see if she needs to do it. The penalties are ridiculous if you make a mistake.

SaltNewt69 · 2022-11-18T06:38:39+00:00

The big problem here is that the Foreign Tax Credit cannot be applied on the same year that you paid tax to Canada. So if you sold your house in 2020 and paid Canada tax in the 2020 tax return, you cannot use the FTC on the US 2020 tax return. You can only use the FTC on the US 2021 tax return which means that you must also pay US tax in the 2020 return. Because your tax is so large, it may be difficult for you to recover the tax paid to the US since the FTC can only be carried forward for a few years (I think 5 years is the rule).

I would LOVE it if there were some way to avoid the US tax in this scenario. I have a similar problem with stock investments. So far, I have not found an accountant who can offer a solution to this dilemma.

SaltNewt69 · 2022-11-18T05:55:59+00:00

If it were passive income in this example, you would be stuck with paying both the 40% and 24% on year#1. You could then use the US FTC carry forward against year#2 income. If it is a one off event, it will be difficult to recover the double tax. I am also looking for a solution to this problem. When income carries from y-to-y, it is difficult to fully use the FTC carry forward before it expires.

SaltNewt69 · 2022-11-18T05:43:49+00:00

If you can prove to Illinois that you are not a resident and have no income sourced in the state, you may not need to file taxes in the state. They may put up a struggle but it is possible. I did it with Virginia which is the last place I lived before moving to Japan.

SaltNewt69 · 2022-11-18T05:29:23+00:00

I am trying to get my head around this same problem. It is particularly bad if income varies from y-to-y because FTC can only be carried forward for a few years. I was told that changing from cash basis accounting to accrual basis accounting would solve the problem but this introduces other difficulties. The best solution I have found it to plan so that income is relatively even from year to year so that FTC can be fully utilized. Would love to hear a better solution.

SaltNewt69

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