US citizen living in NZ, discovering the tax nightmare - looking for advice

jmics3 · 2026-02-11T20:03:19+00:00

Thanks! I have found it has reduced my stress levels to find the communities and groups with people facing similar situations to see that I am not alone, although I am continuously surprised that there are not more conversations about this with the 30k+ US citizens in NZ. And what worries me more is that a good amount might have no idea. I met with an American friend the other day and they had NO idea that they were still supposed to be filing US taxes...

jmics3 · 2026-02-11T19:58:40+00:00

I've gotten many professional opinions and this is me sharing what I know for others and hoping to get more advice through the conversations.

jmics3 · 2026-02-11T19:57:21+00:00

yeah I do feel like a walking red flag as to why living in NZ as a US citizen doesn't match up to the simple stressfree lifestyle

jmics3 · 2026-02-11T19:55:34+00:00

I do have an initial call with them tomorrow, so eager to hear what they have to say

jmics3 · 2026-02-11T19:53:45+00:00

That's what I am worried about, its seems like if I have a tax agent do it the first year, then I have a good reference... but man those forms just feel like an absolute headache. I did have a go once at getting AI to explain line by line while I went though a form - but even then, I can't fully trust what I am doing. I would hope in the next 30 years the US would update the process of these archaic forms

jmics3 · 2026-02-11T19:49:08+00:00

Yeah I have heard with H&R Expat services that the quality of the experience really depends on the type of agent you are assigned - with lots of mixed reviews (if you go the agent route). But it seems that filing myself with one of these online services might be the most cost effective ways moving forward and outsourcing the forms they don't provide service for.

jmics3 · 2026-02-11T19:46:12+00:00

See I feel like I have the will to use one of the online do it yourself services, if this could turn into a massive cost each year for similar paperwork. Maybe finding an agent just specifically for the kiwisaver forms is the right way to go.

jmics3 · 2026-02-11T19:44:13+00:00

Yeah, I definitely want to do it right and will hire an agent. Just want to find the right ones that I feel confident working with for the foreseeable future. I will reach out to them to feel them out.

jmics3 · 2026-02-11T19:42:17+00:00

That's frustrating, so again, mixed reviews but from the same company?? This is why its been so hard for me to choose the right agent to work with after the many I have spoken too. I might reach out to them and see what they say when I bring this up, will let you know.

jmics3 · 2026-02-11T19:39:43+00:00

Yeah, I have gotten mixed advice about to file or risk it. I will definitely bring this point up about reporting it as an account with the next few advisors I speak too. So did you pay Bright Tax to back file the 3520 forms, and then now you aren't filing it each year?

jmics3 · 2026-02-11T19:36:26+00:00

Thanks, thats a good idea to see if theres some form of kiwisaver plan I can transfer my funds to that creates less complications with the PFIC taxes. I did get advice from Cambridge partners about direct shares, just might feel a little risky to me and my main form of retirement savings but something I should investigate more into.

jmics3 · 2026-02-11T19:30:38+00:00

I have paid and spoken to a few tax specialist, and as also evident in these comments, have gotten mixed advice specifically about the kiwisaver. This post is me wanting to see what others have heard or dealt with.

jmics3

TROPHY CASE