Questions about possible move to Florida for work / living

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TommyWizard

TommyWizard

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TommyWizard
Hi there folks!

Remember the last time I had a serious topic? Well its lead to here now lol.
Anyway, I found out recently that to do the sort of work im doing here now in Ireland, in Florida (was a super quick google search) would net me about $56,000 which I nearly had a crisis at!! Thats more money than the top engineer earns in here for crying out loud. But a few more searches showed that this was a rather common wage for that sort of work.

But is that wage taxable in the Florida state? I've been twice on Holiday and live 2,000 miles away so forgive me for not knowing lol. I've discussed this with my mum and dad and to my surprise they where very supportive of the idea of me leaving Ireland to live and work in the States.

Not that the tax thing would be a no no or that but it would be intresting to know. The place originally was in Fort Lauderdale, which would be awesome for me being between Daytona and Homestead :D .

So yeah. This is the next big plan for me. I only have family tying me back. No girlfriend(s), no kids, no house or mortage, and this job come september will have me and my 3 years experience tied up.



Cheers in advance lads, you's where good the last time so lets see you's keep that trend!
 
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There's no state income tax in Florida, but wages are always subject to Federal taxes. You can elect "withholding" (basically, the IRS projects that it needs more to protect you from getting a bill later on that may floor most wage-earners, as well as those who don't save any money).

Florida does have a sales tax, which is a base of 6% on most goods (basic food staples are excluded), but individual counties can charge another half-percentage point or greater for their own coffers. There's also a few various sundry excise fees here and there on other goods (car batteries, tires, hotel rooms, car rental, et cetera...), but they're not related to wages.

Homestead is about 2 hours from Fort Lauderdale (a mini-Miami, as I can attest...it's almost visible from my backyard), 1.5 hours if you high-tail it. Daytona is about 4 hours away.
 
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Your employer will withhold from your paychecks an amount determined by their tax tables. That amount will approximate the rate of your income tax. If your wage for the year required a certain percentage as income tax, the amount withheld each paycheck would be around that same percentage.

There is also a Social Security tax that is withheld, although I'm not sure that would apply to a foreigner, and a Medicare tax.

When you file your income tax for the year (which you must do by April 15th of the following year,) you basically list deductions you would be entitled to, and there are several, then once those are subtracted from what you earned during the year, you compare the income tax withheld during the year to your actual tax obligation. Usually you get bit of a refund, sometimes you still owe a certain amount of income tax.

You are not exemt from the income tax by not being a US citizen. You work here, you pay the income tax out of the wages you earn.

Some states have their own income tax separate and above the federal income tax. Florida does not. We have a higher sales tax rate than other states. It's all a balancing act. Florida, with a lot of visitors and tourists, does better with sales tax than with income tax, as a lot of that money comes from non-residents.

Of that $56,000 you might expect to actually net somewhere in the high 30s/low 40s. Maybe more, I'm just guessing, really.

Expect to pay at least a thousand a month for an apartment. Cheaper might be had, but not that I'd want to live in. Utilities will be over and above that, a few hundred dollars a month for electricity, cable TV, water, etc. Food expense depends on whether you "Americanize" and eat out all the time, or stay at home and fix your own meals. The latter is MUCH cheaper!!!!!!
 
Sorry guys, meant to respond to this sooner, going to adjust the topic title.

Thanks for the info definatly something to take into account.

Im really really serious about moving now lol, but my main concern is getting a motor on the road. Renting is out the question since im not 25 yet (most if not all wont even look at ya). I know how to drive but I dont know the in'sand out's of a car. So picking something first off cheap but reliable if possible would be pretty critical. Insurance as well is bound to be a better situation than it is over here (£3000 for a Robin Reliant? GTFO!)
 
Hmm, you'll have to bring a lot of identification papers with you to get a driver's license. I renewed mine last year, and made an appointment to do so. It doesn't take as long that way, but I'm not sure how long the wait would be for a new license. The people who just walked in to renew waited between 2-3 hours. You'll at least have to bring your passport and birth certificate, plus some sort of proof of some sort of local address (phone, water, utility bill...) , so see their website for details. It's honestly a big Catch-22 since the advent of identity theft and international terrorism.

On the other hand, taking the written test (I believe its on a computer now) and the actual driving test with the "inspector" takes roughly 2 hours, but this is from my memory banks, going back 20+ years. You've got to find someone willing to loan you a car, to take the test.

Then there's insurance, it probably isn't cheap if your under 25, so I'd do some online research if you're looking for the cheapest car+insurance combination.

After you get the license, your insurance, and car, then you apply for a temporary tag (a paper license plate). That's done by the dealer that sells you the car, for a fee. After about 10-20 days, you get your license plate. If you want a specialty plate or vanity plate, you go to a tag agency and apply for your unique plate (re-selling tags doesn't occur in Florida, the tag stays with the original owner...in some states, the plate stays with the car).

Just stay on the right side of the road, and you'll be fine.

A few other tips:

1) Our tap water might take some getting used to. The aquifer and limestone geology makes for interesting water, to say the least. I remember tasting it for the first time about 30 years ago, and I haven't made that face since.

2) Hope you like bugs.

3) Sweat, storms, southerners all come standard.
 
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If you're on a work visa and you already have a driver license from your home location, I'm not sure you need to get a Florida license.
 
Ah yes I forgot all about the Work Visa. Maybe I need to research this a little further before I ask questions like that again.

Hopefully there is a company out there willing to sponsor me... :D
 
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