Josh had a swift reply to his email blast about his tax problem: “It appears you don’t have these forms on file. Please fill them out and return them and it will be reversed on your next paycheck.”
- Why did someone not make sure those forms were filled out as part of the payroll process?
- Why is there no instruction on how to fill out the forms? :sigh: Good thing I’m a tax nerd because a regular Joe wouldn’t know whether to file for the FEIE (foreign earned income exclusion) based on the physical presence test or the bona fide residence test. I feel like there’s an entire part of the process that we have missed along the way since there are rules to qualify for the physical presence exclusion, but no one from the company has made sure that Josh is aware of them . . . I suspect that this is going to be a reoccurring problem throughout this first tax year.
- I hope someone is checking over the forms after he submits them to make sure they have been filled out correctly. That should be part of someone’s job, right?
Meanwhile, good things are happening. We just started the 2nd week of school and all the kids are happy and well adjusted. Both boys tried out for the High School play and will find out if they got parts today. Camille had a playdate at a friend’s house yesterday and had another tear free drop off this morning. We are miles ahead of where we were last year at this time.
Josh is at work this morning, making sure that everything is in order for his residence visa, which we hope to get this week. Well, we hope to get the visa tomorrow and then his Emirates ID a few days later. Once he has his paperwork, then he can start the sponsorship process and get us all switched over as well. Have you figured out that everything hinges on the Emirates ID? It’s a chipped identification and the assigned number is used for everything: banking, parking fees, gym and school registration . . . all processes start with, “What is your EID number?” or “I need a copy of your EID.”
I’m trying to enjoy being at the hotel since I’m going to miss it once we’re gone. I want to be settled in our house, but with that shift comes a whole lot of unpacking and other work and no more of this:
From 3-5 every day they serve afternoon tea. I miss it during the week while I’m at work, but on the weekends, there’s nothing nicer than going up to the lounge with my book and eating finger sandwiches and drinking a cappuccino. Camille is too young to go up to the lounge (you have to be 12), but the staff has been specially sending a tray down to her room so she can enjoy it as an after school snack. Living like a princess.
Meanwhile, church ministry has started back up. Josh and I went to Kid’s Church training this past week in preparation for serving again this year on Friday mornings. Tonight I have AWANA volunteer training — both as a participant and as a trainer. It looks like I’m going to have 60 T&T students (3-6th graders) and I’m praying for enough volunteers for our small groups. We are doing a new curriculum this year so even returning leaders will need to be trained on the new system.
We have lots to be thankful for and I’m happy we’re here. Life is still stressful and full of unknowns, but that all part of the transition process from active duty to civilian life. Yesterday, September 1st, was Josh’s first official day as USMC retired (prior to that he was on terminal leave). Congratulations babe! You did it.