Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

AMERICANS IN ITALY

Americans in Italy: How to vote from abroad and getting professional help with taxes

How can you vote as an American living abroad, and should you seek out professional help with your taxes? We explore in our latest Americans in Italy newsletter.

Published: 25 January 2024 08:56 CET
When and how can you vote in the upcoming presidential elections?
When and how can you vote in the upcoming presidential elections? Photo by Hannah Peters / Getty Images via AFP.

Welcome to our regular look at everything you need to know about life in Italy for The Local’s readers from the US. This newsletter is published monthly and you can receive it directly to your inbox before we publish by going to newsletter preferences in ‘My Account’ or following the instructions in the newsletter box below.

As the primaries start up across the United States, Americans in Europe are taking steps to make sure they’re set up to vote in the 2024 presidential elections.

All registered US citizens can vote in the November 5th election, but to vote in the primaries, you’ll need to find out whether you’re eligible for an absentee ballot for the state where you last lived in the US.

Each state’s rules and processes are slightly different, but luckily there are plenty of groups that offer help to Americans abroad in getting registered, such as the nonpartisan US Vote Foundation.

When it comes to requesting an absentee ballot, the earlier the better: you can download the full voting calendar for 2024/2025.

How Americans in Europe can vote in the US primary elections

A US flag flutters in Deauville, northwestern France (Photo by LOU BENOIST / AFP)

More and more Americans living abroad have renounced their US citizenship over the past 10 years.

That’s not just because the US is one of the only countries to tax on the basis of citizenship rather than residence, but because after the passage of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act in 2010, many non-US financial institutions closed their doors to US clients.

“FATCA effectively turned all of the world’s non-US banks and financial institutions into agents of the US Internal Revenue Service,” one Europe-based American told The Local.

Now, some US citizens are campaigning to put an end to citizenship-based taxation.

“We believe that the key concerns of Americans who choose to live abroad can be best addressed by severing citizenship from tax residency,” said Doris Speer, president of the Association of Americans Resident Overseas.

Why more and more Americans in Europe are renouncing their US citizenship

Filing taxes in two countries can be a headache for Americans based in Italy. Getty Images via AFP.

In the meantime, many Americans living in Italy who’ve held on to their citizenship have to navigate filing annual tax returns in two different countries.

Readers in this situation often tell us they turn to professionals ensure they comply with the rules and aren’t overcharged. But is this a service worth paying hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars for?

“Yes, IF they know what they’re doing!” said one reader.

“Hire tax professionals in both countries, your life will be much easier,” says Eija Trees in Collepasso.

William Searles in Puglia says he fills out his own forms using TurboTax “as our financial situation is simple,” but adds that he would seek out professional help “if we had more complex issues.”

Americans in Italy: Is it worth paying for professional help with your taxes?

Have your say: If you’d like to share your opinion or tell us about an experience you’ve had while living in Italy, please leave a comment below this article or get in touch by email.

And if you have any advice for other American readers who are considering moving to Italy, or questions of your own, you can add them to our ongoing survey here.

Thanks for reading and please get in touch with us by email if you have any feedback on this newsletter.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

AMERICANS IN ITALY

How to quickly get a US passport for a child born in Italy

What are the steps to apply for a baby's US passport from Italy? How long does it take? Here’s all the experience-based information and tips American parents in Italy should know before beginning the process.

Published: 13 May 2024 15:35 CEST
Updated: 18 May 2024 09:23 CEST
How to quickly get a US passport for a child born in Italy

You’ve left the United States and moved to Italy. Now, you’ve added a baby to this exciting new life. You’ll want to secure their US citizenship and passport straight away.

This article lays out the qualifications for a US passport and the steps to get one. Fortunately, the process is fairly simple, according to people who have done it.

Does your baby qualify for a US passport?

Your newborn qualifies for US citizenship and a US passport under the following conditions:

  •  They were born within wedlock to two US citizen parents.
  • They were born within wedlock and one of the parents is a US citizen who lived for at least five years in the United States, two of which were after age 14.
  • They were born out of wedlock to a US citizen mother who lived for at least five years in the United States, two of which were after age 14, and a non-citizen father.
  • They were born out of wedlock to a US citizen father who lived for at least five years in the United States, two of which were after age 14, and non-citizen mother, provided certain additional requirements are met.

READ ALSO: How to renew your American passport in Italy

When the parent who is a US citizen is the father and the baby is born out of wedlock, there are a few extra steps required.

You’ll attain a sworn statement from the father agreeing to give financial support until they are 18 years old and supply a written statement acknowledging paternity.

If your child does qualify for American citizenship, the next steps are pretty straightforward, although completing the required forms can be time-consuming.

What are the first steps when applying for a child’s US passport from Italy?

The first step is applying for a Consular Report of Birth abroad (CRBA), which documents that your child is a US citizen at birth. Any of the US Consular Agencies in Rome, Milan, Florence or Naples can accept applications for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA) and US passports.

To begin, you’ll apply online. But remember, you’ll need original copies of any documents you upload; you’ll bring these to your in-person appointment at the consulate.

Documents you’ll need include:

  • Your child’s original Italy birth certificate with both parents’ names, along with two photocopies.
  • Your original marriage certificate, if married, plus one photocopy.
  • Your original divorce certificate, if divorced, plus one photocopy.
  • Valid original passport/identification document for each parent, along with two photocopies.
  • Proof of US citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate, or Certificate of Naturalization, for the US parent(s), plus copies.
  • Proof of physical presence in the United States for the US parent(s), in the form of documents such as school records, university transcripts or employment records.

All foreign-language documents must be accompanied by a simple English translation that does not need to be certified.

In Italy, you can submit your CRBA application and pay the $100 processing fee online, following the specific instructions for the consulate where you want to schedule your in-person appointment.

READ ALSO: What to do if you lose your passport while travelling in Italy

You’ll then be contacted within five business days with a date and time for your interview. You’ll need to bring the originals and photocopies of all the documents listed above, as well as a completed DS-2029 form.

To apply for a US passport for your child at the same time as the CRBA appointment, you’ll need to bring a completed DS-11 (passport application) form and, if in Rome or Naples, a completed SS-5 (social security card application) form.

 You’ll need to bring original copies and photocopies of the following documents:

  •  One 2”x2” (5x5cm) passport picture for your child.
  • Identification for both parents.
  • A physical copy of the completed passport application form (DS-11).
  • Anything else your consulate tells you to bring (such as completed SS-5 form in Rome or Naples).

You’ll need to pay the $135 under-16s passport application fee via cash or card at the appointment.

Important considerations:

For the CRBA, the US parent(s) must report their physical presence in the United States, detailing each trip abroad. In other words, it’s crucial you don’t include time abroad in your list of days staying within the United States. If the dates are incorrect, the processing could be suspended until you correct the dates.

It’s very important for both listed parents to attend the appointment. If only one parent can attend, you’ll need to submit a notarised DS-3053 Statement of Consent from the absent parent. If you have sole legal custody of your child, you’ll need to bring proof, such as a court order.

Bring your child’s passport photo in a separate envelope (to not lose it) but don’t staple it to the passport application.

How long does it take?

Once your application and interview are complete, it takes around 15 working days for Italy’s US consulates to process a CRBA and first passport.

If you have questions, don’t be shy about contacting your consulate for clarification.

Congratulations on your multinational family!

SHOW COMMENTS