🌍 Why Americans Living in Mexico, Spain, France, or Italy Should Keep Their Investments in the US — and Keep a U.S. Address

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Living abroad comes with incredible benefits — lifestyle, culture, food, and cost of living — but it also brings serious financial planning challenges. U.S. citizens living in places like Mexico, Spain, France, or Italy must carefully manage their investments, taxes, and residency to avoid losing access to the U.S. financial system or triggering unintended tax consequences abroad.

This guide covers everything you need to know to make smart, compliant decisions — and to keep your financial life secure, wherever you live.

✅ Why Keep Your Investment Accounts in the U.S.?

Keeping your brokerage, retirement, and investment accounts in the U.S. is usually the best choice for Americans abroad. Here’s why:

1. Lower Costs

• U.S. ETFs and index funds have some of the lowest expense ratios in the world (as low as 0.03%)


• Foreign funds (especially in Europe and Mexico) often charge 1%–2% or more annually


• U.S. brokers rarely charge custody or annual maintenance fees

1. Better Investment Choices

• Access to thousands of mutual funds, ETFs, and stocks


• U.S. platforms offer robust options in ESG, tech, emerging markets, fixed income, and more


• Foreign brokers often limit access or block U.S.-domiciled investments

1. Simpler Tax Reporting

• U.S.-based investments are not subject to PFIC rules


• Investing in foreign funds (like UCITS ETFs in Europe) means:




• Filing IRS Form 8621


• Possible punitive tax treatment


• High reporting burdens for each fund annually

1. Stronger Protection

• U.S. brokers are regulated by SEC and FINRA


• Investor funds are insured up to $500,000 by SIPC


• Transparent disclosures and support in English

1. Better Retirement Integration

• U.S. accounts are the only place to hold:




• Traditional IRAs


• Roth IRAs


• 401(k)s, SEP IRAs, and inherited IRAs

🏠 Why You Need a U.S. Address

To keep a U.S. brokerage or retirement account open and fully functional, you typically must have a U.S. residential address on file.

📬 How to Maintain a U.S. Address (Even While Living Abroad)

✅ Best Options:

1. Use a trusted friend or family member’s residential address




• Must be a real home (not a PO box or commercial mail center)


• Most reliable and widely accepted




2. Rent or own property in the U.S.




• Can be small or shared; gives you legal “domicile”


• Lets you keep a U.S. driver’s license and voter registration

⚠️ Risky Options:

• Virtual mailboxes (e.g., iPostal1, Traveling Mailbox)




• These provide real street addresses, but most brokers flag them as CMRA (Commercial Mail Receiving Agency) and may reject them.




• PO Boxes and UPS Store mailboxes




• Explicitly rejected by financial institutions

🧾 Do You Still Have to File Taxes in the U.S. and Abroad?

Yes. As a U.S. citizen:

• You must file a U.S. tax return every year, no matter where you live


• You must also report worldwide income, including:




• Investment dividends and capital gains


• Roth IRA withdrawals


• Foreign-earned income (even if it’s excluded under FEIE)

If you’re also a tax resident abroad, you will likely have to file two tax returns: one in the U.S., and one in your country of residence.

⚖️ What About Enforcement? Will They Know?

🇲🇽 Mexico

• Enforcement is still relatively light for personal investment income


• Many expats do not file Mexican returns, especially if income is low or passive


• That said, Mexico participates in FATCA, and enforcement is gradually increasing

🇪🇸🇫🇷🇮🇹 Europe

• Enforcement is much stricter


• These countries participate in:




• FATCA (U.S. reporting)


• CRS (Common Reporting Standard for global tax transparency)




• Foreign financial institutions and tax authorities receive U.S. account data


• Non-disclosure of Roth IRA withdrawals or large foreign balances can trigger penalties or audits

💸 Are Roth IRA Withdrawals Tax-Free Abroad?

In the U.S., qualified Roth IRA withdrawals are tax-free. But that’s not how other countries see it.

🌍 Abroad:

• Mexico, Spain, France, and Italy do NOT recognize Roth IRAs as tax-exempt


• Roth distributions are often treated as ordinary income


• You are legally required to report Roth withdrawals in your country of residence

Even if enforcement is low, you’re legally responsible for reporting Roth income abroad.

💰 Do You Have to Worry About Wealth Taxes?

Yes — in certain countries, your worldwide assets (including U.S. accounts) may be subject to annual wealth tax.

📌 If you’re in a country with a wealth tax, you’ll likely need to declare your U.S. brokerage balances, including IRAs.

🪪 Which U.S. State Should You “Live In” for Financial Purposes?

Choosing a tax-friendly state for your legal address can reduce complexity and risk.

✅ Best States with No State Income Tax:

• Texas


• Florida


• Nevada


• Wyoming


• Washington


• South Dakota


• Alaska


• Tennessee (taxes interest/dividends only)


• New Hampshire (taxes interest/dividends