# American retiree in China needs help with IRS, etc **URL:** \ **Category:** Taxes\ **Created:** [February 8, 2023, 5:41am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/american-retiree-in-china-needs-help-with-irs-etc/227305 "2023-02-08T05:41:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![usrabbit](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/usrabbit/32/27265_2.png) [@usrabbit](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/usrabbit)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2023, 5:41am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/american-retiree-in-china-needs-help-with-irs-etc/227305/1 "2023-02-08T05:41:12Z")
This inquiry is on behalf of an American friend who lives in China. I’m posting here because I don’t know of any similar China-related forum. The friend is a recent widow in her 80s. She keeps asking me to look up forms or information from the IRS or SSA, in some cases beyond my ability to help, because I can’t always figure out what she’s talking about. I’m not in China, and she has no American friends in China. I’m thinking maybe she should find a tax accountant who specializes in Americans living in China. Since she’s a retiree, and her only income is Social Security, I don’t think she can afford a high-powered accountant who consults for business executives, etc. Maybe if there were some equivalent of an H&R Block-type outfit, who operates in China, that might work. Anyone know of any resources that might help an American retiree in China in this situation (or know of a useful forum for this kind of question)? Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Milker](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/dr_milker/32/181996_2.png) [@Dr\_Milker](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Dr_Milker)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2023, 6:10am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/american-retiree-in-china-needs-help-with-irs-etc/227305/2 "2023-02-08T06:10:33Z")
I think the tax situation for Americans is pretty much the same no matter which foreign country they’re in (although whether or not that country has a tax treaty with the U.S. makes a difference). Maybe our resident tax expert @Bree can help? ---
**Author:** ![usrabbit](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/usrabbit/32/27265_2.png) [@usrabbit](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/usrabbit)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2023, 6:23am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/american-retiree-in-china-needs-help-with-irs-etc/227305/3 "2023-02-08T06:23:26Z")
I think I understand your meaning, but there may be a difference in that not all tax accountants serve clients who live in China (or I should say not all of the lower-priced ones). I guess I could look up random providers on the web, but I’d feel more comfortable with a personal recommendation (including not only how well they work, but also that they are reasonably priced for a retiree on Social Security). Having a China phone number is preferred (as the person in question might not want to make overseas calls). I don’t know how to get this kind of information. Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Milker](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/dr_milker/32/181996_2.png) [@Dr\_Milker](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Dr_Milker)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2023, 6:26am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/american-retiree-in-china-needs-help-with-irs-etc/227305/4 "2023-02-08T06:26:31Z")
> [@usrabbit](#): > > I’d feel more comfortable with a personal recommendation I wouldn’t recommend the one I used in the past, but I get the feeling @Bree may able to help, or a least steer her in the right direction. ---
**Author:** ![zender](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/z/71c47a/32.png) [@zender](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/zender)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2023, 9:09am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/american-retiree-in-china-needs-help-with-irs-etc/227305/5 "2023-02-08T09:09:51Z")
Yep! I’ve been helped by Bree, and I’d go to her first. ---
**Author:** ![Taiwan\_Luthiers](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@Taiwan\_Luthiers](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Taiwan_Luthiers)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2023, 9:13am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/american-retiree-in-china-needs-help-with-irs-etc/227305/6 "2023-02-08T09:13:10Z")
I second that… she helped me get the refund from back in 2017 (you know ones I couldn’t get because I got deported), and she didn’t even ask me for money… ---
**Author:** ![Bree](https://forumosa-12829.kxcdn.com/user_avatar/tw.forumosa.com/bree/32/270345_2.png) [@Bree](https://tw.forumosa.com/u/Bree)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2023, 9:30am UTC](https://tw.forumosa.com/t/american-retiree-in-china-needs-help-with-irs-etc/227305/7 "2023-02-08T09:30:27Z")
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