International seller

[Jools7667]

Good luck! Here’s to a smooth process bink

What resort did you choose if you don’t mind sharing?

Thanks went with SSR

 

[Jools7667]

P.s. if you do need help with this I can point you in the direction of UK based agents that will help with the ITIN application.

Have heard today that we do need to arrange ITIN number, so need to get our passports certified. No appointments at US embassy for ages. Have seen a list of agents that we can use, which company did you use? We will be in Orlando in a couple of weeks so I have asked the tax rep of the title company if we are able to do it when out there.

 

[Noodlez]

Have heard today that we do need to arrange ITIN number, so need to get our passports certified. No appointments at US embassy for ages. Have seen a list of agents that we can use, which company did you use? We will be in Orlando in a couple of weeks so I have asked the tax rep of the title company if we are able to do it when out there.

We were put with Nancy Carpenter who insisted that we went to the US embassy. It was not only difficult to get an appointment but was a waste of a lot of time! As far as I'm aware, the other agents are happy for it to be done via a notary public. Even the embassy advises on their site not to use them for this service. I would definitely pick someone who allows that as you can get a local appointment and have it done in 20 minutes.

Hopefully someone will provide you with names of someone that can help.

 

[Jools7667]

Yes Nancy Carpenter is who I've heard from today. There is a list of approved agents all over the UK on the IRS website so I will contact some of them tomorrow, we're in Dorset so May have to travel to London next week to get it sorted as there doesn’t seem to be any near us. Have heard back from Nancy who said we can make an appointment with the IRS office in Orlando or use a certified acceptance agent in Orlando.

 

[JackosinDIS]

Yes Nancy Carpenter is who I've heard from today. There is a list of approved agents all over the UK on the IRS website so I will contact some of them tomorrow, we're in Dorset so May have to travel to London next week to get it sorted as there doesn’t seem to be any near us. Have heard back from Nancy who said we can make an appointment with the IRS office in Orlando or use a certified acceptance agent in Orlando.

I’m up North, so used a company called ‘expat tax’. They have certifying acceptance agents there. I think there is also a company called woodcock notary public who is on the list of acceptance agents, who seemed to have appointments fairly available in London. I don’t think you can just use any notary. It has to be on the list to be accepted by the IRS I believe

 

[R2Daddy]

How did this end up working out for you? I received the following from a broker. I’m a bit hesitant to make an offer given the added complexity/steps..

The Seller of this contract resides outside of the United States. Per the Foreign Investment In Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (FIRPTA) 15% of the sale price will be withheld by the title company at closing. By law the Buyer is responsible for remittance of the 15% FIRPTA withholding to the IRS which the title company will handle in the following manner. Should the seller have a FIRPTA agent actively working on any refund that may be available to them before the contract closing date then the title company shall hold the 15% withheld in escrow until an IRS disposition notice is received detailing any tax liability the Seller needs to remit to the IRS with any remaining funds disbursed to the Seller. Should the Seller not have an active FIRPTA agent by the time of the contract closing date then the 15% withheld will be remitted to the IRS. It will be necessary for the title company to collect the Buyer's Social Security Number for the withholding remittance.

 

[Jools7667]

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Actually went smoothly and currently on our first DVC holiday! We ended up getting our ITIN numbers done via a tax advisor here in Orlando as we were holidaying here in April and it made it easier. Given what I know now I’m not sure that I would have gone with an international seller as it was definitely more confusing for our first purchase - was a really good deal though. Our purchase was international seller and international purchaser which I think made it more stressful for us as we needed ITIN’s.
As far as I understand the FIRPTA agent (Nancy Carpenter) has arranged for 15% of sale price to be withheld but this will be refunded to the seller as apparently they sold at a loss.