Will Form 2350 Bona 2023-2024

Hi everybody, my name is David McKeon. I'm with Greenback Expat Tax Services. Our question today is, "I am a bona fide resident of France. My employer is sending me to Switzerland for four months. Will I lose my bona fide residence status?" Now, in order to maintain your bona fide residence status in the eyes of the US government, your residency must remain overseas. However, it doesn't necessarily have to remain in one country. So, establishing residency in a foreign country includes integrating with the foreign culture. This means setting up bank accounts, building professional relationships, and joining churches. These activities show that you are living there full-time. If you're traveling to another country for a period of time, you must keep your abode in France or in your primary country. Additionally, you need to establish a new abode in the country you're going to. In this case, it would be Switzerland. You can leave the country for brief or temporary trips back to the United States or any other country for vacation or business purposes. However, you need to maintain your abode in the foreign country and your primary residence in your home country. It's worth noting that you must have clear intentions of returning from any trips back to your primary abode. So, if you're going to Switzerland for four months, you need to have clear intentions of returning to France after that four-month period in order to maintain your bona fide residence status in France. It's important to remember that the IRS looks at your actions more than your words. You need to demonstrate your intentions to return to your primary country by maintaining your house, bank accounts, and other ties in France. Contractors often find it difficult to qualify as bona fide residents because they leave their primary residence...