UCLA  Au Pair in America Advantage  Course 

The registration deadline for  the Fall  2011  session of  the  UCLA/APIA  advantage couse  is   July  25th.     Classes  begin  September  29th  and  end   January  30,  2012.    Enroll  at:  www.uclaextension.edu/aupairs.       This  is   the   only   online   course   approved   by   the   Department   of    State   as   a    means   of   fulfilling   your   educational   requirements.   This  course  is  a  great  option  for: 

• The student who  wants  to  master a  University  level  class  and  earn  credits from  a  major  US  university.
• Those who  are  curious about  the  events  that  have  shaped  our  culture  and  history.
• Those who  want  to  get  involved  in  their  community  and  bring  the  story  of  their  culture  and  traditions  to  schools  in  the  area.
• Self-starters who  will  make  the  best  of  a  flexible,  independent  style  of  learning. 

This  is  a  terrific  way  to  satisfy  your  educational  requirements  in  the  standard  au  pair  program  for  just  $500.   For  more  information  about   this  course   of   studies,  go  to:     https://www.uclaextension.edu/aupairs/r/Default.aspx

Do  I  have   a   tax   obligation?

Yes,   eventually   each   au   pair   who   remains   for   a   year   and   all   those   who   extend   may   have   a   tax   obligation  on   what   they   earn   as   a   stipend   in   2011.   Here  are  some  questions  you  might  have:

Who  is  suppose  to  file  a  return?  Any  au  pair  who  was  in  the  country  as  part  of  this  program  during  the  tax  year  in  question,  2011,   and   who  during  that  year  made  more  than  the  deductible  amount  allowed  as  a  personal  exemption,  $3700. 

Will  I  owe  money?  Only  if  you  pass  the  treshhold  for  tax  liability  which  depends  on  how  much  you  made.   The  amount  allowed  as  a  personal  exemption  is  $3700,  so  during  any  tax  period  ( which   runs   from   January  1st   through   December   31st)   you  would  have  to  have  made  more  than  $3700  to  owe  tax.   Au  Pairs  who  arrived  in  the  country  during    the   last   part   of  2011    and   those   currently   arriving   may   have   an   obligation   for   US   taxes   and   should   consider   making  quarterly  payments   so   that   they   are   not  confronted   with   a   lump   sum   payment   or   additional  penalties   when   they  file   a   return  in  2013.    

How  can  I  find  out  how  much  I  will  owe?   Get  the  form  (above)  and  the  applicable  instructions—see  the  information  link  on  the  right  side  of  this  page  for  the  Instructions  regarding   Tax  Form  1040NR-EZ.   At  the  end  of  those  instructions  is  a  tax  table  that  can  be  used  to  determine  the  taxes  you  may  owe.      The  instructions  are  25  pages  long  which  might  make  this  appear  to  be  more  onerous  and  difficult  than  it  really  is.   The  first  order  of  business  is  to  determine  how  much  in  stipends  you  were  paid  in  2011.    That  is  your  gross  income.   From  that  amount  you  can  deduct  on  line  13  and  exemption  of   $3700  to  arrive  at  your  taxable  income.   Then  go  to  page  17  of  the  instructions  to  determine  how  much  you  will  owe.   If  you  “eye ball  it”  the  amount  of  tax  will  generally  be  10  percent  of  the  taxable  income  you  have  established.  

When   must    I  file ?   Quarterly   payments   are   due   on   the   15th   day   of    the   month   following   the   end   of   the  quarter.   There  are  IRS  offices  throughout  Virginia  that  offer  tax  help/free filing   to  non-resident  aliens,  but  the  nearest  one  for  Prince  William  County  is  located  in  Fredericksburg,  Virginia.   There  is  also  one  at  Bailey’s  Crossroads.   Ask  your  counselor  for  further  information.    For  2011  taxes   the  date  by  which  you  must  file  is  April  17th.

Where  do  I  mail  my  return  or   my  quaterly   payments?   Department   of   Treasury,   Internal  Revenue  Service,   Austin,  Texas   73301-0215

Does  APIA  provide  an  overview  of  the  tax  liability  for  au  pairs?   Yes,  it  is  all  laid  out  in  the  pamplet,   APIA  General  Information   Tax    Sheet  for  Au  Pairs.  

Do  you   think   you   might   have   a  slight   touch  of   Culture  Shock?      

Almost everyone experiences culture shock when they come to a completely new environment. Everything is different: the language, the food, the plumbing, the people.    The experience of culture shock comes from not knowing what to do or how to do things in a new environment, and not knowing what is appropriate or inappropriate.    One of the most difficult parts of experiencing culture shock is that we often are unaware that we’re affected. We recognize that we are sad, lonely, and generally irritated that everything is going wrong, but we don’t know that it is a normal reaction to being immersed in a new culture. The feeling of culture shock generally sets in after the first few weeks of coming to a new place.   

To  learn  more  about  Culture  Shock  and  its  symptoms  see  http://www.aupairinamerica.com/resources/life_in_the_us/culture_shock.asp

Special  discounts  at  the  AMF  Bowling  Center  in  Centreville,  VA….

Check  it  out  at……http://www.amf.com/corporate/index.htm

Be  a  safe  driver.    Learn  the  Rules  of  the  Road.   Adhere  to  safe  driving  tips.

Whatever previous experience or training your au pair has had, it is always good to go over some of the key important safety tips before she starts driving in the United States.

Here are some tips you might want to consider for your review list:

• Always drive defensively, keeping both hands on the wheel
• No eating, drinking, using the phone or personal grooming
• Absolutely no texting
• Pull over and stop in a safe place to look at maps or directions
• Pull over and stop in a safe place if you need to assist children in the back seat for any reason
• Make sure children do not have control of the power windows and arms are out of the way before the windows are closed
• When traveling with an infant still in a rear-facing car seat, keep the diaper bag beside on the passenger seat so a quiet sleeping baby is not forgotten
• Always hold a young child’s hand when in a parking lot or crossing the street

Once a year, you should check the regulations for child safety seats to make sure you are meeting the requirements. Take some time to review your own family rules as well as some of the basic tips and you will be off to a safe start.

The  published  APIA   Au  Pair  Handbook  is  a  great  resource  for  information  for  you   to  help  through  your  match   and   to  get  some  ideas  of  things  to  do  with  the  children  you  are  caring  for  throughout  the  year.    Review   the  Au  Pair  Orientation  Handbook  for  tips  and  important  information.