Financial planning for Americans in Galway.

Some people come to Galway for medtech — Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Merit, the university spin-outs. Others keep a US salary and work from a house near the water. Either way the life is the point, and the money side is what quietly undoes it: two tax systems, local funds the IRS punishes, and a US broker uneasy about your address.

Cross-border financial planning and US investment management for Americans living abroad, typically with $1M+. Most clients have $1M+ in investable assets; we also work with selected households from $500K.

Written and reviewed by Anthony Walsh, Selanis. Last reviewed 2026-08-24.

Key issues

US salary, Irish residence, two tax bills
Irish funds punished by the IRS
Medtech equity taxed twice
Pension vs your 401(k)
Inheritance taxed on both sides

A US salary and an Irish address is the messiest setup of all

US payroll, Irish residence, and two revenue authorities with different views on who taxes first. Done properly, the credits line up and you pay roughly one country's worth of tax. Done by accident — which is the norm — you overpay for years and only find out when someone finally reconciles both returns. Social insurance is its own separate question, and the certificate that solves it has to be applied for in advance.

The funds your Irish bank recommends are taxed badly by the IRS

Irish-domiciled funds are the default here. For an American they fall into a punishing US category with an extra IRS form every year. The same exposure in US-domiciled form is taxed normally. Nothing about the strategy has to change; the fund's registration does.

Ireland taxes gains you haven't sold, at 41%, every eight years

The charge lands whether or not you've sold, and the US gives no credit until you actually do. Most US-connected families here have a clock running they can't name the date on. We find them and either restructure before the trigger or time the sale so the credit is usable.

Medtronic, Boston Scientific and Merit shares are a two-country event

Ireland taxes the vest as salary at up to 52%; US payroll typically withheld already. Without splitting the grant across US and Irish workdays and claiming the credit, you pay twice. Share purchase plans have the same problem in miniature, every six months.

Your Irish pension is a real benefit — with one US-side check

Genuine Irish tax relief, and the treaty covers the wrapper. What gets missed: the funds inside it are usually the problem funds above, and there's a lifetime cap on tax-relieved savings rising to €2.8M by 2029. We set the right contribution level year by year rather than defaulting to the maximum.

A house in Salthill, Barna or Oranmore is a US tax decision too

Euro mortgages create a US currency gain most owners have never heard of. Irish and US main-home reliefs don't align. A holiday let in Connemara is fully reportable in the States, with tax on depreciation when you sell. Model it before you buy, not after.

Ireland taxes what your children receive. The US taxes what you leave.

Irish inheritance tax is 33% above €400k for a child. The US taxes your worldwide estate, and if your spouse isn't American the usual spousal exemption doesn't apply. Money coming from US parents to an Irish-resident child is the version that costs most and gets planned least.

Frequently asked questions

I work remotely for a US employer from Galway. Where do I pay tax?

Generally in Ireland as a resident, with the US still taxing you as a citizen, and the treaty plus foreign tax credits stopping genuine double taxation — if they're claimed properly. Social insurance is separate and needs a certificate of coverage applied for in advance.

Are Irish funds really a problem for Americans?

Yes. Irish-domiciled funds are PFICs under US rules, requiring Form 8621 each year, with default treatment that can exceed the gain. Ireland's 41% deemed disposal every eight years then taxes unrealised gains with no matching US credit.

How is my Medtronic or Boston Scientific equity taxed?

Ireland taxes the vest as employment income at up to 52% marginal. The US usually withheld at vest too. A workday sourcing analysis and a properly claimed credit are what prevent double taxation.

Can I keep my Schwab or Fidelity account with an Irish address?

Often not. Most US custodians restrict or close accounts with Irish addresses, and a forced liquidation creates an unplanned tax year. Interactive Brokers, Schwab International for qualifying clients, and a small bench of Ireland-friendly setups genuinely work.

Should I be saving into an Irish pension if I might move home?

Usually yes, but the level matters. The treaty covers the wrapper, the funds inside need rebuilding, and the lifetime cap rising to €2.8M by 2029 changes how hard you should fund. We model it against your actual return date.

Do you file my taxes?

No. We coordinate a US CPA and an Irish tax adviser around one strategy. Keeping advice separate from filing keeps everyone independent.

What does it cost?

A 45-minute Complimentary Fit Conversation at no charge. Planning engagements start at $3,000, with ongoing management on a tiered fee from 1.00% on the first $1M, falling to 0.30% above $10M. No commissions, no product revenue.

Fees

Blueprint $3,000 and Life $8,000 (flat planning fees). Private Wealth Management on a tiered, blended schedule starting at 1.00% on the first $1M and declining to 0.30% above $10M. Fee-only: no commissions, no product payments, no lock-in. All fees

Book a Fit Conversation — Complimentary Fit Conversation (45 min).