Trader
I got the point, sorry.
I am of the vast majority looking at the Middle Eastern thread named "For THOSE (not only Americans!) who consider Emirates" and don't really care what the IRS thinks or does. The USA to us is just another part of the big world and by far not its center.
For us education allowance still is NOT income, because it does not come in. If you argue that this applies to housing, if you're in EK acco, then at least here you would have the choice of opting out to get the full amount and do with it whatever you want. Not possible with EA.
Just a question from a ignorant non-US viewer:
Is the assumption true that because you have to list EA to the IRS, that a married US-expat with 3 children (and therefore a nice EA) has to pay MORE tax back home than a single childless collegue?
(it would be mind boggling to me)
GMDS