[beagle3]

I didn't ask "why", I asked "how". That someone wants to pay SS and Medicare in order to accrue rates (planning to come back and perhaps retire in the US at some point, keeping options open), but was advised there is no way to accrue those rights without US income, even if they pay out of pocket.

[silverpepsi]

That's what I'm confused about. It seems you were advised to engage in illegal tax evasion or something? If you do your US taxes, which is required until the day you die, those charges will simply come out of completing the forms properly. It's unavoidable. The reason I clarified about US income is that the way you described it doesn't exist as a concept in tax law. The money amounts you're going to write down on your taxes don't ask where the person who sent you the money was seated in the world.

[gregjor]

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/soci...