Posted on 04/16/2012 6:43:58 PM PDT by markomalley
A year ago, in Action Comics, Superman declared plans to renounce his U.S. citizenship.
"'Truth, justice, and the American way' — it's not enough anymore," the comic book superhero said, after both the Iranian and American governments criticized him for joining a peaceful anti-government protest in Tehran.
Last year, almost 1,800 people followed Superman's lead, renouncing their U.S. citizenship or handing in their Green Cards. That's a record number since the Internal Revenue Service began publishing a list of those who renounced in 1998. It's also almost eight times more than the number of citizens who renounced in 2008, and more than the total for 2007, 2008 and 2009 combined.
But not everyone's motivations are as lofty as Superman's. Many say they parted ways with America for tax reasons.
The United States is one of the only countries to tax its citizens on income earned while they're living abroad. And just as Americans stateside must file tax returns each April — this year, the deadline is Tuesday — an estimated 6.3 million U.S. citizens living abroad brace for what they describe as an even tougher process of reporting their income and foreign accounts to the IRS. For them, the deadline is June.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnbc.com ...
in other words, just play ball with said dictator
Really. Who are these weasels that just cut and run, leaving to the rest of us to fight for what we have?
I’d prefer to stay and fight.
And do they have gov forced racial intergration?
And do they have gov forced racial intergration?
And do they have gov forced racial intergration?
Sorry for over post, server did not respond.
I don't have the details in front of me, but if one has "lots of money", the U.S. gov't. takes a cut when one renounces their citizenship. Even on the way out, Uncle Sam doesn't miss an opportunity.
So not only are we becoming socialist in regards to taxation and regulation and bureaucracy we are economic prisoners as well?
Perfect.
If you have a net worth greater than $2 million, you are subject to paying taxes as if you had sold your assets... in other words, any unrealized gains are taxed as if they had been realized. Most, probably at long-term capital gains rates.
My sweetie & I have been thinking of going ex-pat if O is re-elected. Ecuador is sounding pretty interesting...
http://www.ecuadorliving.com/handbook
“There are many ways this could turn around. Elections. Political education programs. If necessary - direct action.”
My view is that, based on the historical precedents, things are almost certain to get a lot worse for a long time before any hope of improvement exists. As far as ‘direct action,’ it seems pretty clear DHS is preparing for that and has been for a while.
Old republics that have become this rotten invariably view their own subjects as a greater threat than their foreign enemies. We are at that point now.
We have a good friend who has worked in Switzerland for the last 20+ years, married a Swiss woman and has 3 kids (dual American Swiss citizenship). When the U.S. wanted to tax his capital gains on his house IN Switzerland, it was the last straw. He was very sad to do it, but he did give up his US citizenship.
Paying taxes to two countries was killing him financially. I don’t blame him for his decision. I most likely would have have done likewise.
BTW, Switzerland has more construction and growth than I’ve seen in my lifetime. When I was there in 2010, their unemployment was 4%, and that was high for them. They have low tax rates and don’t belong to the EU. Now, if everything wasn’t so dang expensive there....
“False on two levels.
1. Most countries tax their citizens on world wide income.
2. The US allows an exclusion of up to 92,900 for income earned abroad. “
****
BINGO. My Dad resides now in Canada and due to the double taxation laws between the 2 countries, he doesn’t get touched. My sis works and lives in HK and the Philippines, and the IRS version of the RP is such a third-world mess I went there 2 years ago, and there was one dude on a pc in a single room while 10 foot stacks of paper surrounded him.
I don’t think most of them are renouncing their US citizenship just to avoid taxes. The IRS is demanding so much information from citizens and their spouses that the spouses who are not American citizens refuse to comply saying it’s none of the IRS’s business how much money they make. Which leaves the US citizen with two choice.....Divorce which is extreme or face possible criminal charges and major fines back in the US. In certain situations it’s a no brainer.
Classic revolutionary theory teaches that you scale your operations to the political and military environment.
A militia can only operate as a unit in conjunction with regular forces - unless there are no regular forces. Light infantry against indirect fire, air power etc. is suicide.
What I am talking about, properly done, would either send the rats scurrying to their holes or would bring about open civil division. I'm talking about good old fashioned, professionally analyzed for the proper psychological effect, covert ops.
There are plenty of former operators that are at the point they would consider it if things get much worse. It just needs organization, vetting and secure communications. And a ton of money.
Point taken. However, They, or their ancestors, moved to a new land before they renounced their citizenship, plus it wasn't just about taxes, much as it is today.
And if you think it can be done today, let me know. I may be your first immigrant.
“I’ve been thinking of becoming an illegal alien myself.”
Its been though of before:
http://www.neoperspectives.com/Amnesty_From_Government.htm
John Galt is a cross between Ronald Regan and Ron Paul.
“The decision by the IRS to publish the names is referred to by lawyers as “name and shame.” That’s because those who renounce are seen as willing to give up their citizenship primarily for financial reasons.”
Ever wonder why its the “lawyers” that seem to think everyone should bare the unwanted and unconstitutional burden of citizenship while not even living in the USA?
The Federal Government has no right to tax anyone or anything outside theses united States Period. The very idea that they do is offensive to the very essence of sovereignty & our rights as individuals. It is basically Washington telling every “American citizen” that they are owned by the Government and therefore owe service or equivalent to the same.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.