Conversation

I feel like I'm in crazytown when I express distress about taxation - literally people forcibly taking away your property - and ppl act like I'm the crazy one. Sure, you could argue that this forcible theft is worth it, and I'll respect that, but it's still not crazy to be upset.

253

108

1,079

Replying to

Why don't you leave the US? If the answer amounts to you like the public goods here - roads, relatively clean air, relatively low crime, etc etc etc - then in fact what you're saying is you want to free ride, i.e., enjoy the benefits of taxes, without actually paying.

145

Replying to

US still taxes citizens that move out of the US.

126

Replying to

This is a common misunderstanding. It requires that they file a tax return (which they shouldn't, IMO). But most US citizens living abroad that I've spoken to say that they pay very low or zero US taxes, unless most of their income is actually US source.

Replying to

and

I'd like to see a source for your claim here, as the IRS site suggests otherwise? irs.gov/individuals/in

Replying to

and

irs.gov/businesses/int

Replying to

and

It's only up to a point; you get a relatively small amount that's not subject to double taxation. I looked into this quite a bit a few years ago.

Replying to

and

I think you should check again because in my experience it's not the case. Where I live there's tons of US expats. They wouldn't come here if they had to pay local tax AND US tax. Filing the tax return itself is onerous and something other countries don't require.

Replying to

and

You should go ask them about it, and ask how much they make.

9:41 PM · Apr 24, 2021