Record number renounce U.S. to avoid income tax
Would you renounce your U.S. citizenship if it meant you didn’t have to pay an income tax?
More Americans than ever are saying “yes” to that proposition, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
A Reuters article says 1,800 people either renounced their citizenship or relinquished their ‘Green Card’ in 2011, the highest number since the IRS began publishing a list of those who’ve quit Team U.S.A.
The number that walked away in 2011 is eight times larger than those who renounced their citizenship in 2008, Reuters reports, and more than 2007, 2008 and 2009 combined.
Why are people doing it? Probably taxes.
The United States is one of the few countries to tax citizens living abroad. An estimated 6.3 million Americans living overseas have until June to file income taxes, but some apparently find the liability is greater than the benefit.
Longstanding federal law requires U.S. citizens to list offshore bank accounts, but a new law — 2010’s Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act — asks foreign banking institutions to provide the IRS with financial information that some Americans may have “forgotten” to provide. This new law likely explains the 2011 spike.
The IRS publishes the names of those who’ve decided not to pay up, a practice referred to as “name and shame” by lawyers representing the expatriates.
There’s an “exit tax” for the very rich who choose to leave. Reuters says Ted Arison, the late founder of Carnival Cruises, and Michael Dingman, a former Ford Motor Co. director, both paid to no longer be considered American.
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106 comments Add your comment
Ben Dover
April 18th, 2012
9:24 am
I hope the Social Security Administration, knows who they are? We have millions of dollars going to foreign citizens who came here, qualified for Social Security and returned to their native countries. I know for a fact several people, whom are living here, who have relatives that are doing this. With the value of the $ in some countries(India, Costa Rica,for example) they can live like kings just on Social Security.
American View
April 18th, 2012
9:35 am
I hope the Imigration & Naturalization Service and State Department keep a list of these people so when they decide they want to come home and/or re-apply for citizenship they are denied. We also need to be much stricter about granting green cards and admitting forigen citizens to citizenship in the U,S. And if admitted to citizenship, no dual citizenship. You can only be loyal to one country.
Animal Control
April 18th, 2012
9:59 am
See ya!
wendell
April 18th, 2012
10:09 am
Welcome to the Obamanation, where 50% of the population pay NO taxes, but receive 99% of the benefits. We are officially a bloated, over governed nanny-state.
Obama is an incompetent boob who will not be re-elected.
BG
April 18th, 2012
10:11 am
Abolish the IRS. We need to got to a flat tax system.
sheepdawg
April 18th, 2012
10:18 am
wendell, you need to check you facts. Your post is the perfect example of “opening your mouth and removing all doubt” as to your intelligence
wendell
April 18th, 2012
10:19 am
Obama is an incompetent boob.
baby
April 18th, 2012
10:22 am
Wendell- The middle class bear the brunt of the tax system, while the rich and corporations pay far less. Why should I or anyone in the middle class be paying more of a percentage of my income, than the those with the most? Do you think it’s the middle class skipping out, to avoid paying their fair share?
Tag
April 18th, 2012
10:27 am
Think about how many from other countries would like to be citizens.
Edward
April 18th, 2012
10:28 am
wendell can’t help appearing ignorant, he IS ignorant. He’s just parroting the Republican mantra without any clue whatsoever as to why, like most poor fools that support the GOP.
ha
April 18th, 2012
10:28 am
where’s my CHANGE?
Rubber and Glue
April 18th, 2012
10:30 am
Welcome to the Bushanation, where 50% of the population still pay NO taxes, but receive 99% of the benefits. We are officially a bloated, over governed nanny-state as a result of the Bush’s Administrations.
Bush was (is) an incompetent boob who was never re-elected.
Danny
April 18th, 2012
10:35 am
Rubber and Glue, right! but you don’t hear the Republicans saying anything about that, they wanted to keep it hush hush. They come in office tear the country down, get a democrat to fix it (Bill Clinton, Obama) campaign under their credit and if they get elected they do the same thing all over again. Clinton balanced the budget and we were in surplus, Republican came in for 8 years and ran it into the ground. Now the economy is slowly coming back and they Republicans who haven’t done one thing to help our country want to take credit for nothing. The only thing they did was be in the way and sabotage progress and spread lies so that they can keep their cushion and continue to exploit the middle class for their own benefit.
hotinatlanta
April 18th, 2012
10:38 am
If you renounce, you should not be able to EVER get it back! Shameful!!! I guess you want all the privileges and rights but none of the responsibility like the rest of us. The lady featured in this article (Ms. Eysselinck) is a trader to her country (in my eyes). Her father proudly served in the US Air Force and, even though she did not owe any taxes, she doesn’t want to pay her fare share. Ms. Eysselinck – where do you think the money came from to pay your father’s salary, pay for your family benefits, etc.? TAXES!!! If you renounce – you should be kicked out of the US. If you live abroad, you should not be allowed to come back here!
Truth Seeker
April 18th, 2012
10:40 am
The GOP often states that half of Americans do not pay taxes. In truth, about half of Americans do not pay a federal income tax. Other taxes, such as payroll taxes and state, local and sales taxes are not included in the statement. As a percentage of the federal governments income, the highest income earners pay the highest percentage of taxes. We have a progressive tax system, and the higher your income the higher your payments. However, I am concerned that 50% of Americans are paying virtually no income tax. I am not concerned that our highest earners pay more taxes. There is another concern too. Prior to the Great Depression the gap between low income and high income in America grew to what was considered a remarkable rate. Many historians say this was a key factor in the Great Depression. Over the last 30 years since we lowered the top income tax rate from >70% to about 30% the gap has grown dramatically. I am not a Democrat, but Obama is correct in attempting to tax our highest income earners. As a matter of historical record they are paying the lowest share in modern history. Unfortunately, Obama will not pair his call for higher taxes on the rich for fiscal responsibility for the government. These go hand in hand, and neither side of the political spectrum is willing to compromise so we continue with the insane path of lower taxes and higher spending.
NORRY
April 18th, 2012
10:40 am
I personally know someone who has come to the US, applied for Social Security, and then went back to their home country to live. They receive nothing from their home country, they live off the monthly SS check. All paid by the US taxpayer. Nice deal.
Richie
April 18th, 2012
10:43 am
If 1800 is a record breaking number we have no problem! This is definitely not a real story just fillings. Out of 200+ million people losing 1,800 is so immaterial!!
common man
April 18th, 2012
10:46 am
Baby–there is a difference between income tax and capital gains tax. Just because the “1%” pay a lower income tax rate it is more than made up for in capital gains taxes.
Edward– be thankful that there are ignorant GOP supporters out there who fight for this country so that you have the freedom and to post your retarded leftest views in this website.
wendell
April 18th, 2012
10:47 am
In the 39 months since Barack Obama took the oath of office as president of the United States, the federal government’s debt has increased by $5,027,761,476,484.56.
Although he has served less than a term, Obama is now the first American president to see the federal government’s debt increase by more than $5 trillion during his time in office.
tax baby
April 18th, 2012
10:50 am
Baby – per the tax policy center, the breakout by houshold income effective federal tax rates for 2007(last year avalable) are: lowest 1/5 paid 4%, the next 2/5 paid 10.6%, the 3/5 paid 14.3%, the 4/5 paid 17.4% and the top 5/5 paid 25.1%. Please explain how the rich/top income earners are paying far less than the middle class when the statstics seem to prove the top earners on average are paying the largest percentage of THEIR income in federal taxes.
DD
April 18th, 2012
10:51 am
@ Wendell…you’re blaming Obama for what you say …that 50% of the people in this country pay no taxes? And that those are the ones that receive 99% of benefit? You really believe that? If so, you have a lot of reading to do. Even if this WERE true – and it’s not – it wouldn’t be Obama’s “fault”. For a quickie version of “Taxes 101″, see here:http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/28/who-doesnt-pay-federal-income-taxes-legally/#. And note who wrote this…a Reagan/Bush Republican.
charles
April 18th, 2012
10:54 am
The US is one of the few countries to tax offshore income. The person first pays the tax where they live and work and then has to file a US return that is confusing and super expensive to pay no tax. The new laws also require non US spouses to turn over financial information to the IRS that has nothing to do with the US – When I lived in the UK, my UK tax return was three pages and my US was over 70 pages. It cost around $1,000 and I never owed any tax. The current US tax code is a huge mess, no one understands it. It needs to be reformed and is down to both parties. Forget the Buffett Rule that is a political side show. Get rid of the massive tax loopholes, simplify the code and lower the marginal rates – that is how to get the so called rich to pay more. Of course the special interest love a super complicated tax code as it supports a whole army of lawyers, CPAs and advisors – oh yes – it also distorts the economy and decision making. Most of these folks have massive problems staying in compliance with a system that is crazy to begin with and makes no sense to any other developed country away from the US.
wendell
April 18th, 2012
10:54 am
In 2012, spending will account for about 24 percent of GDP and taxes will total about 16 percent.
For all of you left wing fanatical MSNBC clones, this is a recipe for national Bankruptcy (SEE Greece/ EU Financial Crisis).
Expatriate Tax
April 18th, 2012
10:57 am
Expatriate Tax is a new solution. This is the answer for a few Americans that feel foreign bank accounts should be protected and remain private. The rich don’t need to be US citizens. Think about it. If you have 50 million in the bank what Gov’t benefit could you actually get that would be worth being taxed at 40% and climbing. Move all your money over seas renounce your citizenship and claim citizenship in a country that will take you and has a Tax Treaty with the US. Kind of a no-brainer. Then when you do earn US income that is effectively connected to a US Trade or business you claim a reduction in withholdings under the US Tax Treaty. Use caution because the country you shift the tax obligation to could have higher taxes than the US, but I’m guessing that would be doubtful in light of our 14.6 Trillion dollar debt.
Come on Man
April 18th, 2012
10:57 am
Truth Seeker – you are a democrat; you are still in the closet though. Why would you tax someone more because they strive to be better. Makes no sense to me but even despite this burden, the facts still support the gap between those that have is widening between those that don’t have. Why? People are still driven despite the governments plan to control them. If you take a handout, you are a vote. If you don’t need the government, you are dangerous. Punish me for earning too much money (extra taxes) and maybe I will be a good little boy and get in my place. At the end of the day, both parties want the same thing; your money and their continued employment. More can’t take out than those who put in though and that is where we are.
Intown
April 18th, 2012
10:58 am
Are these people becoming citizens of other nations or are they “persona non grata.” I’d hate to be a nationless soul. No protection.
Sterling
April 18th, 2012
10:59 am
Wendell, you’re such an idiot. To blame Obama for things that have been going on for decades is the height of foolishness.
News Flash to Wendell: The USA is NOT a dictatorship where one person rules and makes all the decisions!
wendell
April 18th, 2012
11:01 am
In the 39 months since Barack Obama took the oath of office as president of the United States, the federal government’s debt has increased by $5,027,761,476,484.56.
Although he has served less than a term, Obama is now the first American president to see the federal government’s debt increase by more than $5 trillion during his time in office.
Sterling
April 18th, 2012
11:04 am
Another tidbit for you wendell… Google “USA national deficit”… go look and see where the deficit really started to rise…. it was under Regean. I’m sure you blame Obama for it. Also look at the years under Bush. Notice a trend?
wendell
April 18th, 2012
11:07 am
I see, Blame Bush.
LOL
Good Grief
April 18th, 2012
11:09 am
@wendell – Don’t waste your time giving the leftist dreamers facts and figures. They operate by giving you grief when you make a statement and then ask for facts, when you give them facts they find something else to cry about. @Truth Seeker could not have said it better with respect to what SHOULD be done. I am sick and tired of hearing about “paying your fair share”. Why should any taxes be percentage based on income levels? Does someone making $300,000 a year “consume” more from the federal government than someone making $50,000? An easy example, national parks; assuming a 30% tax rate (with no deductions
), the $300,000 salaried person pays nearly $100,000 in taxes and the $50,000 salaried person pays $15,000 – Does the $300,000 salaried person get $100,000 worth of enjoyment/use out of the park system and the $50,000 salaried person get $15,000? Talk about inequality (for the $300,000 salaried person) and this is true for every federally funded program. . .
This country needs to move to a fair tax system and “fair” does not mean an equal percentage of income!
Fed Up
April 18th, 2012
11:10 am
Everyone on this board must be liberal, or listen to only what the liberal media and democrats want you to believe. Stop blaming Bush and the Republicans for all you don’t agree with in this country. All anyone has to do is listen to and watch Obama and the rest of the democrats to see/hear who is to blame for high gas prices, unemployment, etc. Check facts, not emotions. Gas prices, unemployment, home values are approaching double what it was under Bush. Lest I forget, the national debt has gotten out of hand under Obama as well. No, I am not a Republican. It is not just the middle class, but the lower income and those on welfare that can work though choose not to that is hurting this country. Oh, yea, that’s right. You liberals and demos believe in entitlement programs or as your Obama put it, the need for things to be “fair”. It is also not “fair” for those who have worked hard, saved, been gifted, or invested well to have to pay for and keep up the rest of Americans who want hand outs. You should pay your taxes while you live or own property here, but if one wants to move out of the country it is their right. You guys are just afraid that it won’t be “fair” and that you will have to pick up the slack.
Voice Of Reason
April 18th, 2012
11:12 am
“Scratch a liberal and you’ll find a fascist … I’m not joking.”
Not only has the debt increased to record numbers during this term, but Obama has officially edged out Jimmy Carter for the largest increase in gas prices during his first four years. This double standard infuriates me…if this had happened during Bush’s tenure, the Dem’s and Media would have been on the White House lawn with pitchforks and torches. Recognize the hypocrisy??
Tax Slayer
April 18th, 2012
11:12 am
Yes, yes. Let’s abolish 200 years of carefully crafted tax code because some ignorant mopes are confused by it.
Better yet, let’s pay money to a non-profit organization that supports a disproportionate tax on the poor because we are too dense to realize that the idea supported by a local radio host is simply propagated to sell books to bumpkins who think they know a thing or two about a thing or two.
If you don’t like paying taxes, get an MBA or hire somebody with a brain to figure how to work the system. It’s the Republican way. Well, real Republican, that is. Not the broke loser Southern version.
Let’s face it, saying “abolish the IRS” is both lazy and dumb.
Good Grief
April 18th, 2012
11:12 am
News Flash to Sterling – Please let Obama know that the USA is not a dictatorship or socialist state . . . he does not seem to understand.
bed
April 18th, 2012
11:13 am
baby – Why do you believe the middle class bears the brunt of the tax system – because politicians tell you that? They know the middle class is the largest voting block, and therefore, they pander to that voting block to remain in office. The top 5% of earners in the country pay 58% of federal taxes – that’s a fact. While wendell is off on the 99% benefits, he is correct that about half of American workers pay no federal income tax.
Zombie Steve
April 18th, 2012
11:13 am
Everyone hates taxes, but this is downright Un-American. Get the he!! out of this country if you’re not proud to be American.
Zombie Steve
April 18th, 2012
11:14 am
Bed speaks the truth
FCM
April 18th, 2012
11:15 am
Maybe the government should wake up and realize that an INCOME tax is not the right method to generate revenue.
Homer the Brave
April 18th, 2012
11:15 am
I read earlier about how the middle class bears the brunt of taxes, and it’s true. The rich & corporations pay far less. This will never be fixed though as our fat cat lawmakers keep insisting that these folks are the “saviors” of the economy and will create all these jobs by not being taxed. How many years have we been hearing this??? Where are those jobs?? Oh, I forgot, China & India….
YourPoliticalAnimal
April 18th, 2012
11:16 am
Just another right wing talking point that Sean, I hang out with Karl the fixer Rove, Oliver I should just be getting out of prison, North, Sarah, my husband should have been tried for treason, Palin, Hannity…he is obsessed with trashing Prez Obama yet he is blind to the political thugs that he is in bed with…let’s blame Obama and have a good night…works every time for the Kool Aid drinking ignorant knuckle draggers of this world…they tried this same tactic on Dr. ML King…”he’s less than American”…he’s not “one of us”…if they had sound policy alternatives they wouldn’t have to engage in character assassination…but their only policy wizardry is “less taxes for the Mitt Romney crowd”…truly the Bible was right when it stated “The poor is despised even by his neighbor…but the rich have many friends…”
Homer the Brave
April 18th, 2012
11:17 am
And also, I can’t get any of these government benefits because I am a citizen and our family makes too much at $35,000 year combined……..
Good Grief
April 18th, 2012
11:17 am
@Tax Slayer – Not sure who mentioned abolishing the IRS, b/c we need the IRS. What we do not need is the system we have and we need to drastically overhaul the entitlement mentality this country/administration has drifted towards; oh, sorry, I forgot Obmama is a socialist in so many ways.
Pandering to Dullards
April 18th, 2012
11:17 am
Since the Secret Service has proven itself to be untrustworthy, and they are the agency charged with vetting the credentials of a Presidential candidate, I say we resurrect this Obama birth certificate issue.
Come on! Who’s with me? Bubba? Billy Bob? Nathan? Chip? Let’s do this! Show me the birth certificate now! Come on, guys, get some money out of those special needs trusts and get this thing going. Impeach the Secret Service! Void the 2008 election. Make Sarah Palin Queen!
A-Team
April 18th, 2012
11:23 am
Actually, the FBI is the agency charged with such background checks.
Typical misinformed liberal.
Tax Slayer
April 18th, 2012
11:26 am
Entitlement mentality?
Which one is that? The one in which we complain that the jobs are going to India and China and we deserve them because we are American Americans?
How about you stop marrying your cousin, make your kids get a good education, and stop believing the myth that just because you were born white in America that it is your birth right to a good job, a big house (or trailer) a new pickup (and minivan for your obese wife).
I realize this was formerly true, but it has not been the case since at least the 1970’s. It’s just the reality of the world we live in. Accept it and move on. There is still opportunity for lazy whiny white people. But you have to assert yourself. The jobs are going to India and China because they are busting their tails to get them. In school, after school, at home.
They don’t sit around complaining about political topics they don’t understand and running themselves into debt with their Wal-Mart cards. They save and they study and they sacrifice.
America is a nation of overweight indebted lazy white people with an entitlement mentality. That is the hard truth. Stop whining and start improving yourself because you see how far blaming other people gets you.
Franklin
April 18th, 2012
11:27 am
Taxslayer: It’s amazing that you could use so many words without citing a single objective fact.
rodertrudis
April 18th, 2012
11:28 am
This is a rebuttal to Bend Over’s comment @ 9:24, who wrote:
“With the value of the $ in some countries(India, Costa Rica,for example) they can live like kings just on Social Security.”
Nonsense. “…live like kings on Social Security.” No one lives like a king on Social Security in Costa Rica or anywhere else. I know this to be a fact because I am living in C.A. on a retirement check and all it means is that I am not starving like I would be in the U.S.
I Give Up
April 18th, 2012
11:30 am
I give up. Obama is a socialist, so it’s pointless for me to try to work hard and make money. He’ll just take it and redistribute it.
I guess I’ll just see here on the front porch of my trailer drinking beer and counting my teeth.
I wish somebody good with money like Nathan Deal were President.
Then I could really be somebody.
Tax Slayer
April 18th, 2012
11:31 am
Here’s an objective fact: you’re an idiot.
Franklin
April 18th, 2012
11:36 am
Taxslayer:
Thank you for your concession.
It is always a sign of failure when one must, in the absence of valid points, resort to playground epithets.
Samantha
April 18th, 2012
11:36 am
I’m fine with that. Just make sure that they will be treated like foreigners because that is what they will be after they renounce their U.S. citizenship. I don’t have a problem with it. Make sure that they or their minor children will not receive any U.S. benefits!
Voice Of Reason
April 18th, 2012
11:38 am
Actually, this is all FDR’s fault! Dinosaur of an institution…
Daniel Ross
April 18th, 2012
11:43 am
Sounds just like the Ayn Rand’s book Atlas Shrugged. What a statement to make, give up your citizenship because of taxes. Okay lets keep it going and pass the Buffet plan. Then you can ask the poor for a job.
Bob
April 18th, 2012
11:48 am
If the cost outweighs the benefit, why not? You know you have a wicked tax code when your native sons renounce you to avoid its clutches. We need substantial tax reform NOW!
Peace
April 18th, 2012
11:52 am
What did ‘Wendell’ say that was incorrect? Was it the part about ‘50% of the population that pay no (income) taxes, or the part about Obama being an incompetent boob?
Just curious.
The Captain
April 18th, 2012
11:52 am
Traitors, the whole lot of em and their supporters.
ninjapoop
April 18th, 2012
11:53 am
Obama is a boob……
Raiderbeater
April 18th, 2012
11:57 am
I currently serve my country. If Obama’s ideals are what America becomes I will head out too.
I would only consider it America by geography at that point…..and not by it’s ideals….which make it “America”.
keith
April 18th, 2012
12:00 pm
Rats desert a sinking ship. They may be smarter than the rest of us.
myother
April 18th, 2012
12:01 pm
Corps do not pay taxes. The “tax” is conbined with the cost of goods sold and paid by who ever buys the goods.
Bernie Matt
April 18th, 2012
12:14 pm
I get tickled hearing so called “conservatives” talk about fairness, as in fair tax, but if I mention that some people in this country had a head start while others were enslaved and discriminated against and never made whole “reparations”, they say “get over it”, “that’s history”! Funny how that works. Kinda like some peoples definition of “Patriot” as in Ted Nugent. I checked Nugent background and I can find no record of him ever serving in this countries military or holding public office. So how does he and people like him define Patriot. Is the definition based on what you’ve done for this country or how you look.I rarely agree with Obama’s policies, because they are largely an extension of Bush’s policies, but i get tickled how the people benefitting the most from Obama’s administration (white males) complain the loudest. I mean it’s really laughable!
Joey
April 18th, 2012
12:15 pm
I am surprised by the number of idiots whose knee-jerk reaction is to criticize the people who are taking this extreme measure rather than admit the failings of the regime that is the root cause. We as a country need to reduce the size and scope of our government, redesign our tax system, and become generally less covetous of our citizens’ wealth and property. Otherwise we will get to experience the “brain drain” from the loser’s side.
Steve
April 18th, 2012
12:31 pm
Good for them. If they want to move back to their country of origin good for them. America is not the best country in the world you know. Especially with its tax system, healthcare sysem, justice system….ad nauseum.
Forrest Gump
April 18th, 2012
12:32 pm
I think it is obvious where this country is headed. You can’t spend the majority of your money on people that don’t do anything and expect things to work. It just seems like good sense to me. Gotta run…
GT forever
April 18th, 2012
12:32 pm
The comments by tax baby do not add up. First the sum of the percentages is appx 70 percent, where is the other appx 30 percent? Second the statement the next 2/5 paid 10.6 percent, the next 3/5 paid 14.3 percent, the next 4/5 paid 17.4 percent and the top 5/5 paid 25.1 percent. There is only 100 percent. Does the next 2/5 that pay 10.6 percent mean the next 1/5 pay 10.6 percent or the differemce between 10.6 and 4.4? this is unclear since the percentage of what was never defined. Also a link to the reference should be included for verification. otherwise statements as this are plain fodder.
mishap
April 18th, 2012
12:35 pm
So my cousin is among those that gave up his citizenship recently. He was born here, went to college and grad school here, and works for an American company in Asia. He decided to buy citizenship elsewhere b/c he was incensed by his six figure tax bill after he had a good year. So he’s spending five figures to buy citizenship rights in an African country rather than pay Uncle Sam like the rest of us have to.
This is a tax dodge afforded to those who have the means. Yes, a big tax bill is onerous but it’s not like he wouldn’t have gotten taxed the exact same under GWB. Part of the reason why he is able to make so much is b/c he’s paid as an expat vs the local employees. People tend to trust him b/c he’s American trained and I think his greed has blinded him to the fact that at least part of his ability to build wealth was provided to him b/c of his US citizenship. Also…to get a tax bill that size, his bonus was quite huge and it’s not like he’s left w/o. My tax bill is maybe 1/3 of his but b/c of the exemptions he gets as an expat, his gross was probably 7-8X mine.
Nothing against my cousin but I think we should hit the hiring companies up for the remainder of the taxes during their continued employment. The sole purpose of the change is to avoid taxes vs. anything ideological and it’s not like these people weren’t citizens for the good times.
Tax Slayer
April 18th, 2012
12:35 pm
OK, here’s an objective fact (since you insist): Republicans are preparing to nominate a non-Christian as their Presidential candidate, while they claim to be the party that promotes American cultural heritage and traditional Christian values.
Here’s another one: the South lost the Civil War.
How about this: Georgia consistently ranks in the bottom three among states in educating young people.
As a wise man once said, “stupid is as stupid does.”
Ginger
April 18th, 2012
12:47 pm
Wendell, bless your poor stupid heart.
Ginger
April 18th, 2012
12:49 pm
“Especially with its tax system, healthcare sysem, justice system….ad nauseum.”
Really? I guess all that patriotic propanganda we learn in school actually does work on some people. Unless of course, you were being facetious. In which case, I apologize.
A.K.A.
April 18th, 2012
12:50 pm
Tax Slayer, what do those straw man arguments have to do with anything. Here are some objective facts, the sky is blue, the grass is green, and liberals hate rich people.
Call it like it is
April 18th, 2012
12:53 pm
American are getting ready to nominate a non-Christian.
According to who? You. So I take you have decided Mormons are not Christians.
The South lost the War. Wow sparky thanks for the update.
Georgia ranks last in education, Okay you got me there, all I can say is I don’t solely rely on a public school to educate my child. Education begins and ends at home.
And what if any of this had to do with Americans renouncing their citizenship is beyond me.
time
April 18th, 2012
12:57 pm
Edward: Millions like Wendall speaks the truth…sorry!
Nobama
April 18th, 2012
1:00 pm
They just want the same citizen class as Obama……………. ALIEN!
Larry
April 18th, 2012
1:03 pm
Y’all leave wendell alone. He’s just one ignorant racist who can’t read or think and has to depend on the likes of Hannity and Limbaugh to tell him what to think. He obviously had his brain surgically removed at birth.
Emma
April 18th, 2012
1:07 pm
Ok we always seem to get off the subject. It doesn’t matter if your are Democrat, Republican, Independent, etc..It’s so hurtful to know that there are people out there who were born American that don’t want to be American and reliquish their rights. I guess I could look at it as defecting and just until I read this article never really thought about it. I know taxes sucks, but to leave the country and denouce being American is kinda of hurtful to me personally. WoW…you can call me a wuss but I just teared up. I am at a loss for words…
maybe this?
April 18th, 2012
1:09 pm
This is also called TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION – if you live in another country and do not maintain a residence in this country you are still being expected to pay tax to the US Gov. Isn’t this what 1776 was all about????
Icegolfer
April 18th, 2012
1:09 pm
Well, Wendell’s numbers are mostly correct. Here’s a link to an NPR article, for those of you interested in expanding your knowledge, about who pays how much in taxes. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125997180
Dissapointed
April 18th, 2012
1:11 pm
Uncle Sam will take whatever he can. Then, our government will waste it here, and abroad, while bankrupting this country. What a serious mismanagement. Just look at this congress, how incompetent it is. What a shame!
tax baby
April 18th, 2012
1:14 pm
GT FOREVER here is the link http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxfacts/displayafact.cfm?Docid=456. The reference to 1/5 2/5, 3/5 is breaking the average effective rates into their income brackets per the stats (1/5 = lowest 20% income bracket, 2/5 20 to 40% and so on, the stats call this the income quintile) As I stated before, these are each groups effective tax rate to their income so it will not add up to 100. It shows that on average the highest earners pay a higher percentage of their income to federal taxes than the other groups. Baby and others state that the rich pay less of a percentage of their income in income taxes, which isn’t true based on the stats.
Patriot
April 18th, 2012
1:18 pm
So these scumbags are willing to renounce their citizenship just for the tax savings? It makes you wonder how much in cash then these money lovers and their supporters would need to betray the USA to a foreign government, since they obviously love money more than their country!
SHUT YOUR FACE WENDELL YOU IDIOT!!
April 18th, 2012
1:22 pm
STOP BLAMING OBAMA WHEN BUSH & THE GOP SCREWED UP AMERICA TO CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF THE RICH & LET THE WORKING CLASS & POOR GET THE SHORT END OF THE STICK. PRESIDENT OBAMA TRIED TO TAKE AWAY THE TAX BREAK FOR OIL COMPANIES, BUT THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT VOTED GOP, THAT WAS NIPPED. EVERYTHING PRESIDENT OBAMA DOES TO TRY TO HELP THE WORKING CLASS THE GOP FIGHTS IT, BUT YET THEY ARE ALWAYS COMPLAINING HE DID NOT KEEP THE PROMISES HE MADE BEFORE HE WAS ELECTED, THAT’S BECAUSE THESE GREEDY, EVIL GOP CONGRESS MEMBERS WON’T ALLOW HIM. HE’S TRYING TO HELP AMERICANS SAVE THEIR HOMES, GIVEN THE STATE OF GEORGIA OVER $400 MILLION TO HELP TOWARD FORECLOSURES & DOESN’T HAVE TO BE PAID BACK, BUT DO YOU THINK FOR ONCE THE REPUBLICAN RAN STATE LEGISLATURES ARE GOING TO LET THAT MONEY BE USED FOR WHAT THE U.S. GOVERNMENT GAVE TO THE STATE FOR? NO WAY, THEY WILL GET THEIR PAWS IN IT & HELP THEIR FAMILY & FRIENDS OUT WHO DON’T NEED IT. TYPICAL, RICH LOOKING OUT FOR THE RICH. PEOPLE WAKE UP!! DON’T GO FOR ALL THIS NON-SENSE & FOOLISHNESS THEY ARE TRYING TO PUT ON THE PRESIDENT. DO YOUR HOMEWORK & NUMBERS. AS FAR AS HEALTH REFORM GOES, I AGREE WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA, I HAVE HEALTHCARE & IT IS STILL EXPENSIVE TO GO TO THE DOCTORS & HOSPITALS. WHO DO YOU THINK PAYS FOR THE UNINSURED? ME WITH MY INSURANCE & WITH MY TAX DOLLARS. YES WE DO NEED HEALTHCARE REFORM, ONLY AN IDIOT WOULD THINK OTHERWISE, THE GOP!! SMH!!
Come on Man
April 18th, 2012
1:29 pm
Tax Slayer – Georgia ranks low on education based on what statisic? The SAT? Drop outs? What? There are very few people here in Georgia actually from Georgia. Most are from the north and more come everyday so. If people from the north are so smart, why are thhey moving to Georgia and why aren’t our schools getting better? My kid got a 2,100 on the SAT which is about 500 better than the national average. Mind you he has no idea what EBT stands for. He will in due time when he pays his taxes on legal fees he will charge your kids to help them get out of jail.
The MIC
April 18th, 2012
1:39 pm
Guess what America? We are the greatest nation on the face of the earth. Sure we have problems, like that foreign alien person living in the white house. He’s neither a U.S. citizen nor a Christian, says we’re not a Christian country and lives off government hand-outs. Yea, the alien has caused gas prices to soar, unemployment is at an all time high, the economy is the worst it’s been in history and all the president can do is read his teleprompter, which says “it’s Bush’s fault, it’s Bush’s fault”. Well America, I guess you know the results from Obama’s “blame Bush” campaign, everybody wanted to know, which Bush. All the president would say is, I don’t know, it’s what the teleprompter said. Well, if you don’t like being American…… good, just leave but, don’t come back!
Steve B
April 18th, 2012
1:40 pm
I love how the liberals always defend their position by calling conservatives uninformed and “buying the party line”, when in reality, it is usually the other way around. ABC news, not exactly a bastion of conservatism, recently published an article where they checked to see if rich people paid less than the middle class. Guess what? They don’t! The top 400 richest americans do, because they are hedge fund managers, and they know their way around the loopholes, but overall the richest americans pay almost twice of what middle class americans do, as far as percentage. In actual dollars this is much more than twice. You can read it yourself at http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/09/fact-check-the-richtheir-secretaries-and-taxes/
The problem in this country is not the rich. It is that the government takes care of far too many people who are very capable of taking care of themselves, but are too LAZY to do so, and have figured out ways around working for a living!
Holy Smoke..Tom's right!
April 18th, 2012
1:52 pm
They are trying to avoid taxes the way ex-Nazis were trying to avoid the hangman’s noose. No different. They are un-patriotic, unwilling to shoulder their fair share and should be permanently denied citizenship AND put on a permanent no-fly status for ever stepping foot on US soil again. All their assets in the US should be seized and sold immediately to pay for their malfeasance.
SugarHillDawg
April 18th, 2012
2:16 pm
Holy Smoke , every time you type on a blog EVERYONE is stupider for having read it. You actually compare Americans who’ve had enough of pulling the wagon to ex-Nazi’s who were responsible for killing millions of people. I get tired of hearing hyperbolic CRAP like you liberals are so good at spouting.I wish we could forcibly make IDIOTS like you ex-patriots. You are NOT a great American.Fair share my ass, they are paying the LION’S SHARE!!!!
Gentleman Jim
April 18th, 2012
2:52 pm
Ben, you should look into how many people worked here illegally, had SS taken out of their wages using a fake SS number, and then return to their country never to collect SS. They have donated billions to our SS system. Only non-citizens who are authorized to work here get a real SSN.
Hank Reardon
April 18th, 2012
2:54 pm
Atlas is shrugging.
The “gimme” class realizes that and is panicing, which is why they call names, type in all caps, and generally act like 5-year-olds (yes, poster at 1:22 pm, that is you).
Randy
April 18th, 2012
3:10 pm
I’m totally blown away by the political team playing on both sides. If you think democrats have all the answers, you need to open your eyes. If you think republicans have all the answers, you need open your eyes. Unless you want these politicians to continue to do dumb things on both sides, you need to educate yourself on the issues. Of course, politicians are counting on you to keep towing their line!
Jo
April 18th, 2012
3:18 pm
They’re doing it because Obama has destroyed all things that made America, America in 3 short years.
#occupy my desk...
April 18th, 2012
3:22 pm
Bush’s fault.
rew
April 18th, 2012
3:24 pm
LOL, I love all the comments by the ignorant socialists that Obama is great and Bush messed us up. Bush’s policies were rotten, but wake up, Obama has done nothing different! Bailouts…check, $T stimulus packages…check, record deficits…check, same Iraq withdrawal plan…check, troop surge…check, extend the “Bush tax cuts”…check. Wake up fools- Obama has been Bush III
Pseudo-Political Commercial Media Machine
April 18th, 2012
3:25 pm
Shut up, Randy! (What are you trying to do? These people don’t know the difference.)
ahem
April 18th, 2012
3:25 pm
Thank you Randy!!!
Scooter
April 18th, 2012
3:34 pm
The tax code is too complex and should be simplified to empower American citizens. The Obama and Democrats have done nothing but complicate it more. Past entitlements will bankrupt the country because they aren’t financially sustainable. Rather than use their 2008 majorities to reform past entitlements, The Obama and Democrats added a new one. They really don’t seem to be the party of bright ideas and their supporters even less so.
Masters Degree
April 18th, 2012
4:00 pm
If the rich pay more percentage wise in taxes why did Romney pay 14% last year when making over 20 million? Legal loop holes. The more you make the more you can hide your money in assets.
I do this every year with thousands of dollars in right offs for my properties and company. Wendell and the rest of the want to be conservatives will never understand this.
I am a true conservative and believe in a flat consumption tax. I want smaller government and I am voting for Obama. If you take out the money spent on the Bush Wars we would be doing a lot better. When he came into office we were losing 750,000 jobs a month.. (Fact) We are in the positive now and the bleeding has stopped. We have growth in several economic measures… he is a miracle worker.
Lavondre
April 18th, 2012
8:27 pm
The expats who’ve renounced their U.S. citizenship will be beating down the door to get back in the next time there’s a crisis like a revolution or economic collapse in their new third world paradise.
killerj
April 24th, 2012
9:48 am
What,s with this monkey word “We”,with the crook,s in office today I don,t blame them at all,”We” the people no longer exist,your probably idiot liberal,s that voted for Obama and his “socialistic” health care,let “Me” tell you something,your public servant,s are now your master,s fool,s because of your idiot voting.
Tiger
April 24th, 2012
12:50 pm
Many of the ‘expats’ renouncing their U.S. citizenship actually ‘relinquished’ the citizenship many, many years ago. Perhaps it was because they met, married, raised a family with someone from another country. And perhaps they became citizens of those countries. Many of those countries are not ‘third world countries’, and, in fact, offer far more than the U.S.. Most of those countries probably have a higher tax rate, therefore, these people are not doing it to avoid taxation. It just might be that they love the country they are living in and have no reason to return to the country of their birth.
KMoore
April 24th, 2012
1:10 pm
You might be interested in seeing this interview (from the Wall Street Journal), which does a good job of describing the true nature of the problems – which have nothing to do with trying not to pay taxes, or leaving the US for better jobs or better pay. http://online.wsj.com/video/opinion-what-us-citizenship-worth/C7C8DFE0-064F-401E-BDEA-8E45285D0A99.html If after you see it, you still think that those of us born outside the US are trying not to pay a ‘fair’ share of tax, then there is nothing that will change your mind.
Angry and frightened expat in UK
April 24th, 2012
1:32 pm
I have spent all my adult life in the UK, married to a British citizen and now have dual citizenship. I was only a student when I first came here so hadn’t understood about all the filing and reporting requirements. I went native and invested into local mutual funds like a Brit. Last year, I learned about FBAR and how the the tax treaty still allowed for double taxation for US persons. I wound up having to pay a five figure sum in phantom capital gains taxes on holdings in my mutual funds due to obscure US tax rules. I felt particularly screwed because these were held in tax free accounts and had assumed that I could invest like my fellow Brits and hadn’t realized about this double standard.
But going forward, it’s the ongoing costs of compliance that will really wear me down. My tax situation is simple locally and I can e-file my UK tax returns without having to rely on a professional; but I will have to budget at least $2000 if not more each year for a specialized US accountant. I may still suffer some double taxation as well due to difference in how passive income and future pension income will be taxed.
This is onerous, especially when I am not seeking any US government services. I have had to move all my investments into a US-compliant account which has higher charges and thus lower income. I have to rely on my accountant because I’m so frightened of potential penalties for possibly filling the complicated tax forms incorrectly. Of course, it’s in her interest for things to stay the same, as she earns a living from people like me who hadn’t understood the rules. There’s a whole industry being created around all this but it’s not serving our best interests longterm.
KMoore
April 24th, 2012
6:06 pm
The title of this article is either a mistake, or a deliberate distortion: “Would you renounce your U.S. citizenship if it meant you didn’t have to pay AN income tax?” What country would that be?
More Americans than ever are saying “yes” to that proposition, according to the Internal Revenue Service.” Another deliberate distortion – as we’re paying plenty where we were born, or moved, or married citizens of other countries. We didn’t arrange to be born outside the US, or have our parents move us as children, or deliberately decide to marry a non-US citizen. Life happens, and tax was the last thing on our minds – plus the laws have gone through plenty of changes, for US citizenship and dual citizenship as well as US taxation and US bank reporting – for us, just as it has within the US.
What makes you think we don’t pay already in the countries where we were born, or moved and work? For example – in Canada, our taxes are usually higher – and we didn’t arrange to be born here in order to escape from US tax.
Some, as in countries where the US doesn’t recognize their tax system, or where the tax treaty terms dictate – routinely pay US social security, or other US taxes on top of what they pay where they live.
Why would you start an article with such false propositions? We play plenty of taxes – outside of the US – sometimes higher than we would as citizens inside the US – but most of us are paying first to the country we actually work, earn and live in – the countries that actually provide us with services. Then, if we’re over the tax treaty caps, or have US source income – we pay additionally to the US.
Are any of you volunteering to pay MORE than you owe? I didn’t think so.
Atlanta Native
May 1st, 2012
8:43 am
Wendell (and all others who blame Obama for the way our government has been operating for the past 50 years): In case you didn’t know, big corporations are what have been running this country through many administrations, not just the current one. Ralph Nader was the only presidential candidate to run solely on a policy of electoral and campaign reform, whereby corporations would be prohibited from giving candidates payola to serve their greedy needs. Behind every president or presidential candidate is a filthy-rich company waiting for a handout (i.e. pet project, subsidy, tax supports, etc.)
Mr. Thomas Anthony Jones, SR
May 11th, 2012
5:32 pm
George Romney has renounced his citizenship to save on income taxes and announced he will no longer beat up on Minorities and gays. Good!!!
Mr. Thomas Anthony Jones, SR
May 11th, 2012
5:45 pm
Mitt Romney has renounced his United States of America citizenship to avoid filing his 2011 Income Taxes. Slick. He has announced that he will not beat up any more African-Americans and Gays. We are all glad!!!!!!