• MintyFresh@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    I’m just spitballing here, but why would you pay taxes on your way out? I mean torch the passport, make an afternoon of it by all means. But pay a fee and tax? Just leave right?

    • gonzo-rand19@moist.catsweat.com
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      3 days ago

      The US is one of the only countries in the world where citizens are taxed even when they don’t live there (and haven’t for many years). If you don’t pay taxes on your way out but you have to visit for any reason, cops can arrest you when you re-enter.

      • jagged_circle@feddit.nl
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        3 days ago

        They also have extradition treaties in most countries, so you’d have to avoid about half of the world.

        • MintyFresh@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          You have taken all the whimsy and drama of leaving your country of birth. Fucking paper work and taxes!?!? I’m talking long beach cuts, walking defiantly off and never looking back.

          • jagged_circle@feddit.nl
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            2 days ago

            How do you cross borders without your passport?

            Just say goodbye and never see your family and friends again? Good luck.

    • jagged_circle@feddit.nl
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      3 days ago

      Burning a passport doesn’t renounce your citizenship. You still have to pay taxes. If not, they’ll either extridite you or arrest you when you visit the US.

      You can get out of it, but you have to pay expatriation fees, including an exit tax on your assets

    • BlackLaZoR@fedia.io
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      3 days ago

      Because as long as you’re US citizen, they will persecute you for every penny of income tax even if you work abroad.

      • jagged_circle@feddit.nl
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        3 days ago

        Its not every penny. Its excess of $100,000 per year last time I checked. See rules for “Foreign Income Exclusion”

        But thats just income. Capital gains limits are much lower.