4 ms·

You should try living as an expat before assuming her experiences are exaggerated. She is telling it like it is.

• colechristensen 5y ago
  Is there any other reason to renounce your citizenship other than paperwork? Or taxes if you make a lot of money?
  • Hamuko 5y ago
    Like the fact that your home country keeps an eye on your and your non-American family members' financial information on a level that is usually reserved for criminals?
    • jaywalk 5y ago
      Well, this blogger wasn't paying her taxes, so...
      • Hamuko 5y ago
        Because she didn't owe any. And yet, she had to pay thousands out of pocket to prove it to the US government that she didn't owe any taxes and they still basically monitor her like a tax dodger (because obviously all Americans abroad are dodging taxes, right?).
        • jaywalk 5y ago
          If I don't owe the IRS anything, I don't get to just do nothing and be alright.
          • andrewaylett 5y ago
            While, at least in general, if a Brit doesn't owe HMRC anything then that's exactly what they do.
            • jaywalk 5y ago
              Ok? The blogger wasn't a Brit.
          • niij 5y ago
            In some cases you don't have to do anything. If your income is below the standard decudction you don't need to file. https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/052615/do-i-need-file-income-tax-return-every-year.asp https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/052615/do-i-need-fi...
  • cr1895 5y ago
    It’s a lot more than complicated taxes and paperwork. If you are a “US Person” you may find it impossible to invest, or deal with certain financial institutions and products at all. I live in the Netherlands. I will face restrictions with my earned pension compared to non-US persons. I am forbidden to use stock trading services like DeGiro. I am not allowed to buy or sell Bitcoin. Just some examples…read the T&Cs of practically any financial-related service and there is a prohibition on US persons. There’s nothing illegal, of course, it’s simply that the vast majority of these institutions can’t be bothered to deal with the nightmare of compliance that is serving “US Persons.” It’s easier just to ban them. Fortunately, my bank is used to dealing with international clients and they still welcome me as a client. I see in other countries Americans have it much more difficult. I was even allowed to open an investment account! It’s far from ideal, and I had to commit to selling off everything should I leave the country, but it’s better than nothing..
    • _g5q8 5y ago
      >If you are a “US Person” you may find it impossible to invest, or deal with certain financial institutions and products at all. That's literally taxes and paperwork... indirectly, of course, but all the same.
      • cr1895 5y ago
        No, it really isn’t. Everyone has taxes and paperwork, some easier than others. Not everyone has the same restrictions on normal financial activities.
• jaywalk 5y ago
  Where was it assumed her experiences were exaggerated? The point is that her experiences are the result of her own choices, not anything that was "done to" her.
  • frosted-flakes 5y ago
    It wasn't her choice for the US to require non-resident citizens to file taxes.
  • monocasa 5y ago
    The term "melodrama" implies exaggeration.