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American illusion of freedom isn't something easy to grasp for people from "less free" countries who are, for instance, able to travel freely to Cuba. American
by rafski 14y ago
American illusion of freedom isn't something easy to grasp for people from "less free" countries who are, for instance, able to travel freely to Cuba.
American expats who moved permanently abroad have to file their taxes with IRS forever. In any European state your last contact with the country's Revenue is for the last year you lived there (unless you still have income in this country). You don't have to file anything, ever. You're free to go.
From that standpoint, Americans are effectively property of their government.
- Jach 14y agoI thought it's just 10 years, hardly forever. And comparing the USA to a single European nation is misleading.
- rafski 14y agoMy understanding is, it is not just 10 years. Also, I am comparing the USA to most countries out there, not a single country.
- Jach 14y agoActually it appears we were both mistaken. There is no long-term annual tax requirement for former US citizens, though if you retain your citizenship you do have to keep filing US taxes regardless of where your income comes from. http://renunciationguide.com/Residents-Non-Resident-Citizens-and-Non-Citizens.html http://renunciationguide.com/Residents-Non-Resident-Citizens... and http://renunciationguide.com/Exit-Tax-on-Renunciants.html http://renunciationguide.com/Exit-Tax-on-Renunciants.html provide the relevant details. In short, things changed significantly in 2008.