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As a U.S. citizens living in China for many years, I still consider the U.S. my home long term. I receive a reasonable tax deduction for living out of the coun

As a U.S. citizens living in China for many years, I still consider the U.S. my home long term. I receive a reasonable tax deduction for living out of the country the majority of each year, and that is a fair tradeoff. The U.S., my home, still needs to survive and invest in its future. Taxes are the critical element for this. So when you say "protections". Well, if I'm not living in the U.S. "right now" I'm not right now receiving protections, right? Not really. I am. I can go home anytime I want if things get too tough for me in China. I have the safety of knowing their are local police and fire departments in my home town protecting my house, for example, the things that non-citizens don't want to pay taxes to help support. Even if I were living in the U.S. right now, I wouldn't be pulling money from Social Security or other forms of aid. But the "protections" are their whether I'm currently using them or not.

borism 17y ago
"I have the safety of knowing their are local police and fire departments in my home town protecting my house, for example, the things that non-citizens don't want to pay taxes to help support." I don't get it. Why would non-citizens not want to pay for police and fire-trucks? Don't you pay for those essential services in China, or if you do, do you consider those an unnecessary burden there?
- jhancock 17y ago
  If you own a home, even as an investment as a foreigner, you want to make sure it doesn't get burned down or broken into. This costs, and taxes are used to pay those costs. What will happen to the value of your home if the local water, sewage, roads, schools are not maintained? Even if your child odes not go to school in that district, a high quality school adds significant value to your home price. In China, I pay taxes on my home, and the gov is expected to use some of this money to protect my home there. I'm not being double taxed, I have two homes and pay for each in their respective countries.
  - CWuestefeld 17y ago
    I think you're overlooking the key part of my point. I'm saying that the person has no home in the USA, no nothing. But the USA still taxes income made overseas. Heck, even if this hypothetical person renounces his citizenship, they continue to take the taxes for another ten years!
    - jhancock 17y ago
      The reason they are expected to pay is because they made a choice to come to the U.S. and become a part of that society. If you don't want those implications, don't make that choice. The reason people make the choice is because they want the benefits they may get from coming to the U.S. I realize it is too hard for many that come to the U.S. to become citizens; we need to fix that problem. Our immigration strategies are not clear and makes immigrants pay on both ends of the deal. But really, if you want to come to the U.S., suck out some wealth, and then say "so long", well, you'll get what's coming to you.
scott_s 17y ago
Not to mention you have access to the US embassy in China, which is also supported by your taxes (and mine!).
- jhancock 17y ago
  yep, but citizen's services have declined over the years. Used to, I could walk into the main consul and see someone. Now, I have to go to the appropriate office after making an appointment perhaps weeks ahead. To be sure, much of the reason we have consul services in other countries is not just for benefit of visiting U.S. citizens. We also pay fees when we use such services. Consuls/Embassies exist for business development and foreign policy management as well. A U.S. citizen that has never left the U.S. benefits from those services indirectly.

borism 17y ago

"I have the safety of knowing their are local police and fire departments in my home town protecting my house, for example, the things that non-citizens don't want to pay taxes to help support." I don't get it. Why would non-citizens not want to pay for police and fire-trucks? Don't you pay for those essential services in China, or if you do, do you consider those an unnecessary burden there?

jhancock 17y ago
If you own a home, even as an investment as a foreigner, you want to make sure it doesn't get burned down or broken into. This costs, and taxes are used to pay those costs. What will happen to the value of your home if the local water, sewage, roads, schools are not maintained? Even if your child odes not go to school in that district, a high quality school adds significant value to your home price. In China, I pay taxes on my home, and the gov is expected to use some of this money to protect my home there. I'm not being double taxed, I have two homes and pay for each in their respective countries.
- CWuestefeld 17y ago
  I think you're overlooking the key part of my point. I'm saying that the person has no home in the USA, no nothing. But the USA still taxes income made overseas. Heck, even if this hypothetical person renounces his citizenship, they continue to take the taxes for another ten years!
  - jhancock 17y ago
    The reason they are expected to pay is because they made a choice to come to the U.S. and become a part of that society. If you don't want those implications, don't make that choice. The reason people make the choice is because they want the benefits they may get from coming to the U.S. I realize it is too hard for many that come to the U.S. to become citizens; we need to fix that problem. Our immigration strategies are not clear and makes immigrants pay on both ends of the deal. But really, if you want to come to the U.S., suck out some wealth, and then say "so long", well, you'll get what's coming to you.

scott_s 17y ago

Not to mention you have access to the US embassy in China, which is also supported by your taxes (and mine!).

jhancock 17y ago
yep, but citizen's services have declined over the years. Used to, I could walk into the main consul and see someone. Now, I have to go to the appropriate office after making an appointment perhaps weeks ahead. To be sure, much of the reason we have consul services in other countries is not just for benefit of visiting U.S. citizens. We also pay fees when we use such services. Consuls/Embassies exist for business development and foreign policy management as well. A U.S. citizen that has never left the U.S. benefits from those services indirectly.