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Actor Renounces His Citizenship in Snit Over French Tax Burden

jonny5 said:
Where does Gerard keep his wealth?
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Rainman05 said:
How the hell should I know... but I don't see him investing in business. Do you?
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Hello, Google, My Old Friend.....

The big cheese: The crazy life of Gérard Depardieu - Profiles - People - The Independent

But acting is just one part of the Depardieu portfolio. Quite apart from the investments in Cuban oil fields (hence the Castro connection) and Romanian telecommunication and textiles industries, most famously he's a producer of wine, purchasing in 1989 the 13th-century Château de Tigné estate in Anjou, in the lower Loire valley of western France, which now annually produces 12 cuvées – 350,000 bottles. He's since expanded globally, co-owning a series of tiny estates in Argentina, Italy, Algeria, Morocco and Bordeaux with wine mogul Bernard Magrez. "I'm not passionate about wine-making," he stresses. "I'm passionate about the country. I know the people who grow my grapes."
 
Fisher said:
Hello, Google, My Old Friend.....

The big cheese: The crazy life of Gérard Depardieu - Profiles - People - The Independent

But acting is just one part of the Depardieu portfolio. Quite apart from the investments in Cuban oil fields (hence the Castro connection) and Romanian telecommunication and textiles industries, most famously he's a producer of wine, purchasing in 1989 the 13th-century Château de Tigné estate in Anjou, in the lower Loire valley of western France, which now annually produces 12 cuvées – 350,000 bottles. He's since expanded globally, co-owning a series of tiny estates in Argentina, Italy, Algeria, Morocco and Bordeaux with wine mogul Bernard Magrez. "I'm not passionate about wine-making," he stresses. "I'm passionate about the country. I know the people who grow my grapes."
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Well, then I have to express my thanks for showing this to me. I was unaware of it. I also have to say that indeed, I was poorly informed on the man and made quick judgement calls in regard to him.

While it is true that I respected Gerard more than most of the filth in holywood and MTV, his behavior in public life, drunk escapades have given me a bad image of him. After all, Vidocq is one of my favorite movies :D

It brings me joy to see that indeed, he is a man of value and does have business sense. Then indeed, france did lose something of more value.
 
PeteEU said:
Typical American media...

He is NOT renouncing his citizenship LOL..

He is moving country... huge difference...

Plus it is sour grapes over his man Sarkozy lost the election. Also I doubt that he even earns so much that he will be hit by the 75% tax burden... after he pissed in the isle of a commercial plane in mid air.. his "star" has very much gone down in France and around the world.
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He turned in his French passport and French social security card. I suppose that means he really can't go back, unless he gets Belgium citizenship. Lawmakers in France are looking to add a new law stripping citizenship from those that do move abroad, so that really would force the issue.

Its not so much the income tax that he is thumbing his nose at, its the "wealth tax", which is now imposed on in France on assets held with a combined value of 1.3million euros. This tax, along with capital gain taxes, are not levied in Belgium.

Gérard Depardieu says he will give up French passport over tax rises | World news | guardian.co.uk
 
Samhain said:
He turned in his French passport and French social security card.
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So what. Only means he cant leave the EU /shrug. He can still travel freely between France and Belgium.. and Germany, Spain, and most other places around Europe.

And it is typical British media bias when it comes to anything about the EU.

I suppose that means he really can't go back, unless he gets Belgium citizenship.
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Of course he can lol.

Lawmakers in France are looking to add a new law stripping citizenship from those that do move abroad, so that really would force the issue.
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And it would not apply with in the EU.. where he is. And it would only apply in special situations of which this guy would not qualify. He aint rich enough.

Its not so much the income tax that he is thumbing his nose at, its the "wealth tax", which is now imposed on in France on assets held with a combined value of 1.3million euros. This tax, along with capital gain taxes, are not levied in Belgium.
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LOL ...he is mad because his guy lost the election.

Lets look at some facts on the two countries.

Both have capital gains taxes. Belgium's varies (depending on how the captial gain was gotten) from 16.5% to 44%. In France it is 19.5% plus social charges.. and still it all varies depending on how the capital gain was gotten. Not that big a difference tbh.

And in fact if he does not get the special expat treatment in Belgium (where only income gotten for work in Belgium is taxed in Belgium.. but there are a lot of rules on this part and since he will want to become resident in Belgium then it might not apply), then his taxes might actually go up. Why? well..

In Belgium any income over 35k is taxed by 50%.

In France any income over 69k is taxed by only 41%. Only income over 1 million Euros is taxed at 75%. I doubt that this fool makes a million a year and even if he did, then he would pay far more in Belgium on the under 1 million than in France.

This is a right wing pr stunt not based on facts pure and simple.

And for the record, I am against the 75% tax rate in France.. the idea is stupid but I do understand why they have done it. They should fix the tax system instead so the rich wont be able to avoid taxes.

But that the right wing anti-tax movement are attempting to use this drunk has been French movie star who pisses on airplanes in front of people when he dont get his way... well frankly it is an utter failure.... someone should be doing their homework.
 
Yawn. So the French have rich skinflints too. What a revelation.
 
Rainman05 said:
How the hell should I know... but I don't see him investing in business. Do you?
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The correct answer was: a bank. Would also accept 'an investment acct'. Now, what does a bank do with Gerards money?

edit: nevermind. i can see someone already informed you. But really, should we have constantly prove to people that the wealthy produce with their wealth?
 
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PeteEU said:
Typical American media...

He is NOT renouncing his citizenship LOL..

He is moving country... huge difference...

Plus it is sour grapes over his man Sarkozy lost the election. Also I doubt that he even earns so much that he will be hit by the 75% tax burden... after he pissed in the isle of a commercial plane in mid air.. his "star" has very much gone down in France and around the world.
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No, when you suck a person's wealth away, they leave. Something liberals will never understand.
 
Rainman05 said:
The article is a bit buggy but yes, Gerard will not longer be contributing to the French treasury. Not that it matters. It is one of few people...
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Oh... I think that it's more than just a few, and this incident once again reveals how vile the socialists are.
French speaking Switzerland, England, Belgium are going to see their share of wealthy folks... and perhaps more important...

... even fewer are going to look to France as a place to invest.

That's socialism for ya... they seek to penalize one group, but end up screwing those they intended to "help".
 
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Editor's Correction in bold and red

Wiseone said:
There's no right answer for a socialist sympathizer but its interesting to see how so many people are readily willing to accept someone renouncing their citizenship over tax policy, ie individual concerns come before patriotism. HOWEVER these are many of the same people who will consider it an affront to liberty to give citizenship or residence to a poor working family coming across from illegally Mexico for example.

I just don't get on the one hand how they can cheer people abandoning their country, but hate it when other people want to be apart of it.
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To answer you last sentence it's easy. In the case of the former one is escaping oppressive government (so we cheer), and in the latter Parasite Nation is trying to grant illegals citizenship.

Illegals were granted amnesty twice, the last time was in 1985. The problem with these illegals was supposed to get fixed. It wasn't.

To answer your first part... Yes there are clear answers, and yes it is an affront to those who have received citizenship legally to grant someone citizenship who makes a run for the border... our border.
 
PeteEU said:
LOL ...he is mad because his guy lost the election.
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Proof?

I think he might be pissed about punitive taxation of the wealthy.

But not in PEU's world.
 
iguanaman said:
Yawn. So the French have rich skinflints too. What a revelation.
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Here is the typical poisoned Socialist/Parasite Nation mind. They are polluted with envy... concerned with other people's wealth and how the government can thieve it for them and their causes.
What a revelation.
 
Born Free said:
No, when you suck a person's wealth away, they leave. Something liberals will never understand.
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And Conservatives dont understand that stuff needs to be paid for and everyone has to contribute.

Plus no one is sucking a person's wealth away.. it is temporary plus for only incomes over 1 million euros.. that is 1.3 million dollars.. everything under is taxed normally and if you cant live off 999.999 euros, then you seriously have a problem.
 
PeteEU said:
And Conservatives dont understand that stuff needs to be paid for and everyone has to contribute.

Plus no one is sucking a person's wealth away.. it is temporary plus for only incomes over 1 million euros.. that is 1.3 million dollars.. everything under is taxed normally and if you cant live off 999.999 euros, then you seriously have a problem.
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I think there is 1 person who disagrees with you--the actor in question. I think it always boils down to a difference in the meaning of "fair share."
 
PeteEU said:
And Conservatives dont understand that stuff needs to be paid for and everyone has to contribute.

Plus no one is sucking a person's wealth away.. it is temporary plus for only incomes over 1 million euros.. that is 1.3 million dollars.. everything under is taxed normally and if you cant live off 999.999 euros, then you seriously have a problem.
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The problem is greed and it is all encompassing for some. They want and want no matter how much they have. It's like King Midas.
 
zimmer said:
Editor's Correction in bold and red


To answer you last sentence it's easy. In the case of the former one is escaping oppressive government (so we cheer), and in the latter Parasite Nation is trying to grant illegals citizenship.

Illegals were granted amnesty twice, the last time was in 1985. The problem with these illegals was supposed to get fixed. It wasn't.

To answer your first part... Yes there are clear answers, and yes it is an affront to those who have received citizenship legally to grant someone citizenship who makes a run for the border... our border.
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Well "oppressive" being the operative word here, personally while I may not agree with higher taxes sometimes I don't consider them by themselves to be the mark of an oppressive government. That term is better saved for actual oppressive governments.

Anyway the legality of illegal immigrant isn't the point of my question, my question is about value as in who values the idea of being an American or French citizen more. Does an extremely weathly person value his citizenship or his country that much if he's fleeing for having to pay higher taxes? Obviously it seems to me that he values his money over his country, now I'm not saying one can't love their country but still want to flee depending on the circumstance. History is full of such examples, however the more heroic ones don't revolve around one's taxes, they are things more like "The Nazis are coming therefore I'm fleeing my country so I can one day return to fight them."

So ask yourself this question, if we offered up American citizenship as a prize to whomever was willing to risk their life attempting to cross the US-Mexican border do you think the dirt famer in Mexico would be more willing or the mutli-billionare who is willing to flee for tax reasons? I'm not saying we should grant illegal immigrants citizenship or anything like that, but of the two which do you think would be more likely considering the behavior we've seen from some super wealthy? I think one clearly would risk more to be an American or French citizen than others.

How can we hold someone to be a hero, or a model of behavior, someone who embodies the good old fashion American spirit of hard work and being a self-made man, someone who defines through his life what it is to be an American, when that person flees the country and won't even live there because of taxes? Since when has taxes or money been the most important thing about being an American? Should our heroes be people who won't even live in this country?

Of course we were talking about France in the OP not America, but still the questions apply to anyone who would abandon their country for wealth.
 
Interesting that governments are looking to confiscate money from individuals and the individuals are the ones who are seen as greedy. The governments can print their own money, the individuals can not.
 
zimmer said:
Proof?
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Gérard Depardieu cast in lead role as celebrities line up behind Sarkozy | World news | The Observer


I think he might be pissed about punitive taxation of the wealthy.

But not in PEU's world.
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First off, he makes his money in French cinema. He makes a handful of movies a year and French cinema is hardly giving out million dollar payments for has-been actor with a drinking problem. If he even gets close the 1 million in income a year, then I would be surprised.

Secondly as it has been stated over and over.. this 75% tax rate effects 2000 people out of 60 million.. so a little bit of perspective please.
 
AliHajiSheik said:
I think there is 1 person who disagrees with you--the actor in question. I think it always boils down to a difference in the meaning of "fair share."
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As I stated.. the actor disagrees because he is a right winger and his candidate lost.

As for "fair share" that is very simple. The "fair" part falls apart when wealthy people and corporations use loopholes not available to 99% of the population to avoid paying their full taxes. And THAT is what this tax and other movements in "liberal" Europe is on about.

The time has come for corporations and the uber wealthy to pay the same tax rates we all pay and not in single digits like they have been for decades.
 
PeteEU said:
this 75% tax rate effects 2000 people out of 60 million.. so a little bit of perspective please.
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So it is unfair. Figures!
 
PeteEU said:
Sorry, I know it confuses right wingers often.. figures and facts.
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And as I stated: "So it is unfair. Figures!"

Did you have trouble understanding that?
 
PeteEU said:
And Conservatives dont understand that stuff needs to be paid for and everyone has to contribute.

Plus no one is sucking a person's wealth away.. it is temporary plus for only incomes over 1 million euros.. that is 1.3 million dollars.. everything under is taxed normally and if you cant live off 999.999 euros, then you seriously have a problem.
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Interesting how you set the standard in which a person should live. Anything above your standard is really not theirs. Of course that's why he left, he didn't agree with you either.
 
PeteEU said:
Gérard Depardieu cast in lead role as celebrities line up behind Sarkozy | World news | The Observer




First off, he makes his money in French cinema. He makes a handful of movies a year and French cinema is hardly giving out million dollar payments for has-been actor with a drinking problem. If he even gets close the 1 million in income a year, then I would be surprised.

Secondly as it has been stated over and over.. this 75% tax rate effects 2000 people out of 60 million.. so a little bit of perspective please.
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One of those 2,000 is not there any more, is he. It's been done here, during periods of high taxes, revenue goes down. Why is that?
 
zimmer said:
I'm lov'in it.
Well done and thanks Gerard, for you further exposed the socialists for the vile parasites they are.

What kind of message are the French sending the world?

Do not invest here.
Do not create wealth here.
Do not create jobs here.
You didn't build it.
Your money is our money.

Would you want to invest in France?

Just brilliant on the part of the socialists. But hey! It will be a lab to show us how trickle up works... ROTFLOL... because Obama's 6 trillion, his business illiteracy and hostility and didn't make an impact on our Parasite Nation.

These morons in France are screwing themselves yet again. This move of theirs is as brilliant as their idea to reduce the work week to 35-hours and make working longer punishable.

That's what happens in a country rife with envy and ignorance... Socialism.

The fall-out from this will be interesting to watch... or should I say the whoosh sound of France going down the crapper. Not the normal type either, this will have that jet-like sound of an aviation crapper.

Paying punitive taxes is "patriotic"? Sounds like Obama/Biden idiocy.
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And he is "unpatriotic" for not giving 75% of his income to the government. Sound familiar?
 
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