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Über Rich Renouncing U.S Citizenship as IRS Cracks Down on Tax Evaders [W:209]

Graffias

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Patriotism! Super Rich Renounce US Citizenship to Make Tax Evasion Easier (And Other Ways the Wealthy Cut Ties to Country) | Economy | AlterNet

The number of Americans who’ve formally renounced their U.S. citizenship has jumped by over seven-fold, from 235 in 2008 to 1,780 last year. The spark for this surge in statelessness? Since 2008, U.S. tax officials have been endeavoring to clamp down more firmly on overseas tax evasion. Swiss private banks, for instance, have come under new pressure to divulge data on the millions wealthy Americans have stuffed in secret accounts.

That pressure has some of those wealthy irritated enough to renounce their ties to Uncle Sam. The cost to renounce: a $450 paperwork fee and an “exit tax” on unrealized capital gains for renouncers who hold assets worth over $2 million — or have paid over $151,000 to the IRS in any recent year.
 
I heard about that @#$% Facebook founder who renounced his citizenship to avoid taxes. I think we should tell him, sure, he can avoid those taxes like that, but he's never allowed back into the country for any reason, no tourist visas, no business visas, nothing. Don't let him ever set foot onto American soil, and if he does, arrest him and put him in prison for illegal immigration. Make the fine for his release and deportation whatever amount of money his taxes as an American citizen would have been.
 
The rich need to send a message to the people that run this country and leaving is a great way to do it.

I support him in his move and wish him all the luck.
 
Those guys can see the writing on the wall. They know that the government is going to succeed in raising their taxes soon. Heck, if I had a lot of money, I'd be leaving too. This country is becoming nothing but a money sucking machine aimed at those big bad rich guys.
 
Apparently its mostly the wealthy already living abroad who are renouncing their citizenship for tax reasons. Taxes or no, is Europe really a better place to safeguard their wealth than the US?
 
Plenty of other countries would love our billionaires. They will be treated with open arms.
 
I heard about that @#$% Facebook founder who renounced his citizenship to avoid taxes. I think we should tell him, sure, he can avoid those taxes like that, but he's never allowed back into the country for any reason, no tourist visas, no business visas, nothing. Don't let him ever set foot onto American soil, and if he does, arrest him and put him in prison for illegal immigration. Make the fine for his release and deportation whatever amount of money his taxes as an American citizen would have been.

Banishment is not going to change these people. They used the "American dream" to get where they are, and now they want to discard this country like a used piece of toilet paper. Twenty years of hard labor in a penal camp should teach them the proper amount of respect for working people and the lower and middle class citizens of this country.
 
The rich need to send a message to the people that run this country and leaving is a great way to do it.

I support him in his move and wish him all the luck.

Just make sure we lock the damn door once they leave through it.
 
Banishment is not going to change these people. They used the "American dream" to get where they are, and now they want to discard this country like a used piece of toilet paper. Twenty years of hard labor in a penal camp should teach them the proper amount of respect for working people and the lower and middle class citizens of this country.

Countries are meant to protect the rights and liberties of the people. There is no connection between the individual person and the country as a whole that is worth honorable mention. I use the economy and the market to my favor and when I done with it I can throw it out and call myself done with it. There should be nothing that ties me here or there as I should be free to go where I want whenever I want. That goes for anyone here. If the chance comes to you and you want to leave, leave. It is your right.

And there is no such thing as the American dream.
 
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Those guys can see the writing on the wall. They know that the government is going to succeed in raising their taxes soon. Heck, if I had a lot of money, I'd be leaving too. This country is becoming nothing but a money sucking machine aimed at those big bad rich guys.

These people are criminals. They were dodging taxes when Bush was president and the tax rates were at record lows, and they still are. It doesn't matter how high or low the tax rate is or what the tax money is being spent on, because their only concern is keeping their money out of the hands of the government.
 
These people are criminals. They were dodging taxes when Bush was president and the tax rates were at record lows, and they still are. It doesn't matter how high or low the tax rate is or what the tax money is being spent on, because their only concern is keeping their money out of the hands of the government.

I'm guessing you just love paying your taxes. :roll:
 
Plenty of other countries would love our billionaires. They will be treated with open arms.

Actually that statement is only half true. Most countries would love our billionaires but I doubt their treatment would be much better. Most countries are little clones of each other that make getting away impossible.
 
These people are criminals. They were dodging taxes when Bush was president and the tax rates were at record lows, and they still are. It doesn't matter how high or low the tax rate is or what the tax money is being spent on, because their only concern is keeping their money out of the hands of the government.

They are not criminals...they are law-abiding citizens. They weren't dodging taxes...they were following the law. If you don't like the laws, then talk to the lawmakers. If you talk to the lawmakers and convince them to take aim at the rich to fuel their spending machine, then don't be surprised if those rich citizens decide it's not worth the hassle, pack up their riches and leave.
 
Just make sure we lock the damn door once they leave through it.

well, if they renounce their citizenship for the express reason if evading taxes, the door will be locked behind them.... but if they leave for any other reason, the door remains open, as it should.
I would wager that very few will put down " i'm evading taxes" as a reason to renounce.


there is nothing wrong with renouncing citizenship...it's not a crime in any shape form or fashion....there is absolutely no reason for sanctions, banishment, or prison.
 
These people are criminals. They were dodging taxes when Bush was president and the tax rates were at record lows, and they still are. It doesn't matter how high or low the tax rate is or what the tax money is being spent on, because their only concern is keeping their money out of the hands of the government.


nothing they have done is a crime... except in the minds of the far left fringe.
 
Countries are meant to protect the rights and liberties of the people. There is no connection between the individual person and the country as a whole that is worth honorable mention. I use the economy and the market to my favor and when I done with it I can throw it out and call myself done with it. There should be nothing that ties me here or there as I should be free to go where I want whenever I want. That goes for anyone here. If the chance comes to you and you want to leave, leave. It is your right.

And there is no such thing as the American dream.

And I strongly urge you to exercise that option.

No such thing as the American dream? That is one of the more sad and dismally bleak things I have read here. But it is revealing that some feel that way. Of course, they are doing best to turn it into a nightmare.
 
Banishment is not going to change these people. They used the "American dream" to get where they are, and now they want to discard this country like a used piece of toilet paper. Twenty years of hard labor in a penal camp should teach them the proper amount of respect for working people and the lower and middle class citizens of this country.

Well, what you propose is called fascism. Why the hell would you want ot put someone in a "penal camp" who used their brain and drive to succeed? Aren't these the type of people we should encourage to stay in this country?

In addition, they didn't "use" the American Dream. They believed it and lived it. Except they didn't read the fine print added about 50 years ago. You have the right to succeed but aren't entitled to what you earn anymore.
 
I think a much more interesting article could be written about the so-called stateless super-rich, as this alternet article sounds like so much partisan whining.

My first thought was that surely everyone is at least nominally the citizen of some country, even if they don't live there much. So "stateless" is an overstatement.

It must be nice to have so much money that you can use it, rather than the laws of a country, as the guarantor of your rights. That sort of raw power living would get exhausting I would think, and lonely...your only friends are the ones you buy. But you only have protection so long as you have friends that are impressed with you. I'm reminded of the scene in the movie Blow where George Jung loses all his money because Noriega nationalized the banks.
 
Banishment is not going to change these people. They used the "American dream" to get where they are, and now they want to discard this country like a used piece of toilet paper. Twenty years of hard labor in a penal camp should teach them the proper amount of respect for working people and the lower and middle class citizens of this country.

these people did far more for this country than the parasites who sit back and demand to be given more and more wealth of others.

Your lean for example proves that you support parasitic government. "hard labor" is something you ought to try sometime rather than demanding others work hard to fund your existence.

people have a duty to do what is best for themselves. If that means leaving to avoid the swarms of ticks and fleas that is their choice
 
Well, what you propose is called fascism. Why the hell would you want ot put someone in a "penal camp" who used their brain and drive to succeed? Aren't these the type of people we should encourage to stay in this country?

In addition, they didn't "use" the American Dream. They believed it and lived it. Except they didn't read the fine print added about 50 years ago. You have the right to succeed but aren't entitled to what you earn anymore.

fascism and socialism generally end up in the same disgusting place-destruction of human rights
 
I heard about that @#$% Facebook founder who renounced his citizenship to avoid taxes. I think we should tell him, sure, he can avoid those taxes like that, but he's never allowed back into the country for any reason, no tourist visas, no business visas, nothing. Don't let him ever set foot onto American soil, and if he does, arrest him and put him in prison for illegal immigration. Make the fine for his release and deportation whatever amount of money his taxes as an American citizen would have been.

another brilliant liberal position. drive them out of the country by targeting them unfairly, then further harm the economy by not allowing the wealthy to visit here and spend money.
 
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