So Americans get taxed even if they leave the country?

[SuperJack]

So you can emmigrate to a different country, get a job, live there and all that and you still have to pay your god bless amereican tax?

[Voss]

is this true

[SuperJack]

Lol yeh. Apparently you all have to do your own tax returns and shit also? Man that's crazy.

[Ash]

Lol yeh. Apparently you all have to do your own tax returns and shit also? Man that's crazy.

Wtf, do Europoors not file their own taxes? It's not that hard.

[SuperJack]

Wtf, do Europoors not file their own taxes? It's not that hard.

Why bother when it can be automated?

[HentaiManOfPeacesGhost]

Yes if you choose to retain your citizenship.

[Marshmallow Marshall]

That's called shitizenship, at this point...

[Lumi]

There is the FEIE - Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. FEIE lets you exclude the first $108,700 you earn abroad from US taxes.

Additionally there are Foreign Tax Credits which allow you to receive tax credits for income that is already taxed and paid to a foreign country.

So, do Americans have to pay US taxes even if they're expats living abroad? Technically yes, but for "normal" people that amount of taxes they have to "pay" is usually $0. The system is set up in this way to prevent people that are sufficiently wealthy from obtaining foreign citizenship in a country like Qatar with no income tax, and claiming their 7 or 8 figure incomes in those countries to get around paying US income tax.

(Not to say that tax loopholes don't exist, but like at least the absolute lowest hanging fruit of loopholes like that one don't exist)

[Helz]

There is the FEIE - Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. FEIE lets you exclude the first $108,700 you earn abroad from US taxes.

Additionally there are Foreign Tax Credits which allow you to receive tax credits for income that is already taxed and paid to a foreign country.

So, do Americans have to pay US taxes even if they're expats living abroad? Technically yes, but for "normal" people that amount of taxes they have to "pay" is usually $0. The system is set up in this way to prevent people that are sufficiently wealthy from obtaining foreign citizenship in a country like Qatar with no income tax, and claiming their 7 or 8 figure incomes in those countries to get around paying US income tax.

(Not to say that tax loopholes don't exist, but like at least the absolute lowest hanging fruit of loopholes like that one don't exist)

This is accurate. The foreign work I did in the past was tax free even when reported although I never reported over 100k.

I also remember people signing up for re-enlistment bonuses in Iraq and Afghanistan and if their bonus was somewhere over 100k they were briefed they would be taxed.

-edit
I actually believe many countries have something similar although someone else would have to speak to the details.

[SuperJack]

There is the FEIE - Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. FEIE lets you exclude the first $108,700 you earn abroad from US taxes.

Additionally there are Foreign Tax Credits which allow you to receive tax credits for income that is already taxed and paid to a foreign country.

So, do Americans have to pay US taxes even if they're expats living abroad? Technically yes, but for "normal" people that amount of taxes they have to "pay" is usually $0. The system is set up in this way to prevent people that are sufficiently wealthy from obtaining foreign citizenship in a country like Qatar with no income tax, and claiming their 7 or 8 figure incomes in those countries to get around paying US income tax.

(Not to say that tax loopholes don't exist, but like at least the absolute lowest hanging fruit of loopholes like that one don't exist)

Is that per year? Or just a one time thing.

And if they lived and worked over in Qatar, what the problem with them not paying American tax?

[Lumi]

Is that per year? Or just a one time thing.

And if they lived and worked over in Qatar, what the problem with them not paying American tax?

It is per year, yes.
And if they lived and worked in Qatar then they would still not need to pay any taxes on the first $108k annually. And only need to pay on anything above $108k

You can also claim foreign earned income as another exclusion in the case of someone that genuinely does live and receive their income within a foreign country, so someone living in Qatar making $200k per year may still be exempt because the income was foreign earned.

Really the system is set up as a way to stop people from doing things such as: owning a US based business but living in a place with no income tax to get around having to pay tax on the profits you're making within the US

[Helz]

Really the system is set up as a way to stop people from doing things such as: owning a US based business but living in a place with no income tax to get around having to pay tax on the profits you're making within the US

I kinda feel like it failed if that was its intent. Deferral allows U.S. multinational corporations to forego taxes on profits of their foreign subsidiaries until they are paid as dividends to the U.S. parent company allowing most of our big tech companies to dodge taxes at an insane rate. Always tickles me when thats seen in contrast to how they push 'progressive' ideas and government spending like they care.

[Stealthbomber16]

It also costs $1000 to become a US citizen, something that one of my classmates is dealing with currently.

[Helz]

It also costs $1000 to become a US citizen, something that one of my classmates is dealing with currently.

Its worth looking at the citizenship requirements of other countries when speaking about Americas problems.

My buddy has been working on becoming a citizen in Mexico for over 10 years and having hell. He only wants to because his land holdings will revert to the government when he dies and only citizens can pass stuff down to their children.

Not saying its not terrible but people act like America's process is so terrible while the rest of the worlds is so great.

[Marshmallow Marshall]

Its worth looking at the citizenship requirements of other countries when speaking about Americas problems.

My buddy has been working on becoming a citizen in Mexico for over 10 years and having hell. He only wants to because his land holdings will revert to the government when he dies and only citizens can pass stuff down to their children.

Not saying its not terrible but people act like America's process is so terrible while the rest of the worlds is so great.

I mean, if you compare the US to North Korea, you'll suddenly find the US amazing... not saying that Mexico is North Korea, buuuuut ;)

Also thanks for the fact-check, real Americans

[Stealthbomber16]

Its worth looking at the citizenship requirements of other countries when speaking about Americas problems.

My buddy has been working on becoming a citizen in Mexico for over 10 years and having hell. He only wants to because his land holdings will revert to the government when he dies and only citizens can pass stuff down to their children.

Not saying its not terrible but people act like America's process is so terrible while the rest of the worlds is so great.

I'm not saying everywhere else is great. I'm saying that locking down citizenship behind a paywall for a college student is stupid. It would be stupid in another country too.

[Helz]

I'm not saying everywhere else is great. I'm saying that locking down citizenship behind a paywall for a college student is stupid. It would be stupid in another country too.

Agreed.

I do feel like the voiced position of 'American citizenship needs reform' should be placed in context with other countries citizenship though. Its a relative question to say if 'this location is being unreasonable' and I have never herd about anyone calling out Dubai having some 500k a year minimum income requirement to become a citizen. If we are just about equality shouldn't we be advocating to allow all the poor people in India into Dubai? (Someone is going to pick up on the unspoken joke there)

On the just dunking on America page I have no clue about that financial requirement and I have worked with quite a few immigrants as the got their citizenship through the oil field, construction and general business in the south. Maybe its new? I just duno. The thing I always talked shit about though was all the weird shit required to be an American. They had to memorize all sorts of stuff I had no idea about and I lived here a large portion of my life. I had this driller I worked with named Chris who was born in Mexico but lived in America sense he was some months old and was more American than I was in many ways but when he was working on his practice test every third question I had no fucking clue what the answer was.
Just saying.. I duno about the 1k nonsense but when citizens of a country can not pass the requirements to become a citizen of their own country somethings kinda fucked up. (although again I don't think its fair to act like America is the worst or even unreasonably dicks about their process when you look at country's of wealth)

[Stealthbomber16]

Agreed.

I do feel like the voiced position of 'American citizenship needs reform' should be placed in context with other countries citizenship though. Its a relative question to say if 'this location is being unreasonable' and I have never herd about anyone calling out Dubai having some 500k a year minimum income requirement to become a citizen. If we are just about equality shouldn't we be advocating to allow all the poor people in India into Dubai? (Someone is going to pick up on the unspoken joke there)

On the just dunking on America page I have no clue about that financial requirement and I have worked with quite a few immigrants as the got their citizenship through the oil field, construction and general business in the south. Maybe its new? I just duno. The thing I always talked shit about though was all the weird shit required to be an American. They had to memorize all sorts of stuff I had no idea about and I lived here a large portion of my life. I had this driller I worked with named Chris who was born in Mexico but lived in America sense he was some months old and was more American than I was in many ways but when he was working on his practice test every third question I had no fucking clue what the answer was.
Just saying.. I duno about the 1k nonsense but when citizens of a country can not pass the requirements to become a citizen of their own country somethings kinda fucked up. (although again I don't think its fair to act like America is the worst or even unreasonably dicks about their process when you look at country's of wealth)

Yeah in my political science class we took a citizenship test as a class and with the 13 of us (summer course) we didn’t even pass. That test is bullshit.

I disagree with your point about it requiring context. I think the Dubai requirements are bullshit, just as I think the American requirements are bullshit. I will still have a stronger opinion about the American requirements because it’s the country that I live in. I can vote on representatives to make legislature about citizenship reform. I can’t do that in Dubai. My voice on that opinion actively doesn’t matter so I do not care to voice it.

[SuperJack]

It also costs $1000 to become a US citizen, something that one of my classmates is dealing with currently.

its around 1300 gbp for uk citizenship

[Helz]

I couldn't answer some of those questions. Took a practice test and I got 14 out of 20 right. https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/ci...tice-test-2008 for those interested (although I have huge gaps in my knowledge most Americans probably don't)

There are tons of questions I just do not understand the point of. Asking what day you have to file taxes by? Hell yeah that matters being a citizen. Asking to name an Indian tribe that existed before America or the exact date a law was passed....? What makes someone more able to function within our society by knowing that?
Yet things I feel like would help society function such as simply establishing a common language or knowledge of how to use the functions within society are largely ignored. "What number do you call in case of an emergency" would be an obvious example.

[Tominorobo]

According to US tax laws, American citizens and green card holders are required to file taxes every year, regardless of where they live or where they earn their income. This is known as ""citizenship-based taxation"" and it's one of the few countries that have this requirement. So even if you're living and working abroad, you're still required to file taxes and report your worldwide income to the IRS. However, there are some tax benefits and exclusions for Americans living abroad, such as the foreign earned income exclusion and the foreign tax credit. And if you're working abroad and are not sure about your salary and taxes, always check your check stub, it can give you a clear idea of how much you're paying.

[Marshmallow Marshall]

According to US tax laws, American citizens and green card holders are required to file taxes every year, regardless of where they live or where they earn their income.

ARISE, THREAD LONG DEAD! Haunt the forums from which thou were created.

Unless what Lumi said is a blatant lie, which I very strongly doubt, it seems it's really just an anti-millionaire tax evasion measure, whereas normal people don't have to pay taxes abroad, so America is actually not that trash. On that point, at least.

Also, how did you get here? I've never seen you around ^^