SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
from the breaking-up-is-hard-to-do dept.
The USA has been making life difficult for Americans residing abroad; FATCA causes plenty of problems; but so does citizenship-based taxation. The IRS and Treasury department have made the reporting and taxation more onerous, and stepped up their collection efforts.
The result should be a surprise to no one: more and more Americans are handing in their US citizenship. Total numbers are unavailable (the lists published by the government include only a portion of the total), but undisputed is the fact that the numbers are increasing rapidly.
Having lots of citizens want to leave is...embarrassing. One solution could be to review the policies leading to people to hand in their citizenship. Another would be to make the fee unaffordable, especially for people living on second- or third-world incomes. It's obvious, of course, which route the USA has chosen: It now costs $2350 to hand in your US passport; more than 20 times the international average.
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Wednesday December 03 2014, @04:04PM
If you're a US citizen and you feel that the benefits you receive from the Bill of Rights and all the government services, not to mention membership in American society, are not worth the costs you pay in taxes
You mean those Bill of Right benefits they seem to be doing their best to erode every day? Maybe we want a government that actually does what its damn founding document promises to.
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: 2) by PinkyGigglebrain on Thursday December 04 2014, @02:51AM
and lets not forget the part where taxing a persons income is also a violation of the Constitution. There are provisions for the government to do it in times of war but the rest of the time the only taxes that had to be paid was on the land you owned.
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Thursday December 04 2014, @03:17PM
Interesting. Got any good links handy for further reading? I was aware the Constitution Party wants to repeal income tax but not really the logics behind it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiskey_rebellion [wikipedia.org]
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"