[–] HoneyNutStallmans [S] ago (edited ago)
Not sure what the alternative is. If you are born in the US should you have to sign an affirmation of your citizenship or be kicked out by 19 if you don't? Maybe roll it in with selective service registration?
Generally the idea should be that:
1) you have the ability to change your citizenship at any time, provided that you obtain a new citizenship and are >18 years old and
2) you have no obligations to your citizenship if you are not living in that country of citizenship
Basically, the US should just end citizenship taxation as well as keep relinquishment free.
If the IRS excludes the first $100k and allows you to deduct the difference from what you pay elsewhere then what''s the issue anyway? How are Americans abroad being bullied by this?
Except for the fact that you have to file FATCA, FBAR, an most likely hire an accountant to handle your taxes. So you have to spend quite a bit of time/money to sort out something that is totally retarded and unnecessary. They're essentially taxing you, whether or not you reach the $100K threshold and don't get enough foreign tax creidts, just by forcing you to file those things. It's basically a "remember-who-owns-your-ass" tax.
Foreign banks have aided people in dodging their tax burdens in the past so no tears for them I think.
I think you missed the point. They can't always legally comply with the USG's demands in some cases. In other cases, the burden is ridiculous with US citizen clients so, since US citizens aren't a major part of their clients, they just outright forbid any US citizens from holding accounts.
Why the hell can't US citizens just live when they're abroad?
To be honest you should probably be able to renounce your citizenship at any time without any penalty other than never being able to hold it again under any circumstances if you change your mind.
Their shouldn't be any discrimination against you because you were a citizen at some point in time. You should be treated just like any other foreign national.
[–] DickHertz ago
I disagree. If you choose to renounce your citizenship the country should not treat you as just another foreign national. You should be banned from ever holding US citizenship again since you have made your choice and it should be permanent.
[–] HoneyNutStallmans [S] ago
Seems like an arbitrary reason to not be treated equally.