Many of the comments here are preposterous. I am a socialist by conviction, my whole life, and strongly believe the wealthy should pay their fair share.
But being a Canadian and knowing many Americans who have come here to work -- making prosperous but not insane professional class incomes -- and still having to file with the IRS, often having to pay into the IRS (without receiving services back in the US) and having their Canadian retirement funds messed with by the IRS, I find this whole thing baffling. No other western nation does this, and it's unjust. why would this forum -- full of people in the tech industry making a good living -- try to justify this?
Put this another way: should you cross the border into Canada and take up residency here (for a job, or because your spouse lives here, or because you like it here) you will now be effectively double-taxed for the rest of your time here.
This from a country that supposedly started its war of independence over the issue of taxation without representation?
Like I said, preposterous. Glad my mother and myself never applied for the dual citizenship we could in theory be entitled to. What a curse that would be.
Yes, make the seriously wealthy pay their share. But most of the people suffering from this situation (and often trying to renounce their citizenships in many cases not able to) are your peers in your industry.
Right. Back when i was living in Germany we were part of a very international community. I learned about the USA taxes craze when our poor American friend had to file his US taxes. Everyone in the group was like WHAT? My opinion is that it's a quite abusive practice.
However I've heard some people say it is worth the hassle so that you can save your passport everywhere saying "I'm American " and getting some sort of special treatment. Or that your embassy saves you from some crazy scenario you could get into as an expat.
But being a Canadian and knowing many Americans who have come here to work -- making prosperous but not insane professional class incomes -- and still having to file with the IRS, often having to pay into the IRS (without receiving services back in the US) and having their Canadian retirement funds messed with by the IRS, I find this whole thing baffling. No other western nation does this, and it's unjust. why would this forum -- full of people in the tech industry making a good living -- try to justify this?
Put this another way: should you cross the border into Canada and take up residency here (for a job, or because your spouse lives here, or because you like it here) you will now be effectively double-taxed for the rest of your time here.
This from a country that supposedly started its war of independence over the issue of taxation without representation?
Like I said, preposterous. Glad my mother and myself never applied for the dual citizenship we could in theory be entitled to. What a curse that would be.
Yes, make the seriously wealthy pay their share. But most of the people suffering from this situation (and often trying to renounce their citizenships in many cases not able to) are your peers in your industry.