Ella Heyder is bracing for a breakup, even though she already moved out decades ago.
She’s contemplating cutting ties altogether with her home country, the United States of America, and President Donald Trump.
“I’m quite disturbed by what’s happening in the U.S. under Trump’s regime. It’s a fascist, imperialist regime,” Heyder said as she and others waved signs outside the American Embassy in Ottawa during what has become a twice-weekly protest against the current U.S. administration.
“It makes me a little bit ashamed. It makes me feel very sad,” she said.
For decades, Heyder has carried two passports. While she grew up in Norfolk, Va., Canada has her loyalty, and she figures a permanent split is inevitable.
In my circle of friends none of the US Americans living abroad file their tax returns and haven’t done so for many years… especially if you’re not planing to move back to the US, I really don’t see the need to continue compliance with the IRS or renounce a citizenship. Keep that passport and keep voting.
You have to really not want to go back, because they could charge you with tax evasion. And at the point you’re avoiding it anyway then there’s no reason to keep the citizenship. On the other hand, if you have assets in the states (401ks and retirement accounts like many of us), they can garnish or seize it for nonpayment of taxes. So sadly the decision is not so simple.
Voting is a good reason to keep the citizenship.
In regards of taxes, if your place of residence collects more than the US would, nothing is actually owed. In the EU most (if not all) countries have much higher tax rates than the US, so the only “crime” would be the failure to file. Not sure if this is why the folks I know are getting away with this.
But generally yes, my friends are not planing to go back and much prefer paying higher taxes in return for accessible healthcare and public transport.
I haven’t filed since Trunps first term. Before that my tax bill was always 0 because Ireland collects more taxes than the US would. I’ve traveled to the US twice since 2016, wothout any issues. But not in the last two years, things have definitely changed since.
I lived in Ireland most of my life, so maybe the IRS forgot I exist. Also no assets states side to take away
lol