Now, if you're a US citizen you may not know that 99% of other countries do NOT do this. The basic "rule" in this regard is that you pay your taxes if you are a "resident" (i.e. living in the country concerned), but if you are not - then no taxes are due.
The USA takes a very different view. They take citizenship much more "seriously" - in that they believe that no matter where in the world you happen to be - you must still file a tax return, and still be liable for taxes over a certain allowable foreign earnings limit (currently in the region of $75,000 p.a. - with incremental increases each year). In other words, whatever you earn over such an amount is taxable in the USA - regardless of the fact that you may not live there - and may not have lived there for years!
It reminds me of a true story I read in a book during the last year. The gist of it was as follows:
This American had been living in Africa for some years - and had made a considerable amount of money in his "adopted" country of residence and business. During this time he did not file any US tax returns.
He was also friendly with the folks at the US Embassy, and they were aware of him - and his financial success.
One day, after many years, he decided to take a trip home to the US to visit friends and family. Upon arrival at the US airport, his passport was screened by the online computer database - and the fact that he had not filed a return was duly noted. The man was arrested on the spot and charged with "failing to file a tax return".
He was then assessed on tax owing (probably due to information received from people at the US Embassy in the African country), to the tune of a couple of million dollars. As is usual in such cases, he was presumed guilty until he could prove otherwise - and was sent to jail.
In the end, this guy lost most of his money - as well as spending a couple of years "courtesy of the US government". Enough ruination for anyone!
And the moral of the story? If you're a US citizen don't assume you will be treated nicely - just because you go home for a visit!
One of the "traps" to avoid is when seeking to renew a US passport from overseas. It is now standard practice that such renewals are screened to see if the person has been filing tax returns. For don't forget even non-filing is a tax offense.
In fact, the savvy ex-US resident is now not bothering to renew his US passport - seeking instead to gain a second passport as a preferable way of living and travelling.
This is causing considerable concern to the IRS - who are aware of the lost revenue this practice represents. So much so, that they are now clamping down on such rampant tax evasion by US citizens living abroad.
The IRS estimates that as much a several billion dollars each year is slipping through their hands. And all of this owed by up to 3 million US expats who have broken the law by not filing a US tax return.
In a recent report is was disclosed that the IRS conducted some "market research" of its own - by contacting 1000 US citizens seeking to renew their passports. Out of the 1000, only 600 replied and only 83 of those had filed a tax return.
Now, all of the above information is reason enough for any US citizen considering living abroad to acquire a second passport. For why bother renewing your US one - when you could just as easily move around (and not have to file a tax return) by obtaining an alternative travel document.
But is this the only reason for acquiring a second passport? Definitely not.
Much comment in this e-book focuses on the unpalatable fact that the US is becoming more and more like a police state. Some of the information circulating on the web is frightening in the extreme (such as reports on the existence of detention camps under construction - to be used to impound US citizens some time in the future). Even if you don't believe these stories - there is more than enough documented evidence to suggest that the grip is tightening on the people in the USA.
What can you do to protect yourself against any future event? What would happen if the USA decided to stop people leaving the country (for economic and tax evasion reasons)?
You may not believe this is possible - maybe less chance than your house burning down. But you take out fire insurance don't you?
Well, a second passport is an "insurance policy". It gives you options. It gives you a "back-door" to freedom - if a situation arises where you need to make haste and leave.
Of course there are other reasons why a second passport is a good idea for US citizens. Let's face the truth - carrying a US "badge" of allegiance is not necessarily in your best interest while traveling abroad. Even if you don't intend to STAY out of the country - you may very well like your annual overseas vacation. Trouble is, these are not good times for US citizens to be tripping around the world. Like it or not, many people in other countries do not take kindly to the US's foreign policy initiatives - and are quite likely to take it out on an unsuspecting US tourist.
Far safer to travel on another country's passport!
So whichever way you look at it - a US passport is more a liability than an asset, and you owe it to yourself to explore the possibility of acquiring a second one for yourself (and your family).
Of course, a second passport is a good idea no matter which country you currently hold a passport for. For think of it this way. Without a passport you cannot leave the country. You cannot enter another country. So a passport is a lifeline - if you want to travel. And it doesn't make any sense to put all your "travel" eggs into one basket (one country's passport).
A passport is a ticket to free movement. A second passport is a back-up ticket - in case the other one becomes a liability.
So in summary:
You should consider a second passport if -
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