g1ant

or:

We played the full game. You only showed up for overtime.

robin1234

Not really a no brainer. If you become a US Citizen, you have to file your US and State tax returns for the rest of your life, even if (for instance) you return to the UK on retirement. If you live in the US with a green card or similar status, you can cross the IRS & state tax off your annual to-do list when you migrate abroad.

robin1234

Along the same lines, what used to really annoy me was when Americans would say something like "we really whupped you guys' asses in 1776" or some similar crass & a-historical remark. When, in fact, I almost certainly had ancestors fighting on BOTH sides in the revolutionary war, and my US interlocutor was of (let's say) Italian or Armenian or East European extraction, so his ancestors had absolutely no connection with America in the eighteenth century...

Keith

Or you could say we won the war of 1812, when they tried to take over Canada.

Keith

I'm speaking of people that have cut ties to the UK. If you are a resident and work you have to pay taxes unless like my son ( Canadian/UK born) you work for the IMF. He pays no Federal or state income taxes.

robin1234

My favourite war! Just look at my avatar, Sir Isaac Brock! Try telling Americans about Tecumseh, Laura Secord & the Battle of Cryslers Farm, and all you get is a puzzled look....

robin1234

Actually, they've probably heard of Tecumseh in relations to lawn-mower engines. One thing about Americans, they love their small engines...

JAJ

Federal - yes. Not state.

Assuming you're happy to give up your green card.

Bob

Some states still require it if they were the last state that you lived in before leaving the US...

JAJ

Which states are these and how do they collect it, even from USCs? And unless they give relief for foreign tax (most states don't) it's true double taxation.

Bob

I can't remember, but someone mentioned it for the state they were in, and I think NH is another for capital gains and dividends. How they collect I've no idea, they probably don't, but it's just a case of having to file for 3 odd years I think it was.

JAJ

In a situation like this one would need to look very closely at the actual state law (to see exactly what it says), not rely on second or third hand information.

For example, many states will tax non-residents on income derived in that state which is a different issue entirely.

Bob

In NH, I don't think it's a case of paying tax, just that you have to continue to file it for x years, 3 I thought it was. There's only property/capital gains and tax on dividends out there anyway.

I don't know the full details because I don't live in any of those states so I really don't care all that much. The main point being really to check the actual state requirements and not to rule out that there wouldn't be a state tax to file when you leave the US.

simongb

I'm a dual citizen and it doesn't make much difference in my day to day life. I think I read somewhere (years ago) something about receiving pensions abroad if you are a citizen. That appealed to me as I plan to be in Europe full time at some point. I don't know if that's still the rule though.
I am planning on taking a leave of absence from work in 2010-2011 and going back to the UK (house is on the market now. I thought I would do that early because of the economy). It will mean that I won't have to worry about visas or being denied entry when I come back.
I say 'go for it'. As of right now, there really is no reason not too.