I think American working oversees are discriminated minority. They do not have the benefit of typical American working class shielded from foreign competitors. The fact that someone overseas are willing to pay them huge shows that they worth huge.

A blue collar worker get paid $4/hour don't worth $4/hour. They worth much less. US government prohibit foreign worker to replace those less productive individu that have chance to be businessman anyway. They actually worth the global market price which is like $.10 per hour. The extra dollar they get is implicit welfare from the rest of you that have to pay in terms of higher rent cost, higher living costs, etc to subsidize their sallary.

American working abroad that get paid $80,000 per year worth $80,000 because they are not protected from foreign competitors. They are paid because they worth. Yet they have to pay higher tax to fed the government that discriminate against them. Is this what you American called meritocracy?

Just get rid all government involvement and the market will take care of it. That's what Americans have taught me. So why don't you guys practice it?

I think I'll back Mr. Fiction. He's right.

SinEmpire, I'm trying to decide if you're a communist or a socialist. I'm not too sure, maybe try quoting Marx.

First off, Joe Expat isn't using the US roads, the $4000 hammers, the space shuttle, or Air Force 1. He's also not burdening the US welfare system or the social security system. He's having trouble getting some tech products he needs because they're illegal to ship to his house in another country. He's living in another country burdening their roads and paying into their social programs. And he clearly has NOTHING to do with the 20 lawyers per country that the DOJ has relocated to pressure foreign governments to make bullshit laws.

Why the hell does the place he was born have ANY say in his life? I'm thinking slavery. He was born into slavery, and he's managed to get out. Now they're trying to enslave him again. I think Mr. Fiction was absolutely right about taxing the few that live so far away they are rarely heard from.

We have an IRS office in Germany. Why? To extort money from people born in this formerly great country years after they have gone.

Vote libertarian. Make all this bullshit go away. Just imagine what would happen to your tax bill when there's a libertarian president.

And just about anyone who says anything differently isn't making enough money for this to be an issue.

misleading. how many americans already live in tax free nations? $1,000 is pocket change.

Amen

not only do they tax ME on my income but my accountant wanted to know what my British husband earns and claimed that I could be taxed on that as it was my household income. Fuck off.

I've been waiting for you to reply all day.:1orglaugh

It really burns my britches that they are thinking about doing this. So far I've qualified for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion but if they do away with it....:helpme

also...I am going for my dual citizenship. I think you have to be here for 3 years or something like that. In June I will have been here 7 (ack!)..think it is about time.

I think even if you gave up your American citizenship (which I won't do) you would still have to pay American taxes if you earned American money.

The only plus side to doing taxes when you live outside the US is that you get until June 15th to file. One of the downsides I have found recently is resulting from me paying on a payment plan - they don't take into consideration that they are sending the letter abroad. I don't get the letters and payment forms until after the due dates.

I think the part that fucks me off the most is the self-employment tax thingie where I have to pay into social security that I will most likely never claim.

Sarah, I'd love to have a chat with you about all this. You've been here a bit longer than I have and have obviously done more research. Would you mind if I ICQ'd you or something?

sure ICQ me on 1302636 if you like - not sure how much later I am going to be up tonight though. Also, I might sound like I have done research but I am still confused as heck.