.@TaxResidency is often confusing and often has a huge impact on ones life. In simple terms, you are a #taxresident of a country which has the right to impose the full force of its tax rules on you. This is different from HOW and on WHAT sources of income tax residents are taxed.
What income is subject to taxation: Terms like "worldwide taxation" (wherever the income is earned) and "territorial taxation" (income earned only in the country) describe HOW and ON WHAT income #taxresidents are taxed. These terms do NOT describe @TaxResidency (who is taxed).
US @CitizenshipTax means that ALL US citizens are subject to #worldwide tax regardless of where they live in the world. US @TaxResidency is the "Hotel California" of taxation.
Canada or Australia residence-based tax means that only those who are resident in Canada or Australia have @TaxResidency and are subject to #worldwide tax. In other words, Canadians and Australians can sever #taxresidence by moving (but definition of residencecan make it hard).
Some jurisdictions either define @TaxResidency in terms of #domicile of make domicile a factor in HOW #taxresidents are taxed. This brings us to the UK situation and the article in the Guardian that started this thread. How/why does domicile matter in the UK?
Reminder (before discussing UK): All countries claim taxing right over income sourced (arising) in their country. All confusion (seriously all) over tax is bc of countries not limiting their taxing rights to income sourced in their country. (But, that's a very complicated issue.)
Therefore, ALL UK #taxresidents will pay tax on income sourced in the UK. But, drumroll ... what about UK taxation of non-UK source income that is received by people with UK @TaxResidency but who are NOT domiciled in the UK? This is where it gets interesting.
Basically, (keeping it simple) UK tax residents who are NOT domiciled in the UK (according to UK domicile rules) are NOT taxable on certain non-UK source income unless the income is brought into (remitted) the UK. (Note this preferred tax status is not available forever).
Good article written by (I think) a UK based lawyer that describes this very well. Although the US has the most complex rules for determining how income is taxed, the UK has (I believe) the most complex rules for the role that #domicile plays in taxation. gherson.com/blog/favourabl…
And this article from LSE, suggests that 1 in 5 British bankers claim non-dom status? lse.ac.uk/News/Latest-ne…
And they don't like it ...
For those wishing further detail, see the UK government description of this here ... gov.uk/tax-foreign-in…
Lessons: 1. Choice of marriage partner should include inquiry into @TaxResidency, citizenship, ordinary residence and
domicile. 2. The single most important financial decision (investment) you will ever make is your choice of marriage partner. 3. Rishi Sunak married well.
Clearly the UK "non-dom regime" (coupled with the UK definition of "domicile") would make the UK an attractive destination for immigration. @TaxResidency matters in life planning.
Because of the importance of @TaxResidency, I would advise people to think very carefully before getting a US #GreenCard which would subject that individual to US #worldwidetaxation and reporting (of non-US assets). If people knew this, the EB-5 programs would be unmarketable.
But remember … the fact that she doesn’t pay tax in the UK on certain income sourced outside the UK doesn’t mean she doesn’t pay tax on that same income where that income is sourced (example India)!
If (1) the income is sourced in India and taxed in India and (2) the income were also taxed in the UK then (3) I expect she would be allowed a credit for tax paid in India. The credit (presumably) would offset UK tax owing.
So, it’s important to recognize that the question of whether the non-UK income is excluded from tax in the UK is different from the question of whether tax is paid on the income anywhere (where the income is sourced).
Of course none of this logic can deflect the human reaction to the reality that the UK non-dom regime creates two classes of UK tax residents (based on domicile). This is understandably perceived as unfair.
The anger is based on the idea that people should be taxed where they live and that all residents should be treated equally because residence is the just criterion for taxation.
From a purely moral perspective, the idea that because she is a citizen of India (and not a British citizen) that she should be excluded from taxation on India source income (as a UK resident) is not going to be accepted.
Interestingly under the tax residency tie break rules found in most tax treaties, citizenship although relevant, is far less important than other factors (permanent home or centre of life interests) in determining where people should pay tax.
Remember that she is framing her claim to non-dom status based on citizenship. But citizenship is neither logically nor factually related to domicile (which is the proper test).
The public rejection of her entitlement to non-dom status based on her citizenship is a rejection of the notion that the obligation to pay tax should be determined by citizenship and not by residence.
To exclude her from significant tax obligations because of her citizenship is just as ridiculous as imposing tax obligations on her because she is a citizen. Citizenship should generally not be relevant to taxation!
Interestingly the British public is articulating the argument against @CitizenshipTax better than do #Americansabroad. It’s time for the USA to end #cbt and agree that residence is the moral predicate for taxation.
Definitely the @TaxResidency straw that broke the camel’s back. How can Rishi Sunak be the chancellor and at the same time be a member of the US “tax, form and penalty club?”
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Interesting and motivating ... Frequent references to the fact that the fight to repeal WEP and GPO has been going in since 1983 (40 years). Adovacy is difficult!
Principle 7 - understanding what the #endingdoubletaxation of #Americansabroad means:
It's critical to understand how US @citizenshiptax makes it harder and more expensive for U.S. companies to hire U.S. citizen employee/managers/executives. Nobody understands this better than Jim Gosart - @jgoshksk ...
Principle 6 - understanding what the #endingdoubletaxation of #Americansabroad means:
The biggest obstacle to change to the US @citizenshiptax extra-territorial tax regime is NOT Congress or Treasury
The biggest obstacle to change is (amazingly) #Americansabroad as a group.
Because, @citizenshiptax affects different people very differently, it is hard to (1) define the problem (people understand it in how it affects them) and (2) willingness to actively campaign for change.
All #Americansabroad must come together to demand the severance of citizenship from @taxresidency.
Let's consider different groups and imagine how
@citizenshiptax affects members of those groups. Those with their financial center of gravity in the US might object to the compliance/filing requirements. But are not likely to experience the destructive affects of having a financial center of gravity outside the USA.
Least impacted: 1. Those who retired in the USA and moved abroad 2. Wealthy Americans who move abroad 3. Employed expats who are temporarily abroad.
Most impacted: 4. Emigrants living permanently abroad 5. Accidental Americans who file U.S. taxes
Could go either way: 6. Digital nomads (often use FEIE to avoid paying tax anywhere).
The key point is that because @citizenshiptax impacts people in different ways it is hard to get universal support for severing citizenship from @taxresidency.
Most people want their specific problem solved but are NOT supporters of completely ending the extra-territorial tax regime.
Principle 5 - understanding what the #endingdoubletaxation of #Americansabroad means:
Starting in "Principle 1" I explained that the problem of the #doubletaxation of #Americansabroad exists in relation to non-US income sources received by individuals who do NOT live in the USA (AKA #Americansabroad.
Key point: If @USCitizenAbroad does NOT have non-US income sources and assets, the US @citizenshiptax will be experienced mostly as filing a US tax return while living outside the USA. From that perspective it's easy to see why non-resident US citizens with US income sources and assets are not hugely impacted by US #citizenshiptaxation.
Let's be a bit more precise. Imagine you have a @USCitizenAbroad with an investment portfolio of US stocks, US Social Security or a US pension. Even if taxed by the non-US country, the US generally has first right of taxation (it's US source income). US will NOT impose punitive taxation bc it's US source income. (The other country will generally provde a credit for US tax paid.
Now let's consider a @USCitizenAbroad with a non-US investment portfolio (possibly including non-US mutual funds), non-US pension, small business corp located outside the USA the situation is the opposite of having all US based assets. The non-US country has first right of taxation. The US will then impose very punitive taxation, reporting and penalties because it is "foreign income and assets". #PFIC, #GILTI, #Form5471, #Form8938, #Form8621, etc. - denial of foreign tax credits ...
Clearly US @citizenshiptax allows those WITH US asset
Second, the lost opportunity of not being able to participate in retirement and financial planning programs created by their country of actual residence:
Third, the horrible fees to tax preparers to prepare (often incorrectly) US tax returns. It is obvious that compliance costs should be considered a separate tax on UScitizenship.
Fourth, the inability to have access to normal banking, brokerage and investment accounts. US Treasury denies this is happening. But, I have people all over the world #renounceuscitizenship in order to free them from this US @citizenshiptax imposed disability.
Fifth, who in their right mind would engage in business opportunities with a U.S. citizen partner. Would you want to have your banking info reported to the IRS
Principle 3 - understanding what the #endingdoubletaxation of #Americansabroad means:
Because @doubletaxation of #Americansabroad is caused by US @citizenshiptax it is clear that ending the #doubletaxation of @USCitizenAbroad can be ended by ending #CBT - AKA separation citizenship from @taxresidency. This is the ONLY solution that solves the problems of all people, all the time and under all circumstances.
That said, other solutions have also been proposed.
These other solutions which RETAIN US #citizenshiptaxation and solve the problems of some but all include ...
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Proposals that RETAIN US @citizenshiptax but provide relieving provisions for some of the effects of #CBT for some people but not for others. Examples include:
- the 2018 Holding Bill and the later Beyer bills which mostly exclude most non-US source income from US taxation but are aimed at limited forms of income and leave ALL reporting requirements in place (Form 5471, Form 8938, Form 3520, Form 3520A, Form 8621, FinCEN 114, etc.)
Note that although these might enddouble taxaion they are limitedin scope.
It's important to note that #endingdoubletaxation of #Americansabroad ...
- by severing US citizenship from @taxresidency ends all the compliance costs of being a @USCitizenAbroad
- by RETAINING US @citizenshiptax, but creating a "carve out" for foreign income means that the compliance cost, reporting obligations and opportunity cost (restrictions on investing/financial planning) likely continue.