…and that is filling out my US tax return. The United States, in common with only one other country in the world (the Philippines, if you must know), taxes its expats.
I don’t owe anything, and haven’t owed anything for the past 14 years. There is an exclusion of foreign earned income (which is really the only kind of income I have) and this year it was $82,400. I made less than half that (being fully employed only three months last year) so I was free and clear. However, I still have to file the silly return.
I think this is the year in which I need to make my decision on whether to renounce my US citizenship. I am getting more and more fed up each year filling out this stupid return when I have no intention of returning to live in the US ever (my health issues would make that impossible anyway: I’d have no way to pay for health insurance or health care until I was 65) and when the only benefits I get from being an American citizen are that I can vote in Federal elections and get into the citizens line at airports.
This has nothing to do with patriotism: I’m as patriotic as the next guy. But being a British citizen now claims most of my allegiance, as I spend most of my time here and I feel fully British. If I could only get rid of the damned American accent then the transformation would be complete.
The rules have changed regarding renouncing citizenship. However, as I have no assets in the United States, no tangible assets here in the United Kingdom except a savings account, and my total net worth is probably under $100,000 US, I think I would escape any lingering rules on these matters.
So why do I hesitate? I suppose it is like when I became an Episcopalian in 1988. I had wanted to change for many years, but only got up the nerve after years of dithering about it. I need to talk to a lawyer and settle this once and for all.
I’m going to have to file for an extension. I didn’t earn much last year, but I also didn’t withhold any taxes, so I will owe. However, all my records are in Cricklewood. <sigh>
Don’t forget that you get an automatic 3-month extension because you were not in the United States on April 15th (unless you end up back there this week, which I hope will not happen).
I did not know that. It’s good to know. Thanks.