On Tue, 9 Jul 2002, Tim May wrote: > Why do you think a person without a green card is exempt from IRS > jurisdiction?
I assumed that he meant a US non-resident. Obvi > > Unless one's stay is a short one (see below), income or other money > earned while in the U.S. (and maybe earned outside the U.S. if the IRS > can make a nexus case) is taxable. Illegal aliens are supposed to file > tax returns...and they certainly don't have green cards! > > Here's what Uncle Sam says: > > "You will be considered a U.S. resident for tax purposes if you meet the > substantial presence test for the calendar year. To meet this test, you > must be physically present in the United States on at least: > > 1. 31 days during the current year, and > 2. 183 days during the 3-year period that includes the current year > and the 2 years immediately before that, counting: > * All the days you were present in the current year, and > * 1/3 of the days you were present in the first year before the > current year, and > * 1/6 of the days you were present in the second year before the > current year. > > --end IRS quote-- > > There are some exemptions, for student visa persons and athletes > competing in games, but basically the idea is that you owe tax on money > earned in the U.S., regardless of citizenship, green card, or other > status. > > > or > > get a US citizenship since you're already in their jurisdiction anyway. > > > > I think this is terrible advice. Becoming a U.S. citizen exposes a > person to not only the _current year_ tax scheme but also the "for ten > years after you leave the U.S." tax scheme. (Yes, any U.S. citizen who > moves anywhere in the world must, technically, file U.S. tax returns for > 10 years after leaving. And pay various kinds of taxes, though the > amount may be different from what he would have paid had he remained in > the U.S.) > > Also, a person having extensive offshore (outside the U.S.) assets may > well find his assets are now taxable in the U.S. And for those with > capital assets not taxed in their home countries (e.g., Germany, Japan), > this may be quite a shock. > > A U.S. passport buys almost no protection. The U.S. will not defend its > citizens, only its imperialist interests. > > > > --Tim May > "That government is best which governs not at all." --Henry David Thoreau