Are You a Good Candidate for Expatriation?
Over the last few years, I’ve helped dozens of U.S. citizens and permanent residents (“green card†holders) give up their U.S. nationality or residence status. This is called Expatriation.
Cell Tracking for Dummies
No, I’m not saying that you’re a dummy. What I am saying is that it’s easy for someone to monitor your cell phone activity. Almost any dummy can figure it out, hence the title "Cell Tracking For Dummies".
A Fast Way to Obtain Permanent Australian Residency
Australian residency is an often overlooked option for individuals seeking permanent residence in a first-world, English-speaking country.
FATCA: Blowback is a Bitch
Blowback- an unforeseen and unwanted effect, result, or set of repercussions
Yes, You ARE a Criminal…You Just Don’t Know it Yet
How many felonies have you committed today? If you're like most Americans, you probably violate federal or state law several times each day, without even knowing it.
New Options for Fast-Track EU Citizenship
Two weeks ago, I returned to the United States after more than three weeks abroad, first in the Caribbean, then in Europe. I've come back with new options for Fast-Track EU Citizenship.
Beep for the U.S. Citizen!
I arrived here in the Commonwealth of Dominica earlier this week. It's always a pleasure to come here; I go through the "residents" line at passport control and the official stamps my Dominica passport with the notation "RR" for returning resident.
Feds Delay 30% Withholding on Outbound Capital Transfers—Again
(This is an important update to a posting originally published Nov. 9, 2012).
Ruth Shipley: Pioneer of Passport Denials
In between eggnog, opening gifts, along with a bout of flu, last week I reviewed a fascinating article dealing with the near century-long tradition of passport denials by U.S. officials.
Hotel Guest Profiling: Suspicious Behaviors Exposed
Do you routinely put the "do not disturb" sign on your hotel room door? If you do, you may fit the profile of a suspected terrorist, and the FBI and Homeland Security Administration want to know about it.
Antigua Economic Citizenship Program Close to Reality
The Caribbean nation of Antigua & Barbuda is poised to become the third sovereign state to have a bona-fide citizenship-by-investment program, joining the Commonwealth of Dominica and the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis.
International Travel and Tangible Prepaid Access Devices (TPADs)
For the last three days, I've been in bustling downtown Panama City, Panama, speaking at an offshore conference. Panama is as dynamic as ever, and I've made considerable progress filing my application for permanent residence.
Hungarian Economic Citizenship: Look Before You Leap!
In a surprise initiative, the ruling party in Hungary has proposed legislation granting permanent residence and ultimately citizenship to investors who purchase government bonds valued at €250,000 or more.
Mark Nestmann to Speak at “Emergency Offshore Summit”
Mark Nestmann will be a featured speaker and exhibitor at Live & Invest Overseas Emergency Offshore Summit to be held Nov. 14-16 in Panama City, Panama, at the luxurious Veneto Grand Hotel & Casino.
Overseas Radio Network Returns to Live Broadcasting
After a hiatus of a few months, Overseas Radio Network has resumed live broadcasting! Once again, yours truly, P.T. Freeman, is a featured host.
Escape from America Seminar Conference Begins
It's down to the wire. Tomorrow will be day one of our long-awaited Escape from America seminar.
(Somewhat) Good News for U.S. Citizens Seeking Offshore Banking Solutions
U.S. investors investing offshore for the first time often wonder why offshore banks won’t accept them as clients.
Belize Passport Scandal Could Be Resolved with Legitimate Economic Citizenship Program
Over the last few weeks, local news sources in Belize have reported that officials in the country's immigration and passport offices issued identity documents to an individual linked to an Islamic jihadist organization.
Your Money Isn’t Safe in any U.S. Financial Institution
In August 2011, encouraged by friends who I thought knew much more about these sorts of things than I do, I opened a small account to trade options and futures. The account was with MF Global.
Hungary Now Imposes Tax on non-Resident Citizens
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And with governments in almost every country desperately seeking new revenues, it was only a matter of time before they begin imitating the U.S. example of imposing tax on the worldwide income of it citizens.
Feds: We No Longer Need Your Circumcision Records to Renew Your Passport
Last year, I wrote about a new State Department “Biographical Questionnaire†(Form DS-5513) that, if approved, you might have to complete to receive a passport. Among other questions, Form DS-5513 requested:
Transporting Precious Metals Yourself
In my last post, I wrote that there are two sets of rules with which you must be concerned when you move precious metals across a U.S. border:
The Belize Alternative
I've spent the last week in Belize. While I've never been before, I've learned a great deal about this fascinating country and its people over the last few days.
Appeals Court Weakens “Willfulness” Defense in Failure to File Foreign Account Reporting Forms
What standard of proof does the IRS have to demonstrate in order impose the most severe civil or criminal penalties possible for failing to acknowledge a foreign account? The answer: less than you might think.
Blowback from U.S. Role as Global Tax Cop
Over the last two years, I've written extensively about a U.S. law enacted in 2010. It's called the "Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act," or FATCA.
Former U.S. Citizens Face Visa Discrimination Returning to the USA
The numbers of U.S. citizens and long-term residents "expatriating"—i.e., giving up U.S. citizenship or long-term permanent residence status—is skyrocketing. Official statistics from the IRS state that in 2011, almost 1,800 people gave up their U.S. citizenship or handed in their "Green Card" to U.S. authorities.
IRS Clarifies Offshore Investment Reporting Rules Again
You have to credit the folks at the IRS for their ironic sense of humor. On June 20, 2012, the IRS clarified offshore reporting rules for 2011 with respect to Form 8938, “Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets." While the clarifications are both significant and welcomed, it would have been nice if the IRS hadn't waited two months after the filing deadline for Form 8938 (April 17, 2012). (The form, if required, was due with a U.S. taxpayer's 2011 tax return).
IRS Withholds Foreign Investor’s Tax-Free Income at 30%
The IRS seems to be putting the infamous FATCA statute into effect two years early. It's already withholding 30% of all U.S. income generated from U.S. securities accounts owned by non-resident aliens (NRA). That's only supposed to begin happening in two years.
Feds Revoke Citizenship at Border, Then Deny U.S. Nationality
Can the U.S. government force you to sign a document that strips you of your nationality? Longstanding legal precedent says U.S. citizens end U.S. citizenship only "with the intention of relinquishing United States nationality." However, several cases have emerged where the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (C&BP) agency has coerced native-born U.S. citizens into signing away their birthright.