Zac Goldsmith

[ItsGrimUpNorth]

I'm sorry but how can anyone vote for someone who only gave up their non dom status during the election campaign? How does someone like that contribute to Britain? He only became a tax payer because of the election. To me, that is a scum person.

And whilst he roundly won his seat, why did he have that gurning hooray behind him during the announcements? That, I have to say, was one of my favourite moments of the election, watching that berk's face. Could you get any more Tory?

Bu ZG is a British citizen, not a foreign national.

I don't think this portrayal of non-doms is accurate.

Well, Mme, and I've now sussed out who you are IRL, there's minimising tax and there's dodging it.

A US national has to file tax returns on all income earned abroad. Even benefits. And, after the $82,000 threshold, either show they paid it to another government or stump up.

A US national may also need to file a state income tax return, depending on the last state in which he/she is domiciled and/or the length of time he/she has been away.

And, as you know, a US national has to do this or formally renounce his/her US citizenship, and then still complete returns for 10 years.

That's the difference between minimising and dodging it.

And yes, UK nationals who have lived abroad actually cannot just come back, rock up and get on the dole.

Their kids even have to pay international fees at university in most places.

Tehre's even a poster on here who faced that very situation upon a return from France.

Oh, and once, again, he's a liar and a cheat.

Oh, and he's a liar and a cheat, in case you bury that point in whatever you can try to pull out of that post to bolster your argument that liars and cheats are the kind of people you'd happily elect to represent you and make decisions on how other people live.

Who is it expat?

EiS,

I don't know how you would know me in real life since I am unable to reciprocate... I only pointed you out on this thread because you were so vehement.

However, the bedrock of US taxes is that you do what it takes to minimise your own taxes, such as making the decision to file a married/separately vs married/jointly. There is no obligation to make voluntary donations.

As a US taxpayer living abroad, I do what I can to get my tax return down to zero, and this is encouraged by the IRS.

I don't understand why certain British taxpayers benefit recipients expect other taxpayers to pay more than they have to. Personally, I give over 10% of my after tax income to my church, and I trust them to pass it on far more responsibly than the government.

Err excuse me? Benefits claimants?? Fuck you.

I'm a higher rate taxpayer actually. I just expect everyone to pay all the taxes they are supposed to, not evade them. There is bugger all transparency in the UK and a system that is designed to benefit the wealthiest. Perhaps you should find out a bit more about how taxes in the UK work before you go sounding off about something you clearly don't really understand

Nice

You were being really snide. It was deserved

'However, the bedrock of US taxes is that you do what it takes to minimise your own taxes, such as making the decision to file a married/separately vs married/jointly. There is no obligation to make voluntary donations.'

You declare it. They know about it, and you have to prove you paid it to someone else if not.

To do otherwise is dodging, not minimising.

And of course, there's just the not so-small-- issue that UK taxes are set up very differently from US ones (excepting the self-employed, who have to fill out a tax return).

I'm not on benefits. Nor is edam.

Why assume people who think everyone should pay his/her fair share is a benefits claimant/

What a weak supposition.

At any rate, hope you honoured your British nationality and VOTED.

Was pleasing to see so much turnout.

RLB, what don't I understand?

I have a fairly intimate knowledge of the taxxation systems in two countries.

Admittedly, as a lowly teacher, I only personally pay basic rate taxes, but I do have reasonable second-hand knowledge of the trials and tribulation of the high-life of a higher rate contributer.

Please, hold your bad language for someone else. It is just not fitting for someone who pays higher rate.

'I have a fairly intimate knowledge of the taxxation systems in two countries.'

Please, try to extend some of that intimate knowledge to the culture of your host country.

For example, anyone with in-depth knowledge of British culture would know that people who object to issues as such as non-dom status are not automatically in receipt of benefits.

Most would find that, as RLB and I do, for I am both, quite absurd and insulting.

Do carry on.

Here, here's some more rope.

Oh, did you vote?

EiS,

perhaps it doesn't apply to you, but when you do yor US tax returns, you can nominate to file married/singly or married/jointly.

You are encouraged by the IRS, no less, to file the status that minimises your taxes.

Personally, we do the jointly route becaus that is best for us. A lot of expats file separately - their mileage may vary.

There is no glory in paying extra taxes. The better thing to do is to give the money you are eager to part with to charity. That's what we do, and we are happy that we are able to track it to worthwhile causes.

Yes, I did vote, as I have done every election where I have been in the UK.

Well if you know the UK taxation system (one x, not two), then you will know that the highest earners pay the lowest proportion of their income in tax.

I pay all the taxes I should, I don't begrudge a penny of it. I wouldn't mind paying more if I earned 6 figures either. I just want a fair system. And I'm swearing because I think making really snide comments about a benefits system which I am personally proud of when they come from a country where the poor are left to fend for themselves really pisses me off. Oops, swore again

MMe, here's a newsflash: we are not talking about the US tax system.

It's neither here nor there. It has nothing to do with the election of Zac Goldsmith, a tax dodger.

But that was a fine endeavour to wag the dog, a game of which I am not overly fond, because I find it weak. A bit like bringing up the US tax structure and asking how I feel about it. Which is again, neither here nor there.

And I should probably change my name, because I'm an immigrant here, not an expat.

Again, did you vote?

And that sentence didn't make sense but I'm sure you get the gist

Forgive me, I didn't realise you were a dual national.

That is not an expat, either, however.

'but I'm sure you get the gist'

That's a rather grand assumption.

I would have to disagree (and I won't even use bad language), rlb.

Higher rate taxpayers pay half their income in taxes. No other group does this.

If you are trying to include benefits recipients into the marginal taxrate, this is quite immoral, since they have done nothing to earn their income.

The benefits trap is a problem that a strong government needs to tackle.

'You are encouraged by the IRS, no less, to file the status that minimises your taxes.'

How? I've never been contacted by the IRS or encouraged in any way to do anything other than file my return in hte 23 years I've been doing so.

Are there public service announcements now, and letters to all working citizens, saying, 'Psst, give the US Treasury are little as possible! Here's how: . . . '

I've been abroad 9 years, perhaps this campaign of encouragement is a new thing . . .

EiS - do you even understand what it means to be a non-dom? He has paid tax on his income.
And do you have a list of all the liars and cheats in Parliament - it's a long list after the expenses scandal, etc.
And do you think it's fair that the US is the only country that will tax earnings already subject to tax in another jurisdiction?

Has Zac Goldsmith actually broken UK tax laws?

This is imporatnt to know..

no, he has not.

'The benefits trap is a problem that a strong government needs to tackle.'

Many would add immigration in there, too.