Brenn in Berlin blasts “un-American” U.S. double taxation and compliance crush

“Dear Congress… The American system penalizes hardworking Americans abroad and makes it hard to succeed. That’s just un-American.”

— Brenn in Berlin

Dear Congress,

I was born in San Luis Obispo, California, vote in Greensboro, North Carolina, where I grew up and where my family is located, and currently live in Germany – where my American citizenship is a handicap.

In Germany I pay FAR more in taxes there than I would in the United States. Yet because I'm an American citizen, it often costs me $2,000 a year to *file* taxes even though I don’t end up owing any U.S. taxes.

Why?

• As a U.S. citizen there are huge dangers holding mutual funds and other investments abroad.

• By keeping my investments in the USA to avoid those issues, I lose the advantage of the automatic deductions I would have as a normal European citizen holding investments in European accounts.

As a result, I need to pay specialized accountants a ton of $$$ to reconcile, instead of tax filing costing me $50. Back in the USA, the same problem applies, as I pay accountants to work through all the mess just to discover (surprise!) that I don't owe the U.S. government anything.

And this is just the beginning. If I were to start my own business abroad the compliance (and penalties!) becomes ever more absurd. Worse, none of those costs are tied to actual income or success. I could start a business that fails and owe thousands more in compliance costs for nothing!

The American system penalizes hardworking Americans abroad and makes it hard to succeed. That’s just un-American. When will Congress put Americans first and stop penalizing us for living our life FREELY? Isn't that what the American dream is about? Why won't you stop harassing me and let me be FREE like every other person from every other first-world country on Earth? Only the United States abuses its citizens like this.

Please support the Residence-Based Taxation for Americans Abroad Act of Rep. Darin LaHood and Sen. Todd Young to correct the historic and colossal injustices of double taxation, debanking and financial exclusion that current U.S. law has inflicted upon Americans abroad.

Sincerely,

Brenn in Berlin