SEAT Working Papers Series - Extraterritorial Taxation #9: Forcible Destruction Of Citizenship

March 4, 2024 - Participants include:

 

Dr. Karen Alpert - @FixTheTaxTreaty

Dr. Laura Snyder - @TAPInternation

John Richardson - @Expatriationlaw

The purpose of SEAT has been and continues to be to conduct research (including the SEAT survey), prepare position papers, make submissions by SEAT to various governments, facilitate advocacy by individuals impacted, file amicus briefs and provide a centre for educating interested parties about the U.S. extra-territorial tax regime. (SEAT's work may be found on the SEAT website.)

SEAT believes that the problems caused to Americans abroad by the U.S. extraterritorial tax regime can be ended ONLY by severing citizenship from tax residency. We encourage the United States to join the rest of the world by taxing individuals on the basis of residence and source and NOT based on the citizenship of an individual.

Part of SEAT's work has been break our research into specific issues and categories. These categories are expressed as "SEAT Working Papers". In order to make the "SEAT Working Papers" available in podcast form, SEAT co-founders Karen Alpert, Laura Snyder and John Richardson are developing a series of podcasts - featuring interactive discussion - where we distill the "working paper" into conversational format. It is our hope that these podcasts will make SEAT's content available to a larger group of people.

SEAT Working Paper Series #2023/9 Extraterritorial Taxation #9: Forcible Destruction of Citizenship

The U.S. extraterritorial tax system “abridges and affects” U.S. citizenship, leading to the forcible destruction of U.S. citizenship in violation of the 1967 U.S. Supreme Court decision Afroyim v. Rusk.

Available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4465596.

 

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AI Description:

 

"Join us for an insightful discussion with John Richardson, Karen Alpert, and Laura Snyder as they tackle complex and controversial issues related to citizenship taxation and the 14th Amendment. Using Laura Snyder's seat working papers as a reference, our panel converses openly about the intriguing and often misunderstood subject of forcible citizenship destruction—a topic that has been stirring debate within the community of overseas Americans.

The podcast takes off with an in-depth analysis of the 14th Amendment’s historical interpretation and its influence on citizenship and taxation. The dialogue then plows into examining its specific clauses, additionally shedding light on its impact on the fabric of modern citizenship laws. The conversation enthralls listeners with revealing discussions about the U.S. nationality-based tax system and how it inadvertently creates a hierarchy among citizens.

An essential aspect of this podcast revolves around the complex and ever-evolving terrain of U.S. Supreme Court decisions, shedding light on the significant impact they have had on the rights and lives of U.S. citizens, especially those living overseas. The conversation further probes into current laws and regulations that exert relentless pressure on U.S. citizens abroad, forcing them into a predicament of considering renunciation of their own citizenship.

The offered prognosis dives into the deep waters of the unintended consequences of extraterritorial U.S. taxation. It unravels the historical background of the issue and explores how U.S. laws, including elements within the Internal Revenue Code, have accelerated the trend of citizenship renunciations. The conversation critically reviews the issue of indirect legal mechanisms—"weaponization of citizenship" that covertly sabotage citizens' rights to keep their nationality.

The episode wraps up with a thought-provoking question—Does the current form of citizenship taxation infringe upon the 14th Amendment’s guiding principles? The dialogue succeeds in painting a broad picture of the struggles faced by U.S. citizens due to these contentious laws resulting in a unique predicament compared to citizens of other countries.

Ultimately, this episode serves as a compelling voice for the SEAT (Stop Extraterritorial American Taxation) initiative, advocating reform towards tax