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