Meet Jimmy Scott, a 39-year-old “Ameristralian” who’s lived in Australia for over 20 years.
Born in Minnesota to an Australian mother and Scottish-Canadian father, Jimmy’s had enough of being an American.
He wants to hand in his passport and become a fully-fledged Aussie, but Uncle Sam’s making it tough.
From Patriotic to Ashamed
Jimmy used to be a proud American, but his views changed during the Afghanistan war. As he grew older, he became increasingly embarrassed to be American, especially after the election of Donald Trump.
The final straw came in 2020, with the Covid pandemic and the killing of George Floyd, which happened just 20 minutes from his hometown.
Now, Jimmy’s ashamed to tell people he’s American and wants to distance himself from the country’s culture.
The Difficult Process of Renouncing US Citizenship
Renouncing US citizenship isn’t easy. Jimmy needs to gather his documents, head to a US embassy, and pay a non-refundable fee of $US2350 ($3700).
He’ll also have to sit for two interviews and wait several months for the application to be processed. Even then, there’s no guarantee his application will be accepted.
The US State Department will review his application for a Certificate of Loss of Nationality (CLN), and if they determine he’s renouncing his citizenship to avoid paying taxes, they can still tax him.
Why Do Americans Renounce Their Citizenship?
Many Americans renounce their citizenship for ideological reasons, while others want to escape the country’s bureaucracy.
The US is one of the only countries that taxes its citizens regardless of where they live in the world, causing a paperwork headache for many. Some, like Jimmy, want to sever ties with a country they feel no longer represents their values.
Jimmy’s Top 10 Reasons for Renouncing His Citizenship
Jimmy’s launched a GoFundMe to help pay the $US2350 fee, stating that he’s doing it to share his disdain for the current American government. His top 10 reasons for renouncing his citizenship include:
America no longer represents his ideals
The country’s treatment of the poor and immigrants
High military spending that could be used to address poverty
High incarceration rates
The current administration’s stance on birthright citizenship
The Number of Americans Renouncing Their Citizenship is on the Rise
While exact numbers are unclear, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) publishes a quarterly list of Americans who have chosen to expatriate.
In 2024, 4820 Americans expatriated, up from an average of 3200 in the preceding three years.
Armand Arton, president of Arton Capital, says that while tax benefits aren’t the biggest driver of interest, the US’s double taxation policy adds an extra layer of complexity for US nationals, leading many to consider renouncing their American citizenship.
Join the Conversation
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