Comments on: New British Tax Exiles Aren’t Even British

By: Sandrider

Sandrider — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 18:35:24 +0000

What’s with this “our island” stuff, Andy ? I know you’re having all kinds of visa problems, but you’re still a US citizen. I know you don’t have a wage-earning job, so this tax issue doesn’t really affect you one way or another. I understand your identity-crisis problem, but pretending to be a British Lord really isn’t going to help. You’re over 40 now, Andy. Time to put down the video games, cut your hair and grow up.

By: Pajamas Media » Waves of Emigrants Leaving Britain

Pajamas Media » Waves of Emigrants Leaving Britain — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:14:07 +0000

[...] to my recent piece on new regulations requiring annual payment of $60,000 (£30,000) for each non-domiciliary, the [...]

By: DA

DA — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 13:39:45 +0000

I’m an American who has lived and worked in England for eleven years. Actually I work two jobs, full time in banking and part time as a University lecturer, tutoring finance Masters degree students.

I pay higher rate taxes on both paycheques, full NHS (in spite of having private insurance) and my Indefinite Leave to Remain is clearly stamped “no recourse to public funds”, which means I can’t go on the dole or ask for council accommodation.

And that’s ok. After I – and many like me – didn’t come here then DEMAND a flat with full benefits like the economic refugees we’re all familiar with.

From my back of the envelope calculation, I fully support – via taxes paid on money earned here in England – at least two and perhaps as many as three economic refugees.

But now I shift that burden to you good folks. I’ve quit my banking job effective March 31st, University will take until end of term to wind down and then I’m outta here.

So bend over and pay up. One of you folks remaining in England will now pay to support what previously were MY economic refugees.

And what’s even scarier? I’m effectively a middle wage earner, and there are LOTS more like me – many far, far more affluent – who either have already left or are in the process of leaving.

This poorly planned, ineptly and hastily executed move will achieve nothing except markedly raise taxes for those of you who still reside – and work – in England.

And just to follow up on Dave’s point above – I don’t consider this an invitation – that’s too polite a word. I’m an American country boy, and I know hospitality when it’s offered to me.

I also know when I’m not wanted.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:20:00 +0000

Good grief. IT isn’t just millionaires and billionaires, it’s people who make several hundred thousand pounds, or dollars, per year, and who might have earned a million or two while doing this.

$60,000 is NOT chump change to these people. It’s a slap in the face, an INVITATION to leave.

Those who think that people of means just blithely absorb whatever new taxes are thrown at them have simply not observed them in the real world.

By: Curly Smith

Curly Smith — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:05:57 +0000

I don’t see why you find the idea “risible”. The “non-doms” were attracted to London by a favorable tax policy so it stands to reason that they’d be “detracted” by an unfavorable tax policy. Money, and the people who manage it, are fungible and the only barrier to moving is cost. Would you care to wager on how many cities will offer incentives to entice the financiers away from London?

By: John A

John A — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 05:49:49 +0000

The idea that the non-dom millionaires and billionaires who have “saved” billions of pounds of taxes that otherwise would be frittered away on UK schools, UK hospitals or prosecuting the War on Terror, will suddenly take flight because of a GBP30K flat tax, is simply risible.

I do question the de-facto nationalization of Northern Rock, and lots of other policies of the UK government. But this ain’t one of them.

By: Andrew Ian Dodge

Andrew Ian Dodge — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:15:05 +0000

Well look at how they are reacting, or not, to the nationalisation of Northern Rock. They really have no clue what to do to counter the socialist movement of this government.

By: John Swaine

John Swaine — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 12:35:30 +0000

Unfortunately, it must be disclosed that this tax was actually the brainchild of George Osborne, the Tory shadow Chancellor.

It seems more than a little ridiculous, although the Tories intended to use it to offset an abolition of lower income inheritance tax, it’s still a policy that’s far from conservative.

England has a massive public infrastructure and a public spending addiction to match. Instead of cutting taxes and cutting spending (a taboo in a nation where 30% of the population now work for the Public Sector), the Tories have decided to simply levy taxes against people who don’t vote.

Labour, seeing that it was a popular policy, have pinched it.

There is no voice in opposition to question the lunacy of this policy. It will almost certainly pass into law.