Ella Heyder is bracing for a breakup, even though she already moved out decades ago.
She’s contemplating cutting ties altogether with her home country, the United States of America, and President Donald Trump.
“I’m quite disturbed by what’s happening in the U.S. under Trump’s regime. It’s a fascist, imperialist regime,” Heyder said as she and others waved signs outside the American Embassy in Ottawa during what has become a twice-weekly protest against the current U.S. administration.
“It makes me a little bit ashamed. It makes me feel very sad,” she said.
For decades, Heyder has carried two passports. While she grew up in Norfolk, Va., Canada has her loyalty, and she figures a permanent split is inevitable.
That was from memory. I’ll have to find it. My understanding (I’ll try to find references or retract my statement after work) is that at a minimum you have to file a tax return or submit some other form as long as you are a US person or up to 7? years after renouncing your citizenship or losing green card status.
Even if I was mistaken, it’s hella complicated and expensive.
Edit: Okay, tried to find where I originally read that and came up empty. I found that there is expatriation tax and a form 8854^1^2 you can file. There is a 5-year compliance rule that maybe is what I was thinking of. Either way, talk to an accountant if you’re planning to move. I think I’d rather piss off the Yakuza than the IRS in terms of who can make your life suck more.