Curious, which three counties? (Edit) Found it: "A Private Retirement Plan That Works. The initial Social Security Act permitted municipal governments to opt out of the system - a loophole that Congress closed in 1983. In 1981, employees of Galveston County, Texas, chose by a vote of 78 percent to 22 percent to leave Social Security for a private alternative. Brazoria and Matagorda counties soon followed, swelling the private plan to more than 5,000 participants today. In the private plan, contributions are similar to those for Social Security but returns are quite different." Source: http://www.ncpa.org/pdfs/ba215.pdf TX county map: http://www.censusfinder.com/maptx.htm If I didn't mind living in a swamp with mosquitos bigger than my Johnson, I might give it a chance, if for nothing else, as a spot to claim a business location...
I don't recall. However, I remember watching the story on 20-20, Dateline, Discovery Channel or something...
Oh......I wouldn't compare anything to your johnson. It just invites unattractive jokes Anyway, as expected, privately run insurance is working better than anything run by halfwits in government. Not really surprising.
there's been a few people on this thread suggesting you can just become a citizen of another country. unfortunately, it's not that easy. switzerland's naturalization process requires 12 years as resident before you can even request! most EU countries are 5, with a few at 3. nevis is probably the best option if you have 200k to spare, but a visa back into the US is required and not guaranteed. if visa-free travel into the US is desired you're looking at a long residency stay somewhere (all the while paying US taxes), with your only other option in Austria with its $1M+ business contribution 'program', but it's pretty hush hush, and from what i've heard not 100% guaranteed. to the OP, sounds like your Italian birthright might be the ticket. good luck, you're quite fortunate.
Actually, it's worse than that. If you renounce U.S. citizenship, you're not permitted to return for 10 years. After the 10 year period is over, you can apply for a visa. If you get the visa, you cannot spend more than 30 days in the United States in any given year. If you do, the US claims the right to tax you as a U.S. citizen for that year. It's almost as hard to immigrate from the U.S. as it was from the Soviet Union. At least lots of Western countries would take you if you managed to escape.
There is no need to renounce US citizenship, there are other ways to avoid taxation. As a mental challenge: 1. Marry a Croatian girl, put the money in her name, trade it and choose individual taxation. She will be paying no taxes by Croatian laws (⢠Capital gains from trading securities and other financial assets are taxfree) and you will be paying US taxes on a very small account. There is some travel restrictions, I think she has to stay in Croatia for half year plus a day to avoid US taxes, but hey, it is good for the marriage. 2. Make a company and trade in the name of the company. Use/write off all the profits (you can employ all your family with full benefits) so at taxtime there is nothing to be taxed. Who cares if all your cars even boat are in the name of the company as long as you get to use them??? Hell, your company can provide meal 3 times a day for employees if you decide that way...All your travel can be expense etc..etc.. 3. If you don't mind to spend your money abroad, trade CFDs instead of futures. I think it is illegal for US citizens to open such accounts, but as long as you don't bring the money home, who is to say you made money on an offshore account? I bet this is incorrect. The 10 years is for the IRS who still wants to tax your worldwide income for the next 10 years, thus making the renouncement kind of worthless....Also, you might need to get any other citizenship first, to avoid being stateless. More info: http://travel.state.gov/law/citizenship/citizenship_776.html