Forum Moderators: martinibuster
If so, what if any challenges have you faced?
I would never even consider to live in such countries. Can't get into specifics as this will turn political /religious, but it has to do with "blasphemy," drinking, vice and all.
As US citizens, I think we are stuck paying taxes no matter where we live, short of some scam which will come back to haunt anyone who engages in it. The question for me is, where would I want to spend 2-3 months a year? Margarita Island sounds great, if there's a way to get there faster (there's 2+ stops, and even overnight layovers,) but Aruba is just as nice, but faster travel and it's more secure politically. Of course houses there cost a lot more, but with renting you can make some of it back. So when time comes, I have to think again and again.
My criteria: great climate, safety, internet, no earthquakes, no hurricanes and easy access to. I realize that if you plan on moving there, easy access is less important, but still would be nice to tell your friends or family: "stop by for a week..." after they click on the ads of course :)
drinking, vice and all.
Have you ever been to these places in the Middle East? One thing I have never had the shortage of is all of the above three.
Very sophisticated clubs, bars, restaurants and more gorgeous women, albeit many looking for a good and expensive time, than you would probably ever believe.
There are some fantastic countries to go holidaying and the historical tours are just amazing.
It's strange, and I'm certainly not trying to start an argument about this, however Europeans obviously have a completely different view of these countries compared to Americans...that's assuming you're American?
There are many, many different nationalities quite happily living, working and many retired, alongside each other.
Sure if you break the local laws one expects to be punished however isn't that the same in any country?
And the business, now that's another thing, huge investments by world renowned companies and fast growing economies without federal debt.
There could be a lot worse places to live!
As I posted on the first page of this thread a while back - as a US citizen, I realized it is best for me to live in the US. However, there are 50 states to choose from, each with different state tax laws. Some states should be avoided like the plague!
This probably seems strange to our European Forum members, however, the autonomy of each of the 50 states is actually pretty dramatic. Perhaps the US can be compared more with the EU now.
I have never been and probably never will. I knew you would come up with that argument, and it makes sense that the authorities close an eye to it, or even secretely encourage it. However, their laws are based on Shariah, which forbids all those. From Oman's constitution: "and the Islamic Shariah is the basis of legislation."
As far as Dubai: I am reading "Do’s & Don’ts" from a Dubai site, and I would hate to have to worry about those things like "decency Laws," swearing in public, being careful with drinks in public durign certain months, wife or gf dressing modestly and all that. That's just me though.
It's all the degree of the moderation:-)
Do you really want to live in a place that has drunken louts disregarding the laws of that country? I am not referring to the Middle East, I am referring to the UK, the EU, the USA...we have become far too complacent to the lack of respect and decorum in the west.
Why should people NOT live by the rules that the majority do so quite happily.
Do I want to go to a supermarket in hot weather and see an obese person dressed in a next-to-nothing "speedo-thing" because they feel they have the "right" to do so?
If so then do I have the right to complain about it? Sure I do in those countries!
Do any of us have to be subjected to "f" this and "f" that in a bar or whilst walking down the street?
So many people have shed their responsibilities towards society and their countries for the sake of monetary greed.
I do not need iPods screaming all the time, I do not need skateboards taking up the pavement and mountain bikes making death defying moves off the nearest lampost, I do not need every damned "new whatever it is" ramming down my throat every 5 minutes.
There is another way, or ought I say style, of life?
</end rant>
Walkman, nothing personal, it's something that my kids are suddenly realising has changed so much from when they were young and now nothing "seems as great" and I certainly do not have to tolerate having to "put up" with other people's options.
Heck, they'd better not read this otherwise they'll say I've turned into a fuddy duddy!
your mileage may vary ..depending on your blinkers ..particularly to the lot of others less rich than yourself ..or female ..
I'd take the United States and the west anyday over the middle east if that were the choice ..with all their faults ..in the west ..ones fate isn't decided for one at birth ..
edited for spelling..
BTW ..I have many arab and jewish friends and am certainly not prejudiced in any way ..just telling it like it is ..
[edited by: Leosghost at 1:30 am (utc) on Sep. 1, 2006]
there are 50 states to choose from, each with different state tax laws.
Washington State has no income tax, Oregon has no sales tax. Live in WA shop in OR... Other than automobiles, planes, boats, real estate and a few other items--it works.
Yeah, but you only have to pay the tax if you made the money! So you see that although a $240K tax bill might seem high, it isn't if you walked away with the lions share of the money!
Paying a $240K tax bill is a good thing to do.....your perspective is wrong....IMHO! I wrote the IRS checks for more than $240K last year......it was fine my me, and I'm not even a US citizen!
$300 for a dinner/date sounds dang cheap to me! I spent way more than that 20 years ago when I was only dating my future wife! Now she expects much better!...Be warned all you cheapskates!
The real fun in life is in experiencing the things that most can't. It is in spending $100 for 2 soft drinks at Jimmy's Discothèque in Monte Carlo, it is in staying in a nice suite in Hawaii at some ridiculous price ;)
Pinching penny's doesn't really work.....have fun instead....forget the tax. Spending less only increases your liability anyways!
Live in a place that makes you happy, paying tax won't be an issue then!
I will agree with you on one point. There is, however, much to be said for paying taxes. So long as your taxes are being spent properly and with priorities which are similar to your own then you can look at taxes as little other than charity.
If there was no government-funded education in the country I am sure many of us would donate to education charities, just as we donate to education in poorer overseas countries. Your tax is just a mandatory charitable donation in this case.
Without dragging this into politics, the place it breaks down is when politicans start driving flashy cars and chartering private planes on your tax money.
Live in a place that makes you happy, paying tax won't be an issue then!
This is SOOOOOOO true however there is one problem with your statement, insofar as I am concerned being a Brit/European, and that is so many "nice places" are no longer "nice"!
I do not mean "not nice" that it is not pleasant, simply "not communal anymore" because all the local young people can no longer afford properties, great restaurants are empty because students can no longer afford to sit in a pizzeria all night long with a bottle of wine.
Unfortunately I see this all over Europe and it is crazy. I see students struggling to live when they ought to be having a great, great time.
Are so many of "our" governments so stupid?
Just where do these dictatorial, quasi-auotonomous, quango-style, regimes believe they are taking us?
Answer! They don't care so long as they increase tax revenue...to pay for their wages etc...
So, back to the original statement "Live in a place that makes you happy".
Send me an invite, there are loads of us waiting, consider taxing us more than a "reasonable" amount and we'll not be there.
Next stop...not divulging:-)
There was a time i seriously considered moving out (dubai was my first choice) but later realised that the business potential in US is much more than what i would save by avoiding tax on my current income.
There was a time i seriously considered moving out (dubai was my first choice) but later realised that the business potential in US is much more than what i would save by avoiding tax on my current income.
chartering private planes on your tax money
Don't be too quick to assume that something like a private air charter or limousine is a frivolous expense or poor stewardship.
Such services can often save a great deal of time, and the practical value of enabling high-salaried individuals to spend more time at work in their office instead of hanging around airports may be well worth the difference in cost between public and private transportation.
The cheapskate approach is NOT always the most cost-effective.
As for taxes, I grumble about my taxes but I don't begrudge them. (I hope that makes sense!) The fact that I live in a country with a well-established and generally reliable infrastructure is a big part of what enables me to earn money in the first place.
does this mean anything for you, guys?
does this mean anything for you, guys?
One significant factor is that Egyptian costs are a lot lower than Dubai's.
Another would probably be that there is a much more readily available technically literate workforce in Egypt who actually want to work whereas Dubai, as we've already discussed, is a possible tax haven and playground for those who have already made it.
Would you want to rely on party animals to be at work on time? Not me!
I love Egypt, great country, lovely people and fantastic workmanship from the people I work with, the heat down south is a killer though! Makes Dubai look {{{cool}}} at times:-)
i realy got surprised that egypt has all those highly educated people in IT
Not only Google who went to Egypt but most of Multinational companies now targeting Egypt not Duabi.
p.s i visted Egypt and gulf (including Duabi), Egypt has wonderful weather comparing to the exteramly hot weather in Dubai
Google actually has a pretty poor record of considering the legal aspects of where they open offices. That is all that selecting a tax haven is about.
Anyway, the important tax haven is not the one where you live, it is the one where you keep and earn your money. The only important "tax haven" rule for where to live is that they don't tax you on foreign income.
The only important "tax haven" rule for where to live is that they don't tax you on foreign income.
Doesn't sound like much but that's a tall order, my friend ;)
The only important "tax haven" rule for where to live is that they don't tax you on foreign income.
No- obviously you missed the posts pointing out that for many nationalities, it doesn't matter where you live, because you are still taxed on worldwide income. Even if you aren't one of those nationalities, or if you decide to renouce your citizenship, there are a number of other factors to consider.
No, I didn't miss a thing.
I was only talking about the tax haven rules for where you choose to live
Your chosen nationality is a totally different matter. I am a US citizen, and no matter where I live I will be subject to US taxes. But do I want to deal with taxes where I live in addition to US taxes?
If I choose to renounce my citizenship, it has nothing to do with my new choice of where to live, at least as far as taxes go. So that is not an issue of your choice of country of residence.
Actually, for a US citizen, you may be better off moving to a country with very low taxes and a favorable tax treaty with the US. Then you declare your income in that country, and pay taxes there. In most cases you just get a tax credit in the US, but in a few cases you get to deduct the income that you paid taxes on. Or at least that was the way it was in the early 90s, I don't know if those situations still exist.
and no matter where I live I will be subject to US taxes.
I'm not from the US myself so don't profess to know anything about US taxes.
Are you sure about that? If your country of residence is not the US why would you have to pay US taxes?
Yes, very sure.
There is something like an $80k exclusion that applies to employment income, which helps, but you still have to pay social security (something like 15%) and taxes on your investment income.
As to why they would do that? Because they can, and they want your money.
Stable country, about to join NATO and EU...
The cost of living is very cheap compared to the rest of Europe...
Capital city "Skopje" is as 'modern' as any other European City - and has a great night life...
The whole lifestyle in the country is very laid back and relaxing...
and best of all, they're just about to introduce a flat 10% income tax (lowest in Europe) - regardless of what you earn.
about to join NATO and EU
And just when it was starting to do ok:-)
Great food and wines but still doesn't beat Dubai's 0% tax rate however the scenery is far superior!
Mauritius seems interesting.
[investmauritius.com...]Hehehe...
Maybe this thread should now be combined with Erku's post:
"If There Was A Special City of Adsense Users, Would You Move There?"
[webmasterworld.com...]
Pitcairn Island. Technically part of Australia, but autonomous and a tax-haven. Located in the South Pacific, just north of New Zealand.
[en.wikipedia.org...]
