Tina Turner to relinquish U.S. citizenship

[ErikJ]

Tina Turner to relinquish U.S. citizenship
Trey Barrineau, USA TODAY 11:12 p.m. EST November 12, 2013

The soul legend has lived in Switzerland for nearly 20 years.

It looks like soul legend Tina Turner is taking a big step away from the good old U.S. of A.

Turner recently filed paperwork with the U.S. Embassy in Bern, Switzerland, to relinquish her American citizenship, The Washington Post reports, citing an official "activity report" from the embassy. The Post says Turner declared that she has few connections to the country of her birth other than family and she "has no plans to reside in the United States in the future."

Turner, 73, has lived in Switzerland for almost 20 years. She became a citizen of the country in April. In July, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and eight-time Grammy winner married longtime boyfriend Erwin Bach, a German music producer.

"Relinquishing" citizenship is not quite the same as "renouncing" it, but as tax attorney Phil Hodgen of Hodgen Law PC in Pasadena, Calif., explained in a blog post in August, "you end up in the same place — you are no longer a U.S. citizen. It's just how you get there."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/11/12/tina-turner-relinquishing-citizenship/3511449/

[Le Taz Hot]

1. Do whatever finds you peace, Ms. Tina.

Always been my favorite female performer.

[HappyMe]

2. That's cool.

I think she's a great performer and an awesome woman.

[bigdarryl]

3. Well I don't blame her look how this country is since we elected the first black President

[kelliekat44]

22. Yes, and look at how this country was BEFORE we elected the first black President. nt

[Heather MC]

31. EXACTLY, Wish I could go with her some days. nt

[BobbyBoring]

40. ME 2

Although it's a little cold there for my liking.

[Heather MC]

47. true

but if you can get past the weather that country seems to be a progressives dream come true in a lot ways

[Pretzel_Warrior]

51. WTF?

[Comrade Grumpy]

4. She has left the Nutbush city limits. n/t

[DeSwiss]

36. That was the first thing to pop into mind when I saw this post.

I've been to Nutbush down in Haywood County, and I understand exactly why she left it. And America.


[font size=1]Scenic view in Haywood County (2004)[/font]

- If I could, I'd be there too.

[tXr]

66. She just wants life beyond the Thunderdome.

.

[Blue_Tires]

5. In all seriousness: What the hell was that Marilyn Monroe silliness all about??

[murielm99]

18. The question is sort of off topic,

but I think it was because there is a new perfume commercial on t.v. featuring some Marilyn footage. Some people just can't let things go.

[ErikJ]

6. She was married last July

Tina Turner celebrates wedding at home in Switzerland
July 22, 2013
The announcement last week that Tina Turner had wed her longtime partner Erwin Bach in Switzerland took the world a bit by surprise. But Turner wasn't done making headlines, saving the celebration of that wedding for this past Sunday — and based on multiple reports it was a lavish, star-studded affair.

The gathering, at Turner's Swiss villa Algonquin estate on Lake Zurich, attracted 120 guests, including stars like Oprah Winfrey, Sade and David Bowie.

Guests wore white or formal suits to the Buddhist-inspired event, which one report said involved guests pouring water over the couple's hands. Later in that same report, the villa was said to have been decorated with 70,000 red and yellow roses from Holland.

Tina Turner's Swiss Algonquin villa entrance, shielded for her wedding celebration.
Sigi Tischler / EPA
Tina Turner's Swiss Algonquin villa entrance, shielded for her wedding celebration.
Zurich police spokeswoman Esther Surber told the press that boats on the lake were prevented from getting too close to the estate to prevent accidents on the water. Wedding organizers also reportedly set up a red canvas screen at the foot of the garden to prevent paparazzi intrusion.

The 73-year-old singer, who has since retired from the music business and has lived in Switzerland for over 20 years, wed the 57-year-old German record company executive earlier in July, and they have been a couple for 27 years.

Turner became a Swiss citizen early in 2013.

http://www.today.com/entertainment/tina-turner-celebrates-wedding-home-switzerland-6C10699401

[Xithras]

7. We've been seeing a lot of this lately.

Recent changes in our tax and banking laws have made life very difficult for American expats. Most of them are being forced to make a choice between returning to America or just giving up citizenship. For those who have lived overseas for many years, it's often easier to just sever American citizenship.

My brother in law has lived in Vancouver for 15 years, holds Canadian citizenship, and has already started the process of giving up his U.S. citizenship. My wifes father, who bought property in New Zealand over 30 years ago and recently started the process of relocating there full time, is planning on doing the same.

[dairydog91]

13. Especially so for someone of her income.

No sense getting nailed with U.S. income taxes when you live in another country, and you never intend to live in the U.S. again or use U.S. services.

[LittleGirl]

20. I'm sure that is 99% of the reason

Those new tax laws follow you around the globe. We're the only country in the world that forces you to pay taxes to when you live abroad. It's disgusting really. Only the first 100k or or so is exempt.

[trotsky]

27. Well, to be fair, there can be good reasons for that.

If the US infrastructure is helping to generate your income, you should be taxed on that no matter where you live, IMO. There are far too many people who already abuse the system, taking advantage of the favorable business climate we have in the USA but not wanting to do anything to support it. (And not understanding the connection between taxes and a stable market.)

[sir pball]

30. That should be fairly simple to fix, though.

It's still pretty easy to show whether or not your income is coming from US-based holdings (I'm assuming you're talking about situations like business owners moving to more favorable tax climates while maintaining operations Stateside) or if you are in fact truly working overseas. I have a very good family friend who spent almost her entire career working for the WHO in Geneva; she's comfortable, but her native colleagues at the same pay grade are much better off. She maintains citizenship so she can vote, but as of late she says it's starting to get a bit trying especially since she's now retired and on a fixed income. I can sympathize with both sides of the argument (though, do foreign countries usually tax expats maintaining business in-country? I do think we should have global consistency.)

[LittleGirl]

50. what I mean

is for US Citizens/employees that live abroad. That work for anyone, it doesn't matter. You have to file taxes with the US every year as long as you live. This is in addition to the income tax you file and pay in the other country.

So for the privilege of being a US citizen, I have the police state following me, asking for a yearly report of my income for the rest of my life even though I don't live in the US (maybe for years prior)? I'm no millionaire either. Just some middle class schmuck trying to survive and I landed better opportunities because I'd like to see the world?

You can't compare that with millionaire/billionaire tax cheats moving money to keep from paying their fair share, right? I'm willing to pay the income taxes to support the community I live in; (and as an expat, that would be somewhere foreign). If I'm paying my fair share in that country, why should I file/pay to the IRS too?

The rich have tax advantages to doing that (hell they wrote the laws), but not us poor schmucks at the bottom of the rung. They took away all of our (middle class) advantages and that. is. my. point.

[trotsky]

52. And my point would just be to watch out.

That's how the right wing provides cover for their policies that benefit the rich - make the appeal to the "little guy" when it actually benefits the richest most. Witness the assault on the "death tax" in previous years - it already specifically excluded small family farms and estates less than what, $2million(?), but from the Republican propaganda machine you'd think that tax was responsible for crushing every family farm and small business in the nation.

[LittleGirl]

53. I agree.

I'll never see 2 million ever and I don't play the lottery either.

[Spider Jerusalem]

71. No, there are no good reasons for that.

If one lives and works outside the USA? Then there's no logical reason to pay US taxes. That's like saying that you should continue to pay state taxes in California if you sell all your property and move to New York.

[Fumesucker]

61. ~Only~ twice the median US income is exempt?

That's outrageous.

[LittleGirl]

64. not really exempt completely though

and


nevermind.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

74. Many European financial institutions are purging American clients

Day to day life is becoming very frustrating.

[cascadiance]

8. But Tina, America really DOES "need another hero" like FDR was earlier for the Middle Class!

We really are headed to the world of Thunderdome without new leadership to deal with the Climate Change that is pushing us in that direction...

[irisblue]

9. not my problem

to quote Jefferson "But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." .....Her choice has nothing to do with me, my family, my tax bill, and the United States Of America..." Go with your God Tina" I got a LOTTA more relevant to me/mine to deal/think/weep issues over then Tina Turners' choice....have a wonderful happy life tina, thanks for the music.

[ErikJ]

11. I've always dreamed of living in Switzerland

for a while anyway. Its probably the most beautiful place I've ever been. Very expensive to live there though.

[Arugula Latte]

15. I think it is beautiful

but there is something a bit too uptight about Switzerland for me (although I haven't been there in ages). I think I'd prefer an easy-going Mediterranean country.

[ErikJ]

24. Barcelona would be my top choice for Mediterranean

or South of France or Northern Italy lakes region would be second. The culture, beauty and history cant be equaled in the US.

[colorado_ufo]

34. Come visit us in Colorado!

We have many, many places as beautiful as Switzerland (try Ouray!), and no one could accuse us of being too uptight, considering the new marijuana law

[Arugula Latte]

45. You know, I've actually spent a lot of time there!

I go there at least once a year (relatives live there) and I've been all over the western part of the state and it's very spectacular -- especially in the Ouray (sp?) area. I lived there for a few months, too. I like it but honestly the every-changing freezing-to-sweltering weather is just a little too crazy for me, it's just too dry (I feel dehydrated a lot) and I miss the ocean access. But I will be back for visits. It is a gorgeous state and I see why people love it. Also, it has gotten better politically in recent years!

[pink-o]

68. You are singin' my song!

Just got back from Sorrento and Amalfi last month and cried when I had to get on the plane.

Italy is simply my favorite country on the planet. And for the reasons you said: Laid back, warm, full of beautiful, passionate people who live La Doce Vita.

Amazing food, perfect weather, centuries of history, all coastline: tailor-made for me!

I'd turn in my US passport in a heartbeat if I could live in Rome!

[Arugula Latte]

73. Me too! Or Florence or almost anywhere on the Italian coast ...

or the South of France ... or Spain ...

I'd also live in Vancouver BC in a heartbeat, even though the weather is quite different than the Mediterranean.

[CFLDem]

10. Expect a lot more of the 1% to do this in the future. n/t

[JaneyVee]

12. Move to a socialist country?

[CFLDem]

14. More like 'move' to the Cayman Islands.

[kestrel91316]

23. Wow. Are you aware the Switzerland is NOT socialist?????

That's teabagger-level ignorance there. Switzerland is a democratic republic and has a capitalist economy on par with the best.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland

The Swiss Federal Council in 2013 with President Ueli Maurer (in the middle)[note 5]
The Federal Constitution adopted in 1848 is the legal foundation of the modern federal state. It is among the oldest constitutions in the world.[54] A new Constitution was adopted in 1999, but did not introduce notable changes to the federal structure. It outlines basic and political rights of individuals and citizen participation in public affairs, divides the powers between the Confederation and the cantons and defines federal jurisdiction and authority. There are three main governing bodies on the federal level:[55] the bicameral parliament (legislative), the Federal Council (executive) and the Federal Court (judicial).


The Federal Palace, seat of the Federal Assembly and the Federal Council.
The Swiss Parliament consists of two houses: the Council of States which has 46 representatives (two from each canton and one from each half-canton) who are elected under a system determined by each canton, and the National Council, which consists of 200 members who are elected under a system of proportional representation, depending on the population of each canton. Members of both houses serve for 4 years. When both houses are in joint session, they are known collectively as the Federal Assembly. Through referendums, citizens may challenge any law passed by parliament and through initiatives, introduce amendments to the federal constitution, thus making Switzerland a direct democracy.[54]
The Federal Council constitutes the federal government, directs the federal administration and serves as collective Head of State. It is a collegial body of seven members, elected for a four-year mandate by the Federal Assembly which also exercises oversight over the Council. The President of the Confederation is elected by the Assembly from among the seven members, traditionally in rotation and for a one-year term; the President chairs the government and assumes representative functions. However, the president is a primus inter pares with no additional powers, and remains the head of a department within the administration.[54]
The Swiss government has been a coalition of the four major political parties since 1959, each party having a number of seats that roughly reflects its share of electorate and representation in the federal parliament. The classic distribution of 2 CVP/PDC, 2 SPS/PSS, 2 FDP/PRD and 1 SVP/UDC as it stood from 1959 to 2003 was known as the "magic formula". Following the 2011 Federal Council elections, the seven seats in the Federal Council were distributed as follows:
1 seat for the Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP/PDC),
1 seat for the Conservative Democratic Party (BDP/PBD),
2 seats for the Free Democratic Party (FDP/PRD),
2 seats for the Social Democratic Party (SPS/PSS),
1 seat for the Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC).
The function of the Federal Supreme Court is to hear appeals against rulings of cantonal or federal courts. The judges are elected by the Federal Assembly for six-year terms.[56]
Direct democracy[edit]
Main article: Voting in Switzerland


The Landsgemeinde is an old form of direct democracy. It is still practised in two cantons.[57]
Swiss citizens are subject to three legal jurisdictions: the commune, canton and federal levels. The 1848 federal constitution defines a system of direct democracy (sometimes called half-direct or representative direct democracy because it is aided by the more commonplace institutions of a representative democracy). The instruments of this system at the federal level, known as civic rights (Volksrechte, droits civiques), include the right to submit a constitutional initiative and a referendum, both of which may overturn parliamentary decisions.[54][58]
By calling a federal referendum, a group of citizens may challenge a law passed by Parliament, if they gather 50,000 signatures against the law within 100 days. If so, a national vote is scheduled where voters decide by a simple majority whether to accept or reject the law. Any 8 cantons together can also call a referendum on a federal law.[54]
Similarly, the federal constitutional initiative allows citizens to put a constitutional amendment to a national vote, if 100,000 voters sign the proposed amendment within 18 months.[note 6] Parliament can supplement the proposed amendment with a counter-proposal, and then voters must indicate a preference on the ballot in case both proposals are accepted. Constitutional amendments, whether introduced by initiative or in Parliament, must be accepted by a double majority of the national popular vote and the cantonal popular votes.[note 7][59][60]

(snip)

Switzerland has an overwhelmingly private sector economy and low tax rates by Western World standards; overall taxation is one of the smallest of developed countries. Switzerland is a relatively easy place to do business, currently ranking 28th of 178 countries in the Ease of Doing Business Index.

~~~~~~~~~~

[sir pball]

35. They also don't have government-supplied healthcare - it's a mandated private insurance system.

It's a damn sight better that Obamacare, and yes the government can and will contribute, but it's still quite non-Socially-Democratic like most of the rest of Europe.

The health insurance in Switzerland is compulsory and organised by the Swiss Federal Law on Health Care.
Swiss are required to purchase basic health insurance, which covers a range of treatments detailed in the Swiss Federal Law on Health Insurance. It is therefore the same throughout the country and avoids double standards in healthcare. Insurers are required to offer this basic insurance to everyone, regardless of age or medical condition. They are not allowed to make a profit off this basic insurance, but can on supplemental plans.
---
The insured person pays the insurance premium for the basic plan up to 8% of their personal income. If a premium is higher than this, the government gives the insured person a cash subsidy to pay for any additional premium.[1]
The universal compulsory coverage provides for treatment in case of illness or accident (unless another accident insurance provides the cover) and pregnancy.
---
In 2010, the average monthly compulsory basic health insurance premiums (with accident insurance) in Switzerland are the following:[3]
CHF 351.05 for an adult (age 26+)
CHF 293.85 for a young adult (age 19–25)
CHF 84.03 for a child (age 0–18)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_insurance_in_Switzerland

Currently, teh Google says 350CHF = $380.

[1000words]

42. Sigh ...

[Capt. Obvious]

43. FAIL

[Le Taz Hot]

16. She hasn't lived in the U.S. for 20 years.

I'm sure she's paid her fair share of taxes over the decades. Why should she continue pay taxes to a country in which she does not live.? And I think you insinuation is tacky.

[CFLDem]

25. I think you happen to be reading

a lot more into my post then was actually there.

[Le Taz Hot]

49. Perhaps.

[snooper2]

17. Now why wouldn't she have picked Australia?

[Ikonoklast]

57. Turner hates countries with conservative fashion sense.

[msongs]

19. perhaps she will release a new album with all new songs...limited production, just her singing nt

[Puglover]

21. In three years I will

become an Ecuadorian citizen. The jury is still out on whether or not I retain my US citizenship.

[mike_c]

28. best of luck to you!

My partner and I are thinking about retiring in Ecuador. It's the usual gringo expat story-- we'll have a small pension, don't look forward to living on cat food in the U.S.

[Puglover]

32. My home is in Otavalo about 1 1/2 hours from Quito.

Back yard.

Front yard.


High of 70-75 Low of 55=50. Everyday. It is paradise.

If you ever need any info on my area please don't hesitate to ask.

[Mapletonian]

44. But...

Do you get Boston/New England Sports teams' games on HDTV?

That's about the only thing keeping me in Maine right now.

[Puglover]

48. LOL of course you can if you wish.

[Nay]

54. Que linda! How's your Spanish? If you're not a native speaker, how did

you learn?

[Puglover]

55. Getting better all of the time.

I took 4 years of it in HS 65 trillion years ago and vacationed every year for about 20 years in Mexico.

I practice as much as I can here. I am slowly starting to speak in tenses other then present.

[a la izquierda]

58. Wait until you have to use subjunctive.

Gah!

[Puglover]

63. I at least have a knack with most languages

French German and Spanish to get my point across and make people laugh.

Someday I would love to be able to have an intelligent conversation. I'll get there.

[Orrex]

26. She's had such an easy life.

[sabrina 1]

29. She doesn't have to fund the war machine with her taxes anymore.

Good for her if she doesn't plan to live here anymore.

[WinkyDink]

33. Her house in Kusnacht:

[NCTraveler]

59. Poor woman doesn't have a pool?

Is it because of the climate or is their an indoor Olympic size pool?

[WinkyDink]

67. It's Switzerland, not famous for its swimming pools.

[NCTraveler]

69. Looks like she might have to drive down the road to her house in Nice...

if she wants to take a swim. Ohhh the problems of 1%ers.

[muriel_volestrangler]

72. Who needs one?

Lake Zürich's water is very clean and reaches, during summer, temperatures well beyond 20 °C (68 °F).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Z%C3%BCrich

[saidsimplesimon]

37. Sad news Erik

Sad for me means sad, I'm not feeling the Swiss banking industry as a positive contribution to humanity.

As for giving up US citizenship, I'm not sure that is a road leading to change. Let's eliminate borders, and focus on what's in the best interests of all nations?

[LuvNewcastle]

38. U.S. citizenship doesn't mean much anymore.

Now our government shits on us just as often as they do everybody else. We don't have armed drones in our airspace now, but I see them in our future. I hope Tina's happy. I could be happy if I was rich and living in Switzerland.

[ReRe]

39. It's not uncommon...

... for Americans to retire in a foreign country. As for the change in citizenship, I don't know... there's Nina Simone and James Baldwin right off the top of my head. I don't know if they changed their citizenship or not. But who are we to pass judgment on Tina Turner? I'm happy if Tina is happy. We need to live to please ourselves, not what someone else thinks. Thanks for the OP, ErikJ.

[Capt. Obvious]

46. She doesn't want to fight no more

[KansDem]

56. A good friend is doing the same...

He's lived in Switzerland since 1979. I talked with him a few months ago and he explained that the IRS is coming after him. He said the US is the only country that taxes its citizen living and working in a foreign country.

He and his SO bought a house recently and the transaction was reported to the IRS. Now it wants him to cough up $100,000 in taxes for the last 34 years!

He speaks fluent German and is a teacher. He loves it there and is quickly obtaining Swiss citizenship so he can renounce his US citizenship.

I didn't ask him but assumed that once he becomes an ex-US citizen, the IRS will stop hounding him...

[tsuki]

60. No, they won't. nt

[KansDem]

62. Really? I better call him and get the details...

His parents live in northern California. He believes the IRS will seize his parents' assets when they pass on.

Would being a Swiss citizen get him around this?

[tsuki]

65. The IRS is pursuing a case against a Canadian cititzen who

was born in the US when her parents were grad students. She has lived and worked in Canada all her life. She did not realize she was an American citizen until the IRS came after her for 47 years of back taxes. Last I heard, it was winding its way through the Canadian legal system.

[loli phabay]

70. when i retire i will probuably do the very same.