Wrufieotnak@feddit.org 2 days ago
Passports for everyone are a relatively new invention, but passports as sign of being the emissary of somebody important are much older. Paiza is one such example in the Mongols empire. Wikipedia has examples reaching into antiquity.
500+ years ago there very much was border control, at least in certain parts of the world, because every regional lord wants to control what goes into his kingdom and what leaves. I can only speak for Europe, but probably every feudal lord over the world did the same. They levied taxes on merchants transporting goods through their kingdom. That happened on border checkpoints where the big merchant routes where passing through. This is how a lot of regions got rich: by being between a source and a big buyer region and taxing the shit out of merchants.
That’s why smuggling was so attractive. Go through the official road and pay 10% of your profits or pay this nice man with the donkey 5% and he leads you through the woods on a path the lord’s soldiers don’t patrol…
Secondly, in feudal Europe 500 years ago, peasants were still often the property of their lords, they weren’t allowed to leave the country. Another reason why border control existed. So no, most normal people could not just leave and travel to another kingdom.
They levied taxes on merchants transporting goods through their kingdom. That happened on border checkpoints where the big merchant routes where passing through. This is how a lot of regions got rich: by being between a source and a big buyer region and taxing the shit out of merchants.
There are places that are still named after having been such tax/tariff points. Or buildings, inns etc. And the New Testament of course.
DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 2 days ago
As someone who have move away from my place of birth, now I appreciate the modern world even more after reading this comment. So much freedom nowadays (well… except for certain countries).
Lumisal@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Well, a modern form of that still sort of exists today, except the leash is longer.
You cannot for example just get rid of your US citizenship - you have to pay to get rid of it, and as long as you have it, you’re susceptible to paying taxes to the USA. Even if you have dual citizenship.
nylo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 day ago
not always true, quoting an older comment of mine:
on the off chance it applies to you, the FEIE rules state that if you spend 330 days (out of a 12 consecutive month period of time, important to note that it does not have to be a calendar year) outside of the US, you don’t have to pay taxes on the money you made during that time
Lumisal@lemmy.world 1 day ago
So I guess you have to make sure you apply to have your tax home changed. Doesn’t seem automatic from what I read
s38b35M5@lemmy.world 2 days ago
I wanted this to be false but I see that there is currently a minimum renunciation fee of $2,350. I assume there are likely other consulate fees that may bring or closer to $2,500 at the very least. What a scam.
Lumisal@lemmy.world 2 days ago
US is one of like 2 or 3 countries that does that.
There are usually other costs, and if you have any outstanding debts you have to pay those first too.
Some may need a lawyer to figure out how to just do the paperwork.
DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 2 days ago
I mean, you can kinda just sell all your assets in the US and move permanently abroad. As long as you never go back to the US, how are they gonna make you pay?
jnod4@lemmy.ca 2 days ago
They can issue a bogus charge on interpol and get u home and then they can deal with u. Also debtors prison can come back any time the way things are going
Lumisal@lemmy.world 2 days ago
They have treaties with some countries so that if you don’t pay you can have your wages garnished. This is assuming you have citizenship and not residency etc with the other country.
So it’s on a per country basis. In some, nothing happens. In some there’s also treaties so you don’t have to pay double tax anyway, or it’s percentage based.
However, this also assumes you have no family you care about anymore in the USA or that they’re able to travel to see you instead. Otherwise you face prison for tax evasion if you ever go back.
Wrufieotnak@feddit.org 2 days ago
Oh hell yes. There is still a lot to improve, but we shouldn’t forget what has already been gained!