Overseas vote

[minorwork]

Things are pretty slow. How about that?

Was wonderin'. How does raising a family in other than U.S. work for citizens? Do you still pay taxes to the IRS? How 'bout the country you're living in? Do you pay taxes there too? Can you have a dual citizenship and vote in both countries?

If enough could swing it, would it be ethical to vote yourself a handout? Clarifying: A group in the Netherlands has a chance, by voting in U.S. election, to elect someone who would support aid to the Netherlands so that they might personally benefit from said aid. Ethical?

[phrog]

Well here in Utah... oh wait. I keep forgetting Utah is part of the U.S.

[lorryfach]

Do you still pay taxes to the IRS? How 'bout the country you're living in? Do you pay taxes there too?
The IRS wants to know about all the money you make anywhere in the world. Other countries differ on their rules. In Denmark, they only care about money you make on Danish soil. Denmark and the US have an agreement where if you make all your money in Denmark, and the taxes you pay to Denmark are greater than what you would owe the IRS, the IRS does not make you pay a second time. If you made money outside Denmark as well, you would have to pay taxes on that to the IRS. That is the extent of my income tax knowledge, because I don't have any income and I don't really need to know much about this.

Can you have a dual citizenship and vote in both countries?
The US will allow you to take a second citizenship. The other country may or may not. Laws differ. In my case, I cannot get Danish citizenship without giving up my US, however if I lived in Sweden, I could (eventually) get dual and vote in both, yes.

If enough could swing it, would it be ethical to vote yourself a handout?
Maybe, maybe not. Do they need the handout? Do they really believe the handout is a good idea for reasons other than personal benefit? I don't think this question is limited to people who live overseas. A lot of domestic issues have the potential to affect you personally and directly. I would expect that to have an impact on your vote, too.