The Off Topic Topic

[jimmy olsen]

My understanding is the non-resident tax doesn't impact many people, because the US has low rates and you get a credit for the tax paid overseas.  Rather it's the paperwork requirement that can be unpleasant.

I remember in Japan it was a PITA for American friends to have to fill in all sorts of paperwork every year, not sure if they ever paid anything or claimed an exemption or what though.
Here for sure every American bitches about it and they do pay.

The exemption is $92,000. You just have to fill in the paperwork and send it in.

[Sheilbh]

So I imagine Americans in Switzerland do have to pay

There's very few things I think Europe's just got right in comparison to the US (or vice-versa), but one of them is not having to fill in tax returns

[Tonitrus]

How do you guys over there pay income tax then?

[Sheilbh]

Pay as you go - employer/pension provider does it. Only the self-employed need to fill in tax returns.

[Tonitrus]

Most U.S. employers pay/withold your tax as well...we just still have to account for it at the end of the year, see how much was overpaid, add up all our special little tax credits, and await our rebate check. 

[The Brain]

We also have to do shit once a year. For many folks sending a text to the Skatteverket is enough.

[Tonitrus]

We also have to do shit once a year. For many folks sending a text to the Skatteverket is enough.

That sounds like the name of some kind of feces porn.

[The Brain]

If the taxman can do it so can you.

[Sheilbh]

Most U.S. employers pay/withold your tax as well...we just still have to account for it at the end of the year, see how much was overpaid, add up all our special little tax credits, and await our rebate check. 

I had to do a lot of research into different tax and social security systems in an old job. Since then I've always been unsure if American dislike of government caused or was caused by the world's most counter-intuitive, difficult to navigate and uncooperative online bureaucracy

[Admiral Yi]

I think it has to do with our proud, ruggedly individualistic disdain for handouts, so we hide them in the tax code and pretend they don't exist.

[CountDeMoney]

Most U.S. employers pay/withold your tax as well...we just still have to account for it at the end of the year, see how much was overpaid, add up all our special little tax credits, and await our rebate check. 

I had to do a lot of research into different tax and social security systems in an old job. Since then I've always been unsure if American dislike of government caused or was caused by the world's most counter-intuitive, difficult to navigate and uncooperative online bureaucracy

Two hundred plus years of idiots managing to forget that it was all about "taxation without representation", not just only "taxation."

[Syt]

Here, if you're an employee, you usually file a tax return if you had extraordinary expenses that give you a rebate (e.g. setting up a home office, buying job related literature to a certain amount etc.).

[The Brain]

The basic concept in Sweden was introduced by Charles XII.

[PDH]

The basic concept in Sweden was introduced by Charles XII.

Before or after his sister had him killed?

[Tonitrus]

Most U.S. employers pay/withold your tax as well...we just still have to account for it at the end of the year, see how much was overpaid, add up all our special little tax credits, and await our rebate check. 

I had to do a lot of research into different tax and social security systems in an old job. Since then I've always been unsure if American dislike of government caused or was caused by the world's most counter-intuitive, difficult to navigate and uncooperative online bureaucracy

Two hundred plus years of idiots managing to forget that it was all about "taxation without representation", not just only "taxation."

As you know, we didn't have the entire income tax structure created until the early 20th century.