Here Are The Countries Winning And Losing Wealthy Residents

Very recommendable!

Winners: 1) UAE, 2) Saudi Arabia, 3) USA

Losers: 1) United Kingdom, 2) China

California says it lost $2.3 billion in state personal income taxes from earners leaving the state

Good news! The wonderful power of voting with your feet for individuals and businesses under federalism!

"California’s Legislative Analyst’s Office says the state lost approximately $2.3 billion in state personal income taxes due to outmigration in the 2022-2023 fiscal year. With Newsom claiming the state's population grew in 2023, the net decrease in taxpayers and taxpayer dependents for fiscal year 2022-2023 suggests California could be losing productive individuals and their families as it gains non-tax-filers. ..."

California says it lost $2 billion in state income taxes from earners leaving | Just The News

Revolution From The Top In France

The Last French Revolution Was From The Bottom

The famous predecessor of 1789 that wiped out the Ancient Regime was not least caused by punishing taxation of lower classes in France. This time it is perhaps the affluent citoyens who protest against consfiscatory tax increases imposed by the new socialist French President Francois Hollande. Mr. Hollande appears to be a remanent of the Ancient Regime since he did not learn the lessons of 1789.

Mr. Hollande during his election campaign advocated, e.g. a 75% tax on high income earners and raising taxes on capital gains and household wealth. This is legalized plunder by big government.

A One Man Resistance

French actor Gerard Depardieu in an open letter surrendered his French passport and social security after the French government made derogatory remarks about him. Mr. Darpadieu apparently grew up in humble circumstances before he became a nouveau riche through his career.

Mr. Depardieu told the public that he paid about €145 million in taxes over his 45 year long career and employed about 80 people in his business.

Mr. Depardieu is not the only rich French citoyen to leave France after the imposition of new, confiscatory taxes aimed at the rich citizens of France. Usually, the rich citoyens remain silent as not to attract the orchestrated violence of the mob or for other reasons when they protest, but Mr. Depardieu chose to be more outspoken. Bravo! Something for Hollywood actors to learn from.

Moving Across The Border

Mr. Depardieu moved from France into a small town in Belgium, i.e. Néchin, next to the French-Belgian border ostensibly protesting the latest confiscatory tax hikes. The French government calls him a tax evader, but he is more like a political dissident.

Germany: When Government Incites Crime And Becomes A Receiver Of Stolen Goods

Background

I will not go into much of the details of this disturbing story here, but I may amend later.

In their quest to uncover tax evaders, the federal government of Germany as well as at least one German state government bought stolen digital storage media containing bank customer data, which were illegally obtained from banks in Switzerland. These purchases have been going on for some time.

Government Becomes A Promoter Of Crime

It has been reported that German tax authority officials actively pursued these purchases of stolen goods even by traveling to Switzerland. Switzerland has indeed indicted German tax enforcement officers for doing that.

Would a private person become a receiver of such stolen goods (German: Hehler), this person would surely be indicted by prosecutors.

Is Tax Evasion A Crime?

If tax evasion is a crime what kind of crime is it? First and foremost, your legitimately hard earned money is your property. Therefore, it is one of the highest priorities of any government to exercise great restraint in taxing its citizens.

When government resorts to such illegal and desperate measures to go after tax evaders, then this sure is a sign that taxes in this country are too high or even confiscatory, which in fact they are.

Significant and broadly based tax evasion by tax payers is usually a tell tale sign that the tax burden in that country is too high.

Why do people refuse to give away their hard earned money to the government? Perhaps they feel they are disproportionally affected by taxation. Perhaps, they feel that government is wasting their money or accumulating too much debt.

Except for tax evasion, tax evaders are likely law abiding citizens in most other aspects of their life. Probably, they are not professional criminals.

Voting With Your Money

Political elections in Western democracies happen too infrequent and their outcomes often are unsatisfactory.

Thus, if a person strongly feels unsatisfied with the government and if the tax burden is high then voting with your money (a.k.a. tax evasion) is perhaps legitimate as a vote with the ballot.

Tax evaders risk indictment to express their views.