[Poker_Hoar]

Hi,
You are considering the best choice there is, that is leaving the USA. I moved from San Diego to Spain almost two years ago. I really don't want to move back because life is way over-rated in the USA. Let me tell you for a fact that you have more freedom in Spain than in the USA. As far as English goes, there are parts of Spain (South) where many towns seem more British than Spanish. Cost of living can be cheaper than the US.

You mention taxes. As an American you MUST pay taxes on income earned anywhere in the world. When you open a bank account in Europe they make you file a W9 form (thank you US) so that Uncle Sam has a way of keeping track of you. You really start to see how much the US has become Big Brother when you are looking at it from the outside.

As far as citizenship is concerned here is your best bet. Go to Spanish speaking new world country, Other posters have mentioned Panama. I was there this year. Very, very nice place. If I did not have a family I would move there tomorrow. So Panama, Nicaragua, Uruguay, Dominican Republic, all have methods where you can gain Permanant Residency quickly. These require some amount of money. For example in Panama if you buy a house for $200K or deposit $200K into a 2 year time deposit then you get an immediate permamant resident status. In the Dominican Republic you can do it for less. Sam egoes for some South American countries. Now here is why you do this. After five years you may apply for citizenship. Why is this good. Because after you are a citizen you can renounce US citizenship. After that say goodbye to US taxes forever. Now here is the best deal of all. As a citizen of a Spanish 'New World' country Spain has very liberal laws in terms of becoming a Spanish citizen. Why would you want that? Because as a Spanish citizen you are part of the EU. In Panama, for example, you do not have to pay taxes on income earned outside of Panam.

Ok so the process I describe takes roughly seven years to complete. This is a long term plan and if I were a successful poker player in my early 20's I would do my best to do the above.

One more thing on the ex-pat tax advantages in the USA. You get an $80K exclusion on income and at the present time you get a rent credit as well. The rent credit is a pro-rated deal as well. What no one has mentioned is that if you are self employed you are still responsible to pay 15% self employment tax on your income. Also, you need to make sure you become a resident of a non income tax state like nevada. Otherwise you must file and pay state tax while living abroad.

If you are considering leaving the US then by all means take the step and do it. It's truly the best thing you can do. we were all raised to believe in the 'land of the free.' Trust me, there is way more freedom outside of the US than inside.

I hope this helps.