
Americans Weigh the High Price of Walking Away from Citizenship
As more U.S. citizens eye life abroad—from celebrity couples to remote workers—advisors warn that the true cost of leaving the American tax system is measured in complex forms, exit taxes and multijurisdictional estate traps. A Lifestyle Dream Meets a Tax Reality For a growing number of Americans, the fantasy of a life overseas is moving from daydream to decision, fueled by political fatigue at home, flexible remote work and the appeal of a different lifestyle. Expatriation—formally cutting ties with the U.S. tax system—is increasingly part of that conversation, with expatriations jumping 102% in early 2025 compared with the prior quarter. Yet beneath the headlines about high‑profile couples securing second passports lies a dense web of tax rules, reporting obligations and estate-planning consequences that many would‑be expatriates only discover after they have already set plans in motion. Moving Abroad Is Not Expatriation A core misunderstanding, advisors say, is the belief that



