Thousands of Americans Will Be Denied a Passport Because of Unpaid Taxes

#1

Post by gok » Sat, Jul 07, 2018, 5:51 PM UTC

Thousands of Americans Will Be Denied a Passport Because of Unpaid Taxes
wsj.com

Re: Thousands of Americans Will Be Denied a Passport Because of Unpaid Taxes

#2

Post by git_rancher » Sat, Jul 07, 2018, 6:46 PM UTC

This makes the whole US a debtors prison of sorts. Not sure if this is a useful way to think about it though.

Re: Thousands of Americans Will Be Denied a Passport Because of Unpaid Taxes

#3

Post by godzillabrennus » Sat, Jul 07, 2018, 6:48 PM UTC

Seems like it only further hinders people from paying back debt. Stupid.

Re: Thousands of Americans Will Be Denied a Passport Because of Unpaid Taxes

#4

Post by V-2 » Sat, Jul 07, 2018, 6:51 PM UTC

git_rancher wrote: post #2

This makes the whole US a debtors prison of sorts. Not sure if this is a useful way to think about it though.

Technically the US doesn't prevent you from leaving the country for not having an American passport - it's other countries that are likely not to let you in.

Re: Thousands of Americans Will Be Denied a Passport Because of Unpaid Taxes

#5

Post by neonate » Sat, Jul 07, 2018, 6:52 PM UTC

http://archive.is/iC53n

Re: Thousands of Americans Will Be Denied a Passport Because of Unpaid Taxes

#6

Post by rosser » Sat, Jul 07, 2018, 6:53 PM UTC

Another (non-paywalled) article [0] on this says they're only denying/not renewing passports for people with at least $51,000 in tax debt. As such, this isn't exactly "picking on the little guy", and should probably be considered in that light. If you have an outstanding tax bill on the order of 1.5x (or more) than the median per capita income — if you owe more in taxes than most people make — that's kinda on you, and I'm really not moved to feel too badly about the government taking additional steps to recover that.

[0] https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2018-07-06/hun...

Re: Thousands of Americans Will Be Denied a Passport Because of Unpaid Taxes

#7

Post by fooker » Sat, Jul 07, 2018, 6:53 PM UTC

V-2 wrote: post #4

git_rancher wrote: post #2

This makes the whole US a debtors prison of sorts. Not sure if this is a useful way to think about it though.

Technically the US doesn't prevent you from leaving the country for not having an American passport - it's other countries that are likely not to let you in.

The airline is unlikely to let you board, so there's that.

Re: Thousands of Americans Will Be Denied a Passport Because of Unpaid Taxes

#8

Post by yani » Sat, Jul 07, 2018, 6:54 PM UTC

I am wondering how is this an incentive to pay outstanding taxes.

Re: Thousands of Americans Will Be Denied a Passport Because of Unpaid Taxes

#9

Post by yani » Sat, Jul 07, 2018, 6:56 PM UTC

yani wrote: post #8

I am wondering how is this an incentive to pay outstanding taxes.

To answer my question, it is intended for expats living abroad.

Re: Thousands of Americans Will Be Denied a Passport Because of Unpaid Taxes

#10

Post by mankash666 » Sat, Jul 07, 2018, 7:05 PM UTC

I've had 2 instances where the IRS erroneously concluded that I owe them large tax bills. It took a few months of back and forth paperwork and phone calls to resolve, and have the IRS note on paper that I owe them nothing.

With this law, an erroneous IRS decision can limit passport issuance and international travel. Three letter agencies are probably salivating at the prospect of 'errors' in possible suspects. This just unjustly empowers the government.