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Ask HN: Is it worth to move to another country for 1mil$?

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Re: Ask HN: Is it worth to move to another country for 1mil$?

#21

Post by aetherane »

giantg2 wrote: post #3
david927 wrote: post #2

First, taxes paid isn't wasted money. It's (theoretically) going to those who need it. Tax havens, along with other tax avoidance schemes, are pretty popular with the rich, which means governments are on the lookout for them. It's not as easy as you think. For example, if you're American, leaving for a year doesn't do a whole lot. Second, countries are locked down now but even after this pandemic is over, your limit…

"First, taxes paid isn't wasted money. It's (theoretically) going to those who need it." Considering the GAO reports that over $100 Billion is wasted by the federal government annually, I find it hard to truly believe that it is going to those who need it (how's need even defined anyways?). The OP also states that he doesn't believe the money is being used properly.

That is $300 per person, which is a small fraction of the overall budget.

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth to move to another country for 1mil$?

#22

Post by Denniz »

claudiulodro wrote: post #18

You're clearly making a nice chunk of change already if tax-avoidance alone will net you $1mm extra. This plan seems very "Panama Papers"-y and unnecessarily greedy to me. I can understand if your government is highly corrupt or something, but it seems distasteful to me to take advantage of the strong safety net, schools, etc. that are funded by a high tax rate, then once you've become successful to try and dodge you…

Thanks for the answer. I really don't have any moral issues with my liability to the government. As I said not satisfied with their work. Some regulations are killing business. And what I'm doing is highly unregulated. So they didn't do their homework. But in the end it is actually for me a more personal decision. Yes you could say greedy. But greedy is also an optimization algorithm.

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth to move to another country for 1mil$?

#23

Post by david927 »

Denniz wrote: post #16
david927 wrote: post #2

First, taxes paid isn't wasted money. It's (theoretically) going to those who need it. Tax havens, along with other tax avoidance schemes, are pretty popular with the rich, which means governments are on the lookout for them. It's not as easy as you think. For example, if you're American, leaving for a year doesn't do a whole lot. Second, countries are locked down now but even after this pandemic is over, your limit…

I once made that decision, to move away to another city for 4 years. So can definitely agree that it is one of the best experiences to move away, at least once. On the other hand not sure if I would be ready to settle down for example in Zurich. Also, governments lookout for you. So basically if you start a business in my country and are then not satisfied, it becomes much more difficult to move away. You will have t…

It's funny that you chose Zurich for your example. It's a city I've lived in for many years and I think I can honestly say it's one of the great cities in the world. Safe, clean, and gorgeous. The language is really hard to learn, even if you know German, and almost impossible to sound like a local. It's also almost impossible to make friends except for expats here and there. So you're always an outsider in a town where they really don't care for outsiders. Otherwise, it's lovely.

Someone else said it well: spend several months checking out any potential candidate location. Talk to expats. You'll get a really good idea of what it's like to live there.

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth to move to another country for 1mil$?

#24

Post by david927 »

Denniz wrote: post #19
chefkoch wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He already got the services all his life. Or do you think he could have started his company without education, infrastructure and security?

That is a point of course. I'm thankful for the education I got here. No question. On the other hand I already payed a lot of taxes. And my father retired few years ago and is treated really bad after he worked more then 20 years. Actually he is treated like he never worked at all. So that is what I mean regarding tax policy. In my opinion you can't say someone isn't paying his fair share if he pay lets say 400k on a…

I didn't mean to be judgmental. It's your decision.

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth to move to another country for 1mil$?

#25

Post by Denniz »

duxup wrote: post #10

I think the value of living in another country is really about personal choices and that is way more than money. Also I keep thinking that the disruption of moving the company, legal and personal challenges there and etc are REALLY going to hit your productivity / momentum. If you're looking at a million dollars, do you chose to take a big disruption at that point? I think there's a lot more to consider here than how…

Yes exactly. But the risk is on both sides: - moving away -> New environment. Productivity goes down. - staying -> Risk of regulatory uncertainty. Could take even years till taxes are exactly determined.

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth to move to another country for 1mil$?

#26

Post by duxup »

Denniz wrote: post #25
duxup wrote: post #10

I think the value of living in another country is really about personal choices and that is way more than money. Also I keep thinking that the disruption of moving the company, legal and personal challenges there and etc are REALLY going to hit your productivity / momentum. If you're looking at a million dollars, do you chose to take a big disruption at that point? I think there's a lot more to consider here than how…

Yes exactly. But the risk is on both sides: - moving away -> New environment. Productivity goes down. - staying -> Risk of regulatory uncertainty. Could take even years till taxes are exactly determined.

I guess it depends on how you're measuring 'regulatory uncertainty'. I'm not sure trying to predict that is a reason to take the hit for moving when you're facing a million dollars.

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth to move to another country for 1mil$?

#28

Post by Denniz »

duxup wrote: post #26
Denniz wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes exactly. But the risk is on both sides: - moving away -> New environment. Productivity goes down. - staying -> Risk of regulatory uncertainty. Could take even years till taxes are exactly determined.

I guess it depends on how you're measuring 'regulatory uncertainty'. I'm not sure trying to predict that is a reason to take the hit for moving when you're facing a million dollars.

There do not exists clear regulations. So you can't tell exactly how taxes will be calculated. Also you can end up by other regulatory laws that will just make things more difficult. As said somewhere else, I saw companies liquidated themselves in as similar area. Created a holding. Moved then to an other country (of course less regulated). Actually that is sad that this is happening.

Re: Ask HN: Is it worth to move to another country for 1mil$?

#29

Post by Denniz »

david927 wrote: post #24
Denniz wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is a point of course. I'm thankful for the education I got here. No question. On the other hand I already payed a lot of taxes. And my father retired few years ago and is treated really bad after he worked more then 20 years. Actually he is treated like he never worked at all. So that is what I mean regarding tax policy. In my opinion you can't say someone isn't paying his fair share if he pay lets say 400k on a…

I didn't mean to be judgmental. It's your decision.

Thanks a lot! Yes, guess a hard one as well.
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