The Life of the Prior Taxpayer

August 16, 2008 7:35 AM

"In a nutshell, a PT merely arranges his or her paperwork in such a way that all governments consider him a tourist. A person who is just "Passing Through". The advantage is that being thought of by government officials as a person who is merely "Parked Temporarily", a PT is not subjected to taxes, military service, lawsuits, or persecution for partaking in innocent but forbidden pursuits or pleasures."

If you have the kind of job you can do from anywhere, or over the internet, maybe you can be a permanent tourist. But don't just choose any old countries to tour on your road to individual sovereignty, do some research.

posted by popechunk (17 comments total)

See also.
posted by popechunk at 7:41 AM on August 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

I was having trouble figuring out what this post was about until I saw the "see also." Why should anyone who isn't a jet-setting billionaire care about any of this?
posted by nasreddin at 7:52 AM on August 16, 2008

Pretentious Twattery
posted by Krrrlson at 8:05 AM on August 16, 2008 [4 favorites]

From the quotes banner:

"...successful Americans are no better off than serfs in the Middle Ages."

Man, I feel like a serf CONSTANTLY.

Seriously, though, this is a weird and sad way to look at the world. Do people really enjoy being Scrooge McDuck?
posted by selfnoise at 8:07 AM on August 16, 2008

When you're a PT the whole world is your TAZ.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 8:07 AM on August 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

Is this something I'd have to leave the house to care about?
posted by 0xFCAF at 8:09 AM on August 16, 2008

Yeah, and you could have a great decadent time as Rome collapsed, as long as you didn't give a damn about Rome or the world.
posted by orthogonality at 8:14 AM on August 16, 2008

Why should anyone who isn't a jet-setting billionaire care about any of this?

I just thought that the concept of being an Arthur Dent on your own planet and making a living via the internet (as a programmer, or website moderator, etc) in a kind of post-citizenship state was kind of interesting.

More aimed at the type of person who wants to check out of the rat race than just the people who'd already won it.
posted by popechunk at 8:19 AM on August 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

I can understand the mentality of PTers but it seems like such a hassle to be constantly moving and on your guard against government and IRS.

Anyways, thanks popechunk for this Cloak and dagger-y post.
posted by Foci for Analysis at 8:25 AM on August 16, 2008

I just thought that the concept of being an Arthur Dent on your own planet and making a living via the internet (as a programmer, or website moderator, etc) in a kind of post-citizenship state was kind of interesting.

Yeah, the idea is certainly appealing, but it seems impracticable without the kinds of resources billionaires have.
posted by nasreddin at 8:41 AM on August 16, 2008

Even if places like the U.S.A. attempt to impose an exit tax on assets, there will always be ways for people, who make an effort, to move themselves and most of their assets to another country. In the old South Africa, rich people who wanted to expatriate assets and themselves often build yachts. They bought art works, jewellery, stamp collections and other portable wealth. Then they simply sailed off into the stars.

...

Having more than one passport, and an open mind is all that you need to make that vital difference to the amount of 'quality' you get out of life. You can be a Bad Guy! It doesn't really matter that ecologists make life difficult for real estate developers in your particular suburb. There are plenty of nice places in the world to develop (or depending one one's point of view, despoil).

Ecology isn't fashionable in Africa. Even if you are a homicidal maniac, you can always find some place in the world to be hired as a mercenary and hack away at innocent victims.

...

The big move, when it comes, is essentially a divorce from the system. It's an annulment from the old country's bureaucrats (government employees), lawyers (officers of the court) and accountants (IRS collection agents). It should cut you off physically from any potential litigants, especially alimony seeking women.

I'd cock punch this guy, but I'm pretty sure he's got a copy of Atlas Shrugged stuffed down the front of his pants.
posted by JaredSeth at 8:44 AM on August 16, 2008 [11 favorites]

In the old South Africa, rich people who wanted to expatriate assets and themselves often build yachts. They bought art works, jewellery, stamp collections and other portable wealth. Then they simply sailed off into the stars.

A small percentage but large number of Germans and Italians (Jewish and otherwise) were able to exit Europe for the U.S.A. and South America. They saw (as almost anyone could see ) that war was in the air and things were going to get worse before they got better. People killed or imprisoned by governments usually have years of warning and plenty of signals that it is time to leave.

Charming.
posted by desuetude at 8:51 AM on August 16, 2008

This is just a front for a quack anti-tax group or a viral ad for the next Wesley Snipes movie. Or both.
posted by damn dirty ape at 8:59 AM on August 16, 2008

We just did this, less than a week ago. And the last time, we had a more engaging metaphor about wielding Five Flags in the quest for not paying one's way.

FWIW, last time I said:
Say what you like about tax avoidance, but at least it makes the poorest shoulder more of the costs of the services we all use.

Sorry, flagged.
posted by imperium at 9:02 AM on August 16, 2008

Man, I feel like a serf CONSTANTLY.

Seriously, I actually do live in a one-room hovel and remit half my earnings to my feudal masters.
posted by Mr. President Dr. Steve Elvis America at 9:04 AM on August 16, 2008 [1 favorite]

We just did this...

Ah, fuck. How did I miss that? My first FPP and my first double all at the same time. Delete away, mods!
posted by popechunk at 9:05 AM on August 16, 2008

I'm content to be a wage slave, but thanks.
posted by fixedgear at 9:06 AM on August 16, 2008