While many expats don&#x27;t have to pay US taxes, the reporting requirements are a substantial burden on us - we have to file tax forms in multiple countries, and we have to report on our normal bank accounts, which is pure bullshit.<p>We don&#x27;t get any real benefits abroad, and we get charged for everything.  Let&#x27;s say you need something notarized - many places won&#x27;t accept a foreign notarization, which means you have to go to the embassy.  You know how your bank will usually notarize documents for free?  The embassy charges you $50 - per signature.<p>Want to renounce your citizenship?  That&#x27;ll be $2,350.<p>You managed to end up in the wrong place and civil war breaks out?  The US will make some effort to help you, but it wont&#x27; come free.  U.S. law 22 U.S.C. 2671(b) (2) (A) requires that any departure assistance be provided &quot;on a reimbursable basis to the maximum extent practicable.”  This means that evacuation costs are ultimately your responsibility; you will be asked to sign a form promising to repay the U.S. government. (<a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;travel.state.gov&#x2F;content&#x2F;passports&#x2F;en&#x2F;emergencies&#x2F;crisis-support.html" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;travel.state.gov&#x2F;content&#x2F;passports&#x2F;en&#x2F;emergencies&#x2F;cri...</a>)<p>And if you do renounce your citizenship, you risk not even being allowed back in the country to visit family.  --People who have done so have been denied visas by the US supposedly because they aren&#x27;t well enough established in their new country.  And yes, this can even happen in the event of family emergencies.  So giving up US citizenship could prevent you from visiting a parent or other family member on their deathbed - not something most people want to think about.