Rich:

As a sailor you are more free than most to leave the good ol' US of A.
Just be careful the country to which you flee. I took the time to look
up the tax rates around the world. On www.worldwide-tax.com/ I found
that of 59 countries represented, 35 had income tax rates the same or
higher than in the US. Some were as high as 59% (Denmark). Another 45
countries had a VAT (value added tax - i.e. sales tax) higher than the
0 - 10.25 US VAT charged in the US (set variously by local and state
governments), some as high as 25% (Brazil, Denmark, Sweden). The
countries with the lowest income taxes most often had the highest
VAT's (you can pay me now or pay me later).

When you go, your best choices: Bulgaria (10% income but 20% VAT),
Czech. Republic (15% income but 19% VAT), Monaco (0% but 19.6 VAT -
good marinas to slip your boat but costly), Montenegro (15% income
but 17% VAT), Romania (16% income but 19% VAT), Russia (13% income but
18% VAT), Saudi Arabia (20% income and 0% VAT - a winner if you can
stand the heat), Serbia (10/14% income but 18% VAT), Singapore (3.75 -
21% income and 5% VAT - don't litter), Slovakia (19% income but 19%
VAT) and finally, the ever popular Ukraine (15% income but 20% VAT).

So many choices . . . so little time until next November. Drop me a
postcard from when you wind up.

Gregg Dennhardt

yes well, if you've been listening carefully to the current 'three
stooges' running for US president .... and if all the healthcare BS is
included. If you look to the fact the current US healthcare is
running 16-18% of GNP, and if the 3 stooges get their way .... the
average 'middle class' taxpayer @ 28% averaged income tax bite will
soon be 'enjoying' 28% + 16% = 44% in income taxes. So we'll all
need a bigger wheelbarrow .... just to pay the damn income taxes. Im
looking to flee to another country. My ancestors came to the US
looking for economic, etc. freedom. I don't think they'd consider the
US if they were immigrating today.