Category: Finance | Title: Why Some People Are Leaving the United States in 2024 | Tag: US Exit | Meta Description: Data on why people are leaving the US, including tax, banking, and residency trends for 2024...
Who Is Leaving the United States and Why
More high-net-worth individuals and digital workers are leaving the United States as tax, banking, and regulatory pressures increase. The US taxes citizens on worldwide income, even if they live abroad, which pushes some expatriates to settle in zero-tax or low-tax jurisdictions. Companies such as Tesla and SpaceX have international teams, and some employees relocate to countries with simpler residency rules and lower personal tax rates. For many, the decision is driven by a combination of effective tax rates, foreign bank access, and quality-of-life factors. Forbes reports a steady rise in US expatriations linked to tax complexity.
Exit planning now includes reviewing US-based investment accounts, retirement plans, and insurance products that may create ongoing US tax exposure. People leaving the US often use the IRS expatriation process, which includes a net-worth test and a covered expatriate rule that can trigger an exit tax on certain deferred compensation and unrealized gains. Family offices and global wealth advisors help clients structure residency, banking, and holding structures before they formally renounce citizenship or terminate long-term residency.
Tax, Banking, and Regulatory Drivers
The US individual income tax system is one of the main reasons people leave the US, because US citizens and green card holders must report worldwide income, foreign accounts, and passive investment gains to the IRS. FATCA reporting forces foreign banks to share data with the US, which can make opening or maintaining accounts more difficult for Americans abroad. The IRS explains FATCA reporting requirements for US persons. For some, the combined effect of federal and state taxes, plus compliance costs, makes non-US residency more attractive.
Exit Tax and Expatriation Rules
The Internal Revenue Code includes an expatriation tax that can treat certain high-net-worth individuals or long-term residents as if they sold all worldwide assets on the day before they leave the US. This exit tax applies to covered expatriates who meet a net-worth threshold, fail to certify five years of US tax compliance, or are certain corporate executives. The IRS outlines the expatriation process and covered expatriate rules. Planning for exit tax often requires a detailed model of unrealized gains, deferred compensation, and future income streams.
Banking Access and Financial Privacy
Many banks and brokerages outside the US have tightened onboarding for US persons because of FATCA and anti-money-laundering rules. Some non-US residents find it easier to open accounts, obtain investment products, or access local lending in jurisdictions that do not share data with the IRS. People leaving the US often prioritize jurisdictions with strong financial privacy protections, stable banking systems, and clear residency-based tax regimes.
Popular Destinations and Residency Options
Common destinations for people leaving the US include countries with territorial tax systems, zero personal income tax, or favorable digital-nomad and investor residency programs. The UAE, Singapore, Hong Kong, Portugal, and several Caribbean nations attract expatriates with low or no tax on foreign-sourced income and straightforward residency pathways. Some locations offer tax incentives for remote workers, founders, and investors, while others focus on real estate or business investment routes to residency.
Residency and Citizenship by Investment
Several countries provide residence or citizenship through real estate purchase, government fund contributions, or approved business investments. These programs can offer visa-free travel, access to local banking