Woman Renounces US Citizenship After Living in Canada Since Age Two
A woman who held dual US-Canadian citizenship has formally renounced her American citizenship, citing the ongoing administrative and financial burden of filing US taxes each year. The woman, known on TikTok as @mimilapoop, filmed herself taking the official oath to give up her US citizenship and posted the footage online, where it quickly went viral.
She moved to Canada at the age of two and has lived there virtually her entire life. Despite this, as a US citizen, she was required to file federal tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) every year, a rule that applies to all American citizens regardless of where they reside in the world.
Why She Made the Decision
In her TikTok video, she explained the reasons behind her decision. "Today, I take the oath to renounce my US citizenship. I moved to Canada when I was two years old, so why was I still filing US taxes? Because I moved to Canada," she said.
While a tax treaty between the United States and Canada prevented double taxation on the same income, the process remained cumbersome. She added: "Canada and the US have a tax treaty, so I was not taxed twice for the same income, but I was still paying a second accountant every year to deal with the US side, and things like having a TFSA in Canada make it less straightforward."
A Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) is a registered investment account available to Canadian residents that offers tax-sheltered growth. For American citizens living in Canada, holding a TFSA creates additional complications under US reporting requirements, as the IRS does not recognize it with the same tax-exempt status that Canada grants.
A Permanent and Deliberate Decision
In her video, @mimilapoop made it clear that the decision was not taken lightly. "Renouncing US citizenship is permanent, and I don't take it lightly," she said, acknowledging the weight of what she was giving up.
The video has attracted widespread attention, with many viewers sharing their own experiences with dual citizenship tax issues. According to the US State Department, renouncing citizenship is a formal process that requires an in-person interview at a US embassy or consulate, a fee, and an oath of renunciation. Once completed, the individual loses all rights and privileges of US citizenship, including the ability to live and work in the United States without a visa.
Broader Context of Dual Citizenship Tax Obligations
The United States is one of the few countries in the world that taxes its citizens based on citizenship rather than residence. This means that even Americans who have lived abroad for decades must file annual tax returns and report foreign bank accounts, investments, and other assets. Failure to comply can result in significant penalties.
According to the IRS, there are approximately 9 million US citizens living abroad, and many face similar frustrations with the complexity of filing taxes from overseas. The number of Americans renouncing their citizenship has fluctuated in recent years, with peaks often coinciding with major tax law changes or increased enforcement.
