Good.
Finally.
That was my reaction when I read about some potential policy changes coming out of Turkey.
President Erdoğan has proposed a package that would give qualifying new residents a 20-year exemption, aka a “tax holiday” from tax on foreign-earned income and capital gains (provided they have not been Turkish tax residents in the previous three years).
The proposal still needs parliamentary approval, so this is not law yet, but the direction is very clear: Turkey wants to attract capital, talent, investors, entrepreneurs, and globally mobile people who can bring value into the country.
This mindset is one that more countries should adopt.
Attract productive people.
Reward them.
Compete for them.
…make your country more appealing to those who have the means and ability to choose where they live, where they spend, where they hire, where they invest, and where they build their lives.
Logical, YES.
Common, no.
The commonplace model of punishing success, taxing everything and creating more bureaucracy is wearing down… and pushing productive people like us out and toward greener pastures.
Make life harder for the people building businesses, employing workers, investing capital, buying property, and creating value and then act surprised when those same people start looking for the exits…
Logical? NO.
Common… sadly, yes.
High-tax Western governments behave as though productive citizens are captive.
They behave as though people with capital, skills, and ambition have no choice but to sit still, keep paying, keep complying, keep absorbing bad policy, and keep accepting a lower standard of living just because “that’s how things are.”
But that is not how the world works anymore.
Increasingly, (smart) countries are being forced to compete for the people they once took for granted.
Turkey is effectively saying: if you are productive, earn foreign income, and bring capital with you, we want you here.
…and we are willing to make it worth your while.
That is refreshing.
In many places, the message is still “we want more, here’s what you owe us”.
Based on the conversations I’ve been having with clients and prospects lately, people have reached their boiling point and are asking themselves:
Why am I staying in a place that treats me like a resource to be drained rather than a person to be welcomed?
…like a cow that’s only use is to be milked, as I like to say….
That question used to be much rarer.
Now I hear versions of it all the time from people who have done everything “right” and still feel like the system around them keeps demanding more while giving less in return.
The world is splitting between countries that punish productive people and countries that understand how valuable they are.
And if you are a productive person, why would you not at least explore the places that want you?
That does not mean you need to sell everything and move tomorrow.
It does not mean you need to abandon your home country entirely.
It does not mean you need to make emotional decisions based on frustration.
It means you should start thinking like someone who has choices.
…because you do.
No country is a perfect, one-size-fits-all “Shangri-La.”
But many of them understand something that high-tax, high-regulation governments seem to have forgotten…
…productive people are not a problem to be managed.
They are an asset worth attracting.
That is why certain jurisdictions (like those that are attractive to families and investors just like us) create residency pathways, offer favourable tax environments, welcome foreign investors, and make fully titled real estate ownership possible.
They are not doing it out of charity… they are doing it because it is intelligent policy.
A productive foreign resident can buy property, employ service providers, eat in restaurants, hire lawyers, use banks, pay local staff, start companies, improve communities, and bring international capital into the country.
Smart governments understand that.
Others don’t… and the price they are already paying will keep going up.
If you are one of those productive, ethical people with a family you love, you have something worth protecting, and you should be asking yourself a very serious question (even if you never thought it was something you’d ever have to ask yourself):
Where in the world am I actually wanted?
If that question has been on your mind, I invite you to fill out this application form so my team and I can learn a bit about you and determine how we might work together (assuming you’re serious and we’d be a good fit, of course).
Speak soon,
Mikkel
PS. Hub members are getting the full details of the proposed Turkish tax holiday in a special emergency briefing this week. The Hub is our paid membership community full of research reports, expert presentations, webinars, and home to the #1 freedom-oriented expat community in the world. To learn more about our membership programs, head over to: expatmoney.com/membership
Enjoying this email Newsletter? Feel free to forward it and share it with your friends and family to subscribe. The more good, like-minded people we have in our community, the stronger we will be!
No advice: This newsletter, EMS Pulse®, contains information about going offshore and being an expat. The information is not advice and should not be treated as advice. You must not rely on the information in the newsletter as an alternative to legal, financial, or tax advice from an appropriately licensed professional. If you have any specific questions about any such matter, you should consult an appropriately licensed professional. You should never delay seeking legal advice, disregard legal advice, or commence or discontinue any legal action because of information in the EMS Pulse® newsletter or in our work at Expat Money®. Limited warranties: Whilst we endeavour to ensure that the information in the newsletter is correct, we do not warrant or represent its completeness or accuracy. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, we exclude all representations, warranties and conditions relating to this newsletter or our work at Expat Money®. We will not be held liable for any decisions you decide to make as the consumer of this content. Law and jurisdiction: This disclaimer shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Panama Law. Any disputes relating to this disclaimer shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Panama. This message is sent to you because your email address is on our subscribers' list. If you are not interested in receiving more emails like this one, just hit unsubscribe at the bottom of this email.
0 comments