ZA
As the US election approaches, the outcome remains highly uncertain. On betting sites, Trump has taken a slight lead, while FiveThirtyEight simulations show Harris winning 55 out of 100 simulations, compared to 45 for Trump.
The situation has been further complicated by the destruction caused by Hurricanes Milton and Helene, forcing voter registration to close earlier than planned. Some believe this will hurt the Democrats most, as they typically register earlier, while Trump supporters tend to register and vote on the same day.
In terms of new pledges, former President Trump is offering a tempting deal to the approximately 9 million Americans living overseas, representing 3.4% of eligible voters. Currently, they are among the few groups who need to pay taxes in both their country of residence and the US. Double taxation agreements ensure they don’t pay tax on the same income, but if they live in tax-free regions like the UAE, they must pay the full amount to the US. There is an exception for the first $126,500 per year, so it mainly affects higher earners. However, the administrative burden remains, as everyone must file a tax return. Trump is also proposing to exempt tip income, overtime pay, and social security benefits from income taxes.
Will this be enough for Trump? It might be, as the economy is the most important issue for voters, followed by democracy, terrorism and national security, with immigration in fifth place. Yet, given the focus on democracy, it’s hard to predict where things will land, as both Republicans and Democrats believe democracy is under threat in the US.
The catch with Trump’s extensive tax cuts is that he hasn’t explained which government expenses will be cut to balance the books. The question is whether voters will care. For now, it seems they simply want a smaller government.
The situation has been further complicated by the destruction caused by Hurricanes Milton and Helene, forcing voter registration to close earlier than planned. Some believe this will hurt the Democrats most, as they typically register earlier, while Trump supporters tend to register and vote on the same day.
In terms of new pledges, former President Trump is offering a tempting deal to the approximately 9 million Americans living overseas, representing 3.4% of eligible voters. Currently, they are among the few groups who need to pay taxes in both their country of residence and the US. Double taxation agreements ensure they don’t pay tax on the same income, but if they live in tax-free regions like the UAE, they must pay the full amount to the US. There is an exception for the first $126,500 per year, so it mainly affects higher earners. However, the administrative burden remains, as everyone must file a tax return. Trump is also proposing to exempt tip income, overtime pay, and social security benefits from income taxes.
Will this be enough for Trump? It might be, as the economy is the most important issue for voters, followed by democracy, terrorism and national security, with immigration in fifth place. Yet, given the focus on democracy, it’s hard to predict where things will land, as both Republicans and Democrats believe democracy is under threat in the US.
The catch with Trump’s extensive tax cuts is that he hasn’t explained which government expenses will be cut to balance the books. The question is whether voters will care. For now, it seems they simply want a smaller government.