Although the U.S. State Department sharply reduced the administrative fee for renouncing nationality from $2,350 to $450, this does not mean the cost of exiting the U.S. tax system has substantively fallen. For high-net-worth individuals, the real risk lies hidden in the stringent Exit Tax and the thorough financial audit that follows. This article cuts through the $450 facade to break down in detail the three hidden tax costs of U.S. expatriation: the exit tax, the IRC §2801 transfer tax (Form 708), and the interruption of Social Security benefits—plus the offshore asset-restructuring steps that must be completed before taking the oath of renunciation.