The number of Americans renouncing their citizenship has grown significantly over the past few years, hitting a record high of 5,411 in 2016. Renunciations fell slightly last year, though there were still nearly 1,000 more than in 2015.

Americans may choose to renounce their citizenship for a variety of reasons: High taxes (the US is one of the few countries that taxes citizens based on worldwide income), family circumstances, and legal complications are just some of the explanations.

The process of renouncing US citizenship can be complex and expensive. Here's how to do it: