Actor Johnny Depp has moved out of France and returned to America because he didn’t want to become a permanent French resident and pay income tax there.

The Pirates of the Caribbean star and his longterm partner, French singer/actress Vanessa Paradis, moved to her native country in the 1990s to live away from the Hollywood spotlight with their two children.

However, Depp has now moved his family out of France after government officials asked him to become a permanent resident, as he feared he would end up paying tax in both countries.

He tells Britain’s The Guardian newspaper, “Well, I kind of do (live back in America). I’m between wherever I end up on location, and then the States. (I left because) France wanted a piece of me. They wanted me to become a permanent resident. Permanent residency status – which changes everything. They just want… Dough. Money… I’m certainly not ready to give up my American citizenship.”

Depp goes on to explain that if he spends more than 183 days a year in France he will have to pay income tax in both Europe and America, adding, “So you essentially work for free.”

— WENN Newsdesk