First of all, I'm not a qualified tax attorney, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Unfortunately, I think the IRS excludes the time spent out of the country in which one is claiming the 330 days.
Not true, this is from the IRS website:
A U.S. citizen or a U.S. resident alien who is physically present in a foreign country
or countries for at least 330 full days during any period of 12 consecutive months.
Other countries seem to have much more favorable rules with regard to foreign income tax exclusion.
So true, I always correct people when they talk about the U.S. as being the land of the free. It's only free as long as you don't try to leave
If a guy goes to work for NJME for example, stays out of the US for 6 months and a day, and takes up residence in, say,...the Bahamas or something to that effect, should his salary be legally free and clear of US taxation?
As long as he stays in another foreign country for 330 days out of 365 I don't see why not. Mind you, there is a limit on the amount but I doubt 6 months pay at NJME would exceed the limit.
If not, why not, and what would the purpose of living in a tax-haven serve in your salary was subject taxation?
Read this:
http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq13-3.html and remember only your
Foreign Earned Income is excluded from taxation. Tax havens are not for Americans, they are for other people. If you knew to what lengths the IRS, FCEN, and others go to track U.S. citizens and their money you wouldn't sleep very well at night if you were trying to cheat them.
TP