Comments on my post about Remaining a Dual Citizen have led me to think I should post about the Institute for Justice.
They are a group of lawyers who spend their time fighting against laws that unnecessarily restrict individual private economic activity and defending people caught up in these laws. They have recently launched a lawsuit against the IRS for a new policy that forces tax preparers to be licensed before they are given IRS permission to help people fill out their tax returns. (JustMe commented on this and linked to another story on a previous IBS post)
This has affected thousands of independent tax preparers who help many more thousands of taxpayers file correctly and remain compliant with US tax law.
As the IJ says,
“Congress never gave the IRS the authority to license tax preparers, and the IRS cannot give itself that power. That is why the Institute for Justice has joined with three independent tax preparers to bring a lawsuit in federal court challenging the IRS’s statutory authority to impose these regulations on them and other entrepreneurial tax preparers across the nation.”
We have often talked here on the Isaac Brock Society about filing legal action against the IRS to challenge its treatment of expats, citing the violation of numerous Constitutional amendments and clauses in IRS regulations, actions and penalties. The IJ takes on more than economic freedom cases. They have “ four core mission areas: economic liberty, property rights, political and commercial speech, and school choice” but they also work on other legislation cases. And they are a 501(c)(3) organization, so it is non-profit. I’d think that unconstitutional taxation would be a property rights issue. Perhaps this is a resource that would be worth pursuing.
When you are working on your post, you will notice one of the button options above text box has a little chain symbol. It is six in from the right on the top row.
Highlight the text you want to embed the link and then hit that chain button. It will take you to another dialog box where you paste the link. It is pretty obvious.
Be sure to check the box that says, Open in another window. That should do it for you. In fact, you can go back and edit your post, and then trash this comment if you like. 🙂
Thanks, I’ll try that. I have tried this while editing a post or a comment here, and on the editing dashboard there is a box that clearly says “link”, which I have successfully used to embed a link on other sites. But it seems to be hit or miss on this one. Here goes!
It could be an interesting angle. Certainly FATCA will affect small entrepreneurs who try to market their products and services outside of the U.S. Extraterritorial taxation most likely hits them quite hard since the tax evasion mechanisms that are used by the large corporations aren’t going to be available to the small guy.
@Foxy… You got it right!
A lawsuit for fraud:
Taxation without representation and receiving no services for the money paid
@Just Me – thanks! I won’t delete your post — in case I forget!
@recalcitrantexpat: The IJ takes on more than economic freedom cases. Their “four core mission areas: economic liberty, property rights, political and commercial speech, and school choice” but they also work on other legislation cases. And they are a 501(c)(3) organization, so it is non-profit. I’d think that unconstitutional taxation would be a property rights issue. Actually I think I’ll edit the post to add this information.
@foxy…
You know, now that I think of it, if this organization were to take on Citizenship taxation issue, or FBAR penalties, or any some combination it would be interesting to see what attention it would get from the media. The story of the Tax preparers did get media coverage. Humm. Something to consider.
Yes, here it is…
Best to combine a number of citizenship issues besides just taxation in such a suit. A straight lsawuit based on overseas taxation alone will likely go nowhere because of the bias against expats
@Bunker Hill: I was thinking the same thing. The destructive effects of citizen-based taxation on the economy, especially entrepreneurial activities abroad and their contribution to trade, might be the hook.
@Just Me — hey I just now found your comment of March 15 on the post about the lawsuit by three tax preparers. Sorry I didn’t know about it or I’d have included your link to Accounting Today.
Edited to add: OK, fixed it. You’re acknowledged in my post now. (I’m on a roll with this embedded link stuff!)
@foxy…
Not a problem. This blog is information rich, and hard to keep up with it all. I forget what I post, for heaven sakes! LOL