Brockers are interviewed in Patrick Cain’s new article at Global news. He writes:
Is a second citizenship in the United States an asset? It depends.
Many Canadians have built careers in the U.S. that were simplified by the accident of their birthplace, or of a parent’s. If you want to work in the U.S., it’s useful to not have to worry about visas and green cards. (“Home is the place where, when you go there, they have to let you in,” wrote New England poet Robert Frost.)
But it became a potential liability in February when Canada made a deal with the U.S. on the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA.
Read the entire article here: http://globalnews.ca/news/1217871/how-to-get-rid-of-an-unwanted-u-s-citizenship/
Excellent article . I wrote to Mr. Cain and thanked him.
Very well done indeed! Thank you to those who contributed.
Thank you, Patrick Cain. My conversations with you were thorough and non-threatening. You really conveyed that you wanted this story told.
My hope is that you will continue to keep the FATCA-coming-into-Canada issue in the forefront as ALL Canadians begin to see and realize the audacity of the US IGA implementation their government has buried in the C31 omnibus budget bill.
US Persons affected this time; what will be the next “nationality” to be deemed second-class Canadians? I hope others will realize that the SOVEREIGNTY OF CANADA is eroding before our eyes and a very serious matter.
[ Note: Not that it makes any difference in Patrick’s story, but a couple facts about my family’s case are not accurately reported. I didn’t start my compliance in 2011; I started in 2008 well before I knew anything about ‘claiming a relinquishment’ or even renouncing — or anything about what having a US passport and voting in a US election would mean. Thus, my role here in warning others not to make my same stupid mistakes! When I learned of US tax compliance requirements, I tried to do things right. So, three years of back-filing, 2005, 2006, 2007 (what would I guess be called Quiet Disclosure) and then the current year 2008 by one cross-border accounting firm; they also did the 2009 filings. (I did all of my own FBARs 2005 through 2012, the year we renounced.) Then I used another accounting firm in the US recommended to me by the estate lawyer I hired for getting my son’s situation for the future correctly in place. That was a nightmare and I soon fired him as I could see it was going nowhere; he retained the retainer. Finally Moodys did redo all of my filings by the first cross-border accounting firm to correct the “foreign trust” not-done correctly problem (including the RDSP I held for my son, TFSA). As well, the article said that the amount I spent on professional work included that which had to be done for my daughter as well. She had been compliant since she came back to Canada from the States, was filing there and knew all about this — she was the one (thank you, dear daughter) who gave me my OMG moment. Nope, she paid all of her costs herself (self-employed) and is still in the hole from that. I have helped her in other ways in keeping her head above water. She is making progress. It doesn’t make a difference for Patrick’s good story and I am so glad he is doing good work on this, but I wanted to set my record here and there straight. Thanks. ]
There are no comments on this article, nor does there seem to be a way to comment. Has anyone else been able to?
There are two comments showing, one by WhiteKat.
Perhaps we can start an ex-American club where membership requires a CLN or evidence of relinquishment. HQ can be in Canada with chapters worldwide.
There is a group on facebook called “Ex-Americans in Canada” with 10 people mostly (if not all) Brockers.
@JoeBlow, Should state “membership requires a CLN or reasonable explanation of relinquishment.”
That way we have FATCA language. 😉
Like a secret handshake.
Actually, it would be wonderful to meet some of fellow fighters of FATCA in person along the way. They are among the persons I now most respect.
@George: Perfect!
@kermitzi: I didn’t know that. So its already started. Very cool.
A few years from now we’ll have the US government kissing our asses wanting some kind of special relationship to promote US exports from the Homeland and to promote American culture and values through our global network. Oops, it will be a little late for that won’t it.
I decided after going to the Richmond Hill Info session that I already am an ex-American. I became a citizen in 1993 thus I relinquished. I am waiting for the CLN since I went in July last year. If it does not come by July I will show the bank the USA rules and my citizenship certificate.
I plan to be on the Brock bus and fight this with all of you to the finish.
I have been on Ex-Americans in Canada for awhile.
What about the headline ” Canada sacrifices “MINORITY” to it’s past government for prosecution. The one buzz word that I have not heard used is “minority”. You are a group of peaople with one thing in common. You are a minority. I wonder what the Canadian population of “minority” groups would think if they knew they were in danger from their past governments? We need more ideas on how to get this “treason” of the Canadian government out there for prosecution by Canadians…..
Northernstar,
Great. Then you’re a member of the Ex-American Club via the “reasonable explanation of relinquishment” category.
I stumbled across this while searching for the Ex-Americans in Canada Facebook page. It contains short bios on 20 ex-Americans. Some of which, might be Brockers.
BBC: ‘Why I gave up my US passport’
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-24338387
I think we’re soon going to find that all governments will be throwing people with US indicia under the bus. It will be like when the Romans were throwing Christians to the lions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Christians_in_the_Roman_Empire
Here’s my comment at the Global website:
“Home is the place where, when you go there, they have to let you in,” wrote New England poet Robert Frost.
True, unless you’re an American living outside the United States, in which case you’re forced to renounce or relinquish your birth right. If you’re an American ex-pat who spent your working years outside of U.S. borders, you can never really go home.
Thank you Patrick Cain for the great article.
This article demonstrates the short-sighted thinking of Americans with regards to ex-pats. American ex-pats should be encouraged to say they’re dual citizens rather than be reduced to renunciation or hiding in the shadows abroad or telling people they were born in other English speaking countries other than the US.
People are voting with their feet and the US Congress should be embarrassed by the result.
northernstar started Ex-Americans in Canada fb, I think (I cannot connect real names to Brock names often though)
The more expats who renounce US citizenship the better. US Congress needs (and deserves) to be embarrassed as much as possible. It is the only way they may wake up and reform the situation.
Well researched article, but then he did interview some of the most knowledgeable people there are on this subject. Sending a copy to Liam Pleven of the WSJ.
@Don: +1
As a result of short sighted U.S. tax and citizenship policy, there isn’t a snow-ball’s chance in hell that this ex-pat will ever bring his wealth or skills (both of which were obtained in Canada) back to the U.S. While I love the poetry of Robert Frost, I prefer the saying, “Home is where the heart is.” Thank you Canada.
Where liberty dwells, there is my home. ~ Ben Franklin
How to get rid of US Citizenship?
If only it was this easy;
http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-remove-gum-from-shoes/
Sadly gum on shoes has become as desirable as US Citizenship. But as they say its “clinging nationality.”
George,
Your dark humor is wonderful. My stomach hurts from laughing.
On another note:
The Azerbaijanis are feeling the squeeze from the big bully:
ABC.AZ: Within FATCA the U.S. threatens Azerbaijan with sanctions
http://abc.az/eng/news_04_04_2014_80440.html
“The US Administration threatens with sanctions to Azerbaijan if the latter fails to sign in time the agreement on the exchange of tax information on the FATCA rules.
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) informs that Azerbaijan is not among the countries that are exempt from sanctions, if it fails to sign a tax info exchange agreement in time.
“The IRS exempted from 15 countries such sanctions – Australia, Belgium, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, South Africa , South Korea, Romania,” it was reported.
As a result, the U.S. placed Azerbaijan in the number of possible penalty box along with Russia, who under U.S. sanctions for the annexation of the Crimea.
Earlier the U.S. Embassy reported that the US had engaged the Azerbaijani government on this issue.
“Now we’re waiting for their response. The US government is negotiating similar arrangements with every country in the world,” the Embassy said.
The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) entered into force on 1 January 2013. According to the Act, from 1 July 2014 the banks and other financial institutions worldwide should connect to the system of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and inform it of such accounts. Those who will avoid this procedure will be applied sanctions.”
I did not start the FB Ex-Americans in Canada. Someone else did.
Get rid of it, the IRS is batshit crazy.
Tax and penalties of over $60,000 for following IRS guidance!
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ira-rollover-ruling-stuns-advisers-and-savers-2014-04-04?pagenumber=2