Liberty and justice for all United States persons abroad

The Isaac Brock Society

Posted on by Posted in Issues regarding US persons abroad 147 Comments

From Life Behind the IRon Drape, a blog by Mark Hubbard which critiques New Zealand’s IRD (Inland Revenue Department):

FATCA: The (NZ) Officials’ Report – A Crime That Deserves a Revolution

Here is an excerpt from this powerful evisceration of New Zealand’s new tax policy report heralding that country’s own IGA with the US:

Yesterday IRD Tax Policy published a 310 page document, part of which was the officials’ response to the IGA between NZ and the US, and FATCA, and the submissions made against both by the public. That report becomes a good object lesson to all submitters of what a whitewash such exercises are, and what a sham our statist captured democratic processes have become.  The report proper started at page 112 of the document: it is sadly unsurprising the first 111 pages dealt with what you might have thought was such a simple thing as how employee allowances are to be dealt with (such is the complexity of our taxing legislation). Although I could only make it to page 117 before my eyes were so blurred with tears of fury, and I had no interest in reading on, even in these five pages, look at what this report says about our society, and our world, in 2014.

New Zealand tax officials have just confessed, quite casually, to the creation of the full, one-world police surveillance state under the auspices, sorry, the outright bullying, of our US masters.

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147 thoughts on “New Zealand’s capitulation to FATCA laid bare”

  1. @MarkHubbard…
    I apologize that I have not been able to keep up and comment on your excellent blog posting. My plate is full for the next week. Thanks for posting that link to @ellipsister’s blog comment on the Left.

    http://ellipsister.wordpress.com/2014/04/20/fatca-nzs-insidious-future/

    I discovered this post, that also needs spreading…

    Thomas Beagle ‏@thomasbeagle 9h
    Some of the civil liberties problems with the govt handing over NZers financial info to the US: http://nzccl.org.nz/content/guest-article-fatca-threat-nzers-civil-liberties … #fatca

    Also, you might spread the Bill Moyers interview with Angwin on Dragnet Nation, and make the FATCA connection. It might resonate with Lefties that still don’t get it.

    http://bit.ly/Oq0GN4

    Now have to get to work, as the 6 am bell has rung, and tons to do before I depart NZ…

  2. @ChearBigEars – Cloning works. In the UK people go searching for identical cars, clone the plates, then it takes the coppers having to look at the VIN number to prove it’s a different vehicle. ANPR cameras are largely rendered ineffective against clones.

    Yes illegal, but pay for a professionally made clone, with the same information on the front, picture etc, only the place of birth is changed. Never ever used for travel or anything else only at a FFI. If this was possible, then the USG would have to push for biometrics, or for some sort of database to confirm the document’s details (which would be the same except for the place of birth). So the US would have to convince the world to create a FATCA passport / identity card database with all the records to enforce a US law abroad.

    It’s upping the game for enforcement of FATCA. I suppose the USG could slap up a website with all birth records in the US, however, the downside of that would be increased identity theft.

    I’m talking about paying £3000 to £5000 for the document real money. That’s the cost of getting out of FATCA at least until biometrics comes in. Everything can be bought for a price and that’s what regaining your financial freedom will probably cost. However once it’s produced there will have to be a way to make sure there is no data trail left on a hard drive somewhere or printer cartridge.

    It may all seem like Hollywood but someday there will be an article about this issue somewhere.

    I can see the headlines coming, FATCA data scandal, banker takes bribe to enter wrong data (or shall we say an administrative error), banker steals FATCA data and sells it (who knows terrorists? please note bankers have already done this in the recent past), or FATCA passport / identity card ring broken up, banker uses FATCA data for identity theft, US citizens abroad are under terrorist threat as it is believed to be in the hands of Al Qaeda.

    This law is unique and how the ex-pat community resents being made second class citizens abroad.

    So there are number of reasons, not just the IRS, why a ‘US person’ or citizen does not want their details on a FATCA database. Who really knows where that data is going to go and wants assurances do you get from the USG – nada.

    The USG is not only putting people financial health at risk, but their personal safety as well.

  5. http://passport.gc.ca/info/section1.aspx?lang=eng

    Name in passport

    The name that appears in the passport is guided by the following:

    For a passport issued using the general passport application:
    the name is normally the same as that appearing on the proof of Canadian citizenship (certificate of birth in Canada or certificate of Canadian citizenship).
    you may request that not all your given names or surnames be used in your passport, as long as your supporting identity document contains the name you would like to appear. For example, you may drop one or more of your given names to read: “Monique Gauthier” or “Nicole Gauthier” instead of “Monique Nicole Mary Gauthier”; or you may drop one of your surnames to read: “Robert Smith” or “Robert Price” instead of “Robert Smith-Price”.
    For a passport issued using the simplified renewal application:
    the name is the same as that appearing in the previous passport.

    Name changes

    All documentation, including your passport, should be issued under the same name. If you have changed your name on other identification documents, your passport must be in this same name.

    For any name change, you must apply for a new passport:

    Submit a complete adult general passport application (you cannot use the passport renewal process for a name change), that includes:
    the application form completed in full;
    proof of Canadian citizenship;
    supporting identification in your new name;
    two photos, one of which is signed by the guarantor;
    the required fees; and
    any valid Canadian travel document, if applicable.

    Plus

    For a married surname change, you may be asked to provide your marriage certificate (original or copy).
    For a common-law name change, include a signed letter stating that you are in a common-law relationship and that the co-habitation has been ongoing for more than one year.
    For any other legal name change, include one of the following:
    a legal change of name document;
    an adoption order; or
    a birth certificate or citizenship certificate issued in the new name.

    Place of birth

    Your place of birth must be provided on the application form.

    You may request that your place of birth does not appear in the passport. However, if you chose to do so, note that:

    Place of birth is mandatory for entry to some countries. You should contact the consulate or embassy of every country you plan to visit to ensure that you will be allowed entry if your passport does not indicate your place of birth.
    You may have difficulty obtaining a visa.
    You may experience delays at border crossings.

    It is your responsibility to verify requirements before travelling.

    If you do not want your place of birth to appear in the passport, you must complete and submit with your application a “Request for a Canadian passport without place of birth” (PPTC 077, PDF, 350 KB).
    Signature

    Your signature must not exceed the inner limits of the signature box on page 1 (Declaration of Applicant) and must appear on all three pages.
    Caution to travellers about changing your name on a passport

    Be careful if you’re applying for a passport to use after you are married, perhaps for your honeymoon, showing your married name. It is important that the name on your passport match the name in which you have booked all of your travel. If the name on the passport doesn’t match the bookings:

    some countries may not let you in; and
    some travel companies may not let you board.

    This may be the case even if you carry your marriage or civil partnership certificate with you. Always check with the consulate of the country you plan to visit or your travel agent.
    Language of documents

    All documents submitted as part of a travel document application in a language other than English or French must be translated by a certified translator. More information.

  6. @ChearBigEars – If you have a Canadian passport, plus say an EU, get your Canadian without the place of birth, and use your EU for travelling outside of Canada. Use your Canadian passport for re-entry into Canada, and for your Canadian banking.

    Could be job done. Remember there are many Canadians (as well as Americans) eligible for second passports through their family background if a parent or grandparent was born outside of Canada. If someone is of German descent, I believe it could be more than two generations back as long as they can do the paper trail back to Germany.

    So you get your Canadian passport without the place of birth, but what happens if they bank demands a birth certificate? Then you’re back to square one unless legally the bank has to accept the non place of birth Canadian passport and has to take your word about your place of birth.

    Where does this all end?

  7. @Don…..birth certificate? I was hatched so no problem. Most people do not know where their birth certificate is. This is getting extreme. FATCA is dying although propaganda makes it seem otherwise.

  8. @Don

    “Where does this all end?”

    When they don’t accept my membership card for the I Love Russia and Putin Society and their Master Plan to put the USSA in its Place (ILRAPSAMPTPTUSSAIIP)?

  10. @ChearsBigEars

    Majority of asian countries have lots of dual citizens, gc holders, or some sort of visa… same thought we use to have… having any of the above.. just allowed to get work faster, better opportunities, & it wasn’t a big deal to do…. Maybe with other countries… but having that for the US is now deadly…

  11. @US_Person_Foreigner
    I am faced with the FATCA issue in Singapore now – waive or my bank will close my account. I am delaying as long as I can. Dual citizenship does not help once the bank puts you in the ‘US Person’ box. I am sure that in the PI many people will be affected and hide their US connection if possible. For me, the waiver per the bank would result in my account being fully governed by US law (unbelievable) and no protection from Singapore’s banking laws, and being an open book to the IRS. I fully expect other Asian countries to roll over such as Thailand and Malaysia (sadly). However, the interesting question will be how the rules are really implemented. Singapore will follow the rules, not such about PI or other countries.

  12. @Steve Klaus

    I have no clue how this will played out… Some asians have other names… they switch back & forth with their names… not sure how they will deal with it… Heard in HK… they are already going to give up names of US Persons… I knew India would roll over… but I was surprise to hear about Singapore… that 30% is the fear… I know I will never use HSBC again… they are leading the charge to turn over names… So is Standard Charter since they are part of HSBC… Asians will truly be screwed because as I said… people in these countries saw nothing about having a US person taint… now its deadly & there is alot of money for fines & penalities that they will take…

  14. @bubblebustin

    Thanks… That is what I heard… because of this… no matter where I am… HSBC is not one I will ever use… just like TD… For countries who use to have all this privacy is safe… yeah… ok… I don’t believe it..

  15. @George…..your post of 18th April 2014….. wins my vote!

    “I am also ready to send more money to the charter challenge. I am ready to up my prior contribution by a factor of ten.…”

    DITTO DITTO DITTO. saving up/budgeting every spare penny for the IBS next round of C3F…..

  16. @ brockers..just wanted to add to my post above… there two things that we can do to
    renounce/relinquish-to protect ourselves and our families
    donate to the C3F-it is the ONLY real challenge to FATCA currently anywhere in the world.

    in the immortal words of Dylan Thomas (paraphrased here]

    “Do not go gentle into that good night,
    [AntiFACTA people ]should …. rave at close of day;
    Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

    Though [we may] at end [of fight..find US might] is right,
    Because [our] words had forked no lightning they
    Do not go gentle into that good night.”

  19. Well, the fools capitulated, as we expected. And this is supposed to a Conservative government. Go figure. But….they surrender their sovereignty to the hegemon lead by the Dems and put themselves under control of the IRS.

    New Zealand IGA and MOU Available

    by Tom Beckett
    The New Zealand IGA and MOU signed with the U.S. are available. Note that new part H of the revised Annex I to Model 1 is not included in this IGA

    As stupid as this government is, I how hope TPP is rammed down their throats and they have to live with U.S. Corporate domination too!! Idiots.

    Wonder what’s in the revised Annex??

  20. The problem is that there is not enough pressure on the world’s governments because The majority of most countries are not American citizens and so are not affected. On the other side though, all sides are affected by having 30% deducted on transfers resulting from profits in US financial markets.

  21. @Baruch,

    And of course, the rest of the world is generally ignorant about how widespread the impact will be. It is more than U.S,. citizens, it is U.S. Persons and everyone even tangentially attached to them.

    To the degree that any of the wider public knows ANYTHING about FATCA, the 30% withholding was seen as effecting only “banks”, everyones whipping boy these days, and not the wider community of IRS defined ALL financial institutions and ALL of their individual depositors. It was natural that they (the FFIs) expended their energy and money lobbying for the IGA bailout by their governments at U.S. Treasury encouragement…

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