Update
These seminars will include discussion and analysis of the IRS “relaxed opportunities” for people to come into compliance.
“Life planning, career planning and the reality of U.S. citizenship for Americans abroad”
“Everything I wish I had known, but couldn’t even have imagined to ask!”
During the winter, John Richardson presented a number of seminars for those concerned with the obvious problems of U.S. citizenship (including the “threshold question” of whether you really are a U.S. citizen).
Seminar topics have invariably included the problems of: FBAR, FATCA, investing, retirement planning, mutual funds, U.S. tax compliance, renunciation, etc. The official “FATCA Launch” of July 1, 2014 will surely make the existing problems worse.
U.S. citizens living outside the United States are subject to a regime of rules that diminish their “life opportunities”. These rules are such that U.S. citizens abroad live at a disadvantage relative to the citizens of any other nation. Those attending previous seminars have been primarily “middle aged” people, who have attempted to plan for their retirement, only to find that their retirement plans are threatened, because of their birth in the United States.
A shared sentiment has been:
“If only, I had known about these rules earlier … This is information that my children and other young adults need to hear! What does all this mean for my children?”
The seminar on June 22 will be a session specifically designed for your children and young adults. They will be exposed to (at least “some”) of that information that they need to hear!
U.S. citizenship can be seen as an opportunity. It can also be seen as a liability. U.S. citizenship will impact virtually EVERY aspect of your life! When it comes to the problems of U.S. citizenship abroad,”An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
For those who DON’T understand the “rules imposed on U.S. citizens abroad”, U.S. citizenship can become a very big problem. In fact the older you get, the bigger the problems become. For those who have not been compliant with the “Rules of U.S. Citizenship Abroad”, the aging process is one of accumulating tax and penalty liabilities.
For those who DO understand the “rules of U.S. citizenship abroad”, it is possible to life a successful life. It’s just that it will require specific and specialized planning.
An awareness of the “rules of U.S. citizenship abroad” will equip you with the knowledge you need to:
• Live your life in compliance with U.S. rules; OR
• Decide that the “rules of U.S. citizenship abroad” are simply not worth the trouble.
Who: John Richardson, B.A., L.L.B., J.D – CitizenshipSolutions.ca
When: Sunday June 22, 2014 – 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Where: Downtown Vancouver, 1010 Richards Street Richards & Nelson, Gallery Condo Building, Amenity Room, Entrance at REAR of BLDG on lane. Metered parking on street or lot at Richards & Smithe. Canada Line – Yaletown stop. Expo & Millenium lines – Granville Station.
Admission: $20 individual or $40 for a family of up to four people
Hope to see you and your families on June 22. Spread the word!
I would love to attend this session as I have kids with US taint by virtue of parentage, not birthplace. They are still too young to understand the ramifications but at some point in the next few years I need to educate them so that they can make an informed decision.
Would it be possible to have the session videoed or a transcript made available? I would be glad to make a financial contribution toward that somehow, or a donation to Brock.
@osgood, ditto for me except I will be out of town that weekend (my kids are old enough to understand though). I can donate too for a video or transcript.
No Cameras
Yes we have joined the other thriving country in the world who taxes its citizens instead of its residents. Who else would be this stupid you ask? Well it is Eritrea. Never heard of it? You are not alone. Most of the wold never heard of it and I suspect not many of its citizens live abroad.
Not too many of our citizens will either once FATCA and FBAR start being fully enforced. We have already lost more than 50% of our foreign trade . Our sales, service and engineering personal cannot afford to live elsewhere and without them products will not be sold.
Both Major U.S. Political parties are to blame. They have both had absolute control at least once since it started. It was sold to the less educated as soaking the evil rich who want to hide their wealth in another country.
There would be no need to hide wealth if our tax laws made any sense. Capitalism made the world wealthy and capitalism demands that capital be allowed to find the place where it will produce the greatest return and right now it is not in the U.S.A.
If we had a new tax system to replace the Marxist Income Tax,( second chapter of the communist manifesto) we could start over and become a prosperous capitalist nation again within a year or two.
We owe the world an apology for letting a bunch of descendants of the Soviet Sleepers who’s children are hell bent on converting us to a Soviet style country.
The FairTax would do the trick, and our Socialist political leaders would have to be replaced with Capitalists and Americans with Libertarian Principles, before the Marxists are truly defeated.
I’m looking forward to helping host this event. See you in Vancouver.
I just saw that they ruled against Zwerner but still have to do the cruel and unusual punishment bit next week:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-28/florida-man-87-owes-150-of-swiss-account-jury-says.html
Is there any chance that John will do a session in Alberta, specifically Edmonton? I have two young adults who would attend. Because his session in Edmonton was on Easter Sunday, I know many who were unable to attend.
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@albertarose
As far as I know, there is not a stop on this trip but I will pass on your comments for future.
A great read for any parent with a dual US/CDN child.
Excerpt:
“Liabilities of U.S. citizenship – Burdens of U.S. citizenship:
You have the obligations to:
– register for the military service (“the draft”);
– pay taxes to the U.S. and pay those taxes under the same rules that apply to U.S. residents;
– file U.S. tax returns every year regardless of where you live;
– file numerous “information returns” which may include the private and financial information of others.
– pay estate and gift taxes
Now, you may ask “so what?” Let me try to explain to you why this might matter in your life. But, once again, these are just some thoughts. I leave it to you to decide whether these are considerations that are significant to you.”
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Just to give a brief synopsis of today’s info seminar, I have to say that I really enjoyed John’s casual and humourous approach in delivering news that might be the equivalent of being told that you have a life threatening disease. Although the seminar was supposed to be geared to young people facing the issues of US citizenship, only 2 of the approximately 14 people who arrived would be considered “young”, unless of course you include those “at heart”. I think that because of the number of people and the living room-like atmosphere of my condo’s amenity room, John was able to deliver a relaxed presentation where people felt comfortable asking questions relating to their specific circumstances throughout the duration of the seminar. The seminar was scheduled for two hours, but lasted for three. What I found particularly interesting is that a sign I posted by our condo’s intercom “US tax info seminar, please go to rear of building” actually brought in two residents from my building!