Despite all promises and recent signs of hope, we “Americans overseas” (and those deemed to be such) have been ignored once again by the government that claims ultimate power over our lives. Now, and for the foreseeable future, we remain the only human beings on Earth who have an income tax imposed on them simply for who they are. We have been left out of the current tax reform plans developed by both legislative houses in spite of the huge efforts mounted collectively by those suffering under US tax oppression around the world.
While I am grateful to those individuals in the US government who have recognized our plight and plan to continue to search for ways to introduce the world standard of Residence/Territorial-Based Taxation to the United States, I fear that the efforts are too little, too late.
Except for the various lawsuits still pending (which could take years to resolve), domestic recourse has come to a crashing end. Our one remaining avenue of attack is in the international arena.
A Human Rights Complaint was filed with the United Nations in August 2014 and is presently awaiting assessment for acceptance into the complaints process. (Those not familiar with the history of our Complaint can find information on the link at the top of the sidebar.)
We have waited long enough. It is beyond time for our plight to be recognized by the international community as the forerunner of an entirely new form of governmental abuse perpetrated by a combination of outdated law and 21st century cyber-surveillance. Human rights in the computer age extend well beyond the food, clothing, and shelter issues which the UN has traditionally championed.
In preparation for “reminding” the world of our United Nations Human Rights Complaint against the United States for its triple policies of CBT, FATCA and FBAR (as applied to “overseas” residents):
- we would like to invite those who didn’t have an opportunity to sign the Complaint to do so. Those interested may make a request to read the Complaint by emailing calgaryfouroneone@gmail.com. You will be sent a link and a password. After reading the document, if you would like to have your name appended to it please let Calgary know. Your name will remain utterly confidential and will never be revealed to anyone in the United States government. ANYONE affected by US extra-territorial tax policies — citizens, renunciants, spouses, business associates — ANYONE who has or has had a stake in this issue — is welcome to sign!
- we need help from people in positions of power and/or influence who are sympathetic to our cause. Is anyone in contact with Sophie int’Veld, for example? There are several individuals in France such as Keith Redmond who have done a stunning job on behalf of this community. Do any of these folk know anyone who can lobby for us at the UN and get this process sped up? We desperately need this sort of help.
- we need ideas from all of you as to how to proceed and get our efforts publicized accurately while under the UN’s publication ban. Silence is no longer an option. If you think the UN is a waste of time, we need to hear that too!
- and a special request to those on Twitter and Facebook: please post links to this thread on any and all sites concerned with this issue. We need to reach everybody!
Every year on the anniversary of the Complaint’s submission (August 7) we have sent a “Support Document” which details testimonials of harms suffered due to US tax policy and reported online over the previous 12 months. In 2017, with tax reform a very real possibility, we decided to wait until now to send this year’s document. It will be sent to the UN next week [postponed to mid-December to allow for a new round of efforts in Washington to prove successful or not]. It would be terrific to send them more signatures as well!
This fight will be over when the United States of America abolishes CBT.
J. Gibson: Due to the UN publication ban, going through the posted email address is the only way to read the Complaint. We figured that people would want to read it before signing it. But you’re certainly welcome to let us know here, on this forum, that you’d like to sign. It’s just more private the other way. Many thanks for your inquiry!
And a huge “Thank You” to everyone else who has added their name since this post went up! I share the concerns of many of you about the efficacy of this effort but, hey, if we don’t try every avenue available to us we can hardly complain if we get nowhere. Let’s fight on!
@J Gibson, Calgary411 is actually a very well-respected Brocker around these parts and has basically suffered through US Government entrapment of her son.. It is her personal e-mail. I presume that she is gathering together all the signatures to present.
I’d like to express my appreciation for the immense effort you’ve put and continue to put into this, MuzzledNoMore. Thank you Calgary411 and others for your support.
Sign me up!
BB: Thank you so much!!! I’m grateful for all the help on this I’ve had, and continue to have, over the years. I only wish I could be doing more! Let’s hope this effort helps to push our cause forward.
While I’m here: In this current effort we have received several more signatures but I’m holding out for a LOT more. Dare I suggest 3,027?!!!! I know that a link to this page has been posted by Karen on FixtheTaxTreaty.org and we have some new signers from Australia. I don’t have either a Facebook or Twitter account and have no idea what is going on there. Has anyone posted a link to this page in either of those media?
@MuzzledNoMore
You’re very welcome. I don’t think I’ve seen it on FB. If you’d like to write a suitable intro for it with a link, I’d be happy to post it for you on the various expat sites 🙂
I’ve posted it on the Fixthetaxtreaty FB group. BB – you’re welcome to copy what I’ve posted there (it’s fairly simple). I haven’t actually posted it on the fixthetaxtreaty website, but I can do so. I think the FB group actually has a wider audience.
BB: Would Karen’s idea work for you? If not, I’ll be happy to write something. Thank you SO much for your offer!
OK, I’ll try and find some time this evening. Thanks Karen MNM.
BB: Thank you SO much for doing this! It will really help to get the word out!
Americans citizens living outside the US deserve a normal life like everyone else. The kafkesque US tax system is causing major problems to modest families that don’t have access to tax preparers in thier country of residence or cannot afford the cost of preparing the US taxes from abroad, and that are being banned from the banking system. As far as i know, the US an Eritrea are the only two countries in the world that tax their citizens with disregard to where they really live, work and get their income. Those people are normal families living and filing taxes in another country. They are not tax cheaters, terrorists, drug dealers…
BB & Karen: Requests to read the Complaint are flooding in as well as additional signatures. Thank you both so much for getting the word out to the other blogs. It’s paying off already! 🙂
That’s great to hear, MNM.
Obviously a lot more requests than comments on the posts – which is good.
I don’t get it. Where does one add one’s signature to this??
Barbara – after you’ve read the complaint (password available by emailing calgaryfouroneone@gmail.com), just reply to the password email confirming that you want to sign.
Wasn’t sure where to put this. Apparently the UN special rapporteur on poverty and human rights, Philip Alston (an Australian) is visiting the US (four states, DC and Puerto Rico). Mr. Alston has history in confronting the US as he was also special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions. Mr. Alston is apparently also a law professor at New York University. He could well have a good understanding of the CBT issue (since it likely impacts him). I wonder if he is somehow reachable? He might be a potential ally that could advise how to advance the complaint.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/dec/01/un-extreme-poverty-america-special-rapporteur
People should be aware that there is nothing the UNHCR can do about US tax law.
That’s certainly true. The same would be true for Saudi Arabian driving laws but the article I linked suggested that Mr. Alston’s critical report on the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia played a role in women receiving the right to drive a car.
The US has no objection to women driving cars.
@plaxy
Lol
Unless of course the car is a gift from an alien, spouse then they need to know its value. 🙂
Indeed 🙂
Over on Facebook, I’ve bumped up the threads on the UN Complaint in the three main groups. If you’re over there, add a comment to help keep it near the top of the page. After the Senate vote, maybe more people will be willing to act – Congress certainly isn’t going to do it for us without a lot more noise from those affected.
I’ve confirmed with @calgary that I want to add my signature/name to this complaint.
Thank you @calgary411 for handling the emails, and @MNM for continuing to update the complaint, and for raising it here again, and to @Karen and @BB for adding avenues to publicize it more widely.
Thank you as always to all of those who made this possible and continue to sustain it on all our behalf.
Thank you, badger. I got your email and have forwarded your consent to have your name and Canada added to the signators of the UN Human Rights Complaint. I already heard back — with a big thank you to you from MNM — and another from me and so many others whether they have decided or not that they can come forward to sign.
Thanks everyone, including Karen and BB, for publicizing at those Facebook and other venues that I don’t venture in.
Thanks to all who have consented to have your names and countries added to a remaining avenue.
Dieter,
I have read, noted and moved your comment so your personal information does not appear on this blog.
I will also send you another email to try to walk you through how to open the UN Human Rights document with the password provided as you need to read the Complaint to know what you are giving your consent for signing.
Please see http://isaacbrocksociety.ca/2017/12/03/un-complaint-seeking-additional-signatures-deadline-december-12-2017/ for more up-to-date post.
Regards,
Carol Tapanila
Sign me up too, please!
My relevant details are being sent via email to calgaryfouroneone@gmail.com
Gratitude and respect to all who are fighting this.