UPDATE Our Stories
It’s Cruel how we Have had to Give up our Right to Return
A Dual who Managed to Relinquish!
I Renounced – for Human Rights, for Privacy Rights, & for Showing Respect for my Husband’s Privacy
I Lost Hope
I did not Leave America, the U.S. Government Left me
I Feel Cheated by my ex-Country who Treats its Citizens in This Way
How I Became Canadian and Ended up Renouncing US Citizenship
Last Generation American
Why won’t the USA Graciously let its People go?
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I would like to create a section on the Citizenship Taxation website that is devoted to the stories of those who have renounced/relinquised. The primary purpose is to demonstrate a different focus than that of trying to keep it, hoping for change in the political process, etc. Hopefully it would include what it felt like during the period of deciding (the OMG moment + any particular stresses that pointed you in that direction), could include the actual appointment(s) at the Consulate, the aftermath, family reactions, etc. Whatever you feel would be meaningful to communicate…….
Real names are not required. All requests for privacy concerning email, name etc will be strictly respected/followed.
Please email to:
information at citizenshiptaxation at dot ca
Thanks!
“Meanwhile Canadian govt after the Cyprus govt seizing bank funds over 100k euro made a quite announcement that it too can seize funds if needed for any bail outs. I read it a few days after Cyprus govt fiasco.”
I don’t remember which organisation it was (OECD?) but they came out quite openly and said that a one-off seizure of bank deposits was a valid way of “restoring economic stability”. It was all there in a black and white report. They said it would be seen as fair and that there would be little public sympathy with those directly affected, “the rich”.
Then consider that so many governments around the world have gone completely OTT in their efforts to know where there residents (citizens in the case of the U.S.) keep every penny, all in the name of preventing money laundering and fraud, AML and KYC, and things start to add up.
I am deadly serious when I say I am thinking of getting out to a far east country while I still can. Now some of my fellow Brits and Europeans might laugh at that, just as 10+ years ago when I said the same to some of my U.S. friends. Oh, they laughed and sneered.
Some of them won’t be laughing any more.
I look forward to hearing some renunciations stories, they will be useful for linking to forums where they still laugh when you say that U.S. citizens are the property of the U.S. government and they are not free to leave.
I renounced, but having grew up in France, I never felt american, so I didn’t feel any loss – even though my father was a US citizen who never considered becoming french because of his fear to loose his US citizen and of his residual accent when speaking french. He did file his taxes each year.
In France, most accidental americans (there are quite a few, and many don”t event speak english, not to say are capable of understanding IRS forms – it took me entire week-ends) choose the option not to do anything more than asking for the social security number, so they can answer their banks, with whom they are having hard times. They consider the $2350 fee to be also outrageous.
They hope at some point FATCA will be considered as contrary to french and/or european law, and that it’s grip on accidental americans will loosen. I didn’t expect a hypothetical law would cover me, as I was only american at birth, and became french through voluntary naturalization (a great joy when I did receive it, many years ago). It is also a relinquishing act, which I did consider using instead of renouncing – but – my parents made me keep my US citizenship by asking the local consulate (I was over eighteen, but still a kid, and not financially independant) – so I do have a nice paper stating I have USC in spite of my naturalization (I knew I could loose USC by naturalization, but really didn’t care as becoming french was high priority for me).
Which is why I preferred going for a straightforward renunciation.
I also tried to comply s-through streamlined and hope it was a good choice.
I also discovered with dismay that my father’s saying “you wouldn’t owe any taxes” was not necessarily true – I could not get child credits or claim head of household status because (thank god) my children are only french. There are many situations which are not compatible taxwise in ordinary life. rules on divorce situations are very different. Imagine someone paying for child support : he deducts child support in his french tax fling (the person receiving it is taxed in France), but doesn’t in his US filings – hence, what is gets from french system he looses in the US system. There are many similar situations (like selling your home to buy a new one…).
@ Juliette
It was nice of you to share your story with us — one that appears similar to many others in France. Merci. IRS forms are difficult for English speakers and obviously totally formidable for French speakers.
@ Patricia Moon
Could Juliettes’s story be used for the collection if she permits?
My relinquishment story is posted on pages 34/35 in the Consulate Report Directory, and you are welcome to use any of my information. In retrospect, I feel greatly relieved that I did the hundreds of hours of research and proceeded with a consulate appointment, but waiting 18 months for a decision after my appointment took a great toll on my personal wellbeing. My husband would say that I spent an inordinate amount of time on the IBS website and others in my research, and it became an all-consuming quest to get my CLN. I have 2 brothers who live in the US, and any conversations I have raised on the topic of CBT have landed on deaf ears with absolutely no understanding. The more time that passes has given me better perspective, but sometimes I feel resentful that this matter stole several years from me that I can never get back.
@EmBee
Of course. It is up to Juliette. I am still hoping the discussion here will lead to more stories, which was the point of putting this post up.
@prairiegirl
Thank you so much! a delight to see your name here again….seems like a long time, eh?
Do you want me to remove your alias and the dates of consular visit/receipt of CLN? and may I include what you have written above? I believe people would be interested in how you have reflected on the experience……..
@Patricia Moon
Thanks for remembering me! I still feel such gratitude to the IBS family for all their information and support. And when the cost to renounce was multiplied, and relinquishments were no longer free, I became even more thankful that I was able to relinquish for merely the cost of an airline ticket, and did not enter the US tax system. But I needed to take a break from the topic for awhile to regain my equilliibrium. I was working in a Credit Union at the time, and educated more than a few staff members regarding FATCA issues for some of their unsuspecting Canadian members.
Regarding your question, feel free to use whatever of my information you would find helpful, including my alias and dates.