cross posted from AmericanExpatFinance.com
By Helen Burggraf, Editor – September 08, 2018
A panel discussion that will consider recent and growing efforts to convince U.S. lawmakers to end America’s increasingly-unpopular “citizenship-based” tax regime is set to take place at a venue in the Mayfair district of London, on the 18th of September.
American expats with concerns about the way they are being tax are being invited to the event, which is entitled “What’s next: a light at the end of the tunnel? The possible end of U.S. citizenship-based taxation.”
The discussion will feature Solomon Yue (pictured), the Oregon-based global chief executive of the Republicans Overseas, who has been a long-time and visible campaigner on behalf of expatriate Americans, but the event’s organizers say he will be joined in London by tax, Solomon Yue legal and citizenship experts from across the political spectrum.
Some tax experts who are determinedly non-political, including at least one non-American, will also participate, the event’s organizers, an un-affiliated group of individuals who include some Republican Overseas members, said.
A question-and-answer period will be held at the end.
Last month Yue participated in three similar such events in Toronto, including one that was filmed and posted on YouTube.
This followed an earlier appearance in May in Hong Kong. Yue is set to follow up the London event in coming weeks with similar programs in Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt and Rome, most of which are being sponsored by the respective local chapters of the American Chamber of Commerce.
Among those scheduled to join Yue at the London event will be John Richardson, a Toronto-based lawyer who specializes in citizenship issues, and who is an American-Canadian dual national himself.
He and Yue are also set to participate in another, more informal event on the subject of America’s expat tax regime, also in London, on the 17th of September, at a venue yet to be decided (but probably near Kings Cross Station). More information ******* about this event will be made available in due course, Richardson said.
When: Tuesday 18 September 2018 – 17:30 to 19:00
Where: Central London location – to be confirmed upon RSVP (nearest tube: Westminster)
Venue: To be provided upon RSVP (nearest tube: Westminster)
Cost: Free to attend
RSVP: drewliquerman@gmail.com by 17:00 Monday 17 September 2018
*******
UPDATE – Wednesday Sept 12 2018
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Solomon Yue WILL NOT be able to attend the “grassroots” meeting on Monday, September 17 listed below. John Richardson will run this program as scheduled.
In addition to the meeting mentioned above, we will have a second, more informal program for expats and their families and friends. This format will be a more intimate question and answer session which will be focused on individuals subject to the CBT regime.
When: Monday 17 September 2018 – 19:00 – 21:00
Where: 40 Bernard St, Bloomsbury, London WC1N 1LE, UK- across from Russell Square Station
Venue: Pret a Manger
Cost: FREE
Registration : REQUIRED: nobledreamer16 at gmail dot com by 5 pm (EDT) Saturday 15 September 2018
MAP 
Unfortunately TTFI not end of citizenship based taxation. It’s frustrating to hear TTFI promoted as such. Gives impression problem solved for most when that is not the case. Yes it good for some but many are unable to come into compliance in order to stop having to become compliant. Nothing will improve for many (most?) yet Solomon and others talk like the CBT issue with be resolved with TTFI. It would be nice if emphasized in posts, articles, meetings, that TTFI is limited solution rather than giving impression is end of CBT. Real end means long term noncompliant US citizens unable to enter or reenter US tax system would no longer have to hide in shadows like tax cheats. Oh well. Maybe in next lifetime.
“long term noncompliant US citizens unable to enter or reenter US tax system would no longer have to hide in shadows like tax cheats”
You don’t have to hide in the shadows like a tax cheat. If you can afford to pay $2350 to renounce, you’ll be free of your unwanted US citizenship and won’t have any more problems with bank access.
Most USCs living outside the US don’t file US tax returns.
You don’t have to enter or re-enter the US tax system in order to renounce.
And you don’t have to enter or re-enter the US tax system after renouncing because once you’ve renounced you’re no longer a US citizen.
You can go straight to a bank from your renunciation appointment, clutching renunciation receipt, and show it as proof that you’ve renounced and are waiting for your CLN.
Plaxy, many people want a legit way to be considered compliant but catchup compliance can be too painful. Similarly, compliant people who qualify for TTFI want a way to stop having to file while not being considered noncompliant. We don’t tell the TTFI wannabes to forget about TTFI and just stop filing as a solution to there problems do we? I keep hearing that because being a noncompliant US person hasn’t bitten me super hard yet means I have nothing to worry about. What could possibly go wrong? Living right next door to the USA? Trump says he loves Canada!
“many people want a legit way to be considered compliant but catchup compliance can be too painful. ”
Renouncing without entering the US tax system is completely legit. They wouldn’t let you do it if it wasn’t.
“I keep hearing that because being a noncompliant US person hasn’t bitten me super hard yet means I have nothing to worry about. What could possibly go wrong? Living right next door to the USA? ”
They’re not after you, Jules. You pay your Canadian taxes, right? Don’t have any US assets or income? You’re not a tax cheat, and the IRS isn’t looking for you.
If you look in the “Renunciation” thread (sidebar) you’ll see much discussion of renunciation issues. You can ask questions there, if you want to, and think over what renunciants have said on the subject. This thread is not about renouncing, so I’ll stop.
Solomon Yue references this “discussion” in tweets:
1st, #FATCA/#FBAR r not part of #TTFI. 2nd, we r still working on PFIC rule 2 exempt at least mandatory retirement plans & JCT still needs 2 score it. 3rd, this article hit https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/republicans-weigh-abandoning-second-phase-of-tax-cuts-after-salt-backlash-1.1132462 …. 4th, House leadership released Tax Reform 2.0 w/o TTFI. It’s NOT over 4 our TTFI.
https://twitter.com/SolomonYue/status/1039589947290857473
#TTFI will be a stand alone bill this fall 4 3 reasons: 1) we r working on bipartisan support including my 5-city European TTFI tour next 2 wks. 2) we are asked 2 make sure TTFI is a stand alone bill so Dems can vote 4 it. 3) there is a delay in JCT scoring due 2 #PFIC rule fix.
https://twitter.com/SolomonYue/status/1039608844127821824
“JCT still needs 2 score it.”
Oh dear. Are they finding the PFIC rules a little complicated? 😉
(Only joking. It’s good news if a bill does appear soon.)
TTFI will absolutely fix the problem for me and my husband, the goody-goody compliant Americans abroad for three decades. That doesn’t mean I selfishly believe it is the be-all-and-end-all solution for US extraterritorial theft and oppression.
However, I am beginning to believe that it will be the first necessary crack in the wall toward ending CBT. Just as territorial tax for corporations is being leveraged as a justification for TTFI, I think TTFI will make it easier to convince slow-witted lawmakers to take further steps toward getting rid of the whole shebang of taxing people outside the Glorious Homeland.
“long term noncompliant US citizens unable to enter or reenter US tax system would no longer have to hide in shadows like tax cheats”
I’m a long-term non-compliant US citizen unwilling to (re)enter the US tax system, and I certainly don’t feel like I’m hiding in the shadows, nor do I feel like a tax cheat.
Can we have all the dates and locations? It is something that needs to have “the word spread” about.
I know there was one in Germany with the American Chamber there.
“I certainly don’t feel like I’m hiding in the shadows”
I have no complaint about [a]nonymous postings, but yes you are hiding in the shadows.
Norman Diamond:
“I have no complaint about [a]nonymous postings, but yes you are hiding in the shadows.”
Most forum / blogging software is built on the assumption that the majority of users will prefer to post under a username for privacy (you remember privacy?)
It’s not anonymous, not at all; you may not know the real-life identity of other users but the law does, should the need arise. 🙂
Any planned for Asia?
US Expat Q&A Program with Solomon Yue & John Richardson in London UK -Mon 17 Sep/18 –19:00, 40 Bernard St, Bloomsbury, London WC1N 1LE, UK- across from Russell Square Stn http://bit.ly/2NvYUwO #TTFI
@JC
“we r still working on PFIC rule 2 exempt at least mandatory retirement plans & JCT still needs 2 score it. 3rd, this article hit ”
Does this mean the US will not have to renegotiate with the rest of the world all Tax treaties on the treatment of retirement pension income. My US IRA (Hospital University)pension has a 0% withhold in the US due to a tax treaty with my resident country. It is taxed entirely where I reside.
I am not on twitter and cannot participate in the discussion but I am concerned about double taxation of these funds should TTFI pass. I would appreciate this concern being raised. Thanks.
“#TTFI
takes away reasons for US government to track TTFI qualified expats financially via
#FATCA
&
#FBAR
reporting as the 1st step. We don’t know our 2nd step via a legislative process or legal action until TTFI is enacted.”
So is the aim to repeal FATCA? or alternatively to resurrect the anti-FATCA lawsuit with a plaintiff who has registered as a non-resident non-filing US tax subject (hence a non-cheating US tax subject) but is still being reported on due to FATCA?
i am “long term non compliant” possible US citizen. i don’t consider myself one….another county to the south may consider me one however at some point
Real end means long term noncompliant US citizens unable to enter or reenter US tax system would no longer have to hide in shadows like tax cheats.
i am not hiding in any shadow however. i live my life every day out in the open and have no problem lying to the gov’t or banks about my citizenship. it is none of their damn business what it is.
i have my certificate of CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP in my top desk drawer and that is all i need to prove to who ever asks what my citizenship is.
my life got 110% better once i realized i was driving myself bonkers with the hand ringing that started 5-6 years ago when facta first reared its head.
now i go about my life like it was before with 2 notable exceptions….i am more than willing to lie to banks and governments and i do not travel to that country to the south of me.
very simple once you accept this new reality….
“It’s not anonymous, not at all; you may not know the real-life identity of other users but the law does, should the need arise.”
The law certainly will if I keep forgetting to turn on my VPN…
🙂
I accept the correction:
“you may not know the real-life identity of other users but the law can generally get hold of it, should the need arise.”
Mettleman. Yup. I have accepted having to lie to banks for rest of my life too. Hopefully that will continue to be enough but with crazy country next door who knows? My point at start of thread was just to point out that TTFI is not CBT for everyone although the way it is being promoted you’d think it was. It’s sad that TTFI may mean the end of CBT for everyone will never happen. There is always hope European accidentals will pave way for freedom from unwanted US citizenship, a different fight that needs to happen from within the home countries of US persons. If French Accidentals accomplish for their country, complacent Canadian US persons may benefit also.
“If French Accidentals accomplish for their country, complacent Canadian US persons may benefit also.”
Have you contacted your Canadian representatives to raise the question of negotiating with the US about facilitated renunciation? Or been in touch with the press?
Someone has to set the ball rolling, as Fabien LeHagre did in France.
@JC
These are the only two confirmed dates we have so far. I put the 17th meeting on the sidebar post and on all the other sutes but missed this one. Thanks- will update this post.
From silence of noncompliant Canadian US persons, especially as compared to few years ago, most don’t really think they have a problem anymore? Initial panic over. I wonder then what is point of Canadian FATCA lawsuit for accidentals and other long term Canadian US persons who are not compliant? No problem for these people at banks now. IGA facilitates hiding US birthplace. Seems like FATCA lawsuit has potential to benefit mainly compliant US persons who are the only Canadian US persons whose data will be sent to USA since is so easy to hide. Yet accidentals are the plaintiffs. Very sacrificing of themselves considering all they have to do is lie like so many have accepted having to do.
“From silence of noncompliant Canadian US persons, especially as compared to few years ago, most don’t really think they have a problem anymore? Initial panic over. ”
Indeed. Which is good news. People are less likely to be led into disastrous, unnecessary actions by tax advisors. But if you _do_ want facilitated renunciation as proposed by the French, contacting your representatives would seem to be the obvious first step.
Having contributed to the Canadian lawsuit, I’m waiting with interest to see the outcome, though I’m not Canadian and not, any longer, American.
Re:
“Having contributed to the Canadian lawsuit, I’m waiting with interest to see the outcome, though I’m not Canadian and not, any longer, American.”
— Just reminding everyone again, Canadians and many international supporters started the Canadian litigation ball slowly rolling in 2014, and we will finally be in Canada Federal Court January 28, 2019 with our FATCA IGA lawsuit.
— Also mentioning that our two Plaintiffs, born in the U.S., would be described by some as “Accidental ‘Americans'” although they do not accept the imposition of unwanted foreign citizenship.