Dave Popowich, host of “More Than Money”, interviews John Richardson on CHQR News Talk 770, Calgary, Alberta, September 20, 2014.
Another great discussion about FATCA, the Canadian IGA and the Charter challenge by ADCS. John was also recently interviewed by CHQR’s Dave Taylor.
The following tweet references a post on the RenounceUScitizenship blog.
Here are some of what Charles Adams considers to be the 27 lessons from the history of taxation (page 452 of the first edition of his book: “For Good and Evil – The Impact of Taxes On The Course of Civilization“):
11. If liberty is to be defended with success against the dominance of the state, then financial privacy must be preserved. Banking privacy is one the cornerstones of liberty, having its roots in the principle of early English Law that a man’s castle (primarily his treasury) is beyond he surveillance of the king.
24. Taxes that are not apportioned among all taxpayers with impartiality and fairness lose all force of moral obligation.
Mr. Adams was writing in 1993 before FATCA and the “FBAR Fundraiser“.
Charles Adams “For Good And Evil” – The Impact of Taxes On The Course Of Civilization http://t.co/tqc2V6pPNB
— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) September 21, 2014
Charles Adams "For Good and Evil – Impact of Taxes on Civilization" https://t.co/rbSUz7ohUD – Very impressive and very understandable.
— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) September 21, 2014
The above tweet references a YouTube video series, made by the Mises Institute, featuring tax historian Charles Adams (who incidentally taught at the University of Toronto).
The series is based on his book:
For Good and Evil – The Impact of Taxes on the Course of Civilization.
The lectures are described by the Mises Institute as follows:
This meeting has been cancelled.
In lieu of a public meeting, John Richardson will be available for appointments on Sunday, October 5, from 2:00 – 4:00 pm and on Monday, October 6, from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Please confirm no later than Saturday, October 4, 2:00 pm EDT.
Toronto Phone Number 416 840 4529
Skype – “CitizenshipSolutions”
Citizenshipsolutions.ca
Finally in Paris! An information evening will be held on Mondayy, 06 October on the harsh reality of French citizens who also have American citizenship and its obligations to the IRS. Sign up!
Enfin à Paris ! Une soirée d’information se tiendra le 06 octobre prochain sur la dure réalité des Français ayant aussi la citoyenneté américaine et leurs obligations envers l’IRS. Inscrivez-vous !
Details/Détails TBA – 6:00-8:00 pm CET
We’ll be getting together for lunch Saturday, 4 October, at 2:00 pm at Boston Pizza, 1055 St. Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa (between Donald and Queen Mary, free on-site parking).
We’re currently expecting about 10 people — hope you can come too! Please rsvp by posting a comment here or e-mail me at pacifica@isaacbrocksociety.ca
Originally, my understanding was that existing customers would not be signaled under FATCA regulations unless their accounts were over $50,000. Yesterday, I spoke with a woman whose accounts never exceed $10,000 in aggregate. Furthermore, she is a young mother who hasn’t worked much in the last few years since coming to Canada, and so she has never had an IRS tax liability, as her income would be well below the Foreign Earned Income Exemption. She holds her accounts jointly with her Canadian-only husband. This case highlights why we need the legal action of ADSC.
Yesterday she received the following correspondence from her bank. It shows that they have determined that she has US indicia. They have threatened her with reporting her accounts to the CRA in violation of section 8 of the Canadian Charter of Rights, which would require the CRA to obtain a warrant before seizing her account information. But now the TD Bank has threatened to transfer her account information to the CRA. But what crime has she committed that the TD has threatened this action? None at all.
I have recommended that she do nothing–not fill out the self-certification form. But I’d like to hear what others think. Please discuss.
Updated on September 19 with an interesting comment by JC to the Robert Wood article:
Which IRS #Offshore Amnesty Program Is Right For You?http://t.co/Iktw9LTdLI – U can't choose all of them, but you could choose none of them
— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) September 18, 2014
The above tweet references an interesting article by Robert Wood. Many people consider the question of which vacation destination to go to. As any “Homelander” will tell you, all Americans abroad are probably “offshore tax cheats” who simply “don’t pay their fair share”.
Therefore, it’s reasonable that while the whole wide world (less Americans abroad) wonder about their next vacation destination, Americans abroad worry about:
“Which IRS Offshore Amnesty Program Is Right For You?”
It’s 11:00 p.m. – Have you worried about your amnesty program today?
Readers of this post are encouraged to post some comments on Mr. Wood’s blog. I don’t believe that he differentiated between Homeland tax cheats using offshore accounts to evade taxes and Americans abroad who need offshore accounts to pay their bills.
One commenter filled the void left by the failure to acknowledge Americans abroad by writing:
“Amnesty is often used to express “freedom” and the time when prisoners can go free.”
Michele Bachman proposes 51st state for Americans abroad?… http://t.co/s4fOxz9RfM
— Patricia Moon (@nobledreamer16) September 17, 2014
Have fun with this one!
Democrats Abroad has published a report of their four month study of how FATCA affects Americans. These reports have been sent to “selected members of Congress and senior officials at the US Treasury and IRS.” DA also indicates discusions with them are ongoing.
DA Report DataPack-CDNS top the list of respondents; 31.8% of those denied jobs due 2 #FATCA Senior Exec Positions http://t.co/6HNFnd4NZK
— ADCSovereignty (@ADCSovereignty) September 15, 2014
The report consists of the following (3) documents:
1. Executive Summary of 2014 FATCA RESEARCH PROJECT – “FATCA: Affecting Everyday Americans Every Day”
2. 2014 FATCA RESEARCH PROJECT – “FATCA: Affecting Everyday Americans Every Day”
3. 2014 FATCA RESEARCH PROJECT – Datapack
Lynne Platt has just arrived as the new US Consul General in Vancouver. A three-year appointment. Perhaps obsessive Brock researchers can dig out detail on her earlier posting to … Baghdad.
http://vancouver.usconsulate.gov/news-events/2014-news-and-events/amb_pao_yukon.html
The absolute and relative dysfunction of the U.S. tax system:
Forget Zimbabwe, U.S. Tax System Ranks At Bottom, Just Better Than Portugal http://t.co/87r8TAPtU8 as per Robert Wood
— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) September 16, 2014
U.S. Tax System Ranks 94th Out Of 100 — Right Below Zimbabwe
http://t.co/q8FXRqTGJa the higher the number the worse the ranking!— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) September 16, 2014
The absolute immorality of the way it treats U.S. citizens abroad
USG receives perfect score on tax immoriality index 4 stealing from disabled children's protected disability account http://t.co/7jMlaJ1MRk
— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) September 16, 2014
Who are the beneficiaries of the U.S. tax system and why it is difficult to change – A message from 1976
Milton Friedman: The imprediments to U.S. tax reform are Congress and the Compliance Condors https://t.co/5qJQ84VxNL – See 5:00 mark #PFIC
— U.S. Citizen Abroad (@USCitizenAbroad) September 15, 2014
I came across this by accident. It has been many years since I read Mr. Friedmans’s Free To Choose – but I remember it as one of the best economics books I have ever read.
The book was turned into a Television series. It can be watched here.
Professor Friedman was not well liked by those on the “left” of the political spectrum. Politics aside, I recommend this short video where he explains his views of “why tax reform is impossible”. Or to put it another way:
Who can possibly have a vested interest in retaining a tax system that is so inefficient, archaic and frankly stupid?
It’s Congress and the Compliance Condors Stupid!
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