FATCA and Canada
Note: For list of Media and Blog Articles (not including those of the Isaac Brock Society) regarding the Canadian IGA FATCA lawsuit (Hillis and Deegan v. Attorney General of Canada), go to this page. (Isaac Brock Society posts and threads on the lawsuit are contained in the FATCA and Canada list below.)
Posts and Threads on the Isaac Brock Society Website
July 2019
June 2019
07: Lawsuits involving FATCA and aspects related to U.S. citizenship-based taxation
May 2019
18: More Recent Anti-U.S. FATCA/CBT Activity in France, Netherlands, and Canada by Government Officials
January 2019
29: Ottawa Brock Lunch – Saturday 9 February (4)
23: THE 2019 JANUARY 28-FEBRUARY 1 ADCS CANADIAN FATCA IGA TRIAL IN FEDERAL COURT HAS ENDED — “A Treaty does NOT make a CHARTER-FREE zone” — You can expect a costly APPEAL of the Federal Court decision (in June?) no matter who wins (742)
11: Supporters of @ADCSovereignty #FATCA lawsuit might be interested in @RunnymedeSoc Law and Freedom Conference – Jan. 12/19
December 2018
17: Read the Submissions to the Canadian Federal Court for the January 28 ADCS Trial
November 2018
October 2018
22: Brock project: How would the absence of the “savings clause” in the Canada US tax treaty change the tax treatment of “US citizens” in Canada? (81)
05: CANADIAN FATCA IGA LAWSUIT UPDATE: October 3, 2018 Plaintiffs’ Memorandum of Argument Has Been Submitted to Canada’s Federal Court
September 2018
27: Video from Toronto Meeting with Solomon Yue August 16, 2018
August 2018
19: Speculate on the percentage (85%? 5%?) of Canadian citizen-residents, deemed by U.S. to be U.S. citizens — who do not have, accept, or want, any meaningful relationship with the U.S.? (93)
18: Former Hamilton school superintendent pleads guilty to forging documents to get his children U.S. citizenship (44)
15: Brock project: Comparing the comments on the French version of the @LizT1 @USTransitionTax article to the comments on the English version
14: More about the @USTransitionTax issue from @LizT1: Finance Minister Morneau responds (sort of)
13: Another article by @LizT1 about the @USTransitionTax – Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse!
10: Reminder – Solomon Yue Visits Toronto
July 2018
27: Two Programs with Solomon Yue in Toronto August 12 & August 16, 2018
01: U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia and Netherlands form international tax enforcement group
May 2018
April 2018
28: Be on the Lookout! Bubblebustin to be on CBC The National- on the #TransitionTax
11: Canadian FATCA IGA Litigation Update: Court has fixed Monday January 28, 2019 as trial
March 2018
30: If you want to be a Shareholder in our Canadian Business then you must Renounce U.S. Citizenship
22: March 22, 2018 Canadian FATCA IGA litigation in Federal Court update: New timetable
02: Canadians’ Confidential Tax Info to be Shared with Police in Other Countries
January 2018
08: January 8, 2018 Canadian FATCA IGA Legislation Litigation Update
December 2017
07: December 7, 2017 Canadian FATCA IGA Legislation Litigation Update
October 2017
24: October 24, 2017 Canadian and United States (RO) FATCA IGA/FATCA Litigation Update
22: Ottawa Brock Lunch – Saturday 18 November
06: Dual Filer Status- How to Live & Invest in Canada as a US dual filer -Courtenay BC Oct 12
01: October 1 2017 Canadian FATCA IGA Legislation Litigation Update
September 2017
12: Canada’s tax on being American! Why not!
August 2017
21: Dewees 3: Lessons about the “Oh My God Moment” and dealing with the problems of U.S. citizenship
15: Dewees 2: Why did he participate in the 2009 #OVDP Horror Show?
July 2017
10: Khadr apology and settlement about violation of Charter rights, Trudeau says
June 2017
18: #FATCA and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
02: Seeking a Few Additional Witnesses Willing to File Affidavit for Canadian FATCA IGA Lawsuit
May 2017
22: May 23, 2017- Vancouver -Solving U.S.Citizenship Problems
13: May 13, 2017 Canadian Federal Court FATCA IGA lawsuit update: Motion for Summary Trial now submitted
March 2017
23: Information Session – Solving U.S. Citizenship Problems with John Richardson
February 2017
12: The Beyond the Border Action Plan & the U.S. National Defense Act-A Disaster Waiting to Happen?
11: CDN with @dualcitizenship spends $3000 per year to make retirement planning more difficult
02: FEBRUARY 2 2017 UPDATE ON CANADIAN FATCA IGA LAWSUIT
January 2017
30: Dear PM Trudeau: Renegotiate FATCA IGA Now (reposted from MapleSandbox) (19)
25: Reminder: Solving US Citizenship Problems Toronto Sat. Jan 28
17: Seeking Canadian Witness for Canadian FATCA IGA Lawsuit Who Has Renounced and Paid U.S. “Exit Tax”
December 2016
15: DECEMBER 15, 2016 UPDATE ON CANADIAN FATCA IGA LAWSUIT
November 2016
05: November 2016 Status Report on ADCS-ADSC Canadian FATCA Lawsuit
October 2016
30: Reminder: Solving US Citizenship Problems Toronto Sat Nov 5, 2016
24: Ottawa Brock Lunch – Saturday 12 November
September 2016
30: Credit Union Update: YNCU Grows to $1.5B CAD in Assets
16: Vancouver Sun features our own Trish Moon
August 2016
13: Message from Plaintiff Ginny (Canadian FATCA-IGA Lawsuit)
July 2016
13: Is the State Department Shutting Down Expatriation Appointments in Canada?
11: Allison’s “Tina” Presentation and What do you think this guy means?
06: Ottawa Brock Lunch – Saturday 23 July
01: Canada pushes back against one foreign country’s jus sanguinis claims
01: Is JT Wearing His FATCA Flip Flops For Canada Day?
01: Barack Obama’s Address to the House of Commons, June 29, 2016: an Alternative Look
June 2016
29: What Canadian Witness Volunteers For Our FATCA IGA Lawsuit Tell Me
22: Canadian FATCA IGA Litigation Update: We have a new (third) plaintiff and still seek more Witnesses
20: Reminder: Solving U.S. Citizenship Problems – Toronto, Saturday, June 25, 2016
15: CANADIAN FATCA IGA LITIGATION: We are still seeking additional CANADIAN citizen witnesses
08: WHILE PARLIAMENT SLEEPS: TAX TREATY PRACTICE IN CANADA
08: JUNE 3, 2016 Canadian FATCA IGA Litigation Status Report Submitted to Case Management Judge
May 2016
13: September 30, 2016-Another Blow to Personal Privacy and Freedom of Movement
11: Creepy perverted ex named Sam stalks Americans who moved to Canada for love
04: How will YOU respond to the 2016 Canadian Census?
April 2016
27: FATCA Response From Deputy Finance Critic Phil McColeman of Brantford-Brant
26: Reply from the Finance Minister, the Honourable Bill Morneau…
15: PMJT Enjoys Yoga – Makes Sense That He Enjoys Flip-Flops, Too…
15: Dear Valued Customer, Indicators Found: Your Place of Birth is the United States
Baby Elle’s FATCA Letter (Lynne Swanson’s good work)…
01: What is REALLY in the U.S.-Canada Tax Treaty
March 2016
30: A Paper Detailing FATCA’s Costs to Canada
30: March 30, 2016: Toronto Star Publishes Today a Mr. Justin Trudeau Flip-Flop Article
29: March 29, 2016: Yet Another Article Comparing Pre- vs. Post-election Comments of Mr. Justin Trudeau
17: From Elizabeth Thompson a new post at iPolitics — Round Three : March 17, 2016 (evening edition)
16: John Richardson being interviewed by CBC’s The Exchange tonight
08: AICPA recommends that Treasury implement measures to reduce tax and reporting burdens associated with various cross-border deferred and tax-exempt savings accounts
February 2016
17: New instructions to book Canada appointments to relinquish or renounce US citizenship
11: Listen up, Canadian Liberal Government — *The Truth About FATCA* — Jim Jatras
10: John Richardson on CTV “Power Play” with Don Martin today
04: Getting Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms Right
02: NDP Revenue Critic, Pierre-Luc Dusseault, Writes to Minister of Revenue
January 2016
31: Discussion at @Canada2020 on Canada Foreign Policy of interest in @ADCSovereignty #FATCA lawsuit
28: How the government will argue Charter S. 1 against the @ADCSovereignty Charter lawsuit
22: Bravo MP Pierre-Luc Dusseault for keeping the pressure up on FATCA!
19: Tune Into CBC “All in a Day” at 4:45 EST pm today – John Richardson interview (92)
19: Uncle Sam Wants…Who? at UBC Law This Week – Allison Christians, McGill University, Faculty of Law
December 2015
15: Fatca Forum Exactly 3 Years Ago Today! How Far We Have Come!!
14: We need Witnesses for Canadian Charter Trial willing to file affidavits and go public
05: Letter to my bank manager: What do Brockers think?
November 2015
20: Allison Christian Interview – Lessening the hardship inflicted by FATCA
10: The Younger Trudeau tells off Prime Minister Harper in debate: Bravo!
09: Solving U.S. Citizenship Poblems – University of Guelph, Monday, November 16, 2015
09: Our Sociopathic Society V: Government invasion of the castle
06: Our Sociopathic Society IV: King Justin’s first sociopathic act
04: Information Session – Toronto, Sunday, November 8, 2015 – POSTPONED
October 2015
Posts and Threads on the last Canadian election, go to Canada Election 19 Oct 2015 – Resources
30: Elizabeth May: Fixing What Harper Broke: a to-do list for the incoming government
24: Liberal Party Position on U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)
18: October 19 is Election Day in Canada
15: Louise Arbour, “My children and I are caught in a useless bureaucratic nightmare”
13: Call for Letters to Our New Prime Minister
13: Letter of Nathan Cullen, NDP Critic for Finance, to Ministers of Finance and Revenue
11: Canadian expats out of country more than 5 years can still vote
03: Submit a tip to the Canadian Press on an issue of national interest?
02: Last chance for the NDP to garner our votes…
September 2015
30: Plaintiffs Ginny and Gwen denied injunction: WE NOW BEGIN ROUND TWO OF A LONG FIGHT
30: U.S. IRS and Mexican SAT begin sharing info on bank accounts
24: If we don’t ask (the Conservative government), we don’t get. Today, one Brocker got! (
23: Important: NDP has stepped up to the plate with another letter to the Minister (updated)…
22: Until the government acknowledges it’s seen the light, please continue to make them feel the heat
16: Part I: Justice Martineau provides @ADCSovereignty the only thing worse than a root canal
16: Back to the drawing board…
09: Green Party Platform includes their pledge to repeal FATCA in Canada
August 2015
26: Which will come first: A decision in the FATCA legal challenge or the first exchange of info?
Reminder: Toronto Info Session on Solving US Citizenship Problems-Aug 30, 2015
25: An Interesting Analysis of an Analysis: John Richardson on Roy Berg on the Summary Trial
24: Our Tee-Shirts are Available! Great Work Native Canadian!
18: With such an amazing group, it’s simply NOT possible to NOT succeed! Thanks from @ADCSovereignty
13: Canadian FATCA Trial — *Tweet by Tweet* account of proceedings for the U.S. Library of Congress
10: More US Hypocrisy re Canadian RDSP (cont.) / Comments requested to be received September 15, 2015
05: UPDATES — From @ADCSovereignty #FATCA lawsuit – thoughts on day 1, 2 and post-trial dates(and more)…
July 2015
29: Reminder – Solving US Citizenship Problems – Vancouver
18: “The Shot Heard Round The World” Live from ThatChannel.com
11: Tricia Moon, your comment at the *Jack Townsend blog* is heart-felt and brilliant – THANK YOU!
08: Canadian Federal Election: It’s Time to Throw the People Who Betrayed Us Out of Office
07: Message in a bottle 2: Democracy, the Appointment of Judges and the Canadian Charter of Rights
June 2015
24: Help Me Keep My April 5 Promise Revisited-We Will Never Forget the IGA Betrayal by the CONs
12: It’s official – second class citizenship goes into effect
May 2015
08: Should proof of non-U.S. citizenship be an absolute condition for accepting public office in Canada?
04: U.S. citizenship taxation burdens Canada’s sovereignty by imposing U.S. taxes on Canadian residents
01: Congratulations to ALL Donors to the #FATCA Canada lawsuit – Looking forward to August 4/15
April 2015
22: 2015 Canadian Budget Introduces the “Common Reporting Standard”
16: We Delivered! Monumental Submission to Senate Finance Committee! #Fight CBT (42)
15: Reminder: “2015: Solving U.S. Citizenship Problems: Have You Received a FATCA Letter?” London ON
07: Video Portion of Senate Finance Committee Submission Ready!
06: WANTED – Ginny and Gwenny – Runaway Tax Slaves!
01: Renouncing US citizenship? How the S. 877A “Exit Tax” may apply to your Canadian assets – 14 Parts
March 2015
20: Reminder: “Have You Received a #FATCA Letter?” Hamilton ON March 26
12: Harper government accepts national origin discrimination for US Persons, but not for meat
07: Financial Post hits a new low in FATCA reporting
04: Terminating a Green Card (Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Resident Status)
February 2015
25: Barrie McKenna reports on Canadian Direct Financial’s milestone FATCA announcement
17: ADCS-ADSC LITIGATION UPDATES: Key Actions, Milestones and Timeline Estimates
13: Volunteers required for research project on Canada – USA dual citizens (current and former)
06: Congratulations to @ADCSovereignty lawyer, Joe Arvay, on today’s Supreme Court of Canada Decision
04: Will Canada turn a blind eye to the IGA’s “faux reciprocity”? (39)
January 2015
29: Professor Allison Christians posts “Responses to Questions on Canada’s Adoption of FATCA IGA”
27: Are strata corporations the next target of Canadian banks’ FATCA zeal?
2014
Isaac Brock Society Posts on FATCA and Canada – 2014 – at this link.
Pre-2014 – Lists are in preparation
You can also search for articles using the “Archives” button (on the menu at top of main page) for a list of all articles in reverse chronological order.
MP Murray Rankin tried to get an emergency debate on the FATCA portion of Bill C-31 before the final reading, and the Speaker of the House denied him:
House of Commons Debates
VOLUME 147
l
NUMBER 102
l
2nd SESSION
l
41st PARLIAMENT
OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD)
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Speaker: The Honourable Andrew Scheer
The House met at 10 a.m.
“Request for Emergency Debate
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
[S. O. 52]
Mr. Murray Rankin (Victoria, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, last night I gave you notice under Standing Order 52 (2) that I would be seeking leave today to propose an emergency debate on the implementation in Canada of FATCA, the U.S. foreign account tax compliance act. As you know, the Canada-U.S. enhanced tax information exchange agreement implementation act is contained in Bill C-31 and is currently before the House.
We read in The Globe and Mail this week that the United States Internal Revenue Service has announced that it is working on creating an amnesty program aimed specifically at U.S. residents who have resided abroad for many years. The new commissioner, John Koskinen, has stated: “We are well aware that there are many U.S. citizens who have resided abroad for many years, perhaps even the vast majority of their lives”, and promised more details of the amnesty program “the very near future”.
The IRS is now working on creating a path specifically for otherwise honest people who want to comply with their U.S. tax obligations without using the hammer of steep penalties designed primarily to punish U.S. residents trying to duck their taxes.
As you know, Mr. Speaker, the latest omnibus budget implementation bill is presently at third reading stage and will soon be submitted to a final vote. There will be no opportunity to debate this issue as an opposition day motion later this month. Mr. Speaker, I am urging you to give this your urgent attention.
(1110)
Speaker’s Ruling
[Speaker’s Ruling]
The Speaker:
I thank the hon. member for raising this issue, but as the member himself pointed out, it has been part of a bill that has been debated before the House yesterday and for a few more minutes this morning. Therefore, I do not think it would reach the conditions set out in the standing orders for the Speaker to grant an emergency debate at this time, and I will decline it.”
http://www.parl.gc.ca/HouseChamberBusiness/ChamberPublicationIndexSearch.aspx?arpist=s&arpit=fatca&arpidf=2013%2f10%2f16&arpidt=&arpid=True&arpij=False&arpice=False&arpicl=&arpicpd=6672449&ps=Parl41Ses2&arpisb=Publication&arpirpp=10&arpibs=False&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=41&Ses=2#Para3790325
http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Strategy+demands+citizens+Canada+entering+nightmare+territory/9944097/story.html
Tax Strategy: The demands on U.S. citizens in Canada entering “nightmare” territory
By Paul Delean, THE GAZETTE June 19, 2014
http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/news/story/1.2690039
‘FATCA tax deal forces Canadian banks to send info to IRS
U.S. law to catch tax dodgers being enforced in Canada, requiring banks to send info to Uncle Sam’
James Fitz-Morris CBC News
Posted:Jun 30, 2014 5:00 AM ET
http://business.financialpost.com/2014/07/02/canadian-institutions-scramble-in-race-to-comply-with-fatca/
See particularly details re Credit Unions and quotes from specific ones.
http://business.financialpost.com/2014/07/02/canada-us-relations/
Notable for the utter lack of mention or acknowledgment of the problem that is FATCA.
http://www.pgfreepress.com/irs-cracking-down-on-citizens-of-the-world-in-search-for-money/
‘IRS cracking down on citizens of the world in search for money’
Posted On 03 Jul 2014
Paul Strickland
Special to the Free Press
………”…there desperately needs to be a new Canada-U.S. tax treaty.
Secondly, the IRS and other U.S. tax authorities should leave alone those former American citizens who have become citizens of allied countries that have similar tax laws and comparable banking systems, and who comply with the tax-filing requirements of those countries.
Filing their chosen new country’s income-tax forms and schedules for listing bank interest, which could be photocopied and mailed to the IRS or e-mailed to them, should be enough to prove a middle-class taxpayer or pensioner is not getting rich from nefarious “foreign accounts” requiring the attention of the Financial Crime Enforcement Network……”……
……..”However, to treat honest Canadian taxpayers of U.S. origin as, until exhaustively and expensively proven otherwise, as criminals under probationary supervision by FinCEN, is a form of harassment and a gross violation of the natural justice; the concept of fair play; Section 6 (Mobility Rights) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms; and the Ninth Amendment of the U.S. Bill of Rights (reserving to citizens any rights not specifically spelled out as belonging to the government)..”
Funny Canadian cartoon against FATCA: http://www.cagle.com/2014/07/fatca-takes-effect/
David Bly: Harper needs to stop this American invasion
Times Colonist
July 6, 2014 06:01 AM
“……………The legislation, which the Conservatives have embedded in their budget bill, allows the IRS to dig into financial information of a Canadian who holds a joint account with a U.S.-born spouse. It doesn’t stop there — Times Colonist photographer Darren Stone showed me documents he received from his bank requiring him to produce documents explaining his U.S. connections. He isn’t aware of any.
A lot of us are bycatch in the wide net the U.S. is spreading for tax cheats, and the federal government hasn’t done much to protect its citizens.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper tried to stir up enthusiasm for commemorating the War of 1812, celebrating the fact that Canadians (although Canada was not yet a country) fought off the American invaders.
Too bad he couldn’t show the same enthusiasm in turning back the Americans in 2014.”
dbly@timescolonist.com
http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/columnists/david-bly-harper-needs-to-stop-this-american-invasion-1.1194259
http://medicinehatnews.com/commentary/opinions/2014/07/07/us-expats-feel-theyve-been-sold-out-by-canada/
‘U.S. expats feel they’ve been sold out by Canada’
By Medicine Hat News Opinon on July 7, 2014.
http://www.vancouversun.com/mobile/news/vancouver/Metro+Vancouver+woman+joins+movement+drop+citizenship/10056687/story.html
Mentions “……..Canadian-based activist groups, including the Isaac Brock Society, Maple Sandbox and the Alliance for the Defence of Canadian Sovereignty.”………………
http://www.accountingweb.com/article/bramwell%E2%80%99s-lunch-beat-canada-finds-fatca-costs-them/223667
‘Bramwell’s Lunch Beat: Canada Finds FATCA Costs Them’
by Richard Koreto on Jul 28 2014
“………..Canada Banks Find FATCA Costs Them Plenty
Banks in our neighbor north of the border have had to pay more than half a billion dollars in compliance costs, as reported by Rita Trichur in the Wall Street Journal. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) took effect on July 1. According to the WSJ, banks all around the world have been racing to keep up.
About 1 million U.S. citizens live in Canada—perhaps making it the largest home-away-from-home for Americans. Canadian banks say costs will escalate as personnel have to work with customers and respond to tax officials. And then there are employee training costs..”……….
Also, see an additional instance of Obama overreach without the consent of Congress:
‘Inversions: White House Can Do It Alone’
“James Willhite reported in the Wall Street Journal that the White House might be able move against inversions all by itself, without waiting for Congress. (The WSJ also cited a Reuters report on the topic.)
Apparently, former Deputy Assistant Treasury Secretary Stephen Shay is writing in an article for Tax Notes that 1969 tax law allows the president to restrict foreign tax-domiciled companies from using inter-company loans and interest deductions to cut their U.S. tax bills.
As it stands, a foreign parent can make a loan to a U.S. unit, which then deducts the interest payments from its U.S. taxable income. “The foreign parent then books that interest income at the lower foreign tax rate,” says the WSJ. But Shay is arguing that a section of the law would let the government declare debt that reaches certain thresholds as equity and ineligible for deductions”
A legal book offering advice to Americans in Canada. It might be a good thing for a review.
http://business.financialpost.com/2014/07/29/coping-with-fatca-law-firms-book-offers-advice-for-americans-living-in-canada/
I am always wary of things that are about ‘Americans’ since U.S. personhood is so broad.
Here is the latest FATCA guidance issued to financial institutions by the CRA (date July 31, 2014):
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/nnrsdnts/nhncdrprtng/gdnc-eng.html#Toc390079679
http://www.leaderpost.com/news/persons+living+Canada+fear+FATCA/10120360/story.html
‘U.S. persons’ living in Canada fear FATCA
By Douglas Todd, Postmedia News August 15, 2014 6:37 AM
Important article – addresses many nuances of the situation. Ends with a very interesting note about the effect of the Supreme Court citizenship law – in the context of obtaining a NEXUS pass:
“…A proud Canadian who includes the phrase “ocanada” in her email address, Johnson became a Canadian citizen in the early 1970s and correctly assumed, at least for that time, that her formal commitment to Canada meant she had forfeited her U.S. passport. But then a U.S. Supreme Court challenge in the late 1980s led to a change in U.S. citizenship law. “I find what happened next to be breathtakingly arrogant,” Johnson said. “They (U.S. lawmakers) gave all of us our citizenship back – without asking us if we wanted it, or telling us that they did it. I didn’t find out that I was once again considered a U.S.A. citizen until I applied for my Nexus card.”
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/persons+Canada+express+fear+loathing+crackdown/10118795/story.html
Different version, very good additional details:
Douglas Todd: ‘U.S. persons’ in Canada express fear and loathing of tax crackdown
Even people whose only U.S. connection is that they were born there are facing orders to pay taxes
By Douglas Todd, Vancouver Sun Columnist August 14, 2014
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Douglas+Todd+persons+Canada+express+fear+loathing+crackdown/10118795/story.html#ixzz3ATKtAgu2
New Forbes article:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwood/2014/08/15/dear-mr-president-why-im-leaving-america/
8/15/2014
‘Dear Mr. President, Why I’m Leaving America’
Letter from a Canadian
“…….What America is doing to its own citizens living in other countries is not right and we have had enough. What I have outlined here is only part of the problem. All we want in return for fulfilling our responsibilities as Americans is to be treated fairly and equally. We are performing our part of the bargain. America is not.
There are approximately one million Americans living and working in Canada, and millions more in other parts of the world. I understand from our specialized tax accountant, and our cross-border consultant, that we are not alone in contemplating or taking this very dramatic and previously inconceivable step of relinquishing our U.S. citizenship. What a sad state of affairs for America and for its citizens everywhere.
Regretfully yours,
Marilyn ________
Ontario, Canada”
http://taxconnections.com/taxblog/mad-as-hell-and-not-going-to-take-it-anymore-two-brave-women-sue-canadian-government-over-controversial-fatca-deal/#.U_S0FUgrhdI
‘Mad As Hell And Not Going To Take It Anymore: Two Brave Women Sue Canadian Government Over Controversial FATCA Deal’
18 Aug 2014 Michael DeBlis
http://www.ifcreview.com/viewnews.aspx?articleId=8234
‘Canada: CRA will not assist IRS in collecting penalties against dual citizens subject to FATCA’
“…the opinion, written in 2012 on behalf of the Director of the Income Tax Rulings Directorate of the CRA’s International Division, came in response to a request from Vitaly Timokhov of TaxChambers LLP, a Toronto tax law boutique, on behalf of a “hypothetical situation” involving a client who was a US citizen by birth, a Canadian resident under the Canada-United States Tax Convention, and a naturalized Canadian citizen for at least two decades…..”
http://dollarvigilante.com/blog/2014/8/21/snowbirds-flying-into-fatca-trap.html
Snowbirds Flying Into FATCA Trap
Not directly FATCA related, but interesting, and relevant to Canada and US tax and Congress:
http://www.bna.com/foreign-investors-push-n17179893998/
“Foreign Investors Push Tax Exemption as Route to Fund U.S. Highways
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
from Daily Tax Report(1)
Aug. 19 – U.S. lawmakers desperate for revenue to pay for roads and bridges are hearing a novel pitch from the north: cut taxes by billions of dollars.
Canadian pension funds have quietly pressed Congress to spare them a 35 percent tax that applies to foreigners who invest in U.S. real property, promising a flurry of investment in U.S. public works projects in return, according to lobbyists and others familiar with their overtures.
The effort by Canadian funds-including the biggest in the country, the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board-is also reflected at the White House, where the Obama administration has tried to rekindle an idea it floated in 2014 and 2015 budget requests to exempt all foreign pension funds from the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act, which the administration said would spur enough investment to outpace a projected $2.2 billion in forgone tax revenue. “
http://hodgen.com/toronto-consulate-wait-times-have-ballooned/
‘Toronto Consulate Wait Times Have Ballooned’
by Phil Hodgen on August 23, 2014
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/08/31/the_cost_of_cutting_ties_with_uncle_sam_soar_tim_harper.html
‘The cost of cutting ties with Uncle Sam soar: Tim Harper’
“Americans living in Canada are in a rush to renounce their citizenship in the face of Washington’s invasive tax grab.
A recent increase in Americans living in Canada renouncing their U.S. citizenship is all about taxes and the long reach of Washington, writes Tim Harper.”
By: Tim Harper National Affairs, Published on Sun Aug 31 2014
OTTAWA
“Thomas Jefferson is famously believed to have defined the price of freedom as eternal vigilance.
The price of freedom from Uncle Sam is a lot steeper…….”
‘U.S. hits citizenship renouncers with hefty fee hike’
BARRIE McKENNA
OTTAWA — The Globe and Mail
Published Tuesday, Sep. 02 2014,
“…….Adding urgency to the exodus is a new U.S. law – the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act – that is forcing foreign financial institutions to share much more information about their American customers. The law, which came into effect July, is being phased in over several years. Earlier this year, Canada signed an agreement with the U.S., under which the Canada Revenue Agency will begin collecting information on all financial accounts worth more than $50,000, starting at the end of 2015, and remit it to the IRS.
Unlike Canada, and virtually all other countries, the U.S. taxes people based on citizenship, not residency. That means that Americans must file taxes in the U.S., for their entire lives, regardless of where they live.”
Link for story above (McKenna, ‘U.S. hits citizenship renouncers with hefty fee hike ‘)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-business/us-hits-citizenship-renouncers-with-hefty-fee-hike/article20308580/
http://www.vancouversun.com/Douglas+Todd+Ameri+Canadians+point+fury+Uncle/10178232/story.html
‘Douglas Todd: Ameri-Canadians point fury at Uncle Sam’
“Canada has millions of people with some sort of American connection; U.S. tax laws have many of them burying or even formally giving up their American roots”
By Douglas Todd, Vancouver Sun columnist September 5, 2014 11:52 AM
“…Anti-FATCA websites in Canada, such as the Isaac Brock Society, are urging Americans to renounce their U.S. citizenship — and to show their positive commitment to Canada….”…
…..
“But, except for writing this column, I basically never think of myself as having American origins. If someone asks about my ethnic background, I tend to emphasize my roots in England, Ireland and Wales. …………..many don’t realize some of the most influential Canadians were born in the United States.
They include economist C.D. Howe, CP Rail tycoon William Van Horne, White Spot founder Nat Bailey, fiction writers William Gibson, Robert Munsch and Jane Rule, journalists Barbara Frum, Jack Todd and Jeffrey Simpson, politicians Diane Ablonczy, Jim Green, Stanley Knowles and Elizabeth May, political commentator Tom Flanagan, scholar Jane Jacobs, athletes Donald Brashear and Jarome Iginla and actors Lauren Holly, Robin Thicke, Matt Frewer and Colm Feore.
Now — with FATCA causing investigators to scour the globe to hunt down more than seven million broadly defined “U.S. persons” it claims should be paying taxes to Uncle Sam — even more people in Canada with U.S. connections are finding another reason to bury their American identities.
Instead of just trying to be sensitive to fellow Canadians’ “vague hostility” towards the U.S., many Ameri-Canadians are experiencing an increase in their fury toward Uncle Sam.”