Media and Blog Articles Open for Comments – Part 3 of 11 (Year 2016)

2,818 thoughts on “Media and Blog Articles Open for Comments – Part 3 of 11 (Year 2016)”

1. @calgary411
   What US taxpayers desperately need is a KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) L O B B Y in order to protect themselves from the IRS thugs and the compliance condors.

2. While I was not able to comment, this is an excellent article – – not about FATCA but about US politics, Trump and the media. This is what we are up against – – RATINGS!
   http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/04/2016-donald-trump-blame-tv-cable-news-media-campbell-brown-campaign-cnn-fox-msnbc-213839#ixzz478KjJDDq

3. Absolutely, LM, and the same *Don’t let the door hit you on the way out* as the US media encourages  homelanders to think about expats who had the audacity to leave.

   Mainstream media is now whatever journalism once was with ethics and the responsible research removed; i.e. now fast-moving entertainment to quench the thirst of viewers (less often, readers) and that serves the bottom line.

4. Notorious tax haven extends FATCA reporting deadline for financial institutions:

   http://www.mondaq.com/article.asp?articleid=486212&email_access=on

5. From International Tax Blog – New and Interesting International Tax Issues, the other blatant example of seemingly wrong-headed, stubborn US tax policy in easy-to-understand words …

   Encouraging Foreign Investment – A Distorted U.S. Tax Policy

6. Amnesty International highlights the Liberal policy to honour the previous government’s trade contracts over that of human rights which it also does with the implementation of US FATCA law in Canada.  Canada’s Liberal government and its policy on violation of international human rights = shameful HYPOCRISY.

7. @calgary411,
   It’s called the “CONS made me do it” defense;
   ” …Both Dion and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have defended the export of billions of dollars worth of armoured vehicles to the Saudis, saying they are obliged to honour a contract signed by the previous government…..
   http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/global-affairs-releases-redacted-saudi-arabia-human-rights-report-1.2861346”

   Note the LIBERAL Liberal use of redaction as a tactic. Just like the CONS. Except the FibbingLibs like to proclaim their “transparency” in the official BS that passes for the current Liberal Party of Canada mantra;
   “Openness. Transparency. Fairness. Making government work for Canadians.”
   http://www.liberal.ca/openness-and-transparency/

8. FATCA challenge shot down, HK still suffers

   Hong Kong-based Ross Feingold is not at all impressed with the Bopp suit so far. Frankly, neither am I. As Feingold points out, Bopp can’t even issue a press release that isn’t riddled with typos. At the same time, it should be noted that Feingold was the former Asia Chairman of the now-defunct Republicans Abroad, and presumably has a bit of an axe to grind with the Republicans Overseas / Bopp FATCA lawsuit crowd.

   Nevertheless, it is indeed rather hypocritical to argue about the morality, or even constitutionality, of citizenship-based taxation and FATCA when you’re being represented by a cringeworthy, anti-LGBTQ, Right-to-Lifer whose biggest win so far was the widely-reviled Citizens United case, which has unleashed a torrent of democracy-annihilating spending by Super PACS funded by multinational corporations and the precious .1% (Koch Brothers, come on down).

   Anyone who believes that Republicans in general, and Bopp’s team in particular, are going to be the white knights riding in to save the day is dreaming in Technicolor. There is no one to save us, except ourselves. Hopefully the Arvay team will have better results on this side of the border, but don’t count on it. Instead, we should all be prepared to finally heed the realpolitik message so consistently delivered by our friend usxcanada: sauve qui peut.

9. Expatriate Lawsuit Featuring Rand Paul Shot Down

   http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterjreilly/2016/04/30/expatriate-lawsuit-featuring-rand-paul-shot-down/#71f2c4c0217d

10. Re: Forbes article. The Isaac Bock Society and Sir Isaac Brock are prominently referenced. That is a positive.

11. @Deckard
    Your pejorative spewing of the phrase “right to lifer” is unhelpful. This FATCA curse was brought to us by the left wing of America and is now aided and abetted by the left wing of Canada. That they all are pro-abortion is of no relevance to this particular fight.

12. @Lake Superior Guy

    You’re right; there’s no point wading into completely different minefields, like abortion, so I won’t. However, like Keith Redmond over at American Expatriates (before he inexplicably deleted his own reply to me), you appear to have mistaken my analysis of the Bopp effort as being somehow lopsided and leftist. I assure you that this was not my intent: anyone here who has known me for the last five years of this bullshit understands that I have evolved into an equal opportunity detractor of both of the dominant political parties in the U.S., and of the opportunistic shills who represent them. I hardly need any reminders about how we got to where we are today and exactly who is to blame.

    Allow me to reproduce the same brief exchange I had with Mr. Redmond earlier today (including his since deleted reply):

    

    For those who might feel that I may be neglecting our own Canadian situation, please feel free to substitute Conservatives for Republicans and Liberals for Democrats in my previous comments.

    The final point I would like to make is that we should all be careful to avoid falling into the trap of thinking “the enemy of my enemy must be my friend”. That has never been true throughout history, and it’s not about to start now. Whatever alliances of convenience we may choose to forge, they are Faustian bargains at best if we leave our own personal consciences at the door. My conscience is not owned by any political party.

13. http://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/tax/articles/fatca-for-individuals.html

    Thank goodness for Deloitte finally confirming the status of Intergovernmental Agreements:

    To make things a little easier for foreign law purposes the US has entered into a number of bi-lateral so called Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs), which are simply exchange of information treaties that provide that the FFIs can share information with their own government who will in turn share with the IRS.

    Hopefully they will also explain how an IGA can be considered a valid treaty when it was neither part of the original FATCA legislation voted on by Congress nor ratified by a two-thirds majority in the U.S. Senate. Oops.

14. Meanwhile, Panama signs an IGA, moving the US another step closer to becoming The Greatest Tax Haven In The World™ :

    http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/home/Panama_Signs_Agreement_to_Implement_FATCA_Law

15. Just sent to me by email: Trump, Clinton Both Refuse To Explain Why They Share Same Address In Delaware Hillary — Clinton and Donald Trump share something pertinent in common.

16. @Deckard1138,

    I feel like I was had by both lawsuits. Both seemed to fall to stuff that you would expect legal types to know how to avoid. I spent $3k on this crap. There is no hope to get any of this changed. We have to pursue our own routes to escape it. In my case it means closing the accounts when I am old enough in a few years.

17. @ Neill
    It’s fine to do whatever you can to protect you and your family but please don’t join the scatterbugs (i.e. those who joined the fight for awhile, then after their release from the direct threat from CBT/FBAR/FATCA, fled the battleground). Thankfully many continue to battle on, even though they are on relatively safe ground with a CLN shield on their arm. Others without CLNs battle on because they know they are on the moral side of this issue. Of course, things are doubly difficult for those who live in the USA, within easy grasp of the IRS. I’ve got several times more invested in the ADCS lawsuit than you but I don’t regret a penny of it — win, lose or draw. I didn’t have enough to give to the Bopp lawsuit too. It’s worth it to me to see the big bully challenged, even if it’s just a few good legal kicks at its metal armored shins. I’m just that fed up with seeing good people like you and everyone here tramped down and stripped of liberty, privacy and the right to pursue some happiness in life.

18. @Neill

    I can fully understand how you would feel that way since you have so far seen exactly zero return on your FATCA challenge investments: still better than how most people’s stock portfolios are doing these days, but not exactly what you hoped for.

    Despite my skepticism, I believe it’s still a bit too early to call this one, especially the Canadian Charter challenge. Unlike the increasingly ridiculous US case, with a District Court looney who thinks he’s Judge Dredd, there are more reasons for hope in the Canadian effort.

    Don’t forget that Canadian Judge Luc Martineau’s closing comments in the last round indicated that his denial of “declaratory and injunctive relief” for the plaintiffs was “without prejudice to their right to pursue their claim” further, so that remains significantly more encouraging than what just happened in Ohio. The door remains wide open for a serious Charter challenge, citing Section 15, Subsection 1, which remains our last best hope:

    15. (1) Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.

    Waiting is never fun, but it’s been an occupational hazard for all of us here for the last five years. Better for Arvay to analyze and perhaps benefit from Bopp’s experience and wait until he has developed an airtight case to present – complete with unassailable witnesses – which appears to be exactly what he’s doing right now.

    So, I’m not quite ready to throw in the towel yet, but I too am getting mighty anxious. Hang in there a bit longer, but be prepared to do what you have to do if things don’t go our way.

19. Re: Deckard1138

    It is important to note to lurkers that this site is about FATCA and expat issues and you are equally welcome regardless of where you stand on unrelated issues such as anti-LGBTQ, Right-to-Lifer, Citizens United or whatever.

20. Re: Tom Alciere

    It is important to note to lurkers that this site is about FATCA and expat issues and you are equally welcome regardless of where you stand on unrelated issues such as anti-LGBTQ, Right-to-Lifer, Citizens United or whatever.

21. This is for anyone inside the US who might be able to attend and speak up against FBARs, FATCA and all the other US extraterritorial tax horrors faced by those the US insists are ‘UStaxableserfsabroad’.

    Of course NONE of the forums are going to be held in Canada, where over 1 million of those the US claims as unwillingtaxablecitizensforlife actually live. And how could they possibly be hearing from affected groups if it is held INSIDE the US?

    http://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/public-forums

    ………”In her 2015 Annual Report to Congress, the National Taxpayer Advocate recommended the IRS solicit comments from taxpayers and tax professionals, including their thoughts on the extent to which taxpayers will continue to need telephone and in-person assistance, so the “Future State” plan will better reflect taxpayers’ needs and preferences as they seek to comply with the tax code. The public forums are a part of that recommendation – a series of events around the country to seek comments and suggestions regarding what taxpayers want and need from the IRS to help them comply with their tax obligations.

    During the forums, she will be joined by Members of Congress and other presenters representing the interests of different taxpayer groups – the elderly, low-income, disabled, small business owners, tax practitioners, and others.”

    Scheduled Forums

    Red Oak, IA (May 5, 2016)
    Announcement
    Agenda
    Speaker Biographies
    Baltimore, MD (May 13, 2016)
    Washington, DC (May 17, 2016)

22. note as to schedule of TAS forums above, there were others, but the dates have already passed.

    None in Canada, none in US, UK, Europe, etc.

    What about those ‘benefits’ those ‘abroad’ are supposed to be receiving from the US that is so frequently proffered as rationalization for US extraterritorial taxation?

    Those ‘abroad’ can’t even get heard by the Taxpayer Advocate.

23. Obviously the IRS only want penalties and not actual ‘compliance’:
    http://www.tax-news.com/news/Continuing_IRS_Paper_Tax_Forms_Considered_Essential____70893.html

    Paper forms championed by Taxpayer Advocate, and stats show significant numbers of people still do not have internet access or computers, yet children and seniors – and anyone else ‘abroad’ MUST file the FBAR only ONLINE.

24. @BAdger
    “Obviously the IRS only want penalties and not actual compliance”
    I actually think this is true and somehow a part of the mentality which arrived when the credit card companies noticed that they made more money if they handed out the credit cards to people who could NOT pay their debt rather than to those who could. With 20% late interest fees they don`t have to rush either. There is something so sinister about this mentality. It is so immoral and inhumane- similar to taking slaves. Capitalism gone wild with no temperance is behind this kind of thinking. Survival of the fittest and shit on everybody else…. being a bully, actually.

25. Indirectly related and showing the grave danger of bank records. Many have commented on IBS the danger of a FATCA file being hacked as it is a treasure trove to find “Americans” and do harm to them.

    I am certain that in time such an action will happen and those that deserve blame will receive none. The blame will be on “the bank.”

    http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-05-01/british-spies-among-thousands-names-exposed-following-massive-leak-largest-mid-east-

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