Media and Blog Articles Open for Comments – Part 4 of 11 (Year 2017)

1,720 thoughts on “Media and Blog Articles Open for Comments – Part 4 of 11 (Year 2017)”

1. “From then until I got my CLN, I told my wife many times that I felt EXACTLY like what those people said they felt. My eyes are open and I am no longer a sheep.”

   I’m glad of that… Unforgiven Too. As an outsider looking in…it amazes me. And a lot of outsiders are brainwashed too into believing that the pomp and circumstance of American rituals (the ceremony) disguises a much sinister plan. The more awake people that we have the better. Unfortunately those who are taken in aren’t just restricted to the homeland.

2. @The_Animal1970: “Unfortunately those who are taken in aren’t just restricted to the homeland.”

   So true. I have friends from New Zealand, the Philippines, Germany, Norway, and elsewhere, none of whom has actually lived in the USA, who are all over Facebook–and all over me at social gatherings–getting worked up over US politics as though they were born-and-raised Americans. I mean what business is Obamacare to a Norwegian who lives permanently in Asia? But bring up US CBT…

   The moment I start to tell them about US oppression of its diaspora–and worse, when I blame Obama and the Democrats for not only being out to wreck expat lives, but for having presided over the hugest Big Brother-like surveillance state spying on its own citizens since the Soviet Union–they pounce on me like angry cats. How hilarious it is to see these “foreigners” acting more rah-rah-exceptional-America than the born-and-bred Yanks in the room.

   Yet this also may give a clue as to why governments around the world refuse to stand up to the bully. Like true cult followers, they think the bully is bringing them grace. Trudeau Jr. is a case in point.

3. “Yet this also may give a clue as to why governments around the world refuse to stand up to the bully. Like true cult followers, they think the bully is bringing them grace. Trudeau Jr. is a case in point.”

   Exactly the point I’ve been wanting people to understand, succinctly quoted. Thank you, Barbara.

   The rest of the world has also been led to believe that the US is the savior and has never removed their rose-colored glasses view of the United States. All the way from WWI (The war will end when the US gets in) all the way through the present-day. Canada keeps talking about the US being its friendly neighbour yet rolls over to show its belly when the US turns around and oppresses them while idiots and talking heads talk about their long-standing relationship with the world’s longest undefended border.

   Well, the world’s longest undefended border can also be a liability too.

4. @Barbara,
   You have to remember that many people have been brainwashed into believing that if you don’t like any of Obama’s policies your a racist. There are quite happy to say that half the country is racist now.
   They know there are problems with the economy, taxes, race etc but all that’s minor in comparison to the happy clappy we are supper inclusive good guys who voted for a black guy.
   I tried telling some Hillary types that I voted for a real women (Thatcher) but that’s a bigoted thing to say as well. The fake smile and laugh as well as the terrible policies that were not working can’t possibly be why she lost. It’s sexism or some other ism.

5. Neill — I don’t buy it. The “white guilt” thing you describe. It’s marginal at best, you describe a fringe group that is a minority even in New York City. If Hillary had won the Electoral College (she won the popular vote handily) then the same argument would’ve been “they voted for a woman out of guilt/political correctness/…” Balderdash either way. She didn’t lose out of sexism either — I agree. She was a bad candidate and Trump was brilliant (successful con men have that kind of talent).

   If there’s any brainwashing going on it’s people voting to throw the bums out and drain the swamp, only to hand the government to a bunch of billionaires and a bunch of very happy swamp dwellers.

   I hope the GOP will go ahead and repeal FATCA, there’s a slight chance they will in my opinion. I also dream of a simple form of RBT (not the $5000 “departure certificate” nonsense promoted by ACA’s delirious lawyer), but I’m not holding my breath, and consider that a long shot. There’s also a good chance the GOP will not do anything for us abroad because it seems we have no lobbying power. All the billionaires floating around government will have no patience for us, they have their own tax cuts to figure out. And of course when/if they repeal FATCA we’ll have that snake Schumer and Elizabeth Warren cry out that rich tax-evading expats bla bla bla. Hopefully nobody will listen to their nonsense.

   One potential favorable outcome of Trump’s belittling of NATO and the EU and protectionism will be a weakening of ties and blind obedience to the US, perhaps prompting Europe to reconsider FATCA and how it treats its banks and citizens (such as myself, discriminated against primarily because my birthplace, NYC as it happens, is quite apparent on all my ID). And if FATCA is indeed repealed, one could hope that in the future, when someone tries to put it back together, all the other countries would think twice before rushing back into the outrageous blackmail that are FATCA and its IGAs.

6. @Barbara, “I mean what business is Obamacare to a Norwegian who lives permanently in Asia?”

   Bravo!!!!

   In my neck of the woods I have found that some travel insurance companies have been having issues issuing a policy to the USA for a deemed US Person because the insurance is not ACA compliant!!! A reason to deny a claim by them.

   I happen to have the last insurance premium statement that I paid which I show to people over here and they are shocked what I paid a decade ago!! They are more shocked when I show them what the premium is today.

7. @Fred, ” there’s a slight chance they will in my opinion. ”

   You have to stop with those negative vibes.

8. @Fred “we’ll have that snake Schumer and Elizabeth Warren cry out that rich tax-evading expats bla bla bla. Hopefully nobody will listen to their nonsense. ”

   If we do fail it will NOT be the fault of the GOP or Trump it will lay at the feet of Democrat Senators because of cloture rules.

9. http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/israel-tax-authority-fatca-working-both-ways-us-accounts-belonging-to-israelis-reviewed/2017/01/16/
   ‘Israel Tax Authority: FATCA Working Both Ways, US Accounts Belonging to Israelis Reviewed’
   By: David Israel
   Published: January 16th, 2017

   Accepts comments. Needs a counter to the claim that it is equally reciprocal, as the US is not collecting or sending the exact same equivalent information; ex. bank balances, etc. that the Israelis would be sending under the terms of FATCA.

10. @badger

    With banks not providing reciprocal information, could this be where the IRS is getting its info to send to other countries from?

    “Bank deposit interest: New for 2014, bank deposit interest of more than $10 paid to an NRA (Non-resident alien) is reported to the IRS on form 1042-S, even though it is not taxable on form 1040NR.  IRC 871(i)(1), (2), and (3). Also see IRC 871(h). Traditionally, bank deposit interest was not entered on the 1040NR income tax return.
    But beginning for 2014, because of IRS Revenue Procedure 2012-24; Treasury Reg. 1.6049-4(b)(5) and 1.6049-8, as revised by TD 9584 issued April 19, 2012,  non-resident aliens might receive a reporting document, likely on Form 1042-S, reporting this non-taxable bank deposit interest. The inspiration for this may have been to make the intergovernmental agreements associated with FATCA more helpful to other countries.”

    http://blog.1040nror1040.com/tag/fatca/

11. @Bubbles B I N G O you nailed it and its totally non reciprocal.

12. GTOR: Isn’t cloture a rule permitting an override of sorts of the filibuster by limiting the time something can be debated? How would cloture help Schumer et al. prevent the repeal of FATCA?

13. @George

    It’s this “The inspiration for this may have been to make the intergovernmental agreements associated with FATCA more helpful to other countries.” which caught my attention.

    So can we assume that the information the IRS is giving other countries is information the IRS already has without FATCA?

14. No one seems to know whether Trump will throw a spanner into corporate tax reform:

    From “Trump says border adjustment could lead to “bad deal.”:

    …”The border adjustment is a core piece of the House GOP tax plan released last June. It would generate about $1 trillion over a decade, significantly offsetting the cost of cutting the corporate tax rate from 35% to 20%, according to several independent analyses. Mr. Trump’s plan calls for a 15% corporate-tax rate.
    “If you take out the border adjustment, you have to really think about an entirely different reform,” said Kyle Pomerleau, director of federal projects at the Tax Foundation, a conservative leaning group in Washington.”…

    …”House Speaker Paul Ryan’s spokesman says that the Trump attack doesn’t change the House GOP approach. It’s unclear whether this is Trump’s final offer, or just an opening bid in making some sort of deal. Maybe that’s on purpose. Or maybe it’s just random.”

    http://rothcpa.com/2017/01/tax-roundup-11717-trump-says-border-adjustment-could-lead-to-bad-deal-also-prince-probate-forbes-tax-guide-more-in-the-links/

15. Interesting overview of the legislative process. If any of the more “Americans Abroad” types happen to be going back to their voting districts, it might be good time to pop in on the Senators/Representatives for a chat:

    https://www.taxconnections.com/taxblog/the-congressional-tax-legislative-process/?#.WH5VM4XXLIU

    @Fred
    Trump is quite clever at dealing with people and I wish I could be more optimistic about Europe hanging together and standing on its own two feet (including taking on more of the NATO burden, which Trump and Clinton were both right about). But here in post-Brexit Britain, the politicians have stars (and desperation) in their eyes when it comes to the U.S. Britain reminds me of a lot of fairly ordinary middle-aged people I have known who left their o.k.ish spouses thinking it would be easy to find something better.

16. @Fred (B), ” How would cloture help Schumer et al. prevent the repeal of FATCA?”

    A Bill to repeal to FATCA in full can pass the Senate with 50 votes plus the Vice President.

    BUT the Bill needs to proceed to a vote! In order to proceed to a vote you need 60 votes to agree to proceed to the vote. If Schumer “whips” 41 Democrat Senators to vote against cloture it does not go to a vote.

    @Bubbles, “So can we assume that the information the IRS is giving other countries is information the IRS already has without FATCA?”

    Lets talk Israel because that was the article……..

    If an Israeli had a US Account with a US Mailing address because they have a mail drop, PO Box or maybe a condo in Boca…..the Government of Isreal did not get any data.

    This is clearly information that is nowhere near close to FATCA data.

17. @Bubbles……..a big thumbs up AGAIN for ALL the trailblazing work you are doing. You are fighting on multiple fronts online and offline which is so commendable.

18. @George (TOR)

    Bubbles is about to burst. All it takes is one prick.

19. Follow

20. Little T and T gives arrogant overstepping outgoing US Ambassador an earful on his arrogant scolding of T and T and reminds him that they are a sovereign country. Process in T and T demonstrates a deeper commitment to national sovereignty and local rights in the face of US extortion than Harper and now Trudeau;
    http://www.cnc3.co.tt/press-release/charles-says-us-ambassador-farce-and-out-place-fatca-asks-if-he-closet-pnm

    Ex.
    “…..UNC Member of Parliament for Naparima, Rodney Charles says outgoing US Ambassador, John Estrada is out of place to have made certain comments related to the FATCA controversy.

    Charles issued a statement asking whether Estrada is a “closet” PNM as he chastises Estrada for his comments.

    The following is Charles’ statement:

    “Outgoing ambassador Estrada seems to think that our country is some banana republic where we uncritically, without review, or detailed analysis support without question the dictates and impositions of our colonial masters, or “massas” as our founding father was wont to say.

    This coming from a former diplomat whose very appointment as ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago was held up for more than two years as his country’s Senate exercised its right to critically review actions by the US Executive.

    What is good for the goose, according to Ambassador Estrada’s logic, is not good for the gander.

    Ambassador Estrada is “farce and out of place” firstly to flout diplomatic conventions and engage frontally in our domestic affairs where one can based on his comments take the view that he supports one side of the political divide. Is Ambassador Estrada a closet PNM? Certainly this cannot be true.

    Secondly he simplistically insults our intelligence by saying that those who asked for a review, as provided for by a Joint Select Committee, must have “cocoa in the sun” ignoring the fact that no one is against FATCA but many have called for a purposeful and comprehensive review of what it is, its implications for our country and the readiness of our institutions to comply with its mandates.

    And thirdly he clearly lacks a full appreciation of our parliamentary processes and the fact that, as in the US, our legislature exists to ensure that only the best possible laws are enacted in the interest of all citizens…..”………..

    T and T could teach Canada a thing or two about standing up for its citizens and subjecting US extortionate extraterritorial demands to parliamentary scrutiny.

21. GTOR: so cloture requires 60 votes? I miss the point, since cloture can be used to end a filibuster, but a filibuster needs 41 votes. So you would need a filibuster-proof majority to vote for cloture to end the filibuster? Why not just vote against the filibuster?
    Anyway, I suppose the Republicans will be able to pass their tax package, could the FATCA repeal be part of that? Hopefully our issue will not be the one sacrificed, and hopefully no GOP Senator (McCain??) will try to make a bipartisan stand against greedy expatriate tax evaders (being sarcastic here).

22. January 17, 2017 – Congress is Pretty Far From Passing A Tax Reform Bill Go on and plan your summer vacation / Sandra G. Swirski

23. That’s a good article that puts things in layman’s terms, Calgary.
    I’ll be sure to file my FBARs this year.

24. Allison Christians examines a paper by Arthur Cockfield on international tax information exchange
    http://taxpol.blogspot.ca/2017/01/cockfield-on-information-exchange.html

    Both Christians and Cockfield are disappointing to me here because neither questions that a country (the U.S.) can simply latch onto anybody in the world that it wants to as a taxpayer and demand information exchange.

    Link to the Cockfield’s paper Christians examines:

    How Countries Should Share Tax Information
    Arthur J. Cockfield
    Queen’s University – Faculty of Law
    https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2877838

25. @ Shovel
    Does this mean Arthur and Allison have gone over to the dark side? When do we hold the funerals for privacy, security and sovereignty? 🙁

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