Liberty and justice for all United States persons abroad

The Isaac Brock Society

Media and Blog Articles – Part 1 of 11 (to 26 May 2015)

You can access all years at this link:

http://isaacbrocksociety.ca/media-and-blog-articles-links-for-all-years/

EmBee suggested that it would be good if there was a thread for new articles, so that people would be aware of where to comment. So, I created this permanent page.  You could mention such articles in the comment stream for this page, or if I see one on another thread, I can copy the link to here. I’ll keep adding to the list, but not deleting, so we’ll end up having sort of a “bibliography” too.  [Note:  Some articles are not open for comments]

For more articles on FATCA, enter FATCA into Google then click on the link “more news for fatca” just below the most recent featured article.

Note also: JC suggests to see #FATCA on Twitter for latest breaking news. JC finds that is quite a good source and there even are some international articles that one may read using Google Translate.” Others may help certain tweets and articles remain in elevated position by retweeting them.

26 May 2015:  This thread is now closed.  It continues at Media and Blog Articles Open for Comment, Part 2 of 2.

2015.05.26

New Survey finds US expat voting could impact 2016 Presidential Election, Greenback Expat Tax Services, NASDAQ GlobeNewswire.

This congressional committee wants to hear all your FOIA gripes, Colby Itkowitz, Washington Post, US.

The black money recovery skills of IT department are nothing to write home about, Vivek Kaul, The Daily Reckoning.

2015.05.25

The Intersection of US Federal Tax Law with Collection of International Information- – Including Other  Federal Agencies, Patrick W. Martin, TaxExpatriaation, US.

2015.05.23

America the not so brave:  America has led the global assault on tax dodgers and their enablers.  But the reality still lags behind the rhetoric, The Economist, UK.

Cash Banned from Chase Safe Deposit Boxes, Matt Chilliak, Live and Invest News.

2015.05.22

US Steuergesetz hat unerwartete globale Konsequenzen, Colleen Graffy, Geopolitical Information Service.  Also at Consequences of US widening net to catch tax dodgers, Colleen Graffy, World Review.

The horse may have bolted … but, Angelo Venardos, Asia Asset Management.

Important Correction:  Passports Required to Enter and Leave US — but SSNs May be Optional, Patrick W. Martin, Tax Expatriation, US.

2015.05.21

Americans working abroad face unexpected financial issues, Sarah O’Brien, NBC, US.

Senate tax reform groups get more time, Bernie Becker, The Hill, US.

2015.05.20

Malaysia will defer FATCA reporting, FSI Tax Posts.

America’s Self-Inflicted Wound, Moises Naim, The Atlantic, US.

Janice Mays:  The Tax Guru Who Guides House Democrats, Alex Brown, National Journal, US.

Sen. Rand Paul Launches Filibuster in Protest of Patriot Act Renewal, C-SPAN, US.

Articles from earlier in 2015 are at this link

Articles from 2014 are at this link

Media and Blog Articles Open for Comment, Part 2, is at this link

Media and Blog Articles Open for Comment, Part 3, is at this link

3,971 thoughts on “Media and Blog Articles – Part 1 of 11 (to 26 May 2015)”

  1. Thanks for the excellent link, EmBee.
    It was a real wake up call for me. I was toying with the idea of slipping in and out to see my sister before she passed, but I guess those days are over. I could have been in for some genuine grief. Thanks again. I know this bill hasn’t passed yet, but it’s certainly indicative of their mindset.

  2. @Embee
    I had a look at H.R. 719 and I don’t see how it can mean what DC Clothesline says it means. According to the proposal highly-paid TSA criminal investigators haven’t been spending enough time investigating crimes and the proposal is to demote some to less well-paid roles. Maybe some TSA officers will feel threatened and investigate more crimes to protect their jobs as a result, but the author seems more ticked off at government spending on TSA. The text is available via http://www.congress.gov .

  3. @ Publius
    Well you may be right but Martin Armstrong has, from what I’ve been reading about him, been pretty good at predicting and projecting. He may be looking at H.R. 719 and factoring in “mission creep” which I believe is a perfectly valid way to analyze any government actions these days. “Mission creep” was exactly what the Interim Privacy Commissioner expressed concern about during the limited committee hearings done prior to signing and implementing FATCA in Canada. I’m already seeing signs of some banks on a mission to creep us out. Anyway it’s Armstrong’s opinion, not mine. I can never make heads nor tails of legislation-speak. I just know that often the true intent is hidden.

    This is from John Katko’s press release site:
    https://katko.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/katko-introduces-legilsation-enhance-airport-security
    H.R. 719, the TSA Office of Inspection Accountability Act, ensures that funding is used wisely by TSA. It would require that TSA Criminal Investigators spend at least 50 percent of their time investigating, apprehending, or detaining individuals suspected of committing a crime. Currently, TSA does not necessitate that its Criminal Investigators meet this requirement, despite being considered law enforcement officers and receiving premium pay.

  8. @Bubblebustin
    the passport requirement is crazy a birth certificate should suffice
    what was truly insane was that the doctors had remove treatment tubes for a picture

  9. @Bubblebustin

    What a horrifying photo, thanks for the warning. Poor kid. Hope his parents don’t open an account with more than $10000 for him, or he’ll be responsible for filing FBARs real soon.

  10. I noted that too Patricia. Unfortunately for the little tyke, it won’t be the last time he’ll feel the smothering effects of his blue passport.

    Good point, Fred.

    Boris Johnson should have tea with the couple and their baby. Bring them up to speed.

  14. Of course, it is crazy, but here it is:

    http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/information/do-i-need.html

    Traveling by Air?

    All individuals, regardless of age, must have their own passport when traveling internationally by air.

    If you have never had a U.S. passport, you must apply in person, using the DS-11: Application for a U.S. Passport. Please visit our First Time Applicants page for information on application requirements, application fees, and where to apply.
    If you have previously owned or currently own a U.S. passport, you may qualify to renew your passport by mail. Please visit our Renew a Passport page to learn more about the application requirements, application fees, and to find out if you qualify to renew by mail.

    I guess this is a child addressed regarding the new US proposal for those born dual at birth having a passport for the sole purpose of departing the US. http://isaacbrocksociety.ca/2015/02/03/obama-fy2016-budget-proposes-limited-relief-for-accidental-duals-at-birth-who-give-up-u-s-citizenship/.

    4. has never held a U.S. passport or has held a U.S. passport for the sole purpose of departing from the United States in compliance with 22 CFR §53.1

    They now even have (horrors) a picture of the poster child for such a poster. That would be the same for the dual citizenship child born to Canadian parents in Hawaii a bit earlier (http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/11/canada_couple_1_million_medical_baby_birth.html). Hope both of these families will be informed of the pro’s and con’s and all of the responsibilities for their born in the USA, US citizenship child. (Related, there was a CBC Calgary radio blurb the other day about the number of Chinese women who come to the US to give birth so their child will be a US citizen. And related to that segment, media from last year: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/2013-05/17/content_16506471.htm)

  16. http://www.wsj.com/articles/record-number-gave-up-u-s-citizenship-or-long-term-residency-1423582726

    Nice mention of Amanda Klekowski von Koppenfels’ survey of Americans abroad (she rustled up over 1,500 in the end) showing that 31% of Americans abroad surveyed were actively considering giving up their citizenship, with 3% actually in the process of doing it.

    Comments below the line left me a bit miffed, since I doubt that anybody (except perhaps Amanda at the moment) has a really good sense of why people want to leave. The comments below the line assume that it is the wealthy, but nobody knows for certain.

  17. @ Neill
    1064 may be accurate but neither my name nor hubby’s have yet to appear; I renounced last April (got the CLN in September) but hubby renounced in Oct 2013………!

  18. My son is on the list. PROOF POSITIVE that the list is not comprised of only covered expatriates. LOL
    He renounced June 2013 so about 1-1/2 yrs after the fact.
    I renounced in Jan 2012 and if memory serves (ha ha), my name showed up summer 2013 so also about 1-1/2 yrs.

  19. Just sent the following message to andrew@andrewmitchel.com and ryan@andrewmitchel.com

    Hi,
    I have just read your article from Feb 12, 2015 (Quarterly List of Expatriates) and have a question.

    Both hubby and I have officially renounced our US citizenship; we both have received our CLNs from State. However, neither of our names have ever appeared on this list.

    I renounced only last April, so that omission may be just a paperwork delay. However, hubby renounced in Oct 2012. He certainly filed all the required final forms with the IRS in April 2013. So why has his name not shown up? Might the IRS (and Homeland Security) still see us as US Persons? YIKES!!!!!

    Should we be concerned about this? Or does the fact that our (especially his) names are not on this list mean anything other than people (like yourself and your readers) should be advised that this listing definitely under-represents the actual number of individuals who are renouncing / relinquishing / terminating their legal connection with the US?

    I look forward to your reply,

  20. Good message, LM. I hope you get a reply.

    That we clamour to be on a US *Name and Shame* list is absurdity in itself, but there you are. Similar to others, it took over a year and a half for names from my family’s renunciations to appear — and we were glad to see them there.

  21. @Calgary 411 – I will post any reply I get. Not worried about my name not being there, but hubby renounced 2.5 yrs ago. Worried about what the IRS is “still examining”………….. We do have a highly unusual last name and both our (Cdn born) children renounced too (daughter a few months before hubby, but she would have filed under her married name, and son – with same last name – 10 months after hubby). Both daughter and son’s names have appeared……. So, again, worried about what the IRS is ‘still examining………..

  22. That is an additional worry, LM. There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to it all, both covered / non-covered appearing, etc.

    The thing we have to try to do is exchange worry for action (which you’re doing / we’re doing here) as we remember that worry by itself is just like a rocking chair that gives us something to do but gets us nowhere.

    We must Keep on Keeping On, including our support for http://www.adcs-adsc.ca/ and anything that will help further the cause of a US change to RBT.

  24. Neill,

    Hopefully more and more *regular folk* will start paying attention and asking why! Symmetrical reciprocity?

    MP left ‘amazed’

    Monmouth MP David Davies said: “I am amazed that British citizens are being forced to fill out forms for the US revenue service.

    “I could understand it if this was required for people involved with international commercial transactions as we all recognise a need to ensure that taxes are paid in full by companies operating across borders.

    “However what possible reason could there be for a Scout leader setting up a bank account to comply with American tax laws?

    “I have put all of this to the Treasury. I would also like to know whether Scout leaders in the US will be filling in forms for the Inland Revenue and if not why not.”

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