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Tag Archives: ACA

US expatriates plead for relief from IRS. ACA efforts noticed by @TheHill

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Lawmakers in Congress who are eyeing a rewrite of the tax code are getting an earful from Americans abroad who want relief from double taxation and time-consuming paperwork.

Letters are pouring in to the House Ways and Means Committee from as far away as Australia, Germany and Bahrain from citizens who say the IRS inflicts a particularly cruel form of punishment on them for living abroad.

“For the simple tax situation of one wage and some interest income, my 2012 U.S. tax return, with supporting documentation, is 28 pages!” an American living in Australia wrote to the House committee. “I muddle through as best I can, spending dozens of hours each year on it.”

Read more: http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/293187-americans-living-abroad-plead-for-relief-from-irs#ixzz2QEa4DvPP

American Citizens Abroad blasts FATCA in comments to House Working Groups

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Calls for Repeal of FATCA as Part of Tax Reform Framework

ACA: “FATCA is bad law on all fronts and should be repealed.”

April 5, 2013

Washington, DC

 In an April 4, 2012, submission to the leadership of the International Tax Reform Working Group and the Financial Services Tax Reform Working Group of the Committee on Ways and Means of the U.S. House of Representatives,American Citizens Abroad (ACA) – the flagship association representing the interests of some seven million Americans residing outside the United States – has again called for repeal of FATCA (“the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act”) as part of a comprehensive overhaul of the U.S. tax system.   While focusing on the particular damage FATCA does to U.S. citizens living abroad, ACA pulls no punches in spelling out the broader harm this 2010 law (now pending implementation) threatens to inflict on the American economy as a whole, while failing in its stated purpose of curbing offshore tax evasion. Continue reading →

H.R. 597: To establish a commission to study how Federal laws and policies affect U.S. citizens living in foreign countries.

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Well, this Legislation has been tried before and died.  Just last year.  However, hope springs eternal, and ACA, AARO and FAWCO are encouraging Congress to try again.

Now that Overseas American Week in DC is finished, it is time for some follow up action by us. With the issues of Americans abroad fresh in the minds of Congressman, and with a Residency Based Taxation (RBT) proposal on the table, now is the time to lend some support to Representative Carolyn Maloney’s latest bill.

H.R. 597 To establish a commission to study how Federal laws and policies affect United States citizens living in foreign countries.

There is an easy way, via Pop Vox, . Yu can vote it up or down and at the same time automatically send messages to each of your representatives at with whatever additional message you wish to convey.  Hint (FATCA and the RBT)

You can also spread it around via Twitter or Facebook.

Psst… Pass it on!

Reps. Maloney, Honda, Rangel introduce bill to create bipartisan commission on how U.S. government serves Americans living overseas

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As reported by Brian Knowlton in the NYTs  and Badger pointed out here a Presidential Commission is being Sought on U.S. Expatriates. The Bill number HR 6263 with details can be found at here .

American Citizens Abroad (ACA)  is encouraging members and supporters to contact their representatives and ask them to support this bill. This is a positive step forward for Americans living and working overseas. A Presidential Commission would be invaluable in our efforts.

ACA Press Release follows:

Continue reading →

FATCA Form 8938: Demystifying the Complex Rules and Severe Consequences for Noncompliance, by Hale Sheppard

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Hale Sheppard, who Renounce calls the FBAR Scholar, has published an article in the most recent issue of the International Tax Journal, which focuses on Form 8938. It is called “The New Duty to Report Foreign Financial Assets on Form 8938: Demystifying the Complex Rules and Severe Consequences for Noncompliance.”

He has distributed it to members of American Citizens Abroad (“ACA”) as he thought we would find it interesting, because (i) it contains a thorough analysis of the Form 8938 filing requirements and rules, incorporating guidance from various sources, (ii) it discusses the overlap between Form 8938 and the FBAR, and (iii) it explains the largely unappreciated consequences for taxpayers who fall into non-compliance. Continue reading →

Break through: FATCA story finally hits the NPR radio waves in America!

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After waiting for 3 long years, a story about FATCA was finally heard on some NPR stations around the Nation. This was created by PRI (Public Radio International). They have a daily radio show which they do in conjunction with the BBC, and it comes out of WGBH in Boston. It is appropriately called, The World. You can listen to the story here: What FATCA Did to American Bank Customers in Switzerland Coming on the heels of the CBC interview on Canada Day, it is good these stories are finally being heard by a wider audience.

More good media news

Thanks to ACA member, Dorothy, who brought Expats Radio to ACA’s attention, ACA now have relationship with them. The first ACA interview is NOW on their website. This will be the first of many and they will be working with them to help ACA reach a wider audience. You can listen to an interview with MaryLouise Serrato here.

Expats Radio informs ACA they have over 250,0000 visitors each month, plus they have a catalogue sharing agreement with NPR radio. This means ACA will be available to be heard on NPR and hopefully reach a deeper audience in the US.

A Residence Based Tax Proposal – working paper issued by ACA

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A new working paper tax proposal is now posted at the American Citizens Abroad (ACA) website with the recommendation for fundmental reform of the US tax law affecting Americans resident abroad.

ACA will be sending this document to members of the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee, and urges all Americans overseas to contact by phone the tax staffer of their Representative and Senators in D.C. to inform them of this proposal and to encourage them to consider supporting legislation to move forward with this concept.

Please distribute this information as widely as you can in the US Expat community.

Continue reading →

ACA Writes Commissioner Shulman About Unfair IRS Treatment of Americans Overseas

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There is a story out tonight on Yahoo News and other sources that ACA (American Citizens Abroad) has just sent a letter to Commissioner Shulman about his refusal to respond formally to Nina Olson’s TAD.

Continue reading →

Press Release by American Citizens Abroad (ACA) – New Residency Based Taxation Proposal

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American Citizens Abroad (ACA) Launches Residence-Based Taxation Proposal in Washington
Director Discusses Plan with Members of Congress, Joint Committee on Taxation

GENEVA – February 20, 2012: The Director of American Citizens Abroad (ACA), a non-partisan, non-profit organization representing the interests of U.S. citizens living outside the United States, today announced a new tax reform proposal unveiled with policymakers in Washington, D.C. These reforms are aimed at increasing American jobs, exports and competitiveness, as well as addressing the specific tax situation of Americans residing overseas.

Continue reading →