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(2) If you want to be able to create new threads (posts) on subjects related to US persons living abroad, please just make a comment below and you will be invited to become an “author” by an administrator. You will need to create a WordPress ID (at wordpress.com ). Aliases are also welcome by WordPress. (Please note: If you wish to cross post from your own blog to Isaac Brock, please cross post it: “Reblogging” will not be permitted, and the editor will immediately take reblogs off the site).
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Finally, if you are afraid to join our group, I suggest you try this link.
Hi. If anyone wants to sign up for the forums, where I think you can go a bit off-topic (and have more comment editing features), all you need to do is:
1- register – the system will send you an email confirmation.
2- click the link you receive
3- start posting
The forum is semi-private because search-engine robots are not allowed. Whereas whatever you say on here, goes to the top of google in about 1 minute! 🙂
There’s also no need to use the War of 1812 password anymore.
Please don’t send emails asking how to join because we don’t have time to answer all requests.
Holy cow.. this blog is off the charts!! Since I posted that, a lot of people started accessing the forum and now I have to contact the provider to add more connections! Stand by, I’m in a large queue!
Would like to post a State Department document on U.S. Supreme Court decisions on loss of nationality
I’m a newbie at this whole blogging thing – I’m afraid I don’t understand the difference between and cross-posting. I do have my own blog (brand new) and I wanted to share an email I wrote to W5 asking them to do a story on this bizarre situation. I’m not sure of the best method to do so. To date, I’ve only commented on other peoples posts. If you can give me some guidance, that would be great, as I don’t want to do something I’m not supposed to.
Cross posting means copying the post from your blog to Isaac Brock (instead of using the Word Press reblogging feature).
Petros, I will investigate the reblogging feature (didn’t know there was such a thing before! Thanks for taking the time to let me know.
Is it possible that there are no entries on the forum???
When I enter the forum with the password mentioned above all the topics are empty.
Petrok, Just realized what I’d written above. You want crossposts not re-blogs..sorry.
Okay, I feel like a dummy here. I rec’d my invitation to author, but when I log into the forum I can’t do anything. Could be I’m blind and not seeing how to create new posts, but if someone has the time to give me a bit of guidance, I’d be very appreciative. I would like to know how many people are writing letters, and to whom, and who has responded and who has not. It would be interesting to know how many letters our various politicians (and media) are receiving, and see if we could even drive that upward. And this didn’t really seem to quite fit in to existing posts.
I have commented on topics in the past. Today, I tried to comment and got the following message: “You must be logged in to comment with that email address.”
I am logged in to WordPress and the Forum. Is there another place to login? If not, please investigate this problem and get back to me. I have sent this using a different email address.
Thank you.
Hi, greyowl.
Sorry you’re having troubles. Several people seem to be. I’ve posted a note that we seem to be having technical difficulties. I, unfortunately, am not the one who can fix technical difficulties. (perhaps it is WordPress itself?) Apologies from this inept person answering your comment.
When I was not logged in, I received the same message: “You must be logged in to comment with that email address.” But once I logged into WordPress I had no problem commenting.
Petros, how do I get setup to start my own threads? I just got a new wordpress id.
I am US expat, and scared about throwing myself to the wolves! What do I do?
Don’t throw yourself to the wolves. Where do you live?
I have lived in Canada since 1987 and been a Canadian citizen since 1993. I have NOT held a U.S. passport since the only one I had expired which I only got when I moved to Canada in 1987. I have held a Canadian Passport since 1993, never voted in an election and as far as I was concerned wasn’t a U.S. citizen anymore because was always told they didn’t recognize dual citizenship. Funny how on/off again – whatever suits them best.
Today I am no longer proud to say I was born there seeing tactics like this in place – this is criminal and if the world lets them get away and take the same freedoms that are now taking from their own citizens in the U.S. – then shame on us.
I haven’t filed because I don’t trust them to not charge their fees of 10K a year for not filing – I have been told by an accountant – they “probably won’t” ….well I don’t have 60K to hand them just in case they don’t and it is insane if I even considered it. Why should I pay for a country that is a disgrace today. Their banking industry was corrupt and they let them off the hook, they are in debt to China and others and yet they want ex-pats to pay off their debt who have not taken a dime from them or gained a benefit from being born there since the day they left. Even if this wasn’t going on – I would never live there ever again – it is not the country I was born into and am no longer proud of my heritage. My own family believes who are Flag wavers believe it is my god given duty to pay what they think I owe just because – like they understand anything out of their little world – I pay 50% tax here for the benefit of living here – not paying a country so others can benefit from living there.
I have NEVER filed since becoming a citizen and my bank and investment companies have me down as a Canadian citizen – so good luck – I am not filing.
I have been told by my accountant that I should never cross a U.S. border again and as sad as that is – I can live with that – at least now I can go to Cuba:-) I am not going to be held hostage by Obama and his band of Merry Idiots. I will admit I am afraid to take the risk even though I have family there.
I was told in order to renounce I would have to file and pay the taxes that I would owe and that an IRS agent is sitting there at the consulate. So I feel this is no win.
I have friends that made the mistake of just being born there and being pulled into this mess as well – but seem to have faith that everything will be ok and they are going to take the chance to cross. I know people that were turned back because some aggressive customs agent asked if they had filed their U.S. taxes at a U.S. border in Ontario.
Will be interested in those that moved here (Canada) or elsewhere over 20 years ago and what they have found out about their situation and what they have found out / know to be true versus scare tactics of the U.S. government. I hope Flaherty and others stick to their guns and don’t back down because the U.S. decides to pull trade or some other silly tactic to hold them hostage.
So for now….laying low, not going to file and not crossing a border and I thank the people who started this blog to give people a voice. The one thing left in me that is American is the desire to fight for injustice of liberties and freedoms and this mess sure is.
Very well said, Proud Canadian, and welcome to the blog!
@Proud Canada
Becoming a Canadian in 1993 before the 1995 expatriation tax law came means as long as you haven’t done anything as a US citizen you are probably okay and could get a CLN back dated to 1993 on the basis of relinquishment. However you are probably best to lay low and let other people with more money fight this out in court.
Thanks Tim – I totally agree with you. It is pretty sad when your lack of trust in government gets so low. I was in shock for months, then anger and now my god given stubborn southern rebel dissidence has taken over They wouldn’t really care that my husband lost his job and took a lower paying one and I started a business and am making 1/4 of what I was. I have read articles on here where they are going after people’s handicapped children – so I don’t think anyone is safe. Then there are the tax accountants and lawyers who are making a killing on people’s miseries convincing them to file – so they do and now they are stuck the rest of their life because they have now admitted – I am American because I complied. Of course they want you to file and want to scare you that you can be found……they then get paid – but where are they when you are now in the cross hairs of the IRS …..no where to be found.
I am sticking to my guns. Don’t consider myself a U.S. citizen so am not admitting to being one by compliance because once you comply with bullying and scare tactics to meet their goals – you are giving up your rights and freedoms in a free society and not standing up. My husband says I am a better and truer Canadian than a lot born here as I moved here out of choice and had no intention of going back. He wanted to move there when we got married and for me – that would have been a deal breaker. I like walking on the street of my town and feel safe and I will pay 50% tax for that right if I have to.
I truly believe that someone will eventually squash them like a bug or some “new” politician will want to get favour by fixing this or making Obama look worse…..whatever the case …I will vacation here and abroad and see more of Canada and the world. I think when they realize they will lose more in tourism from ex-pats and friends/family coming to spend in the U.S. versus what it costs them to collect and enforce their strong arm tactics of innocent people…..things will change – money talks. Here is the best part……the average American in the U.S. has NO IDEA this is going on. When I tell friends and family – they are either shocked or think I am making it up.
Of course the U.S. still believes Cuba is a dictatorship communist country that U.S. citizens shouldn’t go or they are committing treason – maybe they should look in the mirror. Maybe other countries should ban people from going to the U.S. over trying to do this – see how they like them cookies.
@ProudCanadian
You are quite right that if you do start filing you are now essentially giving up your relinquishment back in 1993. There are people out there with lots of money in your situation that do have lawyers and are working on the issue.
First, as a newbie to the Isaac Brock Society site, I’d like to thank the founders and all of the contributors to the IBS. The perspectives from all of the participants are extremely helpful. I find the comments and blogs from most of the professionals very helpful as well. Along with many others I am in a world of hurt, but it would be far worse without the Isaac Brock Society.
I am two years into retirement, having lived and worked more than 60 years in Canada. About a month ago, quite by accident, I tripped over the “Time is Running Out” Globe article and subsequently found the IBS. Before that momentous day in my life, I had never heard of 1040, FBAR, FACTA, OVDI, OVDP. I don’t know what the 5th Amendment is, I don’t have a clue about the US Constitution. I can name the current president.
I was born in the USA which I now know under US law constitutes a serious birth defect. I have never lived nor worked in the US. I have no financial ties to the US whatsoever. I vacation in the US for 2-3 weeks each year with my spouse and neighbours. We really like the US people we meet on each visit. But it seems their government does not represent them.
I am Canadian to the core of my being. I am a patriotic Canadian citizen. While in Canada, I am subject only to the laws of Canada, my province and of course nature. I have never been arrested. I pay my taxes in Canada as all Canadian residents should. I am not a “US person”. I am not an “US ex-patriot” — I never was a “US patriot”. I don’t hold “foreign” accounts. None of my accounts are “offshore”. My bank is Canadian, not an “Foreign Financial Institution”. If I have to fight this act financial terrorism in any legal way, my battle will be on Canadian soil using Canadian resources.
My general questions for your comments:
1. I’ve decided that I can avoid going to the US forever. Are there any *Canadian* legal implications to this strategy? e.g. Tax Treaty? I understand that banking might get more difficult *if* FATCA moves forward. But that’s only if banks know -or suspect- that I am a US person.
2. Assuming that I might want to comply with the IRS, why would I ever hire a professional lawyer or accountant from the offshore foreign government that is attacking me and many other Canadians?
@canadianpat
Unlike you, I was born on U.S. soil, but became Canadian in in early 90’s so believed I was done with the U.S. from any obligation as voted, paid taxes here, had kids, never had U.S. holdings…..etc.
The Canadian government said it WILL not collect any taxes from Canadian citizens who the U.S. has decided to grab and screw. The tax treaties are for those that are U.S. citizens like landed immigrants and those on work permits who have ties to the U.S. and have bank accounts here or are “hiding” money here. There are also there to protect people from double tax if you did have to pay both places.
Like you – I wonder how the Canadian banks will determine who they think has American blood which is about the test or made the mistake that their parent went into labour there. I opened my account with a SIN and driver’s license so no one asked me where I was born, but I still do worry. The government won’t do anything, but the bank could tell you take your money out of their bank if you don’t pay the U.S. My husband and I are considering credit unions like many here and am skipping down the street to visit one this week that is around the corner from my house. Credit Unions do not have holdings in foreign countries I think by the nature of them being credit unions so are not obligated to FATCA. I think the decision to comply is theirs/their members. So if considering one …..ask the CEO. Someone on here did and said Alterna does not plan to comply.
Like you I can live just fine with never going back there and in fact even if I do decide to deal with this when I believe the facts are all out and in writing ….as I don’t trust they “probably” will not fine. As for lawyers and accountants on the other side of border – you need to worry about the accountants here as well who file U.S. tax and see big $$ signs for getting you to do 7 or so years worth as they will tell you “NEED” to file. It was going to cost me $3200.00. Then since I never filed since I became Canadian I could get 70K fine as for a few years I would owe. As for the tax treaty which would allow credit back from Canada – my accountant implied they would only go back 3 years, so I would owe U.S. could get fines, and not get money back from CRA. Somehow didn’t see that as a win anyway I looked at it. I don’t have 100K tucked away to pay even if I wanted to – which I don’t.
So for now I am sitting tight and you should probably consider it too – they are going after RRSPs as well. I do worry and am angry that this could affect my kids and husband as well and because I have no faith in the U.S. to be fair – I worry what pressure they have on the Canadian banks and when I will get some letter from them saying confess your sins of whether you are American – but for me if the worse thing that happens is I move my money to a credit union – then so be it. Even if this got straight – I will never go back and spend a dime in a country that would do this to innocent people because the “WHALES” figured out long ago how to beat the system and they never will land them so us Minnows who would probably spend more in tourism – I hope people decide to never travel there. For me I am waiting to see if I can relinquish since there are many fighting that became foreign citizens that felt they did so I am not considered a “criminal” to them – but will never spend a dime there again.
I am a Flaherty fan and he is sticking tough …so hopefully our own government will be our saviours from the Big Bad Wolf. Canada is really the only country that has stood up to them and am proud to be CANADIAN. So am hanging tough, having some faith in Flaherty and government here, and watching the U.S. election as this is an Obama tactic to make people believe he did something. Let’s see if he gets back in and whether Romney can figure out he could be a hero abroad and gain favour by revising this to truly only go after those that it was suppose to.
Keep the faith.
@canadianpat,
Welcome! We feel your pain, anger, confusion and sadness. I am sorry that you have to face this horrible mess. We are all here to help each other in trying to determine the best solution. It is surely a hard one.
I was awake most of the night (AGAIN) trying to decide what is best. Damned if you do the right thing and Damned if you don’t. I think it is a gamble either way. We all here at IBS just want it to JUST GO AWAY!!
Believe me we feel your pain! and are sorry that you have been dragged in this sickening, horrible, confusing mess of a ordeal.. There are some wonderful people on this site that will try to help you as much as they can, but like I have been told many many times, it will be your decision right or wrong.. and it is a bitch trying to figure it out..
Stay with us here, we are all in it together!! We need each others support!
@Proud Canadian
Thanks. Your comments are helpful. A few words about Canadian Banks: The major banks spent minimum $100 million each for Basel II compliance, which is just one piece of the whole compliance puzzle. They also each have significant investments in Anti Money Laundering (AML), Patriot Act, etc.. They won’t say it in public but compliance is already hurting them badly in terms of money and focus on their customers. And now comes another US F-Bomb: FATCA. I predict the CDN banks will gladly and quietly drive US accounts/customers to alternative FI’s like Credit Unions, possibly via a different fee structure. They won’t care where you go as long as its not with them. Another thought. All of the computer hardware, the FATCA software and the consulting services to help CDN banks will come from the US. The IRS will collect taxes from all of these US providers. The CDN banks will write-off all of these expenses against the Canadian taxpayer base. And they’ll increase fees and lower rates of return to cover all of these costs. So ALL Canadians are now paying to support arcane US laws and with FATCA we’ll all pay more. The US has started a really big fire so they can firetrucks to the victims. Never waste a crisis.
Canadian pat. Welcome. You are somewhat lucky in that you can forget about the whole thing. Remember what Steven Mopsick said. ‘Why Oh why would you do anything to bring yourself to the US’s attention?’ and google Monty Python’s ‘how not to be seen’. As a Canadian you have absolutely no obligation to the US and Jim Flaherty has stated publicly that the can gov is on your side.