ADMISSION FEE $20 UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED (to cover costs)
- Toronto, ON U.S. Citizenship & Young Adults: Navigating The Special Rules Imposed On U.S.Citizens Abroad Sat, June 7, 10 am to 12 noon, Univ of Toronto, St. Michael’s College, Carr Hall, 100 St. Joseph St, MAP NB: $20 individual or $40 for a family of up to four people
Vancouver notes (Feb 22) Updated on March 28 here
Toronto group Saturday, January 25, 2014, Carr Hall
I received the following announcement about information sessions, provided by Toronto based lawyer, for people affected by the USA’s extra-territorial tax overreach which violates Canada’s sovereignty. I think it is a good idea. If you are an alleged US person and you have become aware that the US claims that you should be filing your taxes, please do nothing, do not enter the OVDI program, and above all, do not call a US cross border tax specialist (neither a lawyer nor an accountant), but educate yourself first. The paid experts will scare the hell out of you. There are many options besides allowing a cross border specialist lead you as a lamb to the slaughter.
If you are a Canadian citizen or resident of Canada, you have specific rights and protections that even FATCA cannot revoke. This is why these informational sessions will be useful to you. They will lay out and explore all your options.
Sincerely, Petros
Please note that the speaker would like help finding venues that are inexpensive or free. Perhaps those living in the various cities could ask if a Church or other may be able to offer space. Please keep returning for updates.
Here is the announcement:
Recent CBC Coverage of FATCA and Citizenship-based taxation:
The recent CBC coverage of FATCA and U.S. extraterritorial taxation has raised awareness/concern over the plight of Canadian citizens of U.S. origin. Those who are learning about this for the first time (the OMG moment) will be experiencing a combination of shock, fear, betrayal and more. There will be lots of people interested in understanding the situation and determining whether and/or how to respond.
The following comment appeared on the blog:
Looks like the recent media coverage is creating mass panic in Canada. This might force the Canadian government to issue a statement sooner rather than later. This is good. But I feel bad for the people who are just having their OMG moment. They need some sound advice as to not to make bad decisions which would devastate them financially. While each situation is different, the Canadian government owes it to affected Canadians to provide some guidance and advice and fast. It needs to be official cannot just come from web sites like IBS or Maple Sandbox. Maybe the administrators should add some notes like they can’t be held responsible for actions that people take by following advice on these blogs. This is common sense, but might protect you from lawsuits.
We agree! The important thing it to stay calm! Do NOT panic! Do not react to this situation! Take your time to make the decisions that are appropriate to your situation! Above all else, do NOT even consider entering the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program or any other kind of disclosure program unless you are certain that it is right for you (which it almost certainly is NOT)!
Obviously NO blog or web site can provide reliable legal advice. No seminar for the general public can provide reliable legal advice! Your job is simply to begin gathering information and beginning to understand the new reality of U.S. citizenship.
What follows are a list of “Solving The Problems of U.S. Citizenship” information sessions that you can attend, for a nominal fee and anonymously! The sessions are NOT intended to provide legal advice. But, they are intended to help you identify the issues that may apply to your situation.
Do NOT engage the services of an accountant or lawyer before equipping yourself with some basic knowledge!
Solving The Problems of U.S. Citizenship – Exploratory Sessions
The topics covered are designed to alert you to issues and are NOT offered as legal or accounting advice specific to your situation.
They include:
Citizenship Issues:
– Are you STILL a U.S. citizen?
– Are your children U.S. citizens?
– What might FATCA mean for me?
Tax Issues
– Filing U.S. tax returns – what’s involved?
– Filing information returns (FBAR, Form 3520, 5471, etc.)
– Reasonable cause (avoiding penalties)
Financial Planning Issues
– investment products that are cancerous for U.S. citizens
Does it make sense to renounce U.S. citizenship?
– Renouncing U.S. citizenship
____________________________________________________________________
How To Attend …
Once a session has been marked “CONFIRMED” you are free to attend. Each session will have a $20 admission fee (to offset the cost of the room) which is payable in cash at the door. Neither taping nor video of any kind will be permitted.
first published 14 January 2014
ARRO made a comparative list that shows the tax discrimination faced by expats. The list looks like a bunch of Jim Crow Laws:
http://www.aaro.org/taxation
For folks new to IBS, and having their OMG moment, here’s a link to a website which very clearly describes the taxing process and consequences resulting from renouncing U. S. citizenship.
You may have to read it 3-4 times to get all of it clear in your mind but sure is easier than reading the actual tax code….
http://taxlitigator.wordpress.com/2013/08/09/tax-consequences-resulting-from-renouncing-u-s-citizenship-by-lacey-e-strachan/
For those driving into Montreal for the March 16th information session, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be taking place downtown at noon. Some streets will be closed to vehicle traffic. This could cause local traffic problems. See the following site for the parade route: http://www.montrealirishparade.com/parade.
for those coming to Montreal, and wish to avoid traffic chaos, might consider public transit
for bus and metro http://www.stm.info
for regional transit systems http://www.amt.qc.ca
Pingback: The Isaac Brock Society
Do any of you have an idea as to how many people might be coming to Montreal? I am still undecided about coming. I am little concerned about finding about the St. Patrick’s day parade. This might be a complication in my travel plans.
Thoroughly enjoyed meeting in Waterloo tonight. John was absolutely fabulous, I learned much. I do feel a BIT less hysterical. He seemed to believe, if I understood correctly, that they have not been collecting Fing-BAR penalties SO FAR.
The other piece that gave me an ah ha moment was the concept that the US is actually robbing countries of their assets and the countries are paying them to do it! Their hubris is beyond amazing. Are our leaders this dumb???? They are selling out their own country. (Now I’m feeling ill again, as a “big picture” concept this is actually chilling).
Your county’s politicians will sell their own mothers if the banksters lobby them to do so.
@Charl
Yup… I just explained it to a Kiwi Doctor and a Kiwi Attorney tonight, and their jaws dropped open. They had no idea that America was doing this, and that their government was going along without a whimper!
@Tim
most of the attendees will be from the Montreal area. if from out of town, I would suggest parking away from the core and taking public transit. A good choice would the Namur metro station at Jean-Talon and Decarie
with parking at the Walmart store roughly two blocks west of the metro.
Hamilton’s info session is listed for March 11 but still TBA.
is this accurate? Has no one said they would be coming? Has no one offered a place?
I will be back in the Hamilton area right at the end of March; could this be rescheduled?
Perhaps I can help to find a locale for late in the month….
I’d like to pass on information about the event in Hamilton. Is the session and the venue confirmed?
@Badger – have you been involved in arranging the Hamilton meeting for March 11?
Are you from the Hamilton vicinity?
I have emailed the recent CCCF document from MapleSandbox to a friend who is a reporter at the Hamilton Spectator and he is interested in speaking with some Hamilton area folks about this.
Also, if the meeting is to be postponed, please let me know details.
Thanks
What has happened with the Hamilton meeting? Very interested in knowing. Thank you.
LM, sorry, I’m not involved in the organizing. Am also waiting for details.
@badger,LM,Cindi
The venue for the Hamilton meeting could not be confirmed.
I apologize for this late notice but the meeting has to be cancelled.
@Tricia
how is the status so far for North Bay. I just put in a Kijji for North Bay in the North Bay section last night. Will put in Timmins and Saulte Ste Marie – later today .
@northern dar
can you please email me about this? Thanks
@ Badger,
We in Hamilton may have to do some organizing to get a sufficient group together to have the presentation-troupes be willing to come? They are talking about Oakville but I think there are lots in Hamilton too.
I’ll be back in the Hamilton area in a couple weeks. Want to see if we can gather together enough interested folks & a location?
LM
Went to the Montreal session..was somewhat surprised at the lack of real answers. My impression was that even advice from many lawyers and tax experts will be often unreliable. There didnt seem to be also much confidence even with respect to determining ones own status. My general impression was that one should just do nothing and hope for the best especially if one has no assets, family in the usa nor any reason to go there.
The problem I am having with this web site and it was really reflected in the information seminar is that nobody seems to really know what will happen, what one should do, and also that many so called experts are likely to give poor advice. The only clear answer was not to join the ovdi program.
@crazyworld
The answer is actually simple, renounce or relinquish US citizenship. Its the only real way to get rid of the cancer of citizenship based taxation, FATCA, FBAR etc.
@crazyworld. There is no way any one person can possibly know “what will happen” without some magic crystal ball. All anyone can do is make educated guesses based on what has happened before and what is happening in the world right now.
Also, there is no one right answer for any one of us facing this situation, since each of us comes here through different circumstances. The information sessions are not there to hand you your answer but to inform you about all the different possibilities so that you can make the right choice for yourself, based on knowing as much as possible, rather than just reacting without any information.
@crazyworld
I attended the Montréal session, understand your frustration with the lack of specific advice
but each person’s situation is different. The permutations of age, current income, assets, and needs etc. are literally infinite. Some IBS commentators have been very open about their personal situations. Sadly the site does not have commentator history function, you will need to search to find a similar to your own.
We all wish you well in your decisions
@crazyworld,
And the current lack of clarity is what has been arrived at since looking at this since IBS in 2011. And a few from 2009 or 2010.
Key pieces of information for ordinary individuals in Canada and abroad – to beware of the OVDI/OVDP program, and to first carefully determine one’s actual status and situation. That alone could save certain people from a lot of unnecessary grief.
It is hard to boil it down to a straightforward decision tree, even now.
I too was in Montreal on Sunday March 16. I actually felt I received great advice. I have, if nothing else, confirmed that my line of thinking is a good choice. Sure, not everyone is gifted as a speaker, but they did know what they were talking about.