Just received another update on the activities of Democrats Abroad’s FBAR/FATCA Task Force. Previous posts can be found here and here.
From: demcan@sympatico.ca
Subject: FBAR/FATCA Relief Efforts Underway: Tell Your Story Now!
Date: May 3, 2012 1:11:52 AM GMT-04:00
Dear Democrats Abroad member,
Your FBAR/FATCA Task Force has created two instruments to drive home our efforts seeking relief from potentially draconian fines and penalties in relation to new tax filing requirements. We are gathering data from overseas Americans to use in advocating for amendments and reforms to FATCA. We need your urgent participation in this effort!
1. Take our survey to record your circumstance as an overseas citizen and taxpayer. It is completely anonymous and can be found at http://www.surveymonkey.com/FATCA_FBAR
2. Tell us your story of managing your tax affairs as an expat American. If you have a tale of woe and frustration to tell then please go to http://www.ExpatTaxStory.us where you can post your story on a completely anonymous basis.
The Task Force has received an invitation to appear at an IRS hearing on May 15 in Washington. Having results from the survey as well as the website will strengthen our position at the hearing. So please complete at least the survey by May 9.
QUICK UPDATES ON OUR ADVOCACY EFFORTS:
Since our last update a few weeks ago:
Meeting with IRS and Treasury: Your FBAR/FATCA Task Force has continued to work with senior staff at both the IRS and the Treasury Department. Indeed, thanks to Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney’s efforts, Task Force member Joe Smallhoover attended a meeting in Washington DC to accommodate the presentation by various groups representing Americans Abroad to IRS and Treasury officials of our concerns about the tax filing and compliance requirements. A summary of that meeting is expected shortly.
Submission to IRS on FATCA Proposed Regulations: We have made a formal submission to the IRS in response to that agency’s request for responses to its February 8 release of proposed FATCA regulations, and we have asked to be invited to speak at the May 15 hearing on those proposed regulations.
Meeting with National Taxpayer Advocate: We are arranging a meeting with Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson; whose 2011 report to Congress is highly critical of IRS handling of overseas tax filers.
DPCA Resolution on FBAR and FATCA: We have submitted a formal resolution to the DPCA Resolutions Committee for discussion at the May global meeting in Mexico. If passed, Democrats Abroad will then submit that resolution to be considered for inclusion in the Democratic Party 2012 Platform.
BUT WE STILL NEED YOU!
Please click here to take our anonymous survey and here to post your anonymous expat tax story.
Your DPCA FBAR/FATCA Task Force,
Joe Green (Canada) Chair (demcan@sympatico.ca), Stanley Grossman (UK), Maureen Harwood (Canada), Carmelan Polce (Australia), Maya Samara (Switzerland) and Joe Smallhoover (France)
