This is a post that I wrote a few months ago for the Flophouse but never published. I guess I was feeling pretty desperate at the time and figured no one was listening so I put it aside. Given some of the comments I’ve read recently at U.S. and Canadian media websites, I decided to go ahead and post it at Isaac Brock. I know the folks here already know all this but the folks at home are still confused about who we are and just what the heck we are doing “over there.”. This is my experience based on living in both France and Japan.
Category Archives: Issues regarding US persons abroad
How it feels to be totally renounced – from Toronto
Well, its done, it’s over and a big step toward being free!
The first thing is that Toronto now has a system for keeping keys, cell phones and so on. Not big items, no purses and so on. You give it to the security guard – there is a storage cubby against the wall. You get a number, present it when you leave and get your belongings back. I do want to stress though, only small items. The non-citizen service area was packed and it felt so odd to feel that energy of so many people wanting to get visas, to get in to the US and I was so wanting to get out.
Queen's University Professor available to talk about IRS going after 1 million 'US persons' in Canada
IRS going after Canadian-American citizens
Watchdog slams IRS for alienating expats, Barrie McKenna
Some of the readers of Barrie McKenna’s new article, Watchdog slams IRS for alienating expats, are still unhappy. But I thanked Mr. McKenna for telling this very important side of the story:
Why Hiding is No Longer a Viable Option
nobledreamer posted a very nice link to another site that showed the results of a recent poll. Over 56% of U.S. citizens, when asked what they were going to do in response to the 2012 Diaspora Tax Wars, replied, “Nothing, how will they find me?” That is pretty consistent with my informal queries to my friends and family in my host country. My answer to this is, “Oh, my fellow Americans, let me count the ways.”
Roger Conklin writes about why he left Brazil in 1977
We are most honored to have Roger Conklin as a reader and frequent commenter at the Isaac Brock Society. Today, he kindly commented on my post, A second response to Barrie McKenna.
See also:
Roger Conklin’s testimony before the Ways and Means Committee
U.S. citizenship-based taxation harms U.S. economy
A Saudi lawyer advises Obama to end citizenship-based taxation
Washington Post: You FATCATS have no place to hide from FATCA
Just Me has a fine rebuttal to this Washington Post hit piece aimed at Americans living abroad. Add Al Kamen to the Isaac Brock Hall of Shame.
ANYONE in New Zealand: The US can have you EXTRADITED!
This is almost becoming a joke. I doubt the US taxpayer is even aware of this. Today the site owner of Megaupload.com was arrested in New Zealand and will be extradited to America. The charges: facilitating copyright violations.
Should Mitt Romney release his FBARs along with his tax returns?
Check this out. U.S. citizens living in Canada are required to disclose their RRSPs on an FBAR. I assume that a U.S. citizen living in the United States would have to file an FBAR disclosing any “offshore IRA”. This is a rather interesting article. Assuming you believe that Mr. Romney should disclose his tax returns, shouldn’t he have an obligation to disclose any FBARs?
https://twitter.com/#!/renounceus/status/160082767982493696
Keystone Aftermath Arrives: Canada Pledges To Sell Oil To Asia, As US Becomes Source Of "Uncertainty" Zero Hedge
Zerohedge reports that Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has indicated to the United States, “Canada will continue to work to diversify its energy exports.”