From Dr. von Koppenfels:

[See pdf’s: Univ Kent study brief and US citizenship renunciation Kent study summary]

Dear all,

As promised, here (are) two documents – cut and pasted to go here, so I hope they don’t look too strange with the formatting – that summarize the initial findings of my research from the survey “The US and You”, to which some of you may have responded. Many respondents (thank you!!) took the time to write extensive comments, and I am still working my way through those (400 pages) of data. Producing a more in-depth analysis of that may take some months, but I’ll post that eventually as well.

For now, here the initial results. And thank you to all survey respondents!!

Best,
Amanda

 

11 February 2015
New Survey Shows US Citizenship Renunciation Intentions Not Linked to Income

BRUSSELS, Belgium (11 February 2015) – Figures released by the US Treasury Department show 3,514 US citizens renounced their citizenship (also includes long-term residents who gave up their residency) in 2014; this is the highest figure ever, up over 2,999 in 2014.

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Cross-posting from ADCS-ADSC.ca blog congratulations to constitutional lawyer, Joseph Arvay, and his team on today’s unanimous Canadian Supreme Court decision, with the disclaimer as rightly suggested…

This post and the Canadian Supreme Court unanimous ruling  is being cited solely to show the legal skills of Canadian constitutional lawyer, Joseph Arvay, and his team, not to discuss our agreement or disagreement with the ruling itself.

Congratulations to @ADCSovereignty lawyer Joe Arvay – SCC allows doctor assisted suicide

Joseph Arvay and team will use their same skills in working to uphold the rights of approximately one million Canadians, their spouses, their children, their business partners who presently face national origin discrimination (US-defined US citizenship / personhood) after the signing and implementation  by Omnibus Bill C-31, of an intergovernmental agreement to allow US FATCA law to override Canadian laws and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Post authored by Bubblebustin for you…

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This feature article covers what James Jatras told us long ago when he said that the FATCA IGA’s are “dead on arrival”. The US Congress will not pass the legislation to make these IGA’s truly reciprocal, but my question is,

Will our governments choose to ignore this fact when our banks are running scared?

It’s up to each any every one of us to tell our MP’s that the banks should not collect the private banking information on EVEN ONE CANADIAN when the US isn’t holding up it’s end of the deal!

This confirms my worst fear, that our governments may turn a blind eye to the US’s lack of legislative authority on this matter, again sacrificing us just to make things run smoothly for the banks. Is there any reason to think they’d act otherwise?

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WHERE:University of Toronto, St. Michael’s College, Carr Hall Room 405

100 St. Joseph Street – Toronto ON M5S 2C4 MAP

WHEN:SESSION ONE: 9:00 – 11:00 am Info Session

“2015- Solving U.S. Citizenship Problems-Have You Received a FATCA Letter?”

ADMISSION: $20 per individual or $40 for a family of up to 4 people

Payable in cash at the door, please (to cover costs).

WHEN: SESSION TWO: 12:00 – 6:00 pm Open Forum

“Have You and Your Family Been Harmed by U.S. Government Tax Policy?”

ADMISSION: FREE
 
 

WHO: John Richardson, B.A., LL.B, J.D.

Member of the Ontario Bar

citizenshipsolutions.ca
 

SESSION ONE

“Have you received a FATCA letter or been warned of the consequences of being a U.S. person?”
 
Why am I getting letters from my bank all of a sudden?

The “FATCA Hunt” – the hunt for U.S. persons (whatever that is) began on July 1, 2014 which was “Canada Day.” Although both the definition of “U.S. person” and whether one meets the definition is not always clear, the search has begun. The level of FATCA awareness has begun. Some organizations are actively warning people that “U.S. Person-ness” matters. The purpose of the warning is presumably to encourage people to “come clean” and deal with their U.S. tax situations. In some cases, there is no particular warning – just a letter indicating that they are suspected to be a “U.S. person.” Often one must prove to the institution sending the letter that one is not a U.S. person.

What individuals are U.S. taxpayers? Who is a U.S. citizen?
 
There are individuals that the U.S. government would define as “U.S. citizens” who:

• do NOT agree that they are U.S. citizens because they have performed a “relinquishing act” under applicable U.S. laws;
• do NOT even know that they may be U.S. citizens because they have never lived in the United States
• are citizens and residents of countries that do NOT allow multiple citizenships

To put it another way: one’s status as a U.S. citizen is NOT always clear.

I have never heard of these requirements! What determines the income that must be reported to the IRS? What “Information Returns” are required to be reported to the IRS?

• FBAR (Now called FinCen 114)
• FATCA 8938 – Report of Specified Foreign Assets
• 5471 – Information return for Foreign Corporation
• 3520 – Information return for a “Foreign Trust”
• 3520A – related to the 3520
• 8621 – for CDN Mutual Funds
• 8965 – for exemption from ACA insurance

I am only a snowbird! Why does this affect me?

• Substantial Presence Test
• Form 8840 Closer Connection Exception Statement for Aliens
• Caution: Streamlined Programs & 35 day rule – Catch 22

What are the ways I can become compliant?

• Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program – AKA “OVDP” – Not appropriate for the vast majority of people
• Streamlined Compliance – A pre-packaged way to “clean up” past compliance problems
• Obeying the law – filing amended tax returns outside the “IRS Created” programs
• Delinquent FBAR Submission Procedures

What costs are involved in renouncing U.S. citizenship?

• The costs of a total of 6 years (5 years prior to the year of renunciation plus the year of renunciation) of tax compliance and information returns
• The cost of any back taxes and penalties
• A $2350 administrative fee
• possibility of having to pay an “Exit Tax” (which can be the biggest problem)

SESSION TWO
 
We want you to send your stories and videos of harm done to you by CBT to us by February 14, 2015. These will be sent to WASHINGTON DC
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