We’ll be getting together for lunch Saturday, 18 November, at 2:00 pm at Montana’s BBQ Restaurant, 1750 Ogilvie Road, Ottawa. Plenty of free parking on site, also accessible by city bus.
We’re currently expecting 10 people — hope you can come, too! Please rsvp by posting a comment here or e-mail me at pacifica at isaacbrocksociety dot ca
Coming from Montréal? A Montréal Brocker would appreciate a ride. I can put you in touch by e-mail
[OCTOBER 24, 2017 POSTMORTEM: MANY THANKS TO THE SIGNERS! — RO says: “We now have 3027 petitions …plus 535 letters… Fewer than we wanted, but still respectable.” ]
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From JC:
I nominate ,,, for a IBS feature.
The ACA RBT plan got a feature so this should as well. Karen wrote the into there. I don’t think much intro is needed. Just post as a feature and to highlight for comment.
Democrats Abroad survey report now out.
Can We Please Stop Paying Twice – Tax Reform for Americans Abroad
[“American Citizens Abroad (ACA)with 40 years of advocacy on this issue, has led the charge for RBT, proposing a roadmap or outline to Congress showing them how they can get from where the US tax regime is today to where it should be with RBT”.] — From a Forbes article
My reading of the ACA proposal is that it is a “Roadmap to IRS compliance”.
— This post is another opportunity to tell American Citizens Abroad (ACA) what should go into their residence-based taxation proposal. Should you be interested, I am asking for your comments in the form of text that could be included in the ACA proposal.
The discussion with ACA is, in part, whether, to obtain a “departure certificate” (get out of jail card) it makes any sense for a person living permanently outside the U.S., who has:
—no meaningful relationship with the U.S. other than by birth or parentage,
—another citizenship from his/her local country,
—and who does not want to be a U.S. person;should suffer ANY IRS compliance cost and uncertainty (see the correspondence below).
— First, I suggest that you read the ACA RBT proposal.
— Then read my question followed by a response from Mr. Charles Bruce, on behalf of ACA.
Questions include whether non-meaningful/”accidentals” should be mentioned, or not, in the ACA document as a distinct group. Should persons with no meaningful relationship to U.S. be treated differently than consenting, “real” Americans? Is it reasonable or not that anyone should require a departure certificate? The ACA Roadmap requires all affected to enter into some IRS compliance (and potential harm): Can this be morally justified?
I asked ACA the following question:
THURSDAY OCTOBER 12, 2017
3:00 – 5:00 pm P.S.T.
Crown Isle Resort & Golf Community/Copper Room
399 Clubhouse Drive
Courtenay B.C. V9N 9G3
MAP
The life of a dual-filer doesn’t have to be complicated.
Join our seminar and learn about the many strategies that can help you maximize your after-tax income and remain compliant.
You may be a dual filer if you are a long-term dual citizen of the United States and Canada; are Canadian born with an American parent; are an American Green Card Holder or live in Canada with American citizenship.
In this seminar, specialist John Richardson will cover topics such as:
Your Host Lara D. Austin BA FMA CIM
Investment & Wealth Advisor
RBC Dominion Securities
John Richardson B.A., LL.B., J.D.
Citizenship Lawyer
citizenshipsolutions
OCTOBER 1, 2017 Canadian FATCA IGA legislation litigation update.
In addition to sending letters to a foreign country, some of us, with a lot of support, are engaged in suing our own country, the Government of Canada, in Federal Court for rounding up Canadians having a U.S. taint and turning them over to a foreign government. We argue that this violates Canada’s sovereignty as an independent nation and its Charter of Rights that is meant to protect all Canadians.
This is just a minor update for this long (since 2014) litigation. Basically we are now in a temporary holding patter waiting for a response from Government:
Plaintiff activities. Both Gwen and Kazia, our heroines, have now been subjected to oral examination by Government lawyers (and are OK).
Litigator change. Our retainer contract for legal services is with the Vancouver law firm of Farris, Vaughan, Wills and Murphy. This has not changed. One of our litigators, Mr. Joe Arvay, has left (as of today) Farris for a smaller firm. Our Board has decided to remain with Farris where we will be well-represented by the lawyers there who have long been working on our case: David Gruber and Arden Beddoes.
Waiting for Government response. I would really like to give you now a sketch of next activities and timelines, but can’t.
We are now at a stage in which we cannot proceed until the Government responds to our repeated requests as to the procedures Canada will require before our trial on the charter-constitutional issues can be heard. Until we hear from Canada it is not possible to predict the litigation steps for the next several months — since the ball is really in Canada’s court.
I am hopeful that we will receive a response from Government in the next few weeks or so, and then I can provide you with a more meaningful update.
Sorry for the slow pace of litigation, but we do move forward.
For the Alliance for the Defence of Canadian Sovereignty Board,
Stephen Kish
FYI -01 OCT 2017
I submitted my letter 1 hour late/on Oct 1 and it was accepted. Please keep them coming
In the last few weeks there has been a plethora of posts, comments and articles about tax reform, and whether or not the issues of non-resident Americans have been addressed. There have also been calls for letter-writing campaigns; the response has been disappointing. Many reasons have been suggested as to why more have not contributed to this effort. The prevailing point of view seems to be that it won’t do any good, it’s pointless, etc. Nobody understands this feeling better than those who have spent countless hours working to promote change. Please think about that for one moment. Would it be acceptable for the visibly active people to just decide, “well, this isn’t doing any good so I will just not bother anymore.” The problem with this way of thinking is that it is based only upon an expected result. Of course anyone who is engaged in an effort wants to see their goals reached. But that is rarely what happens in life; anyone who is married or has children well knows the compromise required, the sacrifices that have to be made to make a household run, for children to thrive, for a family to function well in the world. Life is messy, random and confusing.
I think the value of this post lies in it’s recognition that this process is not perfect. It is not predictable down to the nth degree. It is not instant. It is definitely not easy. But without it, there cannot be a result that achieves change. THAT is why your letters are needed. They will pave the way for the shift to begin. There is no substitute for it no matter how well-written a submission is, how many hours someone puts in presenting meetings, etc. What is needed is your signature on a petition and a letter that Solomon and Michael can deliver to the White House on Tuesday. You can even just sign the pre-made letter-what counts here more than anything, is numbers. Crass? Maybe, but it is what it is. There is still time to sign the dotted line on these two items. Please help by doing these two simple things.
If you need inspiration, please read and digest the post below. If you came to the expat movement just recently, you may be unaware of all that has been done. The post speaks to what HAS been accomplished in the last 5 years and what must continue. Giving up on this hideous, painful and expensive situation is simply not an option. We have built a community, a grassroots movement which is making history. We will likely not see another opportunity like this one for a long time. It is so very important not only for our sakes but for our kids and our adopted countries. Please don’t take a back seat now.
NB-In the expanded list, I wish to point out that there is no intention to demean or minimize the groups that existed long before our entrance- ACA, AARO, FAWCO, DA by leaving them out. I was only vaguely aware of their existence prior to my OMG moment and am not familiar enough to outline all they have done. It also would make the post very long. I do believe it is fair to say that our entrance was a game-changer so am focused on that………
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Persistence pays off!
Suzanne Herman, a long-time Brocker, never gives up & look at the result!
We need more of this kind of thing!
BRAVO!!!
See the original here
September 29, 2017
The Honorable Steven Mnuchin
Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20220
Dear Secretary Mnuchin,
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This hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, to take place this coming Tuesday, was unknown to me until this afternoon.
I am sorry to ask for support on top of the RO initiative; perhaps those who have already supported that endeavor could consider contacting the assistants of a few SFC Senators; at the very least, perhaps our Twitter group could do some tweets prior to Tuesday.
**********
International Tax Reform: Public Hearing Scheduled by Senate Committee on Financehttps://t.co/61zFeVw4QT
Tax reform is all the buzz now.
— V. La Torre Jeker JD (@VLJeker) September 29, 2017
Fortunately Virginia La Torre Jeker tweeted this earlier today; otherwise, I had not heard anything about this.
[OCTOBER 1 UPDATE: THANKS EVERYONE WHO SENT LETTERS!]
Today is the very last day to support — by your letter and petition — a Republicans Overseas (RO)/RNC proposal that would replace citizenship-based taxation with a form of “territorial taxation”.
Info is at this website: https://republicansoverseas.com/territorial-taxation-individuals/#petition
RO’s Solomon and Michael will personally bring the letters and petition to the White House on October 2, but they need to receive everything by September 30 — WHICH IS TODAY.
USCA suggests that you consider:
“…The comments in this thread have reflected a diverse collection of views. The RO proposal has been severely criticized for various reasons (mostly revolving around the taxation of nonresident aliens). It’s true that the RO proposal has many flaws.
That said, I think it’s important to recognize in broad terms, that the RO proposal that will change the impact of CBT as it currently stands. In that respect the proposal is at least a start and that start is described as “Territorial Taxation For Individuals”. It is possible (and I think advisable) to support the broad principle of changing CBT without necessarily agreeing with every aspect (or any aspect) of the specific RO proposal. Some of you may have read the most recent ACA proposal which does a good and interesting job of explaining what “territorial taxation” (borrowing from the language of the RO proposal) could mean for individuals. (Interestingly what “territorial taxation” COULD mean for individuals is what most of us think of as “residence-based taxation…)
I am simply trying to argue that change will require education. Education will require engagement. Engagement requires personal interaction.
Your sending a letter and/or signing the petition will help RO achieve the personal interaction that they need to engage and educate. If you care about this issue at all, then you must participate.
I don’t believe that the mere fact of sending letters or signing petitions will make a difference. But, I do believe that WITHOUT YOUR EFFORTS and support that NO CHANGE IS POSSIBLE. Therefore, you are really deciding whether you want to act in a way that makes change possible or if you choose to act in a way that makes change not possible. It’s your choice. This is NOT about supporting a specific proposal. This is about behaving in a way that opens the door to discussion in change.If it matters, I am not a Republican. I am not a Democrat. To the extent that I am political, I would be an independent. I am not primarily a U.S. citizen. So, these comments are not partisan. But, I am deeply committed to the struggle to getting these unjust laws changed. Furthermore, I believe that change can happen ONLY if all those affected create a united front in opposition to CBT. It is the opposition to CBT that unites ALL Americans abroad.
It’s very simple really. Where laws are made through a democratic process: If you don’t make your view known you can’t expect change.
Your participation may or may not make a difference. But, your NONPARTICIPATION will make a difference because it will ensure that no change will happen….”
