Dear Democrats Abroad France,
The ongoing efforts of the Democrats Abroad FBAR/FATCA Task
Force along with other American citizens groups are reported here by
Carmelan Polce, the Chair of our Task Force. We are sending you her
last report of their most recent visit to Washington , DC. If you would
like more information on the Democrats Abroad FATCA Research Project,
please consult democratsabroad.org,
or contact Carmelan herself (email below). This team has worked
tirelessly for several years on turning around tax laws that have an
unjust impact on millions of hardworking American citizens who live
abroad.
Connie Borde, Chair, DAF
Dear Colleagues,
Last week members of the DemsAbroad FBAR/FATCA Task Force joined
representatives from American Citizens Abroad (ACA), Association of
Americans Residing Overseas (AARO), Federation of American Womens Clubs
Overseas (FAWCO) and FAWCO Alumni USA (FAUSA) for a week of meetings in
Washington DC to discuss the Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act
(FATCA).
Please join us in thanking Jim Black formerly of DA Germany, DeeDee Gierow of DA Sweden, Stanley Grossmany of DA UK and International Chair Katie Solon for their excellent work last week advocating to reform FATCA in a bitterly cold and snowy Washington DC.
The delegation met with Congress members in both houses and on both side of the aisle, targeting specifically members of the Senate Finance Committee, House Ways & Means Committee and American Abroad Caucus, plus others involved with legislative initiatives related to FATCA.
The messaging was simple and consistent with what we have been saying for a few years now:
Please join us in thanking Jim Black formerly of DA Germany, DeeDee Gierow of DA Sweden, Stanley Grossmany of DA UK and International Chair Katie Solon for their excellent work last week advocating to reform FATCA in a bitterly cold and snowy Washington DC.
The delegation met with Congress members in both houses and on both side of the aisle, targeting specifically members of the Senate Finance Committee, House Ways & Means Committee and American Abroad Caucus, plus others involved with legislative initiatives related to FATCA.
The messaging was simple and consistent with what we have been saying for a few years now:
- FATCA is having unintended, grave impacts on Americans abroad
- Reforms are required urgently to relieve the burden FATCA places on those who it was never intended to affect
- The FATCA Safe Harbor Exemption for Americans abroad (also known as the Same Country Exception) will relieve the FATCA burden for Americans abroad
- Help us persuade the IRS and Treasury to amend the FATCA implementation rules by adding the FATCA Safe Harbor Exemption for America abroad
We also had our highest level discussion yet about FATCA with
an official in the Treasury department - someone in a position to
progress our recommended reform. We had some very encouraging advice -
and we were also sent away with further questions. We took an
important step forward with the Safe Harbour Exemption, but our work is
not finished yet.
We have received varied and useful advice last week that will help us in the next phase of our advocacy work. We are still sorting through the many pages of notes taken during meetings last week to distill the key learnings that we can work with.
And, we will continue to coordinate with the other organisations representing Americans abroad in our work advocating for the Safe Harbor Exemption.
For further information about the substance of our discussions, please do not hesitate to contact the Task Force with further questions or advice.
Still Seeking FATCA-related Account Closure Letters
In our June/July 2014 FATCA Survey we invited Americans abroad to send us letters, redacted to conceal accountholder identity, received from banks or brokerage houses advising of the closure of accounts due to FATCA compliance requirements. In July 2014 FATCA became fully operational for foreign banks and brokerage houses and we suspect many Americans abroad will have had accounts closed in the months following the survey.
We are still collecting redacted letters notifying accountholders of account closures due to FATCA. Please do pass along this request to members in your up-coming AGMs or other communications.
We have received varied and useful advice last week that will help us in the next phase of our advocacy work. We are still sorting through the many pages of notes taken during meetings last week to distill the key learnings that we can work with.
And, we will continue to coordinate with the other organisations representing Americans abroad in our work advocating for the Safe Harbor Exemption.
For further information about the substance of our discussions, please do not hesitate to contact the Task Force with further questions or advice.
Still Seeking FATCA-related Account Closure Letters
In our June/July 2014 FATCA Survey we invited Americans abroad to send us letters, redacted to conceal accountholder identity, received from banks or brokerage houses advising of the closure of accounts due to FATCA compliance requirements. In July 2014 FATCA became fully operational for foreign banks and brokerage houses and we suspect many Americans abroad will have had accounts closed in the months following the survey.
We are still collecting redacted letters notifying accountholders of account closures due to FATCA. Please do pass along this request to members in your up-coming AGMs or other communications.
Please contact us at any time with questions.
DEMOCRATS ABROAD FBAR/FATCA TASK FORCE
Jim Black (USA - formerly Germany)
DeeDee Gierow (Sweden)
Joe Green - Co-Chair (Canada)
Stanley Grossman (UK)
Carmelan Polce (Singapore)
Joe Smallhoover (France)
Katie Solon (Germany)
Ms Carmelan Polce
Singapore
M: +65 9380 1084
E: cpolce@tpg.com.au
Skype: carmelan.polce
Democrats Abroad
I have moved back to the US and want to be moved to the DA US Alumni group.
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United States
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United States
It is being sent to you because you are a member of one or more of
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