Mr. Coyne Goes to Washington

An increasing number of Americans overseas are ser...

2010-04-23T03:40:50.291-04:00

An increasing number of Americans overseas are seriously contemplating giving up their citizenship, not so much because of the tax burden per se, but because of:
- the incredible complexity even if no tax is due
- the cost of preparation exceeds the tax due
- the injustice at being treated as criminals simply because we live overseas
- the increasing banking difficulties that point to a situation in the near future of being unable to bank anywhere (US or host country). How can one live, work or run a business if you can't bank where you live? Is the goal to make American expats an extinct species? Dual nationals are treated the very same way.
- the lack of reciprocity in the bilateral treaty: no access to tax-sheltered investments in the US and whatever tax advantageous opportunities exist in our host countries (to save for retirement for example) are not accepted under US rules (let's not mention the reporting requirements that are so out of synch with realized income!)
- the double whammy of TIPRA + host countries using our worldwide income to set the tax rate for our locally-earned one is blatant double taxation.
- the FBAR requirements are such that all of us are left wide-open to identity theft.
And on and on.
The policy is short-sighted and shall boomerang. None of this is in the US' economic or political interests.

Thanks, Bernard. This is exactly the kind of feedb...

2010-04-21T23:21:25.386-04:00

Thanks, Bernard. This is exactly the kind of feedback we need. Keep it coming. You can also always contact me at andy@aaro.org.

Keep up the good effort. I know you have to focus...

2010-04-21T09:36:47.099-04:00

Keep up the good effort. I know you have to focus on the art of the practical but not all Americans overseas are working. For those retired, the tax issues relate to pensions, investment income, tax deductions (or lack of them) the cost and complexity of meeting US requirements as well of those of where we are resident without the support of a corporate employer to pay the bills and provide the expertise can be overwhelming. Just finding out what US regulations must be complied with is daunting. The old FRAB instructions were opaque enough - the new ones incomprehensible.

grace - pandas bite!andy - bill clinton was on a m...

2009-04-03T04:24:00.000-04:00

grace - pandas bite!

andy - bill clinton was on a metro card just after his first inauguration. he is the only other president. no, they did not do either of the bushes.

and in case you're wondering, the panda bears will return to the metro cards when they sell out of the obama cards, which apparently they have yet to do. so you bringing it home with ya?

Thanks for this. I guess because Obama is just as ...

2009-04-03T03:47:00.000-04:00

Thanks for this. I guess because Obama is just as lovable as a panda.

Proud to be a New Yawker. You talkin' to me?

2009-04-01T07:31:00.000-04:00

Proud to be a New Yawker. You talkin' to me?

How to join for 20 euros? When I go to the link yo...

2009-03-31T09:08:00.000-04:00

How to join for 20 euros? When I go to the link you post it's still 60 euros.

And of course the indomitable Barbara Stern. MY ap...

2008-04-18T09:25:00.000-04:00

And of course the indomitable Barbara Stern. MY apologies for omitting her from the original list.

Kathleen de Carbuccia, Andy Coyne, Don and Mary Ad...

2008-04-18T04:37:00.000-04:00

Kathleen de Carbuccia, Andy Coyne, Don and Mary Adair Johnson, James Kigin, Margaret Lebreton, Kate Pesey, and Janet Steinmetzer make up the group. We're very grateful for their tireless efforts this past week. They return victorious!

It would be nice to have the list of the members o...

2008-04-18T00:04:00.000-04:00

It would be nice to have the list of the members of the Americans Abroad Caucus.

I watched for about an hour. It was fascinating an...

2008-04-15T12:49:00.000-04:00

I watched for about an hour. It was fascinating and fun but Susan has me worried about my Ohio ballots !! Hi Lucy, hi Mary Stewart, hi Kathleen. You all look perky and pretty. This says it's coming from Guy but it's Nan. I've never blogged before.

Thank you for this wonderful initiative. I only w...

2008-04-14T21:40:00.000-04:00

Thank you for this wonderful initiative. I only wish this blogging capability had been available during the years that I, mainly on my own, went knocking on doors on The Hill with AARO issues foremost in mind. (I was not acting as an AARO emissary.)

I would only hope that you ask, as part of your meetings with every member of Congress, that they consider supporting the voting rights bills now in the House hopper that affect overseas Americans. These are bills that AARO flagged for its members earlier this year. (I don't have the numbers easily at hand, but I'm sure those on the doorknock will have them at their fingertips.)

By support from members of Congress, I don't mean just voting for the bill/amendment when and if it reaches a vote in (sub)committee or on the House floor. I mean actively working with the House leadership through the Rules Committee, chaired by my previous Congresswoman, Louise McIntosh Slaughter, of upstate NY, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to move the bill on to the House floor and of course then across to the Senate, for a final vote this session if at all possible. AARO's members would stand to benefit substantially, and AARO itself could apply for the funds that the legislation calls for.

John Davidson, AARO member since 1986

Great stuff Andy!! I know you will represent us w...

2008-04-14T11:45:00.000-04:00

Great stuff Andy!! I know you will represent us well there. Looking forward to reading how it goes.

Andy, it's great you're doing this for us. Can't ...

2008-04-13T05:46:00.000-04:00

Andy, it's great you're doing this for us. Can't wait to see the first installment !