The Voice of Americans Overseas
ACA is the premier advocacy organization for Americans overseas
FATCA
What is it and how might it impact me?
Taxation
US tax legislation its complicated, burdensome, unfair and makes Americans uncompetitive
Banking
US legislation is resulting in denial of financial services to Americans residing overseas
Citizenship
All Americans should have the right to transmit US citizenship to their children
Attributes Slider Disabled in Composer
Another Avenue for Americans Overseas to be Heard
House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) and Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) have launched a new website and Twitter handle asking for comments on tax reform. The new site – taxreform.gov – and Twitter handle, @simplertaxes, gives the average taxpayer input into the tax reform process and allows them to send their input, talk about their concerns and tell their stories. This opens another avenue for Americans living overseas to be heard in Washington, so use it today! More...
Latest Updates
FATCA to be Discussed in the Senate
ACA is pleased to see that legislators in Washington are becoming aware of the very damaging and destructive Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) passed in 2010. ACA fully supports the US government's efforts to combat tax evasion. However, ACA believes that the FATCA legislation has gone too far and elements of the legislation are seriously damaging the US economy and the lives of Americans working overseas. Read more...
ACA Town Hall seminar on US taxes (May 2013)
Power point presentations:
PDF version of all four presentations
“Quiet Disclosures” – The Jig is Up?
Certain findings and recommendations by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) about offshore tax evasion and the IRS efforts to combat it have many taxpayers worried. This article by ACA Country Contact Virginia La Torre Jeker points out potential problems with so-called "Quiet Disclosures" of past due tax obligations. Read more...
Supporting the Presidential Commission on Americans Living Abroad Act (H.R. 597)
Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (pictured) of New York introduced H.R. 597 which proposes the establishment of a Presidential Commission to study how Federal laws and policies affect United States citizens living abroad. Help support this legislation and Carolyn Maloney’s efforts to put focus on the concerns and interests of Americans living and working overseas.
Learn more about how you can support H.R. 597.
Record Number of Comments Submitted to Ways & Means on Tax Reform
ACA members and supporters submitted a record number of comments to the House Ways & Means Committee on Tax Reform before the April 15th, 2013 deadline. Nearly 50% of all the submissions to all the committees were in reference to overseas taxation and a majority of those in support of ACA's Residency-based taxation (RBT). The submissions highlighted how the current tax policy, FATCA legislation and FBAR reporting were negatively affecting individuals who are working overseas. Read more...
American Citizens Abroad applauds Bloomberg's recent article highlighting the plight of Americans dealing with US citizenship-based taxation. The importance of getting the word out through efforts like submissions to the House Ways & Means Committee does work and this article is evidence of that as it puts media focus on the issue. Although regrettable that Congress has been cited as putting individual taxation as secondary to corporate taxation it is clear that Congress has heard the message from Americans overseas and cannot ignore it. Again, ACA thanks all members and supporters who helped with this effort. More...
Meanwhile, the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is still requesting input on ideas and suggestions for tax reform via their website. Let TAS know your thoughts, tell them that Residency-based taxation (RBT) is an option for overseas Americans. Include the link to our ACA proposal in your comments.
For more information on how to submit your comments see the Taxpayer Advocate website.
Banking Services Dispute Resolution Open to US Citizens
The European Financial Dispute Resolution Network website is open to US citizens living in Europe who have problems with their bank accounts due to US tax reporting requirements (FBAR and FATCA). Read more...
Ambassador Donald S. Beyer, Jr. Receives ACA’s Thomas Jefferson Award
United States Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein Donald S. Beyer, Jr. was presented with the Thomas Jefferson Award at a State Department ceremony on March 26, 2013. The award is presented by American Citizens Abroad (ACA) to a U.S. State Department officer who has rendered outstanding service to Americans overseas. Read more...
ACA Proposes Residence-Based Taxation
As an alternative to Citizenship-Based Taxation (CBT), the system under which the US currently taxes its overseas citizens, ACA is proposing a new system which we are calling RBT "Residence-Based Taxation". An updated version of our proposal is being submitted to the International Tax Reform Working Group of the House Ways and Means Committee. You can submit your individual comment to the Committee. Read more...
IRS Revoking Voluntary Disclosures
It appears that the IRS is revoking numerous Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP) acceptance letters. These letters were sent after the taxpayers had filed all required 1040, FBAR and associated documentation going back 8 years, and after IRS determination that the taxpayer was not already flagged to them by some other means. Read more...