PREP Podcaster - ”Success Favours The PREPared Mind”

To Renounce Or Not To Renounce, That Is The Question - How To Make The Renunciation Decision

March 20, 2022 - Participants Include:

 

Karen Alpert - @FixTheTaxTreaty

Keith Redmond - @Keith__Redmond

John Richardson - @Expatriationlaw

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For many people renunciation is a very difficult decision. Citizenship is a part of one's identity. Therefore, the renunciation decision includes many different factors. Some factors (tax, finance and immigration considerations) are objective. Other factors (identity, future plans and impact on family are more subjective.

In this podcast we discuss how these issues may interact and how to be satisfied that you have made an appropriate and defensible decision.

Those interested in a more technical and tax focused discussion of renunciation may find this recent interview/discussion - Renouncing US Citizenship - between John Richardson and Peter Palsen to be of interest.

 

 

 

 

 

How The ”Fair Tax” Would End Tax Residency, Worldwide Income And Taxation Of Americans Abroad

March 17, 2022 - Participants Include:

Jim Bennett - Fair Tax

John Richardson - @Expatriationlaw

 

Albert Einstein famously remarked that:

 

"The hardest thing to understand in the world is the income tax."

 

The income tax may also be the most unfair tax.

 

Fair Tax is a leader in educating and advocating for a "Fair Tax" which imposes taxation on only consumption.

This podcast features a discussion with Jim Bennet who is one of the most focussed and prominent advocates for the "Fair Tax" in the world.

Interestingly, the enactment of the "Fair Tax" would have the unintended consequence of ending the taxation of Americans abroad.

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The concept of the income tax coupled with worldwide taxation means that "tax residents" of a country are subject to taxation on their worldwide income. This leads to enormous complexity, compliance costs, uncertainty, anxiety and unfairness.

Many countries (Canada and the United States) have both an income tax and a consumption based tax. Some countries have only a consumption tax (example Bahamas).

Because of the unfairness, discriminatory nature, complexity and cost of administering an income tax system, there is a movement toward moving toward ONLY a consumption tax system.

Nobody explains this better than Jim Bennett. I thank him for being my guest today.

Learn more about the "Fair Tax" here.

 

 

 

 

For Good And Evil: The Teaching Of Charles Adams Lesson 15

March 14, 2022 - Participants Include:

 

John Richardson - @Expatriationlaw

Jimmy Sexton - @JimmySextonLLM

 

Continuing our podcast series:

For Good And Evil Podcast 1 - October 25, 2021

For Good And Evil Podcast 2 - November 1, 2021

For Good And Evil Podcast 3 - November 8, 2021

For Good And Evil Podcast 4 - November 15, 2021

For Good And Evil Podcast 5 - November 22, 2021

For Good And Evil Podcast 6 - November 29, 2021

For Good And Evil Podcast 7 - December 7, 2021

For Good And Evil Podcast 8 - January 10, 2022

For Good And Evil Podcast 9 - January 17, 2022

For Good And Evil Podcast 10 - January 24, 2002

For Good And Evil Podcast 11 - January 31, 2022

For Good And Evil Podcast 12 - February 7, 2022

For Good And Evil Podcast 13 - February 14, 2022

For Good And Evil Podcast 14 - March 7, 2022

In this episode we continue the teaching of Charles Adams - Lesson 15:

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15. "As taxes increase, evasion increases. "

For Good And Evil: The Teaching Of Charles Adams Lesson 14

March 7, 2022 - Participants Include:

 

John Richardson - @Expatriationlaw

Jimmy Sexton - @JimmySextonLLM

 

Continuing our podcast series:

For Good And Evil Podcast 1 - October 25, 2021

For Good And Evil Podcast 2 - November 1, 2021

For Good And Evil Podcast 3 - November 8, 2021

For Good And Evil Podcast 4 - November 15, 2021

For Good And Evil Podcast 5 - November 22, 2021

For Good And Evil Podcast 6 - November 29, 2021

For Good And Evil Podcast 7 - December 7, 2021

For Good And Evil Podcast 8 - January 10, 2022

For Good And Evil Podcast 9 - January 17, 2022

For Good And Evil Podcast 10 - January 24, 2002

For Good And Evil Podcast 11 - January 31, 2022

For Good And Evil Podcast 12 - February 7, 2022

For Good And Evil Podcast 13 - February 14, 2022

In this episode we continue the teaching of Charles Adams - Lesson 14:

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14. " Wars produce new taxes and high tax rates, but when the emergency ends, governments will try to retain their newly enlarged taxing powers."

 

A March Sighting Of Mr FBAR - Losing ”Trust” In A Trust

March 4, 2022 - Participants Include:

Virginia La Torre Jeker - @VLJeker

John Richardson - @Expatriationlaw

 

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On February 23, 2002 I had the privilege of speaking with noted FBARologist Virginia La Torre Jeker. In that podcast we discussed the FBAR obligations that attach to a trust itself.  This podcast explores when the individuals who are part of the trust (settlor, trustee and beneficiaries) have FBAR obligations because of their relationship to the trust.  This podcast is based largely on Virginia's post published on March 3, 2022 which discussed this important issue.

A surprising realization is that there are circumstances when a beneficiary of a trust will not know and cannot know whether they have an FBAR obligation.

 

 

Americans Abroad Individual Advocacy - Meeting 1: February 25, 2022

February 25, 2022 - Participants Include:

 

Karen Alpert - @FixTheTaxTreaty

 

John Richardson - @Expatriationlaw

 

On February 25, 2022 Karen Alpert and John Richardson of SEAT hosted a meeting for individuals who were interested in how to advocate for tax changes for Americans abroad.

In general terms the podcast focussed on the necessity of individual advocacy and aligning with the common message of severing citizenship from tax residency.

This podcast is a recording of part of the discussion. After the podcast the recording ceased and the group engaged in general discussion.

These meetings will continue periodically.

You can find the outline for the meeting here.

In Mr. FBAR We ”Trust” (pun intended)

February 23, 2022 - Participants Include:

Virginia La Torre Jeker - @VLJeker

John Richardson - @Expatriationlaw

Prologue - Report Early! Report Often! Report Everything! Keep A Record Of What You Report!

In October of 2018, Virginia and I went "Looking For Mr. FBAR." During the last three years we have uncovered many clues, we have learned many things, but it's clear that we have not yet located Mr. FBAR. Virginia has written about many of her "sightings" in a series of "FBAR posts". I have also written a number of posts documenting the various adventures of Mr. FBAR.

Mr. FBAR is elusive. He is is simultaneously not anywhere, but everywhere. There is no weapon in the US arsenal of forms that has created such fear and uncertainty. He has even threatened certain visitors to the United States for the failure to file an FBAR.

Legal Authorization

The statutory authorization which gave birth to Mr. FBAR is found in 5314 of the Bank Secrecy Act. Most of the substantive law is found in Treasury Regulations and the IRS instructions. It's important to note that Mr. FBAR lives in Title 31 (Bank Secrecy Act) which is different from Title 26 (Internal Revenue Code).

Mr. FBAR And The Filing Obligations Of Trusts

This podcast is a discussion of how Mr. FBAR impacts "trusts". When is a trust a United States person? When must a trust file an FBAR to report the "financial accounts" of a related purpose of entity?

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Good And Evil: The Teaching Of Charles Adams Lesson11

January 31, 2022 - Participants Include:

 

John Richardson - @Expatriationlaw

Jimmy Sexton - @JimmySextonLLM

 

Continuing our podcast series:

For Good And Evil Podcast 1 - October 25, 2021

For Good And Evil Podcast 2 - November 1, 2021

For Good And Evil Podcast 3 - November 8, 2021

For Good And Evil Podcast 4 - November 15, 2021

For Good And Evil Podcast 5 - November 22, 2021

For Good And Evil Podcast 6 - November 29, 2021

For Good And Evil Podcast 7 - December 7, 2021

For Good And Evil Podcast 8 - January 10, 2022

For Good And Evil Podcast 9 - January 17, 2022

For Good And Evil Podcast 10 - January 24, 2002

 

In this episode we continue the teaching of Charles Adams - Lesson 11:

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11. "If liberty is to be defended with success against the dominance of the state, then financial privacy must be preserved. Banking privacy is one of the cornerstones of liberty, having its roots in the early principle of English law that a man's castle (primarily his treasury) is beyond the surveillance of the King."

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Amy From Sydney Take 2: To Vote Or Not To Vote - That Is The Question, Whether Tis Better To

February 11, 2022 - Participants Include:

 

Amy Purcell - @Amy_From_Sydney

John Richardson - @Expatriationlaw

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A fascinating discussion with Amy - born to a US citizen mother in Australia -  who has lived in Sydney Australia her whole life. She has visited the United States but has never had any economic connection to the United States. In other words, she is an "Accidental American".

In her first podcast Amy told her story of becoming acquainted with the "Twin Horrors Of FATCA and Taxation Based Citizenship".  In this, her second podcast, we continue the discussion with an emphasis on the importance of Americans abroad:

- becoming vocal about the injustices of FATCA and US extraterritorial taxation

- using the right to vote strategically and as an opportunity

- contributing to the struggle by doing what they can!

After all, the United States is actually imposing direct taxation on income earned in Australia by an Australian resident. It's no wonder that Amy describes this as hard to believe and "spacey".

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Amy Purcell is a an example of where perseverance and motivation can lead!

 

 

An Accidental American Describes Her ”OMG” Moment: The Twin Horrors Of FATCA And Taxation Based Citizenship

February 6, 2022 - Participants Include:

 

Amy Purcell - @Amy_From_Sydney

John Richardson - @Expatriationlaw

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A fascinating discussion with Amy - born to a US citizen mother in Australia -  who has lived in Sydney Australia her whole life. She has visited the United States but has never had any economic connection to the United States. In other words, she is an "Accidental American".

In March of 2021 she received a FATCA inquiry from her Australian bank. In this podcast she describes her "OMG Moment". She generously describes her emotions, her response (getting a Social Security Number) and filing taxes through the streamlined process.

Amy then describes her advocacy which included contact with a US based politician. Her description which was posted on Facebook included:

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"I have some fantastic news!!!

 

I finally got to meet a USA politician!!!

 

Just got off a call with David Anderson from Texas. He was shocked and surprised at the tax situation and FATCA issues faced by citizens abroad.

It is encouraging to have the support."

 

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Amy Purcell is a an example of where perseverance and motivation can lead!