Links from Jude Ryan’s Virtual Hunger Strike

AA1

I was born in the US to a French mother and an Irish father. I left aged 5 as a result of mother's deportation. I moved to Europe where I spent all my formative years growing up in France as an ordinary French boy surrounded by my French family. I attended primary, secondary schools and university in France, I started my career there.

At birth my parents applied for a US passport on my behalf. This was used during my childhood to shuttle me back and forth between the UK and France.

Having come to regard myself as French upon majority I applied for French nationality papers. The French authorities put me through a long and complicated process to prove my entitlement to French citizenship. This process culminated in the issue of a French nationality certificate. Only then was I granted a French passport, allowed vote in French elections... Both my parents and I were advised that this process resulted in me obtaining French citizenship and losing US. From this moment onwards my US passport was never used again (and obviously never renewed either). All travel, including to the US, was on my French passport (note US customs never notified me of my continuing US citizenship, in fact they recognised me as French by issuing me with tourist visas).

All my US ties were severed by my mum's deportation - I never lived, studied, voted, worked in the US. I retained no friends or family in the US. I have therefore always regarded the US as a foreign country. I have no intention for this to change. My family is European (my wife is British and my bilingual kids are French) and my professional life is European too (I work for a French company).

Since discovering my Accidental status I have been in regular touch with the US embassy. For purely technical reasons, which I believe are wrong under US laws, they are adamant I am and remain a US citizen. They even suggested to me that I renew my US passport! Their intransigence and refusal to put their reasons down in writing is becoming rather disturbing. The only explanation I can find is that they want to force me into the US tax reporting and filing system. This is absurd - it is patently obvious that I am not a US citizen, I tried to get rid of my US citizenship!

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AA2

I was born in California to a French father and a Singaporean mother. My parents divorced when I was 18 months old. I permanently left the U.S. with my father, never to live there again. My next visit was age 27 on a French passport to meet my mother for the first time. (...).

I was raised in France by my father who instilled typical French values into me. I never considered myself to be American. Upon attaining majority I fully embraced my French citizenship by voting at all French elections and becoming actively engaged in French politics. Ever since the age of 18 I have held full time employment (...). I have always worked hard and earned an honest living, for me and my family. I have scrupulously filed all my taxes in France and until 2014 believed my record to be exemplary. Indeed how was I to know that by birth on US soil I could be considered US and therefore subject to tax in the U.S. on my worldwide income? I have never lived in the U.S. I don't even speak the language.

It beggars belief that my birth on US soil, and the painful family memories attached to this period, could come back to haunt me as an adult. (...)

Like all other Accidental Americans having lived all my life outside the U.S. I was legitimately unaware of any tax obligations I might be considered a U.S. Person and accordingly have tax filing obligations in the U.S. It was only recently following receipt of a FATCA letter from my bank that I become aware of this issue. I was in shock. I started to investigate and quickly became aware of the seriousness of the issues and the extreme gravity of the consequences (...). With my limited English I tried to make sense of all the available information (...) .

My options were very limited:

1. I ignored my bank's FATCA letter and ran the risk of being tracked down by the IRS and heavily fined by them;

2. I filed with the IRS and then renounced US nationality

I opted for a half way house - I applied for a U.S. SSN at the U.S. Embassy (as this is a prerequisite for all procedures with the IRS) but without doing any filings for the following reasons:

1. I am totally foreign to the U.S. system and have been sucked into it by accident

2. I don't speak English and do not understand the documents published by the IRS

3. The costs of compliance are astronomical (lawyer’s fees, late payment fees, $2,350 renouncement fee, etc.)

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AA3

Here is the story of a Canadian Accidental react-text: 15818 http://www.cbc.ca/.../u-s-fatca-tax-law-catches... /react-text

Summary as follows:

- 70 year old dual national US/Canadian is the mother of a mentally disabled son

- as a US citizen she passed her US citizenship on to her son

- she squirrelled away savings to enable her son to continue receiving treatment and lead a decent life after she passes away

- as her son is a US citizen and because of imperfections in the US tax system these monies will be taxed by the US authorities (in addition to her son needing to retain a US tax expert to file his taxes every year for the rest of his life)

- she cannot renounce her son's US citizenship on his behalf (he’s effectively “cursed” with being a US citizen for life)

- seemingly a person of modest means, she has spent thousands of dollars on US compliance epxert advice (which she could and should have been allowed to devote to her son)

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AA4

I was born by accident in the US in 196x of two Belgian parents. My father was reading medicine at X university at the time. They lived in the US for 2 years in total. I only lived in the US for the first 4 months of my life. I grew up and studied in Belgium. I have been working in France for the past 30 years.

For the last 3 years my bank has been harassing me to become FATCA compliant by providing either a SSN or a CLN. I signed a W9 and a specific mandate allowing the US IRS to receive information in respect of my accounts. I signed these documents in complete peace of mind as my accounts and tax situation is completely up-to-date, transparent and truthful.

Alas my bank insisted I provide an SSN and advised me to enter the Streamlined Procedure.

Obtaining an SSN is not easy. I have visited my local US embassy 3 times (4h of train) with all the necessary papers (including proof of residence out of the US for my entire life!). Then I had to contact the FBU in Paris who after numerous calls, emails and letters decided the matter should be handled by the RIS in Philadelphia. No response from the RIS. All this in English. I find it hard believe that all this wasted time and effort is explained simply by the fact US consular staff gave me the wrong advice - it transpires I needed to go to the US embassy in Paris! I am still waiting for an SSN.

In the meantime on my bank's advice I have started the Streamline Procedure. The fees of the US lawyer handling my case are USD16000. I would have liked to use my personal savings for another purpose. Unfortunately this is the price to pay before having to pay for yet another process to renounce US citizenship (as I do not want to have to file tax declarations in the US for the rest of my life and want my freedom back).

My bank has made it clear to me that if I am not 'compliant' they will close my accounts.

At times I do feel like I am the victim of a racket run by the US.

I have no idea how my situation will play out.

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AA5

"I have four children under the age of 10. The oldest was 4 years old when we moved to France. The next two were 3 years old and 13 months old. The youngest was born here. Our choices when they turn 18 will be that they either submit to all the problems that regular expats have (banking problems, the illegality of saving for retirement in America, punitive taxation of savings for retirement outside the US) OR I will have to come up with $9,400 so that all four can relinquish. These kids don't remember America, they don't feel American, they have no relationship with any American family members, and the youngest 2 don't even speak all that much English. But they are U.S. tax persons nonetheless. It's hard to instill any pride in them about their "American" side when I am stressed out every time the mail comes, wondering if today is going to be the day that I lose my local checking account and with it, the ability to pay our rent. Or when I am panicked every time tax time comes around, wondering if this is the year that I will make a mistake on the FBARs and have my life savings (which isn't much) wiped out by the penalties."

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AA6

"I have four children under the age of 10. The oldest was 4 years old when we moved to France. The next two were 3 years old and 13 months old. The youngest was born here. Our choices when they turn 18 will be that they either submit to all the problems that regular expats have (banking problems, the illegality of saving for retirement in America, punitive taxation of savings for retirement outside the US) OR I will have to come up with $9,400 so that all four can relinquish. These kids don't remember America, they don't feel American, they have no relationship with any American family members, and the youngest 2 don't even speak all that much English. But they are U.S. tax persons nonetheless. It's hard to instill any pride in them about their "American" side when I am stressed out every time the mail comes, wondering if today is going to be the day that I lose my local checking account and with it, the ability to pay our rent. Or when I am panicked every time tax time comes around, wondering if this is the year that I will make a mistake on the FBARs and have my life savings (which isn't much) wiped out by the penalties."

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AA7

"I have four children under the age of 10. The oldest was 4 years old when we moved to France. The next two were 3 years old and 13 months old. The youngest was born here. Our choices when they turn 18 will be that they either submit to all the problems that regular expats have (banking problems, the illegality of saving for retirement in America, punitive taxation of savings for retirement outside the US) OR I will have to come up with $9,400 so that all four can relinquish. These kids don't remember America, they don't feel American, they have no relationship with any American family members, and the youngest 2 don't even speak all that much English. But they are U.S. tax persons nonetheless. It's hard to instill any pride in them about their "American" side when I am stressed out every time the mail comes, wondering if today is going to be the day that I lose my local checking account and with it, the ability to pay our rent. Or when I am panicked every time tax time comes around, wondering if this is the year that I will make a mistake on the FBARs and have my life savings (which isn't much) wiped out by the penalties."

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AA8

"I have four children under the age of 10. The oldest was 4 years old when we moved to France. The next two were 3 years old and 13 months old. The youngest was born here. Our choices when they turn 18 will be that they either submit to all the problems that regular expats have (banking problems, the illegality of saving for retirement in America, punitive taxation of savings for retirement outside the US) OR I will have to come up with $9,400 so that all four can relinquish. These kids don't remember America, they don't feel American, they have no relationship with any American family members, and the youngest 2 don't even speak all that much English. But they are U.S. tax persons nonetheless. It's hard to instill any pride in them about their "American" side when I am stressed out every time the mail comes, wondering if today is going to be the day that I lose my local checking account and with it, the ability to pay our rent. Or when I am panicked every time tax time comes around, wondering if this is the year that I will make a mistake on the FBARs and have my life savings (which isn't much) wiped out by the penalties."

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AA9

I am Canadian, married to an Accidental American, but we only found this out this summer, and it has turned our world upside down

My husband was born in xxx just because it was the closest hospital to the small border town his parents lived in (...). He was taken home within a day of his birth, and lived his entire life up to now right in this same area. He grew up on a farm, and always dreamed of one day owning his own farm. We worked day and night to make that dream come true, went without to pay for the necessities, raised our children on our farm. Up until a few months ago, we were in the process of semi-retiring and our son taking over the farm, but now that seems impossible. We are faced with huge accounting fees, because there is so much work involved to comply when you own a business, and we will also face huge capital gains if we sell. All this just because of where he was born, it seems like we don't have the right to live here in Canada. Our tax-free savings will be taxed, our investments will be taxed because they are "foreign" investments?? How are they foreign, we are Canadians!! Because we own a farm, we have over 2 million dollars in assets, so he can't renounce without paying the exit tax. We are trapped, and for what? Because the US owns him? Because you need our money more than we do? We get nothing in return! I really don't think you fully understand what this is doing to so many Accidentals who knew nothing about this until now. The amount of money you will get from us will make little difference to you, but will most likely bankrupt us and ruin our lives, lives we have struggled to make a success (...). I have had to start taking anti-depressants and sleeping pills just to carry on. My husband is angry and moody, very hard to get along with. I fear that if this goes bad and he has to pay huge taxes, that I will lose him, he will kill himself before he will watch his farm fail and our son's future be ruined. This is my biggest fear.

Another problem here is that it is impossible to know where to turn, we have accountants everywhere who don't know a thing about doing this and they just scare people (...). The work involved in this was astronomical! My entire summer was swallowed up between farm work and US tax work!!

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AA10

I am a Canadian married to an Accidental American. In 2013, before we had heard a word about US Citizen based taxation, I received an inheritance from my family. I invested it at the bank I did business with at that time, and the "financial planner" recommended I invest it jointly with my husband, so, considering I have no knowledge of investments, I followed her blindly and did what she said was best. She never asked either of us our citizenship or place of birth. So now we are in a terrible mess. We have found out now that we can't even split the money in half, invest half in my name, half in his name, because the US will consider it as a "gift" to me and he will have to pay gift tax?? So, investing is nearly impossible. He has to cash in his TFSA because it is useless to him. No mutual funds. There is a certain amount he can give me back each year I guess without paying gift tax. I do realize in this case the person we hired to invest for us is to blame for our dilemma, but we also lay a lot of blame on the US government, who thinks it is okay to tax an Accidental dual who lives in another county as if that county is "foreign". We planned on investing this inheritance and let it grow so we would be able to help out our children and grandchildren and have financial security ourselves in our "golden years". Well, thanks to ridiculous US laws, our golden years will be quite tarnished. This is just one problem we have with CBT and his dual citizenship, the yearly tax returns will cost us a fortune, not to mention any taxes, interest, penalties we will have to pay. Our nest egg is gone, and it is heartbreaking to us. Please consider what your country is doing to Accidentals around the world. You want to be respected, well it takes respect to get respect. We don't get anything from the US, why should we owe you our life's savings?

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AA11

I was born in xxx in the USA. My parents, both French, worked in the US for 2 years before returning to France when I was aged 18 months. Just before my 18th birthday my parents applied for a US passport “just in case”. I never lived in the US again, I never worked there, I don’t have a US social security number…

I have been working in Paris for the last 5 years. All my clients are French, I pay all my taxes in France… However, I just received a letter from my bank asking me to report myself to the US IRS. I am dumbfounded. I had no idea I had any reporting obligations towards the US. It seems an aberration to pay income tax twice and in particular to a country where I am not a resident and that has no connection to my professional activities.

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AA12

Today I spent the morning in the US Consulate in X. I was there to apply as an accidental US citizen for a social security number. Remember, remember the 5th of November…I certainly will.

This was my first visit to the US Consulate in X. The purpose of the building is ambiguous from the exterior: is it a prison for keeping people inside or a fortification for keeping people out? Is it seeking to intimidate with its metal grilled windows and its series of high steel fences built bang in the middle of a working class residential area and opposite the main Cemetery or is it so scared of the outside world it needs to shield itself away from the heart of the city? It doesn't show pride or emanate confidence. It is not opening or welcoming.

Once past the five guard posts I am sent to a corridor with counters arranged in strange corners. I wait about 20 minutes before a [local] lady answers the bell which a sign suggests I ring. Today I didn't come across any US nationals working at the Consulate although I have spoken to a couple on the phone - who incidentally also told me that they were having problems getting local banking services - perhaps they have all gone?

I then spend an hour or so standing in a corridor presenting the documents which prove I have never lived in the US to an official who has to run off to consult a number of times. I am glad I brought my history of [city] to pass the time. It keeps me calm learning something new about my hometown during the periods the official disappears and then the periods for disclosing personal details resume. I speak though a microphone while standing in a public corridor with four impatient people behind me all keen to get on with their own applications. At one point I turn to them to explain that the US wants to know where I have been since June 1968, with a complete paper trail, and so far we'd reached 1986. It could take quite some time.

How would you prove your life? In my case, it has meant contacting three primary schools, one senior school (lucky there), two universities, documentation for France, Japan, the Netherlands and Germany and a trawl of personal archives. Quite a linguistic tour de force. Let's hope you don't return it all asking for translations.

I have to perform this absurd act of proving that I have never lived in the US, have no connection with it beyond birth, because I urgently need to renounce any taint of being a US person to retrieve my family's savings. Getting into the system to get out of the system is the first step for many accidentals. My Great Aunt lived for years around the corner from your Consulate. In the 1930s the oppressive totalitarian Nazi state required my German family to prove their background to its satisfaction. In comparison having to go back to June1968 in documentary evidence is an easier task than getting back to eighteenth century Swabia. But it has shocked me to my democratic core that the US demands that I go through this deeply intrusive, incredibly time-consuming, absurd process.

I am an accidental American, born in the US to X parents and I left when I was only three months old. When they left my parents were told I could become a US citizen if I lived in the US for three years before my age of majority. And when the US Embassy in London issued me with a visa in 1986 despite my US birthplace and the US border guards admitted me about 17 times over three decades without challenge despite my declaration of a US birthplace it seemed clear to all of us that I was simply a British citizen. The US authorities certainly never treated me as US

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citizen until now - well let's see if that application is successful. The London Embassy this year has expressed its regret for any confusion caused by that visa but it has so far refused to rectify its error and treat it as an act of renunciation. I know you US persons don't play cricket, but can't you find some fair rules to play by? Exploitation and extortion seem to be your guiding principles. Or is it ineptitude coupled with opportunism?

Through its FATCA processes my X bank identified me as a potential US person and blocked my family's accounts in October because of my status. My European spouse and children suffer financial harm along side me. And that is the reason I found myself in the grey corridor standing by a window covered in bars detailing my life to a complete stranger for her to send in to Baltimore for further analysis by nameless and faceless strangers over the next 4 to 6 months. I need the number rather more urgently than that I explained. The official does her best but she can't control the application process.

The light at the end of this tunnel is my freedom. I grieve though for the loss of that feeling that the world is my oyster. RIght now I cannot travel to the US - orange isn't really my colour and having been in your Consulate I dread to think what your prisons are like. You'll probably put my name in your black book. You'll say I'm 'a traitor' of a country to which I have no allegiance which is now intent on punishing me for having been born on its soil. I loved some of your landscapes; I've enjoyed some of your cities, I have dear American friends and I would have loved to have shared that joy with my children. I now accept that we won't be going and instead I rejoice that I have the freedom to be a European in Europe.

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AA13

I was born in 196X in X USA to French parents.

At the time of my birth my father was a graduate student in the U.S

I only lived in the U.S. a handful of months after my birth. Since then I lived all my life in France - education, personal life, family life, career (and therefore taxation) all in France.

My only other contacts with the U.S. (other than my birthplace) were a short visit as a tourist and requesting a U.S. passport aged 18. I did this because at the time it seemed rather 'exotic' and the only issue with dual citizenship I was informed of at the time was conscription in the army.

Following the implementation of FATCA my bank asked me for a W9 and advised me to pay taxes in the U.S.

I started my own due diligence.

I spoke with several U.S. lawyers who advised me their fees for the necessary US tax filings would cost me in the region of USD12,000 to USD20,000 and that as they were extremely busy they would not be able to assist for quite some time.

To start the process I applied for a U.S. SSN which in turn requires a U.S. birth certificate.

After 2 months I successfully obtained my U.S. birth certificate - the request must be made by notarial deed and must be made in person at the U.S. embassy in Paris!

Another 6 months later - having obtained my SSN - I must now provide a raft of documents, all issued by third parties, proving that I have lived all my life in France! I have to adduce school reports, health reports, pay slips, exam records and the lust goes on. At present, with the assistance of my parents and others, I am trying to piece together the necessary paperwork.

This FATCA imposed process is nothing more than a waste of time, money and efforts for all parties involved.

Suffice to say that I deeply regret being born on US soil.

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AA14

How FACTA has ruined my life. I was born in [USA] in 1979 to 2 French parents. My father worked there from 1977-81. Since 1981 I have only been back once on a French passport. Whilst I was aware of my dual nationality, my US nationality was never used. I never renewed the US passport my parents obtained from me at birth. I discovered the consequences of being a a US person at my father's death in 2014 when my bank refused to open the necessary probate accounts unless I could provide a CLN or a W9. In effect his inheritance was blocked for me and also my mother and brothers As a lawyer I was aware of FATCA, however, I never thought it would affect me given I left the US 30 years ago and have no assets there. Also, the universal norm is RBT, not CBT. Expecting Accidentals to pay taxes in the US defies logic. I contacted the US Embassy in Paris. Initially I wanted to retain my US nationality however in order to complete a W9 I was advised I needed a SSN. I order to obtain a SSN I was advised I needed a current US passport which in turn required a US birth certificate. Mine could not be located. To have a copy issued to me VitalCheck required a notarised document. As the notarial services at US embassies do not legalise/apostille birth certificates I would have to fly to the US in person Having become a prisoner of this "kafkaesque" situation I decided to renounce my nationality (my husband and I were moving to Switzerland for work and without a CLN I could not open accounts there). Thinking I could "buy" my freedom I completed the paperwork and paid the $2350 fee. On the day of my appointment after 2h of waiting in a small windowless cell - and having been denied assistance as my English is not good - I finally renounced. When I asked the consular officer if now things would become easier, they retorted that "this was not their business". I received my CLN 3 months later. This allowed me to open accounts in Switzerland, however, my FATCA misery is far from over as I must become compliant with the IRS. The consular officer at the US embassy told me that they had seen several cases like mine and that the IRS was rather lenient as regards the need for an SSN. This is not correct. When I contacted the IRS their response was that not steps could be taken without a tax number but that this was not urgent if I didn't owe them anything! Not urgent? My father's inheritance remains blocked as my bank is insisting on receiving a W9. I am back at square one - I need a SSN but without a US birth certificate this is impossible yet the US embassy was willing to issue me with CLN so surely that means at some stage I was a US person?! No solution is being offered by the US embassy, worse they are now ignoring my requests for assistance (on the internet I discovered the existence of ITINs I have contacted the embassy about this but am without a response 2 months later). In the meantime my father's inheritance remains blocked

*********************************************************************************************************Returning to this poor lady's story, 18 months after her father's demise and her French bank is still blocking the succession! Why?

She has since renounced her unwanted US citizenship, obtained a CLN (paying a hefty USD2350 fee for this luxury) and yet her bank will do nothing until she provides them with a US SSN.

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AA15

I was born in the U.S. to French parents in 197x. I permanently left the U.S. at the age of 3 months for France. I obtained a U.S. passport aged 18. This passport was never used. I have never worked or had any economic activities in or related to the U.S. I work as an employee for a company in XXX where I pay all taxes I owe.

This year my French bank reported me to the U.S. IRS (given my place of birth) and advised me to file taxes in the U.S. I replied that having never lived or worked in the U.S. I do not have a SSN, a prerequisite for any tax filings in the U.S.

I approached the U.S. Embassy in XXX to obtain an SSN. When my SSN was issued to me only then did the Embassy inform me I would be subject to double taxation and that I have to declare all my income in XXX to the U.S. IRS and that failure to do so would subject me to a 5 year audit, a possible prison sentence and significant fines.

Irrespective of whether I file or not it my ability to obtain ordinary banking services in both France and XXX is in jeopardy simply because of my "US indicium" and the FATCA issues this entails.

In effect I am offered the choice either:

1. Retain US nationality, file back taxes for 3 years (paying any amounts I owe to the U.S. - and in return for which I have received nothing - and possibly also steep penalties), suffer severe restrictions on my ability to access banking services, pay double tax every year of my life and every year report all my bank accounts (as naturally none of my accounts are located in the U.S.) to the U.S. Authorities.

2. Renounce US citizenship, file and pay back taxes for 5 years (and possibly penalties too), pay an exit tax on my worldwide assets, pay a USD 2350 renunciation fee, suffer potential restrictions on my ability to travel to the U.S., report all my accounts to the U.S. Authorities for the past 6 years and hire a U.S. tax specialist (at huge expense) to assist me with the above.

There is no choice here as neither option is satisfactory to someone in my position.

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AA16

I was born a free European. I am free to love, live, work and save in Europe without a government frowning at my personal choices. I married a European person and we have European children. Since my bank labelled me a US person I have ceased to be free to live and invest and those restrictions are harming not just me but my immediate family too.

I am no longer free to invest as a European: my bank refuses to allow me to continue my rather dull investments because I am a US person. I could be kicked out of my pensions for the same reason. The bank also blocked my joint accounts held with my European husband because my status infects jointly held assets.

So having seen ourselves as four Brits living in our house in the middle of our street, we are now treated as three aliens and an accidental American.

I am on my way out and filing US taxes. My tax adviser explained last week that the US tax code will not recognize my children because they are not American. So does that mean the US tax system will not allow me deductions for my non-American children? Apparently so. No equality before the law for aliens. I find this repugnant. My children cannot be any different from American children, but in your eyes they do not merit an acknowledgement or the same treatment as American children.

It is also a way for you to increase my taxable income allowing the US to tax more of the income which has already been taxed in my country of residence - and spent on the children. I find it extraordinary that the entire system is allowed to discriminate in this xenophobic way.

I am keeping a careful watch out for buses and other hazards these days. I really don't want to die as an accidental American. I want to regain my freedom first and I want to ensure the financial security of my family. If I do die as a US person, your US tax system makes another unjustifiable grab at my assets. Usually a state acknowledges the special bond of spouses and the need to safeguard a family's financial health after the death of a spouse or parent. The US does not if one spouse is an 'alien' nor if the children are aliens. Instead the US imposes a penal rate of estate tax on this disposal outside the US. Why do you hate non-Americans so much that you take from orphans and steal from spouses?

Are you so concerned that US assets may leave the US? In the case of an accidental death of an accidental American it is not as though the assets have ever been part of your economy. This is expropriation of assets from European (and other foreign families) to the US for the flimsiest of reasons: I was born on US soil but left within weeks. Why should you receive anything from me? But regardless of the accidental American issue, it is repugnant for a state to punish people for marrying outside the US.

Real Americans I know who have married Europeans have managed their affairs so that they have no assets in their name here - which leaves them in an incredibly vulnerable position if the European spouse kicks their clogs before they do or leaves.

The normal pattern of joint accounts and shared assets doesn't work if you are a US person. You can't share as then the brutal burdens of compliance are imposed on your non-American spouse.

The financial nightmare for an accidental American is when you realize your status will affect not only your own financial health but that of the entire family. You contaminate your spouse's and children's savings with your status and US divests your spouse of his assets because they are also in your name. You haven't structured accounts in the US way and will be punished.

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AA17

Over forty years ago I left the US following employment opportunities available for my late husband. We had two beautiful children born abroad and over the years our new nation became home. My children have lived their entire lives in Canada and consider themselves Canadian only. Canada has provided a save environment for them to grow in, a solid education, provided health care and given grants and scholarships for post-graduate education. They have never asked for nor received anything from the US.

One unfortunate day about a year ago I was astounded, as you must understand how counterintuitive this is, to find out that the US considers my children Americans for tax purposes. They are now in their early thirties, just beginning to get their careers firmly established and now you are seeking to bankrupt them. Bankrupt them for form delinquency, for forms they nor I had ever heard about. At this stage they cannot afford to renounce US citizenship nor come into compliance. Nor should they have to come into compliance or renounce something they never wanted in the first place. This is simply absurd, abusive, immoral and nothing other than entrapment.

Can you imagine being a parent and having to tell your children that, because of your place of birth, they will now lose everything they have worked so hard to attain? Imagine telling your children who you have tried your very best to raise as people of integrity and honesty to lie to banks if they ever ask if your parent(s) are American? Imagine a parent actually begging their child to perjure themselves? Imagine trying to explain how perjury is justified when faced with unjust laws? Imagine explaining that America, the nation that you have taught them to honour, to feel so very proud of their roots leading back to the Mayflower, is an unjust nation, a nation to be feared, a heritage to be denied at all costs?

My daughter will be marrying a Canadian fellow next Spring. I have had to advise them to have no joint bank accounts and to place the home they are purchasing this month only in his name. Her fiancée is starting a business and wants her to be co-owner but he cannot. When the day comes that she might wish to be a stay home mom she will have no access to the family accounts and, having no income of her own, will be in an extremely untenable position. She cannot be holder of any tax deferred savings vehicles offered in Canada for herself nor their future children, compromising their ability as a couple to save.

Can you possibly grasp the vulnerable position, because of my place of birth, that I have placed my children in? The only small stroke of luck is that they themselves do not have a US place of birth. I hope to God you never find them.

As a once proud "Daughter of the Mayflower " I never thought I could feel this amount of rage and hatred towards my once loved nation. You have come after my children and I will never forgive you.

18

AA18

Over forty years ago I left the US following employment opportunities available for my late husband. We had two beautiful children born abroad and over the years our new nation became home. My children have lived their entire lives in Canada and consider themselves Canadian only. Canada has provided a save environment for them to grow in, a solid education, provided health care and given grants and scholarships for post-graduate education. They have never asked for nor received anything from the US.

One unfortunate day about a year ago I was astounded, as you must understand how counterintuitive this is, to find out that the US considers my children Americans for tax purposes. They are now in their early thirties, just beginning to get their careers firmly established and now you are seeking to bankrupt them. Bankrupt them for form delinquency, for forms they nor I had ever heard about. At this stage they cannot afford to renounce US citizenship nor come into compliance. Nor should they have to come into compliance or renounce something they never wanted in the first place. This is simply absurd, abusive, immoral and nothing other than entrapment.

Can you imagine being a parent and having to tell your children that, because of your place of birth, they will now lose everything they have worked so hard to attain? Imagine telling your children who you have tried your very best to raise as people of integrity and honesty to lie to banks if they ever ask if your parent(s) are American? Imagine a parent actually begging their child to perjure themselves? Imagine trying to explain how perjury is justified when faced with unjust laws? Imagine explaining that America, the nation that you have taught them to honour, to feel so very proud of their roots leading back to the Mayflower, is an unjust nation, a nation to be feared, a heritage to be denied at all costs?

My daughter will be marrying a Canadian fellow next Spring. I have had to advise them to have no joint bank accounts and to place the home they are purchasing this month only in his hame. Her fiancée is starting a business and wants her to be co-owner but he cannot. When the day comes that she might wish to be a stay home mom she will have no access to the family accounts and, having no income of her own, will be in an extremely untenable position. She cannot be holder of any tax deferred savings vehicles offered in Canada for herself nor their future children, compromising their ability as a couple to save.

Can you possibly grasp the vulnerable position, because of my place of birth, that I have placed my children in? The only small stroke of luck is that they themselves do not have a US place of birth. I hope to God you never find them.

As a once proud "Daughter of the Mayflower " I never thought I could feel this amount of rage and hatred towards my once loved nation. You have come after my children and I will never forgive you.

19

AA19

I am a Canadian married to an Accidental American. In 2013, before we had heard a word about US Citizen based taxation, I received an inheritance from my family. I invested it at the bank I did business with at that time, and the "financial planner" recommended I invest it jointly with my husband, so, considering I have no knowledge of investments, I followed her blindly and did what she said was best. She never asked either of us our citizenship or place of birth. So now we are in a terrible mess. We have found out now that we can't even split the money in half, invest half in my name, half in his name, because the US will consider it as a "gift" to me and he will have to pay gift tax?? So, investing is nearly impossible. He has to cash in his TFSA because it is useless to him. No mutual funds. There is a certain amount he can give me back each year I guess without paying gift tax. I do realize in this case the person we hired to invest for us is to blame for our dilemma, but we also lay a lot of blame on the US government, who thinks it is okay to tax an Accidental dual who lives in another county as if that county is "foreign". We planned on investing this inheritance and let it grow so we would be able to help out our children and grandchildren and have financial security ourselves in our "golden years". Well, thanks to ridiculous US laws, our golden years will be quite tarnished. This is just one problem we have with CBT and his dual citizenship, the yearly tax returns will cost us a fortune, not to mention any taxes, interest, penalties we will have to pay. Our nest egg is gone, and it is heartbreaking to us. Please consider what your country is doing to Accidentals around the world. You want to be respected, well it takes respect to get respect. We don't get anything from the US, why should we owe you our life's savings?

20

AA20

I was born in [US] in 198xx. I returned to France [4 years later] with dual nationality. I have no family in the US. My only tie is a couple of family friends with whom I stayed when I visited the country as a 12 year old. Once upon a time I did hold a US passport [that my French parents applied for on my behalf] however it expired years ago and has never been renewed.

I never worked in the US and have no plans to either. I have worked in France since attaining majority. I pay my taxes in France and hold French identity documents and travel documents.

Earlier this year [2015] i received a letter from my French bank asking me to complete a W9 as, born in the US, I am a “US person” and according to FATCA I must disclose my finances to the US IRS!?!

In this W9 I must provide either an SSN or a TIN. Having spent a considerable amount of time trying to understand what these were I found out that I don’t possess either as (i) I never worked in the US and (ii) these are not automatically issued at birth.

My French bank was incapable of advising me on what I needed to do or what the consequences of being a “US person” were for me. The only thing my bank would tell me is that I must have an SSN which is not the case.

After a bit of internet research I discovered that I am supposed to make tax filings in the US every year in addition to my French tax filings!!! I was so stressed, I became sicjk and depressed! I also discovered that US tax filings are (unlike French filings) impossible to complete without the help of a US specialist who charge fees ranging from USD4,000 to USD15,000 per year!!! [note this person doesn’t speak English either]

I enquired as to what I needed to do to renounce this unwanted US citizenship and I was informed I would need to make at least 2 appointments at the US embassy in Paris [note: this person lives a long way from Paris] and pay USD2,500 [sic] and that the outcome is uncertain - my request can be refused by the US authorities!?

Today IU am lost and have no idea what to do. My bank keeps chasing and threatening me. I can’t sleep, I am totally stressed out. My elder sibling is in the same boat as me. He doesn’t know what the US authorities have in store for him yet. I am going to alert him.

21

AA21

[AA21 is the elder sibling referred to, above, by AA20]

22

AA22

I am from a family of 6 kids. Three of my siblings were born in Canada and two (plus myself) were born in the US. Our mother was American and father Canadian.

Three of us are retired with assets predominantly in our homes which we are all relying upon to find our retirement for us and spouse. Additionally there is an RDSP plan for an offspring with a disability which to my understanding is not exempt. Needless to say, this move by the IRS and US government has thrown our financial future into question.

None of us feel we need or should file US taxes. We have all only ever worked in Canada. We left as children. We have no intention of participating or getting caught in this very big sweep.

23

[AA23, AA24, AA25, AA26, AA27, are siblings of AA22.]

24

AA28

After my divorce in the US in 197x I returned to (my homeland) Canada with my 3 year old son who is now in his mid 40ies. He became a Canadian citizen around 1994 therefore becoming a dual citizen. My ex-husband (US citizen) and I did not realize that he was obligated to file a US tax return until this whole FATCA thing arose.

He runs his own small business earning a decent living, is married to a Canadian and has one child. Recently he wanted to start doing some stock market investments but every bank asks what country he was born in and such things as 'are you a US person for tax purposes'. Fortunately he already had his bank accounts so that 'personal' and prejudicial question was never asked when opening his accounts. If he answers that prejudicial question that puts him directly on the IRS radar as Canadian banks are obligated to report such citizens to our tax agency.

Never having filed US tax forms (for which he does not owe anything) he would have to back file for several years, plus probably a pay a penalty. Just to catch up on the back filing will cost around USD 7,000.

25

AA29

British Foreign Minister

26

AA30

I was born in [USA] in the early eighties when my Austrian parents stayed in the US for one year. I have never been to the US again with the exception of one 3 week vacation. Until recently I wasn't exactly sure about me being an US citizen because people here in Austria told me conflicting things. I never really looked into it myself until it affected my life here in Austria.

I wanted to open a new bank account which I couldn't do because of FATCA. I needed to either confirm I am no US citizen (which I am because of my birth place and never renouncing my citizenship) or fill out a form which allows the bank to send data to the IRS (form W-9) which I can't fill out because I have no US Social Security Number (the only US document I have is my birth certificate). After doing research on my problem I found out that I have to file my taxes and should have done so ever since I have an income.

I also found out I should have registered with the "Selective Service System" when I turned 18.

In Austria as an employee there isn't much one has to do himself concerning taxes because it is mostly automatic. As far as I know in the US that is different. Is it easy or does one need professional help to file taxes? I guess I won't have to pay much in US taxes because there is a double taxation treaty between the US and Austria

The first step to take is probably to get an US passport at the embassy? Which I can use to get a social security number to use with the IRS. Any other things I need to take care of?

Also it seems if I need to get help I will need to get someone from the US since there don't seem too many knowledgeable people in Austria when it comes to US taxes.

27

AA31

M. and J. Legrand are citizens and bona fide residents of France. M. is also an “accidental” US citizen. She was born in NY City where her parents worked as foreign researchers at a US university (...). M.left the US for France with her parents at the age of 3. As an adult, she visited the US for brief periods on several occasions prior to 2006, but has never worked in the US. Over 20 years of employment, M. and her husband have saved about 800k Euros for retirement that are invested in mutual funds and certificates of deposit. In 2014, when visiting the US again, M. learned of the requirement to report worldwide income and the information reporting requirements associated with certain foreign financial assets and accounts, and realized that her retirement savings met the reporting thresholds. When she returned to France, M. attempted to comply but could not find free tax assistance. She became anxious about the potential FBAR and FATCA penalties that could negatively affect her retirement savings. As a result, she had to pay for tax preparation, plus an additional fee to discuss any FBAR and FATCA reporting questions with her advisor. In addition, upon learning that M. is a dual U.S. French citizen, the small local bank where the couple had held joint accounts for over a decade suggested that the Legrands either close the accounts or remove M. from them, so that the bank can avoid costs and risks associated with FATCA.

28

AA32

Here is an interview of a Canadian Accidental who got caught up in your #FATCA mess:

react-text: 17423 http://www.cbc.ca/.../how-fatca-lead-to-one-woman.../ /react-text

She is not a tax evader.

If you listen to her interview you will note:

- she has no real connection to the US. She never lived there. She never worked there. She never sought any benefits from her US citizenship.

- she never “chose” her US nationality: remember nationality is a fundamental human right; the operative word here is “right”.

- the costs and complexity of overseas tax filings for US persons

- the inability of the IRS to cope and the stonewalling of Accidentals

- the waste inherent in the current system: this lady spent thousands of US dollars to end up owing nothing to the IRS. What a waste of her time and money but also of the already stretched resources of the IRS.

- the punitive nature of the penalties levied by the IRS

29

AA33

I was born in 196x in X, USA of two French parents from X, France who moved to the US to work and escape poverty in their region. I returned to France in 196x with my parents. I was aged 9 months at the time. All my schooling was in the French educational system. I worked all my life in X, France.

In 197x aged 18 I decided to visit the US on holiday. I asked my local US consulate for a visa and I was advised that given I was born on US soil I acquired US citizenship at birth and therefore in order to visit the US I need a US passport. Accordingly I applied for a US passport.

I returned to the US on holiday 4 or 5 times between 197x and 199x. I never worked in the US. I have never been back to the US since 199x.

I started working in France aged 17 and have worked in France continually since. I have always paid my taxes in France. I became a French civil servant in 200x.

In the autumn of 2014 I received a letter from my bank in relation to my "US indicium" and requesting that I submit a W9 form to the US IRS. This letter went on to mention that if I failed to respond they would report me to the US IRS. I was deeply shocked by the contents of this letter and in particular its snooping tone and threats of delation - how can someone be reported simply because of their nationality? What is the difference with the fate that befell Jews during the Second World War? I was also shocked that as a French citizen my most intimate personal details could be shared with the government of a country other than my country of residence and nationality and also my employer - France.

Once over the initial shock and after extensive research on #FATCA I decide to follow the instructions of my bank placing my faith in the French government - if they agreed to #FATCA then this would have been on an informed basis and with safeguards in place to ensure French citizens were not going to be extorted by a foreign government. In addition I found information on the US embassy's webpage indicating that there is an exemption on foreign earned income (FEI exclusion form 2555-EZ).

As I wanted to prove that I was not a tax cheat I followed the rules: I applied for a US SSN and had to travel over 600km to Paris for this in late 2014.

In early 2015 I filed my tax return with the IRS still under the belief that as I pay all my taxes in France I won't be liable to pay tax in the US. Indeed article 15 of the Franco American tax treaty stipulates that salaries are taxed in the state where the salary is earned. Article 19 goes on to provide the same for civil servants and state employees.

When I filed my return with the IRS I used the Euro as I was given no guidance as to the applicable exchange rate to be used. I mentioned that my salary was paid in France and that I had paid all French taxes.

I decided to file simply in order to renounce my unwanted and unused US citizenship and to put an end to the harassment I was suffering and also because I have always considered myself French and European but never American.

In August 2015 I received a letter from the US intimating me to pay USDxxxx!!

30

I am shocked. I don't understand what is happening.

In October 2015 I receive a reminder from the IRS. Late payment fees have been added to the amount they are claiming from me.

In November 2015 I call the IRS. I explain my situation. I speak with a lady who says she doesn't understand a thing about my situation and who agrees to look into the problem for me.

I am reassured. I am expecting to receive a letter from the IRS advising me that they made a mistake and that I don't owe them anything.

But the opposite happens: in January 2016 I receive another chaser from the IRS with even more late payment fees added to the claimed amount. The lady I spoke with at the IRS did nothing and never got back to me. Either her hierarchy decided it was appropriate to tax me or her empathy was a lie.

31

[AA34 Lois Keuttel, plaintif in Bopp/Paul law suit. Link 15]

32

AA35

I was born in NY in 1960. At the time my French parents were living in the US. I have 2 brothers who were also born in NY.

We returned to France as a family in 1966 and since then I have no contacts with the US. I never asked the US for anything and received nothing in return.

All my studies were in France. I completed my military service in France in 1981. All my career was in France. Obviously all my life I have been a French taxpayer. I travel with a French passport.

In the 1970ies my mother enquired about our US status and the US embassy repoed that me and my brothers would need to make an express demand at majority to become US citizens. We never did this. In any event their response was completely inaccurate.

Since #FATCA I have been harassed by my French bank to prove my US nationality which I is impossible. There is a very distinct possibility all my accounts will be closed.

I have no ties to the US and no existing US papers. I want to resolve my situation with my banks. To complete their forms I need a US SSN which obviously I don’t have. The #USembassyParis will not help me with this.

How am I supposed to manage this surreal situation ?! The French tax authorities will soon pass my details on to the IRS, a third country. France is my sole and only country of nationality.

I believe all Accidental Americans in my position must be defended by our home countries, in my case France.

33

[AA36, AA37 are brothers of AA35.]

34

AA38

I was born on US soil in 1972 to French parents. At the time my father was a researcher at a US university. I left the US aged 14 months. After that I only ever returned to the US for short visits as a kid to see my father and later in life on holiday.

I completed my military service in France as a doctor. I believed this resulted in me losing my US citizenship. However, recently, my bank informed me that given my place of birth I owe taxes to the #IRS. This was also confirmed to me by the #USembassyParis.

As an « #AccidentalAmerican » I am alarmed at the expensive, intrusive and unfair procedures I must go through in order to become compliant for US purposes. Sadly my case is not an isolated one.

What I also understand is that for the rest of my life I will be subject to 2 separate tax systems, with the least advantageous system always applying to me.

The legal bill to return to compliance is enormous – I have been quoted Eur 3k to 15k. To add insult to injury I have been informed that my life insurance policy will likely be rescinded.

35

AA39

Attached is a link to the blog of a young US expat who recently found out about their overseas reporting and filing obligations.

react-text: 17932 http://thedualist.net/ /react-text

This blogger is a dual US/UK citizen by birth & who settled with their family in the UK in their early teens. Recently they found out about overseas tax filing and reporting obligations for US persons, not through a US Government outreach campaign, but by chance through a random conversation with a stranger.

36

AA40

react-text: 18061 http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/.../TONY-HETHERINGTON-son... /react-text

In 1952, David's mother married an American and went to live in Tennessee, where they had 4 kids. All acquired British citizenship via their mum. David, 60, was contacted by his UK bank with a standard #FACTA threat - establish US tax compliance or we'll close your account! David and his mum are incredulous - they cannot understand how he can be liable for American taxes when he has never worked in the US and has a British passport. David is caught in a nasty trap and there is no easy or cheap way out.

37

[See AA40. AA41, AA42, AA43 are siblings of AA40]

38

AA44

Here is a piece from #theeconomist on #FATCA, #accidentalamericans and the ongoing litigation in Canada.

react-text: 18571 http://www.economist.com/.../21693982-americans-canada... /react-text

Ginny Hillis, a Canadian retiree who lived all her life in Canada;… the US owes Ginny Hillis … an apology for ruining her retirement.

39

AA45

[Gwen Deegan is co-plaintiff with AA44 in the anti-FATCA law suit in Canada. See AA44 Link]

40

AA46

Due to #FATCA processes I have recently been alerted to my possible status as a #USPerson. I am an #accidentalAmerican, born in the US to British parents, resident for a few weeks as a new born and a person whom the #USStatedepartment failed to recognise as a #UScitizen for over three decades.

The consequences have been severe. As a result of my accidental US status my European bank has closed my entire family's bank accounts so that we do not have access to our savings until I receive my #CertificateofLossofNationality.

The #StateDepartment is unapologetic at its incompetence and at my renunciation interview recently provided these two explanations for my dire situation:

1. It is all my parents' fault and they should not have allowed me to be born in the US - this statement despite the fact that at the time of my birth the #USauthorities told my parents that I needed to reside in the US for three years to have full citizenship rights and I left on a British passport as then required and the #USEmbassyinLondon subsequently issued me with a non-immigrant visa when I visited the US as an adult.

2. It is #WashingtonDC's policy to force accidental Americans through the expensive renunciation process and the Consulate merely applies that policy.

3. There are severe delays in issuing #CLNs. The State Department currently needs between 6 to 9 months to issue a certificate of loss of nationality after the date on which the USD2,350 fee is paid and the oath sworn. This is despite charging the highest renunciation fee in the world. A Vice Consul in Frankfurt stated that this is because Washington cannot cope currently with the thousands of people renouncing citizenship across the world.

41

AA47

I was born in New York to a British family in 1965. My family returned to the UK when I was just eight months old. At this time my parents were told I would need my own #USpassport in order to leave the US.

In 1976 my family visited the US for a vacation, my father checked with the #USEmbassy if I could travel on my mother's passport and was told I would need a US passport until I was old enough to make my own mind up.

As an adult I let my US passport lapse and traveled freely on a UK passport to all holiday destinations including the US.

In April 2010 I was planning a visit to Boston, I applied for an ESTA to enter the US on my UK passport, this was granted without question of the place of my birth. It was Virgin Atlantic that advised me that a person born in US must enter the US on a US passport. I called the embassy and they issued an emergency passport for my trip and subsequently a full ten year passport. At this time I had no idea of, nor was I advised of, the implications this would have on my life and it is only in recent weeks that I have learned of US tax laws.

I am a #Britishcitizen, I have lived here since I was eight months old, I have never attended school or worked in the US. I pay tax to Britain and one day will claim my pension here. I have no intention of living in the US, I only hold a US passport because I was forced too and I will gladly give it up but simply can not afford the back taxes, fees and fines required to renounce my Accidental American Nationality.

Therefore I implore the #USGovernment for an amnesty.

42

AA48

She was born in the US in the 1960ies. Both her parents were #Zionists who had always wanted to move to #Israel. They did so, with their entire family, when this lady was aged 10. In her own words “[I] have considered myself to be only Israeli ever since”. She never applied for a US passport or a US SSN. When she visited the US almost a decade ago she did so as an Israeli tourist travelling on her Israeli passport and having previously obtained a tourist visa from the embassy - “ they [did] not consider me to be a US person” at the time of this visit. She describes her life as “mundane”. All her education from grade school through to university was in the Israel system (presumably paid for by Israeli taxpayers). She is married with 4 Israeli children all of whom are living and working or studying in Israel. All her financial assets are held in Israel. She has been banking with the same bank since the age of 18 yet today, as a result of #FATCA, her bank is on the cusp of closing all her accounts as she has been labelled a “US person” owing to her place of birth.

43

AA49

"On our way to the airport this morning we talked to the taxi driver and had to explain to him that he was German and an Accidental American. He was born early while his parents were on holiday in the US. He was so fragile they had to return by ship. He can't speak English, his parents were Albanian and he acquired German citizenship at 21.”

There is a slimmer of hope for this person in that, by the sound of things, he was naturalised German later in life so, to the extent he can somehow prove that in doing so he intended to sever ties with the US (ah the irony, he didn’t even realise he might be a carrier of US citizenship), then he may have an argument to use when his bank threatens to shut him out of the German banking system and the US authorities knock on his door and inform him he must disclose all his German family’s financial data to the US, a foreign nation.

44

AA50

I was born in the US in the late 1950ies. I permanently departed the US aged 10 with my parents. My father worked for the #UnitedNations so we moved around allot. I settled in France in the early 1980ies to study. I married, in #France, in the late 1980ies and had 2 kids. Following my divorce I brought my kids up in France – I will always be grateful to France for her help in supporting me and my family and enabling my kids to have a normal childhood and an excellent education in the French state system. I have paid significant taxes to the French government – nothing could be more normal as this is part of the social contract with one’s country of residence.

Recently, through my bank of 20 years, I was made aware of #FATCA. I was flabbergasted. The #USgovernment expects me and my two kids to file tax returns in the US despite the fact that we have never derived any benefits from the US and have no contacts with the country. These US tax filings would result in US revealing to the US our most intimate financial data, data that has nothing to do with the US and is none of their business. These filings require the assistance of a US tax specialist, the costs of such assistance is prohibitively expensive and ranges from Euros 15,000 to 30,000 and even if at the end of the day no tax is due to the US. The penalties for mistakes or delays are punitive. For instance FBARs carry a USD10,000 fine per account for innocent mistakes. The fines are even more draconian if failure to file is deemed non « innocent». Alone these penalties are terrifying. We are incapable of organising our financial affairs in #France because of this situation as I cannot sell my primary dwelling in France as this would trigger US capital gains taxes (but not in France). To compound matters my French social security contributions are not deemed taxes in the US and therefore not recognised. #Doubletaxation is therefore a very real possibility for me and on several accounts. And finally, to add insult to injury, my French banks are starting to slowly shut me out of the French banking system because of #FATCA. So to conclude : whilst I am a #Frenchcitizen living in France, and France is the only country that I and my children consider as home, I am now supposed to pay taxes to and reveal my most intimate financial date to the #US, a foreign state as far as me and my family is concerned. This is an aberration.

45

AA51, AA52

[AA51 and AA 52 are the two sons to whom by AA50 referred.]

46

AA53

My mother was born in the US in 195X and moved back to Europe 5 years later with my Italian grandparents. She never went to school in the US. She grew up in Ireland and later moved back to Italy in the 80ies. She was a housewife due to her health issues. She is now a widow, almost 6X with many health problems and lives on an Irish Widow´s pension because that is where my father died. Unfortunately if you met her, you would probably think she was about 10 years older. I am currently not working myself regularly. I usually live in Spain, but as my mother has not been well at all lately and needs my help I have moved to back Italy. My mother never had a SSN. I renewed her US passport in 2011 by mail. I had no idea what this meant or might entail. My only reason for doing so was because my mother always wanted it in case she could ever go back to see where she was born. She was never informed about #CBT and does not have the money to spend on a US tax specialist. Had we known this, she would have renounced back in the days when she could have afforded to and before the US made it extortionate. My mother now lives in a rural village in #Italy and does not use the internet. I haven´t told her everything that is happening because she is too unwell to cope with the worry. She doesn´t even have a bank account here as she receives her pension from Ireland into an Irish account which was obviously not reported because under the 50,000 threshold. I am worried however about #FBARS and any possible fines as these could jeorpardise my family’s only asset - our family home. My mom definitely does not have income which would make her owe anything, but she simply cannot afford to even file. If I could I would go back to work to raise funds so she could renounce her #UScitizenship unfortunately I cannot as I have to look after her given her frail medical condition.

47

AA54

My wife was born in the 1960ies to Italian parents in the State of New York. She left the US when she was aged 2 years old and retuned to Italy with her Italian parents. She never returned to the US and maintained no ties to the US - for instance she never voted in US elections, she does not have a US SSN. She is married to me, an Italian citizen. Her problems started the day she received a #FATCA letter from her Italian bank. She has been forced to obtain a US birth certificate (at great cost) and is expensing a considerable amount of time, effort and costs to start becoming compliant with the #IRS requirements applicable to US expatriates. She has hired a US accountant (at huge cost) to assist her with this process.

48

AA55

first of all my english is not very good. I was born in the USA, mother and father Italian. I came back to Italy (with an American passport) when I was six and since then I have gone to USA only for vacation.

I work here and pay all taxes here. My bank called me in march and I did not have any idea of FATCA. I tried to get some information from the web as nobody knew what FATCA was. When I realized all, I started not to sleep well, anxiety, and my all health went bad. I got an American accountant in Italy and I did what was to be done. Of course I did it with constriction and I find all this injustice. I am going to renounce citizenship as soon as I can (it costs a lot and USA is making lots of money on us). Before FATCA I was proud to be born in the USA, now I hate everything. Anyway, I’m and feel Italian.

49

AA56

I was born in the #USA (american father +italian mother) and moved to #Italy when I was 5 (more or less). I'm still living here in Italy and working in the Italian middle school as a teacher. I reside in Italy. I have a SSN cause my parents required it at my birth, planning to stay in the US ( I guess) But I never knew I had to fill a tax return for usa.

50

AA57

I was born in the #US over 60 years ago to #Italian parents. We moved back to Europe, Ireland to be precise, when I was only 3 years of age. Yes, throughout the years I have renewed my #US passport, not thinking much of it, seeing that all, or at least I thought, civilised countries do not hold you to ransom for doing so. I have never availed of any US service, nor will I. And to be precise, regarding my passport, I paid to have one each time it was renewed , so that cannot be considered a service I am stealing from US taxpayers. With regards to safety, I live in a peaceful first world nation, I don´t think I will be requesting extraction from Ireland. As a business owner, I already have too many problems paying taxes and accountants, debts and mortgages and do my best to send my two kids to college. Before anyone makes assumptions, I run a family restaurant which belonged to my parents before me and my grandparents before them. I don´t run an empire After all these years, I never thought the myth of the #USA would crash before my eyes in such a manner. When I think of my sister in Italy who is unwell and was also born in the US, I feel particularly sickened by all of this. What can we possibly owe the US? what has the US ever done to inform me and many in my situation of the burden we carry for simply being born on US soil? There are many things I would like to say right now, but my upbringing doesn´t allow me to fully express my feelings regarding FATCA and CBT in the most instinctive fashion. I find it hurtful to even have to put these few lines together, it makes me feel like I am dealing with a dictatorial nation.

Let us be, just let us be.

51

AA58

[AA58 is the sister in Italy to whom AA57 refers.]

52

AA59

I was born in the U.S. and lived there until the age of 10 when I moved to #Italy. My parents are both #Italian. I have lived in Italy ever since. I grew up in Italy, attended Italian public schools and also served in the Italian army as a lieutenant. I am in my late 40s, I have always worked in Italy, where I pay my taxes, married with two children. In all these years I went back to the U.S. only to visit relatives now and then. I have always renewed my U.S. passport because was always told that I could only enter and exit the U.S. with a U.S. passport since I was born in America. I also have an Italian passport. In the U.S. I do not have any property or money. I have learned about the #FATCA issue form the bank where I have my mortgage and been arguing with them because they want me to sign a #W9. I truly do not understand what they are asking me to certify in the form, I do have a #SSN but I do not understand what backup withholding and other legal-financial terms mean. I am waiting for them to reply to my request to have another form to sign (in Italian). After I clarify with them I really do not know what to do. I think this is morally unfair and to be honest I do not feel I owe anything to the #IRS. I am not rich, I work and live honestly, I pay my dues, and as every honest family I do my best every month to make ends meet. I can't afford other stress and another revenue service knocking at my door. I have other family members in my same position. Born in the U.S. but living in Italy since they were little.

53

AA60

I was born in the #US to Italian parents. I moved back to #Italy with them at the age of 3 and I don´t even speak English. I have practically lived in Italy all my life.

I entered the US twice as an adult with my #Italianpassport without any trouble.

I never even knew I was an #AmericanCitizen until I got a #FATCA letter from my bank, threatening to close my account.

Sir, I would like to stress the fact that I work for the #ItalianGovernment, I am in the #ItalianMilitary and have sworn my Allegiance to Italy, my home

I am having serious issues with my bank and frankly cannot afford to renounce right now due to the extortionate fees, nor can I afford an American Tax specialist to prove that I do not owe the US anything at all.

54

AA61

Elle (a nom de guerre) is an 8 month old #Canadian citizen and also, and sadly for her, an Accidental American.

Elle received a #FATCA letter from her bank - yes innocent babies are indeed affected. She’s effectively trapped as minors cannot renounce their unwanted #UScitizenship and naturally she can’t comply with the onerous and invasive regime the #US imposes on its overseas citizens, whether Accidental or real.

Below is a copy of the letter she wrote with the help of a caring and concerned relative.

Dear President Obama and Prime Minister Trudeau:

Why do you think I am a tax cheat? I am eight months old. I live with my Mommy and Daddy in Canada. I can’t walk or talk yet. So my Nana’s friend Lynne is helping me write to you. At Christmas time Mommy and Daddy opened a small savings account for me in Canada.

When I was six months old in February, TD Bank sent me a letter and other stuff. I can’t read. So Nana read it for me. I don’t know what the gibberish in the letter means. Nana says it’s crazy. I believe my Nana. The letter says TD will squeal on me to Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Then the CRA will tattle on me to U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for FATCA.

What’s a FATCA? I don’t know what a citizen is. But I’m a double one. I was born in the United States. My Mommy and Daddy are Canadian citizens. The Canadian government sent me a letter saying I am too. But I have a blue book that says I’m a U.S. citizen too. TD says because they know I was born in the United States, I have to complete, sign and mail forms to them.

How can I? I can’t even print yet. President Obama, why do you want my information? What will you do with it? Prime Minster Trudeau, why are you giving your friend Mr. Obama information about me? Why are you helping him? Why aren’t you helping me? Please help me. I can’t afford an accountant or lawyer from my allowance.

Bye Bye,

Baby Elle, Vancouver Canada

55

AA62

She was born in the early 1960ies to Canadian parents in (no prizes for guessing where) the US of course! Her parents were students in the US at the time. She left the US aged one years old to return, with her parents, to Canada. She then briefly lived in the US again for a year as a five year old, again with her parents. Later in life, she applied for a #US passport but without understanding the implications (ignorance of the law is acceptable where the laws in question to do not follow international norms as is the case for #citizenshipbasedtaxation or #CBT). Since departing the US as a 5 year she never lived in the US again, nor did she ever work or study there. Her only ties to the US are her place of birth and her US passport. She now lives in Israel. Recently she received a #FATCA letter from her local bank. Like for all of us this was life changing event (and not in a good way). She is understandably concerned at the alarmist advice she is getting from US compliance condors. She’s not a rich tax cheat. Quite the contrary she’s you everyday middle of the road person who just (unfortunately for her) happened to be born on US soil and holds a US passport. All she asks is to be allowed to continue running her small business in Israel without interference from the US (note: her business was set up recently - it will never have enough quarters to collect social security, however, she is expected to contribute 15% of her business earnings)

56

AA63

I was born in the #USA when my father was serving #HMtheQueen there in the #Royal Navy. I have lived most of my life in the #UK, have married and worked here and paid all my taxes here. I do have a #USpassport because, when I had to travel to the #US 30 years ago for buisness, I was told I would not be allowed in on my #Britishpassport. this is the one and only time I have used a US passport. Now I find that not only everything that I own but I own jointly with my husbands subject to #American #taxation. The bank I have belinged to for 40 years will throw me out if I don't comply with #FATCA. How can this be fair?

57

AA64

react-text: 20461 http://www.svt.se/.../svenska-banker-letar-efter-amerikaner /react-text

Tinna was born in the US in1962 to Swedish parents. Her father was a visiting scholar at a US university. She lived in the US for 3 months. Fast forward almost 50 years and Tinna’s Swedish bank has just outed her to the # IRS as being a US person who is not filing US taxes. Of course she is not. She is American in name only and owes the US nothing, not a single cent.

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