As you know, Maple Sandbox is a gathering place for us to come together to share, learn, explore and grow together.
To stand up to IRS bullies, we need information as quickly as it becomes 
available. We need to learn from each other around the world.
I hope What’s New will be a building block for sharing those stories from the media or your own experiences.
What’s New will allow you to post articles under one central thread, rather than spreading them out through many different threads. It also will give you the opportunity to share any other information you have with others.
Of course, some news and information will have still have threads of their own.
Please share your news, scoops and ideas.
What's New?
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679 responses to “What's New?”
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@PatCanadian: If we were found by the courts to be illegally peeking into our neighbour’s windows and taping their bedroom activities, do you think the courts would say it is illegal, but OK to keep doing it?
“The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer.” (Henry Kissinger)
It seems the government can now do both immediately–and keep on doing it.
“Staggering…Unprecedented…Momentous..”
But keep going.
Watergate was nothing compared to today’s goings on.LikeLike
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It seems the IRS likes fighting losing battles in the courts as much as the Canadian government does.
On appeal of another court decision IRS Pummelled for suggesting OK to discriminate for 270 days.
They were so bad, the
They were so bad, the IRS was almost laughed out of court.
.
I hope American courts see the Bopp FATCA lawsuit the same way–if Republicans Abroad ever file it.LikeLike
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In New York Times. An American Tax Nightmare
Here are some examples collected and documented by American organizations overseas:
• An American woman and her Swiss husband, married for more than 20 years, were told that they would lose the mortgage on their family home due to the law’s reporting requirements.
• An American man, living in Brazil, had a promising career in management with a French multinational corporation. He was told that he would be passed over for promotion, effectively ending his career with the company, because as Country Manager he would have signatory authority over the French company’s local bank accounts. The law would require that all transactions on the company accounts, despite not being taxable in the United States, be reported to the American Internal Revenue Service.
•An American couple, living in Australia for many years, received notice that the merchant banking account for their chain of retail stores was to be canceled, as Fatca reporting demands overwhelmed their bank’s capabilities. Without banking and credit card facilities, their business would be doomed.And there are many more examples. There is no recourse and no appeal process…
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Finally someone besides us sees the Hypocrisy of FATCA, tax havens and US politicians.
The author says:I’m just irked when I discover that greedy pro-tax politicians are protecting their own money while pillaging our money.
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Harper loses another team member. Justice Minister Peter McKay will not seek reelection.
Hmm. Does McKay see the writing on the wall for the upcoming election?
National Post says voters have likely not seen the last of McKay.
National Post also says rumours are McKay will be Canada’s Ambassador in Washington. If that happens, we cannot count on any voice against FATCA there.LikeLike
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Edward Snowden says The World Says No to Surveillance in New York Times.
Ending the mass surveillance of private phone calls under the Patriot Act is a historic victory for the rights of every citizen, but it is only the latest product of a change in global awareness. Since 2013, institutions across Europe have ruled similar laws and operations illegal and imposed new restrictions on future activities. The United Nations declared mass surveillance an unambiguous violation of human rights. In Latin America, the efforts of citizens in Brazil led to the Marco Civil, an Internet Bill of Rights. Recognizing the critical role of informed citizens in correcting the excesses of government, the Council of Europe called for new laws to protect whistle-blowers.
He also says:
Though we have come a long way, the right to privacy — the foundation of the freedoms enshrined in the United States Bill of Rights — remains under threat. Some of the world’s most
He goes on to give examples, including:
Spymasters in Australia, Canada and France have exploited recent tragedies to seek intrusive new powers despite evidence such programs would not have prevented attacks.
Yet Snowden, Greenwald and Poitras remain silent on FATCA–although all three are U.S. citizens living outside U.S.
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FATCA: America`s policy of regaining lost taxes is skewed by Nigel Green.
Unfair, nonsensical and skewed.LikeLike
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Australia wants rich Americans with $15 million to invest.
Whoa! Is anyone going to tell them about FATCA, FBARs, FinCEn and all the other Fs the IRS will throw at them?!?LikeLike
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This is over a year old but I just saw this article about a letter from the IRS to a five year old boy.
When Paulie was six, he sent a Dear Tax Man reply, giving IRS permission to discuss his tax papers with his Mommy until he is 18.
in green crayon, Pauli wrote:Dear Tax Man:
I got your letter. I am now six years old. It is OK for you to talk to my Mommy about my tax papers until I’m 18
Pauli SmithFortunately for Pauli, he lives in the U.S. so he does not need to worry about FATCA, FBAR or FinCen–unless Pauli is hiding money in an offshore piggy bank. Oh wait. Is a piggy bank an FFI?
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On CTV News this morning:
“Canadian banks began sending financial information on U.S. and U.S.-Canadian citizens to the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) this month.” Although I have read that the CRA is obligated to forward this information to the IRS by the end of September 2015.
At least we are referred to as Canadian citizens this time. I am glad to no longer be a US citizen. Please see the follow up story:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/why-some-canadians-bank-info-is-being-sent-to-irs-1.2477572
There are some interesting quotes from Steven Flynn, a tax lawyer from Vancouver and Greg Boos, U.S. immigration attorney in Bellingham, Wash. Both Boos and Flynn recommend dual citizens meet with a U.S. tax consultant (the usual tax condor advice). It depends on your situation, of course, but I did the old paper self filing. It sure saved a lot in accounting fees and I didn’t owe tax anyway.
“It can be a very scary thing,” Flynn said. “But FATCA is forcing people to realize that they don’t have to be a U.S. citizen anymore.” I would add that many should not be considered US citizens for tax purposes at all. I also think articles like this bring FATCA to the public eye. Hopefully those who are just waking up to this will have a look at this website and Isaac Brock. It’s good timing for our lawsuit.LikeLike
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Just thought to add this. On CTV news today, there is a printed caption going across the bottom of the TV screen at regular intervals which states:
“Canadian Banks began sending financial information on dual American-Canadian citizens to the U.S. this month with the United States searching for any Americans not paying their taxes.”
There doesn’t seem to be anything actually said about this on the news station though which seems odd . Has anyone else seen this?LikeLike
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“The Horror. The Horror” of FATCA Me? No. FATCA You!
and
Cute, cooing Anchor Babies = Cooing Bundles of tax revenue for IRS. Shows the insanity of CBT.LikeLike
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Invaluable ideas ! I am thankful for the info , Does anyone know if my assistant might get ahold of a blank ds 4080 copy to work with ?
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We may be ending another year with this nightmare hanging over our heads, some things never change.
The Globe and Mail continues to call us “tax cheats” and “tax evaders” who need to “come clean” before FATCA reports us.
Their law reporter says Tax cheats are facing a series of year-end deadlines to come clean,
They spew Roy Berg’s usual jingoistic hyperbolic rhetoric. There is also a lot of incomplete information or misinformation.
The saga continues…LikeLike
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Today is Tricia Moon’s (Noble Dreamer) birthday. Celebrate.
@nobledreamer16 Wishing u a bright Spring Birthday Tricia. Today is also @twitter's 10th birthday! pic.twitter.com/aEaeaqqHY4— Lynne Swanson (@LynneBlaze) March 21, 2016
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Happy birthday to Tricia. Happy Spring to all of us. (Happy Autumn to our friends in the southern hemisphere).LikeLike
Maple Sandbox Historical Archive – 2012 to 2016
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A passionate baseball fan blog celebrating America's favorite pastime.
Maple Sandbox Historical Archive - 2012 to 2016 
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