Bern says signing seen as “positive signal” by the US for sorting out past banking problems BERN, SWITZERLAND – Switzerland and the United States signed the Fatca tax accord in Bern Thursday morning 14 February, a day after the Federal Council gave the green light for State Secretary Michael Ambuehl to do so. “Initialled on [...]
US group offers better idea for collecting taxes abroad
December 10, 2012 by
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – There’s a better way for the IRS, the US tax office, to collect money, a group of US citizens says, noting that it is “alarmed and vexed” at costly and cumbersome Fatca legislation the US is enacting. Its suggestions were unveiled Saturday in London. American Citizens Abroad (ACA), based in Geneva but [...]
US Fatca legislation eased slightly for small local foreign banks
November 21, 2012 by
SBA expects Fatca to continue creating difficulties for “US persons” living abroad GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – US Fatca legislation is being refined before it goes into effect in 2013 and the latest change, according to American Citizens Abroad (ACA) 19 November, is a new version of the recommended Intergovernmental Agreement (pdf) with a “loosener” that is [...]
UBS whistleblower Birkenfeld gets $104 million reward from US gov’t
September 11, 2012 by
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – Bradley Birkenfeld, released on good behaviour from a US prison 1 August (the Swiss national holiday) after 2.5 years of his 40-month sentence for failing to disclose his part in tax fraud (conspiracy to defraud) crimes, has been awarded $104 million for blowing the whistle on US clients of bank UBS. Birkenfeld’s [...]
US presidential election: overseas Americans band together to demand rights (update)
September 7, 2012 by
Report on abuses sent to all members of Congress, Obama administration Update: The report is available online on the web site of The Americans in Switzerland Working Group Update 11:50 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – A new report by several American citizen organizations outside the US is being used to give overseas citizens a voice in the [...]
RIP: Andy Sundberg, Geneva (update)
August 31, 2012 by
Americans overseas lose one of their staunchest defenders Update: Andy Sundberg services will take place at 15:00 on Monday 3 September at the Lutheran Church, in Geneva. To read comments, please go to the end of the article. GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – The US presidential election in November will be missing a key voice, but [...]
US, Swiss launch Fatca negotiations: US taxpayers, Swiss banks affected
June 21, 2012 by
BERN, SWITZERLAND – The United States and Switzerland jointly issued a declaration Thursday on their agreement to start negotiations on the implementation of Fatca (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act ). Fatca, which is strongly opposed by some groups of Americans, notably American Citizens Abroad, is US tax legislation that goes into effect in 2014. In [...]
Geneva-based ACA opens Washington office to change US tax law
June 12, 2012 by
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – American Citizens Abroad, which is based in Geneva, announced 12 June that it is opening an office in Washington, DC, to focus efforts on pushing for a major change to the US tax system. The group, which is non-partisan and non-profit, is working to introduce legislation that would “introduce residence-based taxation as [...]
American Citizens Abroad 21st Annual Fundraiser Auction
March 13, 2012 by
The annual American Citizens Abroad (ACA) fundraiser auction is coming up and all are welcome to attend. 7 pm – Cocktails – Cash bar. 8 pm – Auction with celebrity guest auctioneer, Mark Butcher of Radio Frontier. Lots of great auction items. American Citizens Abroad (ACA), the voice of Americans overseas, is a non-profit, non-partisan, [...]
