Page Comparison

...

This guide assumes you will run this as a live event.  It is also possible to run an online tax webinar, but these will be organized across regions and should be organized with the support of your Regional Vice Chair.

Step-by-step guide

1. Benefits

   To Country Committees/Local Chapters:
   ➢  Opportunity for member verification
   ➢  Another benefit of DemsAbroad membership (we receive a tremendous amount of positive feedback)
   ➢  Attendance by non-DemsAbroad member Americans helps us expand our membership and voting outreach
   ➢  Potential fundraiser for CC
   ➢  Opportunity to help attendees register to voter/request ballots
   ➢  Connecting with members not inclined to attend our social or political gatherings

   To members:
   ➢  Gain access to much needed information
   ➢  Ability to ask questions relevant to their situation
   ➢  Access to information without cost
   ➢  Receive presentation slides
   ➢  Register to vote/request a ballot for the midterm elections
   
   

2. Event Planning

   ➢  Date:  we recommend May, in advance of the 15 June filing deadline for non-resident taxpayers
   ➢  Time:  we suggest evening, though sessions (see next slide) that are oriented towards retirees might be best scheduled for the daytime.
   ➢  Place:  we suggest -  
   •  a quiet meeting room that enables participants to sit comfortably, hear the presenter, take notes and see presentation slides,
   •  facilities that enable the presenter to refer to slides or handouts, and
   •  amenities for the “host” to run a question and answer period using a microphone so that everyone hears the questions as well as the answers.
   
   

3. The Agenda

   You may decide to do a tax seminar as an all-encompassing one-off event or do a series of seminars on different tax topics for Americans abroad. Topics can include:
   ➢ Tax Filing Requirements
   ➢ Estate Planning
   ➢ Retirement Planning
   ➢ Investment Planning and Management
   ➢ Tax Planning Between the US and your country of residency
   ➢ Self-Employment
   ➢ Operating A Controlled Foreign Corporation
   ➢ Information for retirees
    These topic suggestions aren’t exhaustive. There might be a particular topic that is of most interest to members in your country.  We recommend that you start with a topic that will draw the most members to attend.
   
   

4. Engaging A Presenter

    Some ➢ Some Country Committees – indeed some regions – have existing relationships with tax return preparers who can present.  In engaging a seminar presenter please first consult with your Regional Vice Chair, as this could save you a lot of effort.
    Engaging ➢ Engaging a tax return preparer to make the presentation can be tricky.  We should not offer them any compensation (though a thank you gift is appropriate) in exchange for their participation.  They should welcome the opportunity to present their knowledge to a group of potential clients. 
    Selecting ➢ Selecting a single preparer might be difficult, as it may suggest we are showing favoritism for one commercial entity over another.  You may need to give consideration to organizing an agenda that features presentations by more than one agency, each tackling a different topic.
    To ➢ To find a presenter ask around for a referral to a local tax return preparer with U.S. filing experience and expertise.  If that does not yield a suitable presenter we strongly recommend the Tax Return Preparer Directory published by American Citizens Abroad.  http://www.acareturnpreparerdirectory.com. On this site you will likely find a selection of  U.S. tax professionals - unless you are in a particularly remote area.  In that instance it may make more sense to participate in a regional tax webinar.

   
   

5. Promoting The Event

   ➢ Post the event on your DA webpage; include an RSVP on the event page.
   ➢ Use Nation Builder to send a blast email to members with a link to the event on the webpage (so they can RSVP)
   ➢ Promote on relevant American ExPat meet up, Facebook groups, other social media, English language bookshops, American and International School bulletin boards, etc.
   ➢ Message other DemsAbroad country committee or local chapter leaders in the area who may have members who can attend the event (and who will join you in promoting the seminar to DemsAbroad and non-DemsAbroad members).
   ➢ Ask the presenter to promote the seminar on their website or other
   ➢ PLEASE NOTE: 
   •  RSVPs are essential!  There may be a great deal of demand for the information and the seminar/webinar capacity may be exhausted faster than expected. 
   •  You should announce the names/companies of the presenters but refrain, of course, from overtly advertising their services.

...

We urge Congress to:
• Fix the flaws in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.  It imposes two new "transition taxes" on offshore businesses owned by Americans abroad that will destroy the viability of many of them. (See the Taxation page of the DemsAbroad website for our current campaign demanding relief for American business owners abroad from the Repatriation Tax and the GILTI tax, both built into the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.)  
• Join the Americans Abroad Caucus
• Contact us when they travel to our countries of residence so that we can meet them.

We urge expat tax reform activists to:
• Sign up for theTaxation the Taxation Task Force mailing list to receive updates on our advocacy work here: https://www.democratsabroad.org/taxation
• Use DA's expat tax reform grassroots campaign guide to reach out to your elected officials: click here.
• Share this information with Americans abroad who share these concerns.

Key Contacts

...

The DemsAbroad Taxation Task Force and GOTV Team thank you for your support!

Related articles

...