Thanks for your interest in hosting a U.S. Tax Seminar. Not only is this a great service to provide our members but it also gives us an opportunity to meet Americans in our countries of residence who have not as yet engaged with our voter outreach volunteers, attended our social events or participated in our issues advocacy work.
These events should be considered joint GOTV/Tax initiatives. A voter registration table at the event is absolutely essential. VotefromAbroad.org cards/postcards should be available at a minimum. Ideally volunteers will have notebook computers online to register voters/do ballot requests at the event.
We often get questions from DemsAbroad and non-DemsAbroad members about U.S. tax filing obligations. If it’s not directly addressed in meetings or events, it is almost certainly discussed informally between members. Running a tax seminar recognizes the needs of DemsAbroad members and positively associates DemsAbroad with efforts to address the issues and challenges our members face as Americans abroad.
We strongly recommend you plan these events for May, since the filing deadline for us non-resident taxpayers is 15 June.
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
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 gatheringsTo 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 electionsEvent 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.
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