Podcast of US Tax Meeting in Vaud

News Update: IRS extends the voluntary disclosure deadline to 15 October 2009 from 23 September 2009

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On August 31st, 65 Americans attended the Dems Abroad Vaud meeting on US taxes in Lully. To listen to a podcast of the full meeting, click on the image below.

Speakers (L-R): Jonathan Lachowitz, Geoffrey DeHaven, David Hirsberg

At times, the sound quality is too low to hear questions from the audience. (file is iPod/iPhone compatible!)

If you would like to contact our guest speakers, contact details are below. (Click on their names for their email address and company to be linked to their website)

Geoffrey DeHaven, Enrolled Agent & US Certified Financial Planner (TM), US Tax Abroad with 19 years experience as a US tax planner. Based in Brussels - Tel. +32 11 58 92 61

David Hirsberg, Partner of Withers LLP specializing in US tax law based in Geneva - Tel +41 22 593 7777

Jonathan Lachowitz, Certified Financial Planner (TM) and Investment Advisor, White Lighthouse based in Lausanne - Tel. +41 22 548 1431

Click here for copy of Jonathan Lachowitz' presentation in which you will find very helpful information.

Need the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts FBAR form (TD F 90-22.1)? Download it here. It must be mailed back to U.S. Department of Treasury and arrive (not postmarked) by 23 September 2009 with a note explaining why it is late (deadline was 30 June but extension permitted until 23 Sept. 2009).

Read a clear explanation about your options.

UPDATED INFORMATION: Read the written answers to questions sent to us by email before the meeting. Many thanks to Geoff DeHaven for taking the time to answer them.

Summary of U.S. Tax information
This compilation was put together by our member, Susan Stuber, based on these two tax information meetings as well as interviews and correspondence with, chiefly, Geoffrey DeHaven. It is meant as a guideline to your most pressing questions; if you desire further information, there are footnotes to guide you to the relevant web links. At the end of the day, however, you will be well-advised to have a tax advisor who is versed in U.S. tax regulation.

Democrats Abroad Vaud US Tax Meeting

When: Monday 31 August 2009. Doors open at 6pm, meeting starts at 6:30pm

Where: Salle Communale de Lully in Lully, Vaud (see below for directions)

Guest speakers: Geoffrey DeHaven, Enrolled Agent & US Certified Financial Planner (TM) with US Tax Abroad and David Hirsberg, Partner of Withers LLP

Suggested contribution: CHF 10

RSVP: Space is limited, please sign up at events@democrats.ch

Democrats Abroad Vaud is sponsoring a meeting on the issue of US taxes as a service to our members and the American community in the region. Many Americans living in Switzerland have questions about filing the FBAR (foreign bank account report) and their US taxes. We have invited two specialists on US expatriate taxation to explain the FBAR and the current voluntary compliance initiative that is in place at the moment but set to expire on 23 September 2009. We are delighted that Messrs. DeHaven and Hirsberg have offered their time and expertise to help debunk common fallacy and clarify who needs to file taxes and the FBAR, how and when.

We’d like to hear from you and invite DA members to send in your questions to us by 26 August. This way our guest speakers can focus their presentations on the issues that are of most importance. Please send your questions to events@democrats.ch

On the agenda so far, we have the following four main issues:

1. FBAR deadline extension. Who should file the FBAR and how it is different from previous years? What are the penalties of not reporting?

2. Voluntary compliance initiative, what is it? When is the deadline? Who should file back taxes?

3. Clarification of who needs to file US income taxes: examples of qualifying earned income, situation for pensioners and spouses of non-US citizens (working and non-working).

4. Inheritance taxes

This event is open to all American citizens. Please RSVP to events@democrats.ch. For more information, please visit http://vaud.democrats.ch

Directions to Lully Salle Communale:

BY CAR: Taking the autoroute from Lausanne or Geneva, get off at Morges Ouest, and follow the signs direction Bière. You will bypass Tolochenaz, and then at the third roundabout, you will come to a chapel in the middle of Lully. The Salle Communale is located opposite the church above the epicerie. Parking is available in front of the Salle Communale as well as on the parking lot of the church.

BY TRAIN: Take the train to Morges. There is a bus leaving the Morges train station (direction Lavigny) at 6.08 p.m., arriving at the post office in Lully at 6.14 (2^nd stop from Morges station). When getting out of the bus, walk toward the church. The Salle Communale is located on the left side of the roundabout, opposite the chapel and above the epicerie.