The OECD will hold a
public meeting on TRACE and FATCA in Paris on February 12, with three IRS officials on hand to discuss FATCA and a senior tax guy at HSBC to update on the OECD's
TRACE project. Really? A senior tax guy at
HSBC is going to tell us about how the OECD is going to prevent tax crimes and money laundering? Wait, is this like
that movie where they hired an accomplished thief to test the security system and explain everything that's wrong with it? In any event, info:
The OECD and the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the OECD will host a public briefing session on TRACE and FATCA at the OECD Conference Centre in Paris on 12 February.
...Officials from the US Treasury and FATCA partner countries will give an update on the progress made on the intergovernmental agreements.
You must send your questions in advance:
Participants will be given an opportunity to ask questions by completing the question form and sending it to the OECD Secretariat (icaevents@oecd.org) by Friday 8 February...
But you can also attend in person for 100EUR if you are a financial institution, a practioner, or a journalist, according to the information. Though it is not stated, I will simply assume that non-interested observers, such as academics, NGO reps, etc., are also warmly invited. I am very sorry I won't be able to attend myself, but if anyone who reads this does plan to attend, I would dearly appreciate hearing from you.
I know someone in Paris interested in FATCA who might try to convince to go. However, she has health issues and might not want to spend the 100 EUR.
ReplyDeleteNo sign of any Government of Canada attendance. Will look bad if they available for comment in Paris but not there own country.
ReplyDeleteCRA is attending but not the Department of Finance. I get the impression CRA is mainly there to discuss TRACE not FATCA which are two different things.
ReplyDeleteWe're trying to get more people to be aware of this:
ReplyDeleteJames Jatras: FATCA - why foreign banks won't take Americans
Hi, Tim. I'm trying to get a seat. I've contacted the OECD conference center but have not received a response to my email. An American expat org has asked me to represent them there which I hope will greatly enhance my chances of getting in. We'll see what happens.
ReplyDeleteVictoria
Update. Just got a note back from the OECD and the answer is "no." Even though ACA (American Citizens Abroad) were kind enough to tap me to go on their behalf, that wasn't enough. They said space was limited and government and business had priority.
ReplyDeleteNo room at the inn apparently for citizens.
They included "journalists" on their list. Suggest you call back and insist!!
ReplyDeleteI think calling them this morning is a good idea. The person who wrote to me was a project Assistant in the International Co-operation and Tax Administration, Centre for Tax Policy and Administration. If nothing else perhaps I can get more in the way of an explanation. I'm also curious as to who they did let in.
ReplyDelete