The PortShorts Online

For our first couple years in Caronport, we enjoyed a weekly publication called the PortShorts--basically a 4 page flyer with info about happenings around Caronport, items for sale, and ads for local businesses. You could pick this up at various places around campus. Well, last winter, the school decided not to publish this anymore in order to cut costs. Caronport has a community email system, which functions in many of the same ways. However, not everyone is on the community email, and many people have missed the PortShorts.

I'm happy to report that three entrepreneurial young men, with some help from their parents, have started publishing the PortShorts again! And what's even more exciting is that they've put it online too. This could be especially helpful for people who are planning to move here, and are looking to buy houses/cars/furniture, etc., or just want to get an idea of what community life is like in Caronport.

Motherstyles blog

Interesting post on the Motherstyles blog about how moms can prepare for long summer days at home with kids, especially if they are introverted and judging types. I got some good ideas and hope to check out her related posts. The whole blog is an interesting accompaniment to the Motherstyles site--scrolling down, I see posts about how to discover your fitness personality, ten things every mother-in-law should know (fortunately I have the world's best mother-in-law!), and what Barack and Michelle Obama's personality types likely are. Also some fascinating profiles of therapists who use the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator in their work with couples and families.

Funny things kids say

At church on Sunday, the bishop was there to lead the service and a baptism. For those of you unfamiliar with Anglicanism, the bishop is the head of our particular diocese in Saskatchewan, so he only comes to our church occasionally. So at communion time, the bishop gave Kate a blessing. When we got back to our pew, I whispered to Kate, "The man who gave you a blessing was the bishop." She nodded with understanding and then said, "Just like in Daddy's chess game!"

Will, meanwhile, remains fascinated by trucks. Yesterday I asked him what his name was. "Is it William?" He said no. "Is it Will?" No. "Well, what's your name then?" He replied with a smile, "Fire Big Truck!"

IRS targeting American expats

The IRS and Obama are heavily targeting expats or those with overseas holdings. The US Justice Department recently won a case on behalf of the IRS, requiring a Swiss bank to disclose all account holders who are US citizens.

According to an accountant I know, the IRS started this to capture those US expats who are wealthy and hiding their assets. However, this net can catch those of us who are small fish as well. Even if you are not wealthy, you are potentially at risk if you:

1) are an expat who does not file US tax returns because you think there is no requirement to do so from abroad
2) fail to file the TDF 90-22.1 form, which discloses your foreign financial accounts (aka the FBAR form). If your foreign accounts (including retirement accounts) totaled at least $10,000 at any time during the tax year, this form needs to be sent to the US Treasury Department. It is easy to complete this form.

It used to be that the IRS would waive penalties for people who claimed they didn't understand the rules. Now they will see it as negligence or tax evasion, and people may face steep penalties. As a result, the IRS is currently offering a voluntary disclosure program. It is running for 6 months ONLY from March 23, 2009. The IRS are looking for the last 6 years disclosure.

If you have a requirement to file either an FBAR or back tax returns, you should consider doing so immediately. Also, there is a process for using the voluntary disclosure program and you cannot just file your returns in the normal way. The returns actually need to be flagged as being VDP and should technically go through the tax attache assigned to your country's US embassy. But if this applies to you, I would check with a cross-border accountant and/or the IRS for guidance. If you call 215-516-2000, you'll reach an IRS agent specifically trained to answer expat questions.

Filing US tax returns is a pain, especially because we also have to file Canadian taxes. But from what I've read, even if the IRS doesn't realize now that an expat isn't filing, it could easily come to their attention if the person goes to renew a US passport, or gains a US inheritance, or applies to collect Social Security at retirement age. I'd rather just do it on a yearly basis rather than face having to do years of back tax returns at once someday. And with these new stiffer penalties, now is definitely the time for expats to get into compliance. The online version of Turbotax has all the forms an expat needs, including the FBAR.

More info here and here.

Let's hear your book recommendations!

I'm making a list of books to read this summer and I'd welcome recommendations! I'm mostly looking for fiction suggestions, but if you know of a nonfiction book you'd think I'd like, feel free to mention it. Thanks!

"I'm here. I'm safe for you."

A couple days ago, I overheard Will telling this to one of his stuffed animals. Awww...

Iona sings "Treasure"

I've loved the musical group Iona for years. I've never seen them in concert though, and this is the first video I've seen. Iona is a Christian musical group out of the UK, and their songs draw heavily on the Celtic Christian tradition. The band took their name from the Scottish island of Iona. If you've never heard of this group--check them out!