TORONTO, ON "” October 6, 2015 "” Barclay Damon, LLP is co-sponsoring "IRS Reporting and Enforcement Affecting Canadians: Avoiding or Negotiating the Maze," presented by the Ontario Bar Association and Chartered Professional Accountants Ontario.
Discussions will focus on U.S. government reporting rules for tax purposes for its citizens or green-card holders living in Canada. These rules as they are being enforced are affecting Canadians due to the Canada-United States Enhanced Tax Information Exchange Agreement Implementation Act, which is the subject of a lawsuit pending in British Columbia against the Canadian government.
The event will take place Monday, November 2, 5 to 8 p.m., at the offices of the Ontario Bar Association, 20 Toronto Street, Toronto. Click here for registration information. An hour of networking will be followed by presentations by Eileen M. Martin, partner, Barclay Damon; Dean T. Smith, partner, Cadesky and Associates LLP; and David E. Gruber, co-counsel for the plaintiffs in the B.C. lawsuit and partner, Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP.
Lauren D. Rachlin, program co-chair of the event and a partner at Barclay Damon, said, "This historic joint meeting of the OBA and CPA Ontario will be the first-ever collaborative effort by two of the province's premier professional organizations. The topic is receiving extensive coverage in numerous media outlets, including the Globe & Mail. This seminar is believed to be the first professional analysis and discussion of the issues and potential avenues for dealing with those issues. In addition to providing a high-caliber networking opportunity, attendees will hear from the foremost experts in their fields on this critical topic." John Sinclair, CPA CA, partner at Collins Barrow LLP, is also program co-chair.
Eileen Martin, who chairs Barclay Damon's Immigration Practice Area, practices U.S. law and is a licensed foreign legal consultant in Ontario. In addition to her deep knowledge of immigration law, she is also known for her understanding of the interrelation of U.S. tax laws and immigration issues. Eileen was formerly employed by both the U.S. and Canadian governments in immigration-related positions.
In addition to being a U.S.-accredited CPA and a Canadian-accredited chartered accountant, Dean Smith has a PhD in financial accounting. He is the president of the British-Canadian Chamber of Trade and Commerce and past president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada.
David Gruber is a B.C. lawyers and co-lead counsel representing the plaintiffs in the ongoing federal court challenge to the Canada-U.S. intergovernmental agreement against the Canadian government. He practices in the areas of corporate litigation, restructuring and insolvency, professional liability, and class actions.
The speakers will discuss:
- "Renunciation, a well-known way out: Perils and pitfalls," Eileen Martin
- "Relinquishment, a little-known way out: Opportunities and benefits," Eileen Martin
- "FATCA, FBAR, and OVDI: Streamlined filing procedures, and what to do if there's no way out," Dean Smith
- "FATCA: Court challenges to the legality of the Canada-U.S. intergovernmental agreement," David Gruber
Opening remarks will be presented by Carol Wilding, president and CEO of CPA Ontario, and Orlando Da Silva, president of the OBA.
In addition to Barclay Damon, event sponsors are Cadesky and Associates, Farris, and Freed Maxick CPAs, P.C.
This seminar is recommended for all accountants and lawyers who have clients concerned about complying with U.S. reporting requirements as well as Canadians who may have tax obligations in the United States. Seating is limited, and reservations are required.
Barclay Damon, LLP, listed as a "Top 250 Firm" by The National Law Journal, is a full-service, 275-attorney law firm, with offices throughout the major cities of New York State; Toronto; and Boston, Washington DC, and Newark. Barclay Damon provides comprehensive legal and business counsel to a diverse client base in 33 practice areas. For more information, visit barclaydamon.com.