A French life, a Kafkaesque American tax burden

I cannot live peacefully since FATCA. It is appalling to be penalized to this extent, and it is ruining our lives... depression, anxiety...

— Claire Laborde

Dear Congress,

I was born in California but left the United States at the age of 6. My whole life has been French: studies, work, family, retirement... place of residence and French taxes.

I have had nothing to do with the United States for 60 years. Born to French parents, I am French, but unfortunately not for my bank, which creates many problems for me because of this Americanism that I was not aware of before. Being born in the USA should not mean having to pay income taxes in the USA if you do not live there!

I cannot live peacefully since FATCA. It is appalling to be penalized to this extent, and it is ruining our lives... depression, anxiety...

I want to finally live free from these worries and be able to open a life insurance policy or other in France... without being blocked by my bank!

This is our current life. It is absolutely Kafkaesque. We feel like we will never get out of it, and it is just incredibly unjust.

Please, Congress, end citizenship-based taxation and allow us to live our lives free from this unnecessary burden.

Sincerely,

Claire Laborde