Meet our Board - Rebecca Lammers

“It just simply makes sense for the United States to adopt RBT so that all U.S. citizens living outside the country can live a normal financial life.”

— Rebecca Lammers

Could you share a brief introduction, including your professional background and current role?

I am originally from Ohio, I went to college in Wisconsin and I moved to London 18 years ago to do a masters in music business. London continues to be my home, having built a successful music industry career and met my British husband. It wasn't until 2016, after starting my own business, I discovered that I might have filed my U.S. taxes wrong. I had always filed with TurboTax since moving abroad to keep my federal student loan payments down, but in trying to figure out how to file correctly after starting my business, I called six different accountants and got six different answers with wildly different price quotes. I didn't understand why it was so complicated and contradictory.

This led me to volunteer for the Democrats Abroad Taxation Task Force, and I eventually was appointed to become the chair in 2022. That same year, I was offered the position of international member of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel, a Federal Advisory Committee of the IRS. Although my term expired with TAP in 2024, I continue to chair the DA Taxation Task Force, leading its Congressional outreach and tax advocacy work.

I don't have a formal legal or tax background, but this has come as an advantage since my unique perspective has brought a new life to the long outstanding tax and financial access problems Americans abroad have suffered from for a long time by bringing clarity to the issues, prioritizing problems, and providing solutions.

• What motivated you to join the TFFAA board?

Fabien asked me, and I liked the idea of a group dedicated to passing residence-based taxation (RBT).

• Why do you support ending CBT?

Citizenship-based taxation (CBT) never made sense to me in the first place. It just simply makes sense for the United States to adopt RBT so that all U.S. citizens living outside the country can live a normal financial life.

• Why do you support the Residence-Based Taxation for Americans Abroad Act, introduced by Representative Darin LaHood?

It's a good solution to creating an option so that people who want out of the U.S. tax system can get out.

• In your opinion, what makes TFFAA unique?

The board represents a cross-section of people who have advocated for RBT for a long time, and hiring a lobbyist is a necessity to be taken seriously and get legislation passed in Washington. The knowledge and abilities of everyone working together for a common cause are unprecedented and have helped increase the chances of RBT happening by ten-fold.