Tormented by taxes in a language I can no longer read

“It is very expensive to use a lawyer every year just to file a tax return, even though I am not going to owe any tax because I have only earned money in Norway.”

— Linda, an Accidental American who was raised and lives in Norway

Dear Congress,

I live in Norway and I am being tormented by U.S. double taxation in a language I can no longer easily read while living abroad. These complex laws have forced me into a multiyear nightmare of confusing paperwork, sky-high legal bills and endless sleepless nights.

I was born in the USA in 1953 to an American mother and a Norwegian father. They were married when I was born, therefore I automatically became a Norwegian and American citizen at birth. We moved to Norway when I was 2½ years old. I am now 72 years old and have lived here my whole life.

But after the bank made me aware that I was taxable to the USA around three years ago, I have had many sleepless nights, and this has been a pure nightmare for me. They threatened to close my bank account because I did not have a Social Security number. I only had a copy of my birth certificate, and it could not be used to get a Social Security number.

Born in America, trapped by U.S. tax rules

I gathered together all the copies showing that I was American, but trying to get hold of an original birth certificate was a nightmare. My parents were long since dead, so they could not help me. In the end, I found a lawyer who managed to order a new birth certificate from the USA.

I then had to travel seven hours by train each way to the U.S. Embassy with all the papers that they demanded there. In addition, I had to stay two nights at a hotel since I have osteoarthritis in both legs and my back, so I couldn't manage the journey back the same day.

The same lawyer who helped me get a new birth certificate was supposed to help me with tax returns for the last five years and with all the paperwork I had to fill out to renounce my American citizenship. But then new rules suddenly came along, and neither he nor the lawyers at Codex were allowed to help me or anyone else with this anymore.

Then there were once again many sleepless nights, filled with tears and frustration over ending up in such a difficult situation at my age. I was told that I had to use an American tax lawyer. I could neither bring myself to speak with nor contact anyone who had to do with the USA. I would just burst into tears. I felt both helpless and alone in this difficult situation.

I must mention that all my relatives in the USA are dead, and I have no plans to ever travel back there.

Recently, I got help from a Norwegian tax lawyer to file tax returns for the last five years. I have never received or earned anything in the USA. But I must mention that when this lawyer heard how desperate I was for help, she quoted a flat fee before she started—but I got a bill for more than double that amount before she was finished.

Too many forms, too little help

There are several more forms that must be filled out because the previous lawyer did not complete all the paperwork. I now need another lawyer to help me complete the remaining forms. I have also tried to get help filling out FBAR Form 114, but no one will help me. They say it is so easy and that I can do it myself. But I cannot do anything myself when it comes to American forms.

I am no longer very good at reading American English, especially when so many words appear that I have never heard of before. I have spent many hours googling the meaning of numerous questions that I do not understand. My husband is Norwegian, is not good at English, and is not comfortable with computers, so he cannot help me either. Now I just sit and cry because I do not know how I am going to manage this.

I cry because I was so unlucky to be born in the USA nearly 73 years ago. Why must I be punished because I was born there? There are many people who want to become American. Why can they not have my American citizenship, and then the USA can remove me?

I no longer know whether I have the strength to renounce my American citizenship. There are far too many forms to complete, and my health is too poor for me to manage another seven-hour train journey each way to the U.S. Embassy.

I do not think the President and those who govern in the USA know how much sorrow and how many problems people face when they have to file tax returns to the USA, even though they have never worked there and have lived in another country for over 70 years.

Yes, this issue of double taxation has been my worst nightmare. It is very expensive to use a lawyer every year just to file a tax return, even though I am not going to owe any tax because I have only earned money in Norway.

I can no longer bear to hear about America or deal with Americans who demand sky-high fees to help those of us who never asked to become American in the first place.

The only way I can live a normal life again is if double taxation is removed. I hope new tax rules come along soon so those of us who are citizens of another country can find peace and sleep well at night.

Sincerely,

Linda from Norway