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ACA continues to advocate that US citizens overseas should not be forgotten when faced with a worldwide medical emergency such as the recent Coronavirus pandemic.

ACA was the first organization representing overseas Americans to advocate to the Congress, the IRS and Treasury stressing that Americans overseas needed be included in the CARES Act legislation.  In our letter dated March 23rd, 2020, ACA notes that special consideration is needed for issues such as, filing deadlines, mechanics of advance refunds and credits, need for a US bank account for rebates, loans to small businesses, limitations based on adjusted gross income among others, as these apply to the community of Americans living and working overseas.  

With the passage of the CARES Act legislation on March 27th, ACA immediately prepared a memorandum discussing the tax provisions of the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Stimulus Act. . 

Throughout the CARES Act implementation ACA raised issues such as, the mechanics of electronic transfers (direct deposits), the ability of overseas Americans to provide banking information to the IRS, to the highest levels of the IRS and Treasury with our already established contacts in these offices.  In our communications, ACA has highlighted to the IRS issues Americans overseas may have with online registration. Many online registration tools aren’t set up to accommodate Americans overseas; things like verification of identity through the use of US-based indicia.  

As issues and problems surfaced with the CARES Act implementation, ACA writes to the IRS and the Treasury Department highlighting problems with the “Get My Payment” online tool and urging them to find a solution for Americans Overseas to quickly and easily apply for recovery rebates. ACA continued to advocate on these issues seeking the support of the National Taxpayer Advocate, Erin M. Collins, in response to her recently released 2021 Objectives Report to Congress, wherein she has provided to Congress systematic advocacy efforts for improving taxpayers experience and her assessment of the IRS’s management of the CARES Act economic stimulus efforts.

In April and May of 2021 ACA continued to advocate for vaccine access for US citizens living and working overseas. 

On September 25, 2020, ACA wrote to Congress: Americans Overseas Issues need attention not only during a pandemic and on October 19, 2020, ACA wrote to US State Department to Prioritize Overseas Americans' access to Essential US Citizens Services

In November, 2020 ACA met with representatives of the US State Department: American Citizen Services to discuss, and bring to the attention of the recent problems with regard to procurement of Social Security numbers and other issues due to the lockdown of US Embassies and Consulates worldwide.

ACA also wrote two important letters to the Congress and Administration noting the lack of support for vaccinating US citizens living and working overseas. Taxpayer monies paid for the development and distribution of the Cornavirus vaccines however, the US government does not have a system in place to insure that all its citizens no matter where they live have access to this medical treatment. ACA continues to advocate that US citizens overseas should not be forgotten when faced with a worldwide medical emergency such as the recent Coronavirus pandemic.  Join ACA's write-in campaign by writing to your Representatives in Congress and the Committee Representatives responsible for distribution of the SARS-CoV-2e vaccine asking that emergency medical services funded by the US government are made available to US citizens overseas: https://www.americansabroad.org/vaccines-for-americans-abroad/