On the IRS Targets Yanks on Canada thread, Hazy 2 compares IRS efforts to suck 
us into their quicksand to old adventure movies where unsuspecting folks get pulled into quicksand and disappear.
It does seem that’s what IRS is trying to do. But, we need to understand how quicksand really works. The following information is from Science: How Stuff Works:
With quicksand, the more you struggle in it the faster you will sink. If you just relax, your body will float in it because your body is less dense than the quicksand.
How many times have you watched a movie where the hero is sucked down into a pit of quicksand, only to be saved at the last minute by grabbing a nearby tree branch and pulling himself out?
If you believed what you saw in movies, you might think that quicksand is a living creature that can suck you down into a bottomless pit, never to be heard from again. But no — the actual properties of quicksand are not quite those portrayed in the movies.
Quicksand is not quite the fearsome force of nature that you sometimes see on the big screen. In fact, the treacherous grit is rarely deeper than a few feet.
It can occur almost anywhere if the right conditions are present. Quicksand is basically just ordinary sand that has been so saturated with water that the friction between sand particles is reduced. The resulting sand is a mushy mixture of sand and water that can no longer support any weight.
If you step into quicksand, it won’t suck you down. However, your movements will cause you to dig yourself deeper into it.
So, the lesson for us is: Relax. Stay away from the quicksand. If you stumble across it, don’t step in it. If you do fall into IRS quicksand, don’t struggle. Don’t dig yourself deeper. Float.
Don’t let IRS suck you in. If you do, once you are in their bottomless pit, IRS will try to grab your money which was earned, saved, invested and taxed outside United States of Arrogance.
@Blaze
Great analogy and great advice.
@Blaze, great advice. However, I’m undecided on whether I’m going to take it or not. As I’ve said on the other stream, I’m struggling with the decision to apply for my CLN. That could mean that I’m willingly and knowingly stepping right into the quicksand. If I was successful in obtaining a backdated CLN, then no harm, no foul, the rope I needed to get me out of the quicksand was there. If I’m not successful, then I’ve put myself onto the IRS’s radar.
For months now, I’ve been adamant that no way, no how am I going to apply for a CLN, that I’m going to wait for our government to announce that it’s protected it’s citizens, and therefore a CLN would be unnecessary. However, I am losing (have lost?) faith that this is going to happen. I do agree with some of the others that we just don’t know how things will go in the future – will it be easier to get a CLN in 6 months or a year? Will it be more difficult? There’s no way to know, of course, so it’s a roll of the dice, no matter which way I go.
For everyone, taking action is a very personal thing. Only each of us can know what the best thing to do is in our particular situation, and we can debate the pros and cons here, and ponder the very good advice that people offer, but it still comes down to a personal choice. In fact, the main thing that’s giving me pause, one of the big reasons I haven’t already started the process, is the cautionary tale of Calgary411, who thought she was making the right decision, (especially since that was the ‘professional’ advice she received) and now bitterly regrets doing what she did.
It’s tough. Jump into the quicksand and hope for the best, or refuse to go forward and remain in fear of the quicksand for how many more months (or years).
@Outraged
I know how you are feeling. You are so correct, each of us has to make our own decision. As mentioned in an earlier post, for me, it was the indecision that was the most difficult.
I certainly hope I will stay off of the IRS radar. Actually, Steven Mopsick’s words helped me in believeing that they would not come after me. If they do, I will choose to ignore them.
I hope for your sake, you can reach a decision that will work for you.
@Outraged: I think that is where you may fall into their quicksand by accident. If that happens, float. Don’t let IRS suck you in. Don’t file IRS returns if you have every reason to believe you relinquished US citizenship years or decades ago.
So far, we have had no reports of IRS contacting anyone after they got a backdated CLN. Of course, we’re still in early stages of those treasures arriving.
@ Blaze
Another thanks for your advice and further explanation of quicksand.
@Everyone: I should just clarify once again any advice I may give is my own personal opinion based on what I have learned. It is not legal or accounting advice.
Don’t move around in the quicksand, just stay put patiently When the IRS jumps in there after you, shove them under to propel you up.
Thanks for that superb advice from our very own swamp creature!
Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is cutting back.
http://www.accountingtoday.com/news/taxpayer-advocate-service-changes-case-acceptance-criteria-63856-1.html
One more good reason to stay away from IRS quicksand.