I’ve been married to a Swiss for almost 40 years. I know the critical importance of timeliness. When you say “I’ll be ready in 5 minutes”, believe me, that Swiss watch is ticking. And, so it is with the Tax Court and filing a Tax Court petition in response to an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) … Continue reading Is the US Tax Court Swiss? Taxpayer Loses When Petition Filed 11 Seconds Late
Category: Americans Overseas
Should You File a Protective Refund Claim for the Transition Tax While Waiting for the US Supreme Court? Moore Might Mean More!
Part I of my blog post set out the background and discussed the debate over Internal Revenue Code Section 965 “transition tax” or “mandatory repatriation tax” enacted in 2017. The Supreme Court recently decided to review the 9th Circuit case of Moore v. United States bringing this controversial tax back into the spotlight. The Court … Continue reading Should You File a Protective Refund Claim for the Transition Tax While Waiting for the US Supreme Court? Moore Might Mean More!
Moore Might Mean More! US Supreme Court Review of Moore & Section 965 Transition Tax
In recent years, one of the most hotly debated tax issues in the United States has been the imposition by Internal Revenue Code Section 965 of the “transition tax” or “mandatory repatriation tax”, a provision of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) enacted in 2017. The Supreme Court's recent decision to review the 9th … Continue reading Moore Might Mean More! US Supreme Court Review of Moore & Section 965 Transition Tax
Post-Bittner, IRS Gets Tougher on “Nonwillful” FBAR Penalties
As predicted, the fallout from the United States Supreme Court decision in Bittner v. United States, means a tougher stance by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) when it comes to reducing so-called “FBAR” penalties for “nonwillful” violations. In a nutshell, the Bittner court held that the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) $10,000 maximum penalty for the … Continue reading Post-Bittner, IRS Gets Tougher on “Nonwillful” FBAR Penalties
“Net Investment Income Tax” is Hitting More Taxpayers … Americans Abroad Really Feeling the Pinch
The 3.8% Medicare surcharge, more commonly called the “Net Investment Income Tax” or (“NIIT”), was enacted to help fund “Obamacare” health coverage. It is imposed on “high wage earners” but because the NIIT thresholds are not subject to inflation, the rules are now grabbing more and more taxpayers. President Biden’s Green Book proposals if enacted … Continue reading “Net Investment Income Tax” is Hitting More Taxpayers … Americans Abroad Really Feeling the Pinch
US Tax Issues Abound: A Global Look at Protecting Vulnerable Persons from Financial Fraud (The Case of the Wicked Stepdaughter)
On Wednesday I presented a webinar for the Financial Planning Association’s July International & Cross-Border Planning Knowledge Circle. My webinar highlighted numerous US tax issues when safeguarding the finances of the elderly (or other vulnerable individuals), whether Stateside or overseas. You can listen to the entire webinar here. The Case of the Wicked Stepdaughter A … Continue reading US Tax Issues Abound: A Global Look at Protecting Vulnerable Persons from Financial Fraud (The Case of the Wicked Stepdaughter)
Do I Have Worldwide US Tax Liability While Waiting for the Certificate of Loss of Nationality (CLN)?
Unsurprisingly, many taxpayers are confused about the tax results of expatriation. One of the most common questions is whether, after having expatriated, but before receiving the CLN, the individual is liable for US tax on his worldwide income. This question likely stems from the Department of State (DOS) policy that while issuance of the CLN … Continue reading Do I Have Worldwide US Tax Liability While Waiting for the Certificate of Loss of Nationality (CLN)?
US Recipients of Gifts or Inheritance from a Former American: The Importance of Record-Keeping to Avoid Transfer Tax Liability
Did someone you know and love give up their US citizenship or a green card held for a significant time? If so, that former US individual may at some point in the future, give you a gift or leave you an inheritance. If you are a US person here’s what you need to know to … Continue reading US Recipients of Gifts or Inheritance from a Former American: The Importance of Record-Keeping to Avoid Transfer Tax Liability
Malta Retirement Plans – The Jig is Really Up!
Things are looking worse and worse for Americans who invested in Malta personal retirement plans. Not only has the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) listed them twice on its Dirty Dozen tax scams list, it has now proposed rules that will require taxpayers and material advisers to specially put the IRS on notice about their use. … Continue reading Malta Retirement Plans – The Jig is Really Up!
FATCA Reporting of Compensatory Foreign Stock Option on Form 8938
My earlier blog post covered some US tax issues faced by the individual granted options on foreign company stock by his non-US employer. When it comes to foreign information return reporting, the grant of options to an employee on foreign stock can get confusing. Is an option granted to an employee with respect to foreign … Continue reading FATCA Reporting of Compensatory Foreign Stock Option on Form 8938









