Cannot Expatriate! US Consulate in Dubai – Joining Others Worldwide, Closes the Door on Expatriations

An alternative title for this post could be: "Hasn't the State Department Heard About Zoom?" What’s become of the right to relinquish one’s US citizenship? It has been thrown a curveball for the past year and a half. Many US Embassies and Consulates throughout the world are not offering the service. Those that did (or … Continue reading Cannot Expatriate! US Consulate in Dubai – Joining Others Worldwide, Closes the Door on Expatriations →

International Taxpayers Need – But Can’t Have an IRS Online Account

An IRS online account is a safe and easy way for individual taxpayers to view specific details about their federal tax account. The American Abroad REALLY Needs an Online Tax Account How the US taxpayer living overseas would appreciate having such an online account! Time zone differences, long distance telephone charges when trying to reach … Continue reading International Taxpayers Need – But Can’t Have an IRS Online Account →

Is There Really a “Solution” for Crypto Tax Noncompliance?

Now that the US Congress and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have digital asset transactions firmly in the crosshairs for investigations and reporting, we are in the midst of what I will call crypto-currency tax anxiety. Millennials may make up a larger group of persons dealing with crypto, and may be very concerned about prior … Continue reading Is There Really a “Solution” for Crypto Tax Noncompliance? →

IRS Tells You if You are Married and to Who! Yes, IRS has Rules For That!

An interesting case was recently decided. I blog about it today to warn those who marry or divorce in a foreign country about the US tax complications that can arise. It’s an area fraught with pitfalls and can impact the couple in many ways, including of course, their US tax planning. Let’s have a brief … Continue reading IRS Tells You if You are Married and to Who! Yes, IRS has Rules For That! →

Constitutionality of NIIT and Passport Revocation Rules Stand: Taxpayers Sacrificed in US Supreme Court and Tax Court

The US Supreme Court and the Tax Court issued two big decisions impacting many US individual taxpayers. Here’s a short and not-so-sweet summary of what went down: The 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax Stands On June 17, 2021, by a clear majority vote, the Affordable Care (ACA) was upheld by the US Supreme Court, including … Continue reading Constitutionality of NIIT and Passport Revocation Rules Stand: Taxpayers Sacrificed in US Supreme Court and Tax Court →

All You Need to Know about the 3.8% Medicare / Net Investment Income Tax & how Pres. Biden Will Expand Who Pays It

Under current law, limited partners who materially participate in a partnership's business are not subject to self-employment tax. Members of an S corporation who materially participate in the S corporation's business are subject to self-employment tax only on "reasonable compensation" received in their capacity as an “employee”. These individuals are also exempt from the 3.8% … Continue reading All You Need to Know about the 3.8% Medicare / Net Investment Income Tax & how Pres. Biden Will Expand Who Pays It →

IRS Wants Crypto Information from Foreign Countries

Last week during testimony to the Senate Finance Committee (SFC), US Internal Revenue Service Commissioner (IRS) Charles Rettig stated that Congress needs to provide clear statutory authority in order for the IRS to collect information on cryptocurrency transfers valued over US$10,000. It is believed that such transfers are generally not being reported. Cryptocurrency market capitalization … Continue reading IRS Wants Crypto Information from Foreign Countries →

FBAR Developments: “Non-Willful” Taxpayer Wins & “Willful” Dead Taxpayer Loses Beyond the Grave!

Here are two recent cases regarding FBAR - One, a taxpayer win and the other a taxpayer loss. Let's start with the good news: The taxpayer win! The penalty for non-willful FBAR violations is generally US$10,000 per violation. The question is, what is the "violation"? The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) believes this penalty applies for … Continue reading FBAR Developments: “Non-Willful” Taxpayer Wins & “Willful” Dead Taxpayer Loses Beyond the Grave! →

State Income Taxes When Residing Overseas… They Hate to Let You Go!

When a taxpayer is a “resident” of a State which imposes income tax, he has to pay State tax on worldwide income, not just the income earned from sources within that State. If a taxpayer is working and residing overseas for an indefinite period of time and may or may not return to the State … Continue reading State Income Taxes When Residing Overseas… They Hate to Let You Go! →

Pres. Biden: 3d Party Information Reporting to be Increased – Foreign Accounts and Crypto Included

President Biden has an economic agenda and a big part of it is strengthening taxpayer compliance by increasing what must be reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) about client accounts by third party financial institutions and similar entities. The President’s proposal would require information reporting on both business and personal financial accounts. The reporting … Continue reading Pres. Biden: 3d Party Information Reporting to be Increased – Foreign Accounts and Crypto Included →