11th Circuit Holds FBAR Penalties Are Subject to the Excessive Fines Clause: A Significant Taxpayer Weapon

A recent decision from the 11th Circuit in United States v. Isac Schwarzbaum brings a major development in FBAR (Foreign Bank Account Reporting) penalties and their relationship with the Eighth Amendment's Excessive Fines Clause. The court's holding that FBAR penalties are subject to this constitutional protection under the Excessive Fines Clause is significant, offering taxpayers … Continue reading 11th Circuit Holds FBAR Penalties Are Subject to the Excessive Fines Clause: A Significant Taxpayer Weapon →

Filing A U.S. Tax Return – Even When Not Required – A Very Smart Move

Many taxpayers, especially retirees living abroad, may find themselves in a situation in which their income is too low to meet the threshold for filing a U.S. tax return. Retirees who only receive Social Security income (or small amounts of other additional income), for example, often fall below the tax filing requirement. Understandably, many people … Continue reading Filing A U.S. Tax Return – Even When Not Required – A Very Smart Move →

Offshore Investments, U.S. Tax Traps: What Every American Must Know

Navigating the labyrinth of overseas investments can be particularly challenging for American investors. The landscape is often littered with enticing sales pitches from expat investment advisors who, more often than not, lack a deep understanding of U.S. tax laws. While it’s true that investments in certain offshore jurisdictions might not incur local taxes, significant and … Continue reading Offshore Investments, U.S. Tax Traps: What Every American Must Know →

IRS Commitment To Assist International And Overseas Taxpayers

As indicated in its responses this summer to several key recommendations from the Taxpayer Advocate Service, the IRS is making strides towards enhancing the taxpayer experience. Among these, significant attention is being given to improving services for international and overseas taxpayers, a group that has faced unique challenges and severe penalties. This article highlights IRS responses … Continue reading IRS Commitment To Assist International And Overseas Taxpayers →

Green Card Holder Works Abroad: Tricky U.S. Tax And Immigration Issues

Navigating the intricacies of U.S. tax laws can be challenging, especially for green card holders living abroad. Green card holders have concerns that remaining outside the United States for too long may result in loss of the green card. One area that often causes confusion for green card holders is the “foreign earned income exclusion,” … Continue reading Green Card Holder Works Abroad: Tricky U.S. Tax And Immigration Issues →

The Scary Truth About Navigating IRS Tax Guidance

My article is copied in full below. It first appeared on Forbes July 24, 2024 – link here. You can follow me on Forbes for free. Imagine this: You have a pressing tax question and, like many, you turn to Google. Among the plethora of results, you spot information from the IRS, including its … Continue reading The Scary Truth About Navigating IRS Tax Guidance →

Grounded By IRS: U.S. Passport Denied Or Revoked For Delinquent Taxes

Precise statistics on the exact number of passports revoked or denied specifically because of substantial tax debt are not readily available. The IRS and the State Department do not regularly publish detailed breakdowns of passport revocations or denials by cause. What is known is that since the enactment of the FAST Act, tens of thousands … Continue reading Grounded By IRS: U.S. Passport Denied Or Revoked For Delinquent Taxes →

IRS Increased Audits Of The Rich: A Flop In Finding Noncompliance

My article copied below first appeared on Forbes July 12, 2024 – link here. You can follow me on Forbes for free. ~~~~~ The June 20, 2024 report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration came as a shock to many. The TIGTA report explained that to meet an audit quota set in 2020, … Continue reading IRS Increased Audits Of The Rich: A Flop In Finding Noncompliance →

3 Ways To Safeguard Finances Of The Vulnerable, Yet Navigate U.S. Tax

My article copied below, first appeared on Forbes July 2, 2024 – link here. Scams have become increasingly more convincing, posing significant financial risk to vulnerable individuals, especially the elderly. Financial security arrangements should be implemented, but when global financial assets or multi-nationals are involved, the U.S. tax issues can get complicated and require extra diligence. … Continue reading 3 Ways To Safeguard Finances Of The Vulnerable, Yet Navigate U.S. Tax →

Tax Return Preparer’s Mistakes Or Fraud: Innocent Taxpayer Takes Hit

UPDATE Oct. 31 2024 -- the "international tax expert" discussed in this article was just sentenced to over 15 years. Be careful out there. Sadly, we are living in an age where carelessness (and far worse) abounds, even when dealing with professionals. When it comes to US tax advice and returns, having an honest advisor … Continue reading Tax Return Preparer’s Mistakes Or Fraud: Innocent Taxpayer Takes Hit →