US persons living and working overseas often find it more difficult to meet the deadlines for their tax returns. This is so because they may have foreign financial assets that require a more extensive tax analysis to prepare the return. Just think about the work required to figure out the “transition tax” or “deemed repatriation … Continue reading Americans Abroad: October 15 Tax Filing Deadline – Not Ready? Don’t Panic
Category: Personal Income Tax
Reminder – All About Alimony and the Foreign Spouse….If You Hate Your Spouse As Much as You Hate Paying Taxes …
My readers know that broad US tax reform was enacted in December under the commonly called Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”). Today’s post is a reminder of how the new tax rules will impact any US spouse who will be either paying or receiving alimony. The clock is ticking and action must be taken … Continue reading Reminder – All About Alimony and the Foreign Spouse….If You Hate Your Spouse As Much as You Hate Paying Taxes …
Americans Abroad: Sept 18, LONDON – Push to End Citizenship-Based Taxation
A lively discussion is set to drum up support to convince US lawmakers to end America’s increasingly-unpopular “citizenship-based” tax regime. The meeting will take place in London next week. When: Tuesday 18 September 2018 - 17:30 to 19:00 Where: Central London location – to be confirmed upon RSVP (nearest tube: Westminster) Venue: To be provided upon RSVP (nearest … Continue reading Americans Abroad: Sept 18, LONDON – Push to End Citizenship-Based Taxation
Katholos – New Case Shows IRS Aggression in Asserting FBAR “Willful” Penalty
I have been blogging recently (here and here) about the IRS’ aggressive stance in determining what constitutes a taxpayer’s “willful” failure to file an FBAR and the fact that mounting court cases show the judiciary is buying in to the IRS’ position. Courts appear to be more easily upholding a finding of “willfulness” when it … Continue reading Katholos – New Case Shows IRS Aggression in Asserting FBAR “Willful” Penalty
Real Life Examples: A US Tax Mess, International Community Property
Attention all mixed nationality couples, with one spouse having US citizenship or US resident status while the other is a nonresident alien (NRA)! Your tax advisor should be looking at all possible issues surrounding your fact pattern. If you live in a foreign jurisdiction or US state (there are 9 of them) with a community … Continue reading Real Life Examples: A US Tax Mess, International Community Property
Tax Primer: US Expats & Foreigners
Everything you need to know about US tax is right here at your fingertips! My primer provides information for overseas Americans and green card holders on US tax obligations including Income Tax, Estate Tax and Gift Tax as well as IRS reporting requirements and State income tax. It also provides detailed information for foreign individuals … Continue reading Tax Primer: US Expats & Foreigners
Flying Under the Radar: Personal Use of “Business” Frequent Flyer Miles
Do I have to pay tax on that? Get the full scoop in today's post! “Expat” taxpayers living abroad are often given certain perks from their employers that would not be provided if the individual remained State-side. For example, provision by the employer for airline tickets home for the taxpayer and his/her family; or payment … Continue reading Flying Under the Radar: Personal Use of “Business” Frequent Flyer Miles
FBAR “Willful” Penalty: New Case, Taxpayer “Charged With Knowledge”
I blogged recently about the fact that mounting court cases have given the stamp of approval for the Government to meet a lower “burden of proof” in demonstrating that a taxpayer “willfully” failed to file an FBAR. The “burden of proof” refers to which party is responsible for putting forth evidence and, the level of evidence … Continue reading FBAR “Willful” Penalty: New Case, Taxpayer “Charged With Knowledge”
Passport Revocation Update: Over 436,000 Taxpayers Meet “Certification” Criteria
Many of my readers already know that one’s US passport is in serious jeopardy if a taxpayer has what is called “seriously delinquent tax debt”. First, some brief background on the law and how it particularly affects Americans living and working overseas. I’ll then provide the latest statistics on the passport enforcement efforts since the … Continue reading Passport Revocation Update: Over 436,000 Taxpayers Meet “Certification” Criteria
Form 1040: Similar to a Postcard, But …With (LONG) Letters Attached
Looks to me like the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is doing the “shuffle”! The draft Form 1040 for 2018 certainly looks shorter, but closer inspection shows the IRS is merely shuffling the workload onto Schedules. Right now, the IRS is very busy keeping pace with the changes wrought by the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act … Continue reading Form 1040: Similar to a Postcard, But …With (LONG) Letters Attached








