No IRS! The Sky is NOT the Limit….MAJOR FBAR WIN! Penalty is Per FBAR Form, Not Per Account

As all my readers know, the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) has been requiring US taxpayers to report certain foreign financial accounts and retain detailed records about them. Failing to file or to properly report all foreign accounts on the notorious “FBAR” (FinCEN Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts) can result in very high … Continue reading No IRS! The Sky is NOT the Limit….MAJOR FBAR WIN! Penalty is Per FBAR Form, Not Per Account →

Your Foreign Bank Records – IRS Now Has Much Easier Access

There’s a new law on the books and it does not bode well for, among others, those with foreign accounts that have not been properly reported to the Internal Revenue Service. The “Combating Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing, and Counterfeiting Act of 2019” (the “Act”) became part of the reconciled National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal … Continue reading Your Foreign Bank Records – IRS Now Has Much Easier Access →

Estate Taxes Going Up – Is There Still a Golden Gifting Opportunity?

Janet Yellen, the former Federal Reserve chairperson is now the new US Secretary of the Treasury. She has staunchly defended President Biden's plan to reduce the estate-tax exemption amount from the current US$11.5 million to US$3.5 million, as well as to increase the top estate tax rate from 40% to 45%. In responding to criticism … Continue reading Estate Taxes Going Up – Is There Still a Golden Gifting Opportunity? →

Bye-Bye Shell Companies! Beneficial Ownership Reporting Now Required by the USA

It’s finally here! We now have a new law mandating creation of a national database of beneficial owners of US businesses (and foreign businesses registered to do business in the US). It’s been a long time in coming and is being hailed as a huge anti-corruption and anti-money laundering reform . There have been several … Continue reading Bye-Bye Shell Companies! Beneficial Ownership Reporting Now Required by the USA →

The Times They Are a Changin’ – FBAR Reporting of Virtual Currency Foreign Accounts

It’s been no secret that virtual currency has been in the crosshairs of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for some time. Virtual currency is one of the IRS “campaigns” and criminal investigations related to crypto have already started. The IRS has been sending taxpayers “educational” letters to remind them and warn them of their tax … Continue reading The Times They Are a Changin’ – FBAR Reporting of Virtual Currency Foreign Accounts →

Everyone – Including Foreigners… Stay Away from California! 10-Year Wealth Tax Looms for Single Year Stays Over 60 Days

Why should I blog about a possible wealth tax in California? After all, my US tax blog focusses on international tax matters, US persons abroad, and foreign families with any US connections. Well, for starters, many of my clients are foreign nationals who (prior to COVID-19) enjoy visiting the US, or have specialized medical treatment … Continue reading Everyone – Including Foreigners… Stay Away from California! 10-Year Wealth Tax Looms for Single Year Stays Over 60 Days →

US Person Inheriting Assets from a “Foreigner” or Through a Foreign Trust

Many individuals have questions about the US tax consequences of foreign (non-US) assets inherited from a non-US individual who has passed away. They want to know whether US tax reporting is required, or if they must pay US tax on the inheritance. Some ask about the US tax upon a later sale of the inherited … Continue reading US Person Inheriting Assets from a “Foreigner” or Through a Foreign Trust →

MERRY CHRISTMAS: FATCA Drops Coal on the Doorstep of Americans Abroad

Merry Christmas to all of my readers and followers who celebrate this special time of year. I hope the joy of the season will follow you into the New Year. Sadly, Christmas won’t be merry for many Americans abroad who are ensnared in the grip of “FATCA,” the notorious “Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act”. Briefly, … Continue reading MERRY CHRISTMAS: FATCA Drops Coal on the Doorstep of Americans Abroad →

What a Mess: Debt Forgiveness and the American Abroad

Imagine you are an American taxpayer living overseas. Like so many other Americans you are facing financial hardships wrought by COVID-19. You have a car loan you cannot pay and mounting credit card debt. Like an angel from above, your creditors agree to forever forgive some of the amounts you otherwise owe them. You cannot … Continue reading What a Mess: Debt Forgiveness and the American Abroad →

Virtual Currency: IRS Sheds More Light for 2020 Tax Returns

The US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released instructions to the draft 2020 Form 1040 on Oct 23rd. It may be recalled that a virtual currency question was introduced for the first time on the 2019 Form 1040 on Schedule 1. Not all taxpayers are required to complete Schedule 1. Now, the 2020 Form 1040 places the question … Continue reading Virtual Currency: IRS Sheds More Light for 2020 Tax Returns →