Tag: foreign accounts

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! →

Closing the International Tax Gap: IRS Doing Virtually Nothing With FATCA

Today’s blog post discusses the overall and international tax gaps, takes a look at the offshore world and how enforcement of the tax laws is faring (hint - not so good). It summarizes some important testimony given on May 11, 2021 by the Honorable J. Russell George, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration before the … Continue reading Closing the International Tax Gap: IRS Doing Virtually Nothing With FATCA →

An Eye for Moving Abroad? Bye-Bye USA, Hello Tax Complications!

Bloomberg Tax - I invite readers to enjoy my recently published article, copied in full below. Reproduced with permission. Published April 20, 2021. The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. (800-372-1033) http://www.bloombergindustry.com. Daily Tax Report International, published online here and in PDF format here. It has certainly been a year to remember. So many changes have … Continue reading An Eye for Moving Abroad? Bye-Bye USA, Hello Tax Complications! →

Taxpayer’s FBAR WIN: “Willful” Penalty over $9.8 Million for Mere Signature Authority — Removed Entirely

Today’s post involving the case of Jonathan Zuhovitzky presents some important takeaways:  The IRS can get very aggressive when it comes to assessing “willful” FBAR penalties. We see this trend is on the rise. A diligent representative, however, can get the IRS to settle an FBAR matter that is favorable to the taxpayer.  It takes … Continue reading Taxpayer’s FBAR WIN: “Willful” Penalty over $9.8 Million for Mere Signature Authority — Removed Entirely →

Third Party Reporting of Virtual Currency: Who’s Telling the IRS What?

Many of my readers are aware that I have written various blog posts about the US tax issues that surround virtual currency. Some have asked, (perhaps innocently, perhaps not), about so-called “third party reporting” of virtual currency to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) .  For those who do not know what this means – it’s … Continue reading Third Party Reporting of Virtual Currency: Who’s Telling the IRS What? →

REMINDER: Wondering if You (or Your Clients) Need to File an FBAR or Have Been Preparing Them Correctly?

Please spread the word and share this news. I will be making FBAR matters simple in a cost-effective live online training session along with my colleague, Jimmy Sexton, LL.M. a fellow international tax expert. Whether you are preparing your own FBARs or those of your clients, the truth is that some FBAR situations are simple … Continue reading REMINDER: Wondering if You (or Your Clients) Need to File an FBAR or Have Been Preparing Them Correctly? →

Want Protection from Criminal Prosecution for Tax Noncompliance? IRS Provides Only One Way

As many will remember, the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP) closed on September 28 2018 with the promise that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) would issue new guidance on voluntary disclosures made after that date.  The guidance arrived on November 20 2018 in the form of a 5-page Memorandum (IRS Memorandum LB&I-09-1118-014) (“Memorandum”) by the … Continue reading Want Protection from Criminal Prosecution for Tax Noncompliance? IRS Provides Only One Way →

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 →