IRS Drops Form 708: 40% Tax, Gifts & Bequests, “Covered Expatriates”

The Internal Revenue Service has released the final version of Form 708, titled “United States Return of Tax for Gifts and Bequests Received from Covered Expatriates,” (revision dated December 2025) along with detailed draft instructions (revision dated December 2025). As of today’s publication, the accompanying instructions remain in draft form available only as a draft … Continue reading IRS Drops Form 708: 40% Tax, Gifts & Bequests, “Covered Expatriates” →

Late Form 3520 Foreign Gifts And Bequests, Good News From IRS

The IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel announced some good news for taxpayers at the end of October 2024. The IRS has ended its practice of automatically assessing penalties when a taxpayer voluntarily submits a late Form 3520, Part IV. This form deals with the obligation of U.S. persons to report to the IRS the receipt of … Continue reading Late Form 3520 Foreign Gifts And Bequests, Good News From IRS →

U.S. Tax-Savvy Gifting By Foreigners To U.S. Persons

My article copied below, first appeared on Forbes May 11, 2024 - link here. Follow me on Forbes for easy to understand US international tax coverage. I'd loved to be your "go-to" person when it comes to US tax issues impacting Americans abroad or foreign persons with any US connection. The US always finds a … Continue reading U.S. Tax-Savvy Gifting By Foreigners To U.S. Persons →

The New York Times, USSCt Justice Clarence Thomas, Juicy Gifts & the Tax Lessons!

Sometimes I like to bring up issues occurring strictly in the USA and take a peek at how the US tax rules would shake out if foreigners were involved in the transactions. It always makes for a much more complicated analysis. Here is one for today! Let’s look at the juicy story of Justice Clarence … Continue reading The New York Times, USSCt Justice Clarence Thomas, Juicy Gifts & the Tax Lessons! →

Foreign Persons Making Gifts to the US – Cash / Wire Transfers / Checks?

Understanding the US gift tax is important for both US and non-US persons. It comes as a big surprise to many people that US gift tax issues can arise in many unanticipated ways, such as sending money to an adult child attending college; making loans interest-free to family members or giving them loans with below-market interest rates. Even non-US persons can … Continue reading Foreign Persons Making Gifts to the US – Cash / Wire Transfers / Checks? →

Taxpayer Wins! Foreign Gift Not Reported: DOJ Concedes he had “Reasonable Cause”

We have had a taxpayer win in the foreign information reporting arena! I provide a summary of the case of Mr. Krzysztof Wrzesinski below. For readers who wish more, the taxpayer’s complaint is here. Background of the Wrzesinski Case Mr. Wrzesinski (“Taxpayer” or “T”) was a native of Poland who immigrated to the United States … Continue reading Taxpayer Wins! Foreign Gift Not Reported: DOJ Concedes he had “Reasonable Cause” →

Gifts & Bequests from Former Americans – Beware that Trojan Horse

Former US citizens or long term permanent residents who are giving up (or previously gave up) their US status, have far more than just the "Exit Tax" to worry about. They must also consider the impact the expatriation will have on their US family members and other intended US beneficiaries. I'm still waiting for more … Continue reading Gifts & Bequests from Former Americans – Beware that Trojan Horse →