Lifting the Veil on US Shell Companies – Third Attempt to Force Beneficial Ownership Registers

Play it again (Uncle) Sam! Two US senators are trying yet again to enact a law mandating creation of a national database of beneficial owners of US businesses. So far we have seen two unsuccessful attempts by lawmakers for mandatory beneficial ownership registers in the USA. The latest borrows heavily from the two bills that have … Continue reading Lifting the Veil on US Shell Companies – Third Attempt to Force Beneficial Ownership Registers →

MAJOR FBAR WIN for the Taxpayer! Penalty is Per FBAR Form, Not Per Account

Since the early 1970’s the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) has been requiring US taxpayers to report certain foreign financial accounts and retain detailed records about them. Many individuals now know about the notorious “FBAR” (FinCEN Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts). It comes as a surprise to many, however, to learn that the … Continue reading MAJOR FBAR WIN for the Taxpayer! Penalty is Per FBAR Form, Not Per Account →

PODCAST – One Woman’s Story….Building an International Tax Career (or any career) Abroad

Interviewed by Nana Ama Sarfo of Tax Notes International I discuss recent international tax issues, expatriate life and having a career abroad as a woman in Asia and the Middle East. The podcast explores how I built my international tax profession in two foreign countries, the obstacles, the joys ...and the thing that confronts so … Continue reading PODCAST – One Woman’s Story….Building an International Tax Career (or any career) Abroad →

Getting a Green Card – Is it Really Worth It?

I recently spoke on the US tax issues faced by the holder of the green card. To be or not to be such a holder? The podcasts (links below) may help you decide. The podcasts were made with John Richardson, a US and Canadian attorney. John, who is based in Canada, has seen his fair … Continue reading Getting a Green Card – Is it Really Worth It? →

COVID-19: Is Employer Provided Assistance due to the Pandemic Taxable Income? What if the Employer is “Foreign”?

Last week's blog post discussed the home office tax deduction and burst the bubble for many who were working at home for months under COVID-19 restrictions. Unfortunately, as discussed in that earlier post, this tax break cannot be used by an individual who is an “employee” as opposed to "self-employed". This restriction is a result … Continue reading COVID-19: Is Employer Provided Assistance due to the Pandemic Taxable Income? What if the Employer is “Foreign”? →

The Flexible “Foundation” – It’s Becoming a Thing!

Recently I was asked by another tax professional to discuss all things related to an entity called a “foundation” and I realized it would make for an interesting tax blog post. A foundation is a creature of a country’s statutory law, but foundations are not well understood in common law jurisdictions, such as the United … Continue reading The Flexible “Foundation” – It’s Becoming a Thing! →

COVID-19: Can I Take a Home Office Deduction?

In the face of the corona virus, just about everyone I know has been working from home for quite some time. Home can be Stateside or overseas. Many are now asking if they are entitled to take a tax deduction for their “home office”. Here’s everything you need to know. The home office tax break … Continue reading COVID-19: Can I Take a Home Office Deduction? →

Warning: Marriage to a ‘Foreigner’ May Be Hazardous to Your Tax Health

Recently, I am seeing more and more married couples of dual nationality (with one US individual partner) struggling with the US tax issues wrought by such a "mixed marriage". Some are same sex couples married under the laws of a foreign (non-US) jurisdiction. Believe it or not, marriages taking place in a foreign country (whether … Continue reading Warning: Marriage to a ‘Foreigner’ May Be Hazardous to Your Tax Health →

Check-the-Box Election: Is it Really that Simple?

A very important building block when establishing a business is selecting the best type of entity from both a legal and tax perspective. This “choice of entity classification” can make a huge difference in liability protection and tax outcome. When an international business is involved, it should come as no surprise that the complexities only … Continue reading Check-the-Box Election: Is it Really that Simple? →

Surrendering a Green Card at the Border – COVID-19, Stuck Abroad, “Forced” to Surrender Green Card?

Before delving into the nitty gritty, let me start with a disclaimer. I am not an immigration specialist and this post does not address, other than in a very general manner, immigration issues associated with surrendering a green card at the border. Today’s blog post examines the US tax issues that surround relinquishing the green … Continue reading Surrendering a Green Card at the Border – COVID-19, Stuck Abroad, “Forced” to Surrender Green Card? →