PART II – Forms W-8BEN & W-8BEN-E: What Are They Used For? Which One Must I Complete?

Part I of this blog post explained how Form W-8BEN is used for so-called Chapter 3 income tax withholding purposes covering topics such as the types of income subject to US-source withholding when paid to a foreign (non-US) person; exemptions, length of time for validity of the Form. It also provided an overview of how … Continue reading PART II – Forms W-8BEN & W-8BEN-E: What Are They Used For? Which One Must I Complete? →

PART I: What is Form W-8BEN, What is it Used For, Must I Complete It?

Lately, I have been fielding many questions about Form W-8 BEN, it’s brother, Form W-8BEN-E, and related family members Forms W-8ECI, W-8IMY, and W-8EXP. What are these things? And why are they giving you such a headache? Let’s set out some basics one step at a time. Today’s blog post will detail all the nuances … Continue reading PART I: What is Form W-8BEN, What is it Used For, Must I Complete It? →

It’s Finally Here: The IRS Bible for Voluntary Disclosures

UPDATE December 2018 - My interview with attorney John Richardson on the new IRS voluntary disclosure procedures. As many will remember, the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP) closed on September 28th with the promise that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) would issue new guidance on voluntary disclosures made after that date. The guidance just arrived … Continue reading It’s Finally Here: The IRS Bible for Voluntary Disclosures →

Gifting Your Way to Freedom – How TCJA Can Help You Expatriate

Not surprisingly over 1,000 individuals expatriated (gave up US citizenship or long term residency) in the third quarter of 2018. This is according to the most recent “Name and Shame” list published by the US Treasury in the Federal Register on November 19, 2018. Most likely the real number is higher, as the accuracy of … Continue reading Gifting Your Way to Freedom – How TCJA Can Help You Expatriate →

“US Source” Income – What Is It? Why Should I Care?

As many of my readers may know, there is a 30% withholding tax imposed on certain payments to foreign persons (whether individuals or entities) by US-payors. The 30% rate may be reduced or eliminated if a relevant treaty can apply. Withholding is required only for particular types of income provided the income has not been … Continue reading “US Source” Income – What Is It? Why Should I Care? →

Newest Targets: “Enablers” and “Cryptocurrencies”

Over the summer, I blogged about the newly formed “Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement”, or the “J5”, for short. Five countries form this international coalition: Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The goal of the J5 is to combat transnational tax crime through increased collaboration; in other words, these … Continue reading Newest Targets: “Enablers” and “Cryptocurrencies” →

Foreign Nationals – Am I “Resident” for US Estate & Gift Tax Purposes?

Many non-US individuals come to me with questions concerning their liability for US taxes - income, gift, estate tax. I find there are some general misunderstandings - hardly surprising given the complexity of the US tax system. Let's review! Before we talk about foreign (non-US) individuals, let's be clear: US citizens are always treated as … Continue reading Foreign Nationals – Am I “Resident” for US Estate & Gift Tax Purposes? →

Before You Think of Becoming an “American Abroad”, Read This….

I was recently asked about the tax problems faced by Americans who move overseas. Unfortunately, there are many US tax difficulties faced by Americans abroad. In order to make some sense of this vast topic, let's put the major problems into several basic categories. Once aware of the problems lurking out there, you can get … Continue reading Before You Think of Becoming an “American Abroad”, Read This…. →

Recent Case “Willful” FBAR Penalty: Even Death is No Escape!

In a recent FBAR case involving an unreported foreign account maintained at none other than UBS in Switzerland, the court was called upon to decide whether the FBAR civil “willful” penalty assessed against the taxpayer survived his death. The case is United States v. Schoenfeld (Middle District, Fla. 3:16-cv-1248-J-34PDB), dated 9/25/18, and the court order … Continue reading Recent Case “Willful” FBAR Penalty: Even Death is No Escape! →

Quicksand! US Owners of Foreign Corporations

It is usually very quick and easy to set up a foreign corporation - say, one in Belize or in the Cayman Islands. What is not so easy is working one's way through the quagmire of required Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reporting and US tax obligations simply because you are a US person owning shares … Continue reading Quicksand! US Owners of Foreign Corporations →