On September 8, 2023, the IRS issued a News Release suggesting that FBAR compliance investigations and audits would heat up in the near future. For those unfamiliar with FBARs, federal law requires United States persons to...more
On February 28, 2023, in a significant tax case, Bittner v. US, the U.S. Supreme Court held that a U.S. person who fails to file his or her FBAR on a non-willful basis only is subject to a single penalty on the failure to...more
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the $10,000 penalty for a nonwillful violation of the foreign bank account reporting rules in the Bank Secrecy Act applies on a “per-form” basis, not a “per-account” basis, handing...more
Introduction - Much of the current litigation between taxpayers and the United States has centered on the definition of willfulness or whether the non-willful FBAR penalty should apply on a per year or per account basis. ...more
Increasing demand for transparency and tax rules focused on the ownership of foreign financial accounts and interests in foreign trusts and entities affect private wealth planning. There are steps you can take to comply with...more
The U.S. Supreme Court began its new term last week and is poised to answer some major questions in criminal and regulatory law. This term, the Court is tasked with construing the Bank Secrecy Act’s penalty provision, ruling...more
Federal case and after federal case continues to come out providing real-life examples of the pitfalls of filing a Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedure (“SFCP”) with the IRS when the facts suggest willfulness rather than...more
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to resolve a dispute concerning the maximum applicable penalty for non-willful violations of the foreign bank account reporting statute. The Ninth and Fifth circuit courts are split on...more
On June 21, 2022, the United States Supreme Court agreed to hear a dispute involving split decisions among the circuit courts on non-willful penalties. The Fifth Circuit parted ways with the taxpayer friendly decision of the...more
In most cases, IRS exam initiates FBAR assessments. And, after an IRS examiner determines that an FBAR penalty is appropriate, taxpayers are generally afforded pre- or post-assessment appeals rights with the IRS Independent...more
On July 29, 2021, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice Tax Division, and the IRS Commissioner all announced that a federal court in New...more
In a recent decision, a federal district court found that a long-time CPA/tax-return preparer recklessly failed to file FBARs to disclose several foreign financial accounts. As avid readers of our Insights are aware, many...more
Last week the Ninth Circuit issued a win for taxpayers in US v. Boyd, limiting penalties for non-willful violations of the requirement to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR). ...more
An often overlooked exception to U.S. withholding taxes may result in a lower overall U.S. tax burden. The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) was enacted in an effort to ensure that U.S. taxpayers could not...more
Individuals who own virtual currency should consult with a tax professional to determine if their virtual currency is subject to a reporting requirement. On December 31, 2020, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network...more
All U.S. persons or businesses that meet the definition of a "financial services provider" and conducted financial services transactions with foreign persons during the 2019 fiscal year must file the survey known as the...more
IRS holds information that is sourced from the FATCA reports submitted by Foreign Financial Institutions (FFI) (on Form 8966 - FATCA Report) and by Individual US Taxpayers that have reporting obligations via Form 8938...more
The Internal Revenue Service has had a long-standing practice of providing taxpayers with potential criminal exposure a means to come into compliance with the law and potentially avoid criminal prosecution through the making...more
On September 28, 2018, the IRS closed the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (2014 OVDP). The 2014 OVDP (and prior 2011 and 2009 programs) had the purpose of providing Taxpayers that WILLFULLY failed to report foreign...more
Following the termination last fall of its immensely successful Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced a new regime to govern all voluntary disclosures regarding tax...more
On September 28, the IRS ended its 2014 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (“OVDP”). The IRS issued a memorandum—dated November 20, 2018—to announce its new Updated Voluntary Disclosure Practice rules. The IRS memorandum...more
On November 29, 2018, the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") published a memorandum (the "Memorandum") dated November 20, 2018, outlining the new process for all voluntary disclosures, both domestic and offshore (the "New...more
The days of avoiding taxes through hiding money or assets in unreported offshore accounts are gone. Nonetheless, there are still taxpayers with undeclared offshore accounts, as well as the banks and bankers that are...more
Now, More than Ever, Taxpayers with Lingering Offshore Tax Non-Compliance Must Seek Professional Assistance - On November 20, 2018, the Internal Revenue Service (“the Service”) released a memorandum containing important...more
On September 29, 2018, the Internal Revenue Service closed for good the long-running Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP), its hugely successful tax amnesty program for undisclosed offshore financial assets. Since...more