One of the most important indications of when you need a tax attorney is any dispute with or contact from the IRS or any California tax agency. This is especially true if the matter involves an audit (or questions regarding...more
A common strategy many wealth management firms recommend is ensuring that as much as 30% of your portfolio includes foreign investments and securities. What is the potential tax impact of foreign investments? One of the keys...more
Jersey and Guernsey (collectively, the "Channel Islands") remain popular for both private equity buyout structures of UK and international corporate groups across various industries and asset classes, and for leverage...more
Multi-jurisdictional civil fraud matters often present multiple challenges that make the tracing and recovery of assets a complex, costly, and time-consuming investigative process. Making a fraud victim whole again requires...more
Many US taxpayers still have questions regarding offshore accounts and FBAR filing requirements and compliance. Is there a genuine risk their activities (or lack of compliance) will come to light? The definition of a US...more
When is a US Taxpayer required to disclose offshore accounts on an FBAR and IRS Form 8938? While many US taxpayers and expatriates have come to understand the requirements of the FinCEN Form 114 or FBAR, a surprising number...more
It is common for a US taxpayer to ask “what happens if you don’t file an FBAR or a Form 8938, Statement of Specified Foreign Assets with the IRS? Why do I have to worry about filing an FBAR in San Diego or anywhere in the US,...more
Fraud is on the rise. And as sums defrauded usually disappear, victims search for an alternative source to recover their losses. Unsurprisingly, the search often identifies banks' resources as a potential first call. ...more
It is standard practice for lenders in financing transactions to request legal opinions from counsel in each jurisdiction in which a transaction entity is established or under which law transaction documents are governed. Set...more
I had deposits at Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) that were assumed by First Citizens. Are my deposits fully insured? Deposits at First Citizens are insured up to the standard maximum deposit insurance amount, which is $250,000...more
Every year, the IRS compiles a list of common scams that taxpayers may encounter – its so-called “Dirty Dozen.” Today, the Service wrapped up the annual Dirty Dozen list of tax scams for 2023 with a reminder for taxpayers,...more
Después de una investigación de un año, el Comité de Finanzas del Senado de los EE. UU. investigó una escapatoria (FATCA Loophole) y entregó un Reporte de investigación titulado “The Shell Bank Loophole” que expone un esquema...more
Many high-net-worth individuals have used companies incorporated in offshore financial centres, such as the British Virgin Islands (“BVI”) to hold their assets and business. When they plan their estate or distribute the...more
According to the IRS, the Dirty Dozen represents the worst of the worst tax scams. The Dirty Dozen is a list that is compiled annually by the IRS in order to alert taxpayers, tax professionals and financial institutions of...more
The IRS wrapped its 2022 Dirty Dozen scams list urging taxpayers to watch out for and avoid being misled by tax avoidance strategies. Making the 2022 List are Cryptocurrency, non-filing, abusive syndicated conservation...more
El Informe de TIGTA (“Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration”) del 7 de abril de 2022 detalla seis recomendaciones de acciones adicionales necesarias para abordar el cumplimiento de la falta de presentación y...more
The TIGTA Report dated April 7, 2022 details six recommendations for additional actions needed to address Non-Filing and Non-Reporting Compliance Under FATCA. ...more
Since 2017, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Large Business and International Division (LB&I) has shifted its audit efforts to issue-based examinations, premised on strategically identified and prioritized areas of...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
The Department of Justice is starting to launch its FCPA enforcement profile after a brief lull in DOJ’s transition to a new administration. This enforcement lull occurred in the transition to the prior administration in...more
The 2022 discretionary funding request (request) made by the Biden Administration will invest in a “fair and robust” tax system that includes tax compliance enforcement directed at High Income and High Net Worth Individuals...more
The Cayman Islands Department for International Tax Cooperation (DITC) recently issued reminders to industry of compliance obligations in accordance with Common Reporting Standard (CRS) requirements and for the purposes of...more
Harmonizing business laws, a revised foreign exchange regulation and introducing a new currency. Currency is a hot topic in West and Central Africa, in both the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (EMCCA, or...more
DOJ announced the arrest of two individuals, Luis Martinelli Linares and Ricardo Martinelli Linares, who are the sons of the former President of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli) for their role in funneling $28 million in bribes to...more
The Cayman Islands Receive “Top Honors.” But, Global Financial Transparency is Reportedly Improving in General - The United States has overtaken Switzerland as a financial secrecy haven, according to the latest rankings –...more