Category Archives: NEW OVDP

IRS OFFICIALS ANSWER CIVIL AND CRIMINAL OFFSHORE QUESTIONS

Posted on February 26, 2015 by taxpenaltylawyer

On February 24, 2015 I participated in an ABA Tax Section Webinar, “Answering Your Criminal and Civil Offshore Disclosure Questions.”  On the Webinar panel were two IRS officials:  David W. Horton, Director, IRS International Individual Compliance; and John C. McDougal, … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014 OVDP, DELINQUENT RETURN, FBARS, NEW OVDP, OFFSHORE BANK ACCOUNTS, STREAMLINED FILING COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES, STREAMLINED FILING COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES, TAX, VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

OFFSHORE VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE PROGRAM (OVDP): STRICT APPLICATION OF 50% PENALTY CAN BE HARSH

Posted on February 15, 2015 by taxpenaltylawyer

Consider the following fact pattern: Father and daughter are participants in the OVDP who submitted their OVDP Letters after August 4, 2014.   Each owned separate unreported offshore bank accounts during the OVDP period 2006 through 2013. The father’s account was … Continue reading →

Posted in 214 OVDP, NEW OVDP, OFFSHORE BANK ACCOUNTS | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

PRO SE TAXPAYERS OFTEN DON’T SEE THE BUS THAT HITS THEM: SELF-REPRESENTATION CAN BE DANGEROUS

Posted on October 6, 2014 by taxpenaltylawyer

I receive many calls from taxpayers considering how to bring their unreported offshore accounts into compliance. Sometimes and often with respect to expatriates, these individuals will have prepared their own returns and even attempted to represent themselves through some of … Continue reading →

Posted in 214 OVDP, DIVORCE, EQUITABLE RELIEF, INNOCENT SPOUSE, NEW OVDP, TAX | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? YOU FAILED TO FILE AN FBAR BUT REPORTED ALL INCOME FROM AN OFFSHORE ACCOUNT

Posted on July 24, 2014 by taxpenaltylawyer

This predicament is not an uncommon occurrence.  Many taxpayers may have had a foreign bank or brokerage account and reported the income in their tax returns or earned no income but did not know they had to file an FBAR.  … Continue reading →

Posted in 214 OVDP, FBARS, NEW OVDP, OFFSHORE BANK ACCOUNTS, STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS, TAX | Tagged , , , , , , | 42 Comments

SOME SWISS BANKS ARE MORE THAN ENCOURAGING U.S. CLIENTS TO ENTER THE OVDP – THEY ARE OFFERING FINANCIAL INCENTIVES

Posted on July 21, 2014 by taxpenaltylawyer

An article in the Wall Street Journal on July 19, 2014 by John Letzing (“Taxpayers Get Incentives to Report: Swiss Banks Aim to Entice Americans to Disclose Accounts to IRS by Helping Cover Costs, Penalties”), reveals what many professionals have … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 OVDP, 214 OVDP, FBARS, NEW OVDP, OFFSHORE BANK ACCOUNTS, TAX, TAX CRIMES, VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

THE TAX LAW IS COMPLEX; OFFSHORE COMPLIANCE DECISIONS ARE DIFFICULT AND MISTAKES CAN HAVE GRAVE CONSEQUENCES

Posted on July 18, 2014 by taxpenaltylawyer

John J. Scroggin published an interesting and entertaining survey of tax complexity in the Wealth Strategies Journal (Tax Complexity, History, and Humor, July 8, 2014). The article begins with a quote from Judge Learned Hand:  “In my own case the … Continue reading →

Posted in 214 OVDP, FBARS, NEW OVDP, OFFSHORE BANK ACCOUNTS, TAX, VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

IRS CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION OFFICIALS PARTICIPATING IN ABA TAX SECTION WEBINAR INDICATE THAT OFFSHORE TAX FRAUD WILL CONTINUE TO BE EMPHASIZED BY CID

Posted on July 8, 2014 by taxpenaltylawyer

On July 8, 21014 Edward Cronin, Associate Chief Counsel (Criminal Tax) and Don Fort, CID Director of Field Operations participated in an ABA Tax Section Webinar, “Current IRS Criminal Investigation Enforcement Priorities and Issues.”  Some of the highlights from the … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 OVDP, 214 OVDP, FBARS, NEW OVDP, TAX, TAX CRIMES, VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE | Leave a comment

STILL HAVE AN UNREPORTED FORIEGN FINANCIAL ACCOUNT? BEWARE THE TRUSTED ADVISORS: THEY WILL GIVE YOU UP TO SAVE THEIR OWN SKINS

Posted on July 6, 2014 by taxpenaltylawyer

The DOJ Press Release reproduced below in its entirety should be very scary to those still out in the cold with unreported foreign financial accounts.  We know that foreign banks are taking steps to minimize their risk of criminal prosecution … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 OVDP, 214 OVDP, FBARS, NEW OVDP, OFFSHORE BANK ACCOUNTS, TAX CRIMES, VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

SOME ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF STREAMLINED PROCEDURES FOR U.S. CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS RESIDING IN THE U.S.

Posted on June 30, 2014 by taxpenaltylawyer

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.” – George Bernard Shaw Shaw’s admonition is applicable to the recently announced Streamlined Process and Transitional as alternatives for resolving offshore noncompliance exposure of U.S. citizens and residents.  Calls I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 OVDP, 214 OVDP, NEW OVDP, OFFSHORE BANK ACCOUNTS, TAX, TAX CRIMES | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

OFFSHORE TAXPAYERS WITH ACCOUNTS AT IRS LISTED BANKS NEED TO ACT NOW

Posted on June 21, 2014 by taxpenaltylawyer

Revised FAQ 7.2, for the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program, provides:  What if the government is investigating the foreign financial institution where I hold my account or another facilitator who assisted in establishing or maintaining my offshore arrangement?  Beginning on August … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 OVDP, FBARS, NEW OVDP, TAX, TAX CRIMES | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment