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Yearly Archives: 2015

Republican and Democratic Lawmakers Vow to Push Tax Treaties Delayed by Sen. Paul!

October 31, 2015

Over a year ago, we posted U.S. Senator Rand Paul Continues To Block 5 Important Tax Treaties where we discussed that the U.S.-Switzerland tax treaty remains stuck in the Senate after Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) blocked an effort to propel it forward by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.)

 When a bipartisan Senate panel lambasted Swiss bank Credit Suisse for helping rich Americans evade billions in taxes, some watching the high-profile hearing couldn’t help but notice that Sen. Rand Paul sticks out like a elephant in the room. Senator Rand Paul on Wednesday June 4, 2014 again blocked the U.S. Senate from moving toward ratifying five pending tax treaties, saying they would make it easier for foreign governments to invade the privacy of Americans.

The Kentucky libertarian, defying business interests that favor the agreements, cited concerns the treaties would allow more inter-government sharing of financial information on citizens. The United States has tax treaties with more than 60 countries, ranging from China to Kyrgyzstan. Their main purpose is to prevent double-taxation of corporate profits.
  • No new tax treaties or treaty updates have been approved by the Senate since 2010, when Paul was first elected on a wave of support from supporters of the Tea Party movement.
  • Before Paul's election, tax treaties were routinely approved by the Senate.
Under the New Treaties, Foreign Governments intent on Combating Tax Avoidance could Too Easily Access Americans' Personal Tax Information, Paul said. "We can't forget about the innocent Americans who are not breaking the law and do have a right to privacy," Paul said, adding that he wants the treaties rewritten to eliminate information-sharing provisions.

 Under Senate rules, one senator can place a "hold" on a motion for a vote, preventing it from reaching the Senate floor.
Earlier this year, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the five tax treaties with:
  • Chile,
  • Hungary,
  • Switzerland,
  • Luxembourg and
  • the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Senate approval is needed for them to take effect. Business lobbyists said that Senate Democrats likely would continue to bring up the tax treaties for debate to draw attention to Paul's objections.
In debate on the Senate floor, Democratic Senator Benjamin Cardin said food-maker McCormick & Co Inc has been hurt by the Senate's inaction on the treaties.
 

Now Republican and Democratic lawmakers vowed on October 28, 2015 to push for the ratification of eight tax treaties which have been held up for years because of one Republican senator's objections, despite support from companies that want consistency in rules for how to do international business.

objects to the agreements for privacy reasons, saying they would allow more inter-governmental sharing of financial information on citizens.

"The Treaties Don't Grant Access
 
 to Taxpayer Records that are Beyond
 
What are Provided in U.S. law," 
 
said Thomas Barthold, chief of staff of the government's Joint Committee on Taxation.
October 28, 2015's hearing discussed tax treaties with Switzerland, Luxembourg, Hungary, Chile, Spain, Poland and Japan and the international convention on mutual assistance on tax matters.
 
Paul, who is running for his party's nomination in the 2016 presidential election, delayed by several hours the chamber's vote on a major budget deal negotiated by congressional leaders and the White House, which he sees as doing too little to control spending.
No new tax treaties or treaty updates have been approved by the Senate since 2010, when Paul was first elected on a wave of support from supporters of the Tea Party movement. Before Paul's election, tax treaties were routinely approved by the Senate.
 
US taxpayers who have undeclared accounts in Credit Suisse or other Swiss banks, may now want to consider applying for the US Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP), which sets a limit to the penalties imposed on them by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for failing to declare foreign assets and earnings.
 
Once either:
  • The Swiss Banks disclose an account holder's name to the IRS under the non prosecution agreement or 
  • Mr. Andreas Bachmann or Josef Dorig or Markus Walder or Susanne Ruegg-Meier or Roger Schaerer discloses an account holder's name to the IRS or
  • Any 1 of the other 11 Credit Suisse Bankers, who were indicted in 2011 along with Mr. Dorig, discloses an account holder's name to the IRS 
the OVDP election is no longer available to that account holder!!!
 
Taxpayers Who Wish To Take Advantage
Of The OVDP Must Act Quickly! 

 
Have Un-Reported Income From a Swiss Bank?
 
Value Your Freedom?

Contact the Tax Lawyers at
Marini & Associates, P.A.
 
for a FREE Tax Consultation Contact US at 
www.TaxAid.us or www.TaxLaw.ms
or Toll Free at 888-8TaxAid (888 882-9243).

 

 

 

Read more at: Tax Times blog

Unprecedented Success for US Offshore Amnesty Programs!

October 27, 2015

According to the Internal Revenue Service:  

Since OVDP Began in 2009, 
There Have Been > 54,000 Disclosures!


The IRS has collected > $8 Billion.

 
We previously discussed this in our post Offshore Compliance Programs Generate $8 Billion and IRS Urges People to Take Advantage of Voluntary Disclosure Programs... You Think? However, the figures have risen sharply since the IRS' last progress report in January this year, when it announced that the OVDP schemes had attracted 54,000 disclosures and USD7 billion in tax.

It is believed that most of the additional 30,000 taxpayers who have volunteered since then, have been attracted by the 'streamlined' program launched in June 2014 for 'non-wilful' taxpayers. This program originated from the IRS' recognition that there were large numbers of American taxpayers expatriates living outside the United States, whose non-compliance with the offshore reporting rules was entirely unintentional and who could be drawn into compliance by offering them immunity from any penalties. 

This strategy has been aided by the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA),which requires foreign banks to report to the IRS accounts held by US taxpayers, which is provided additional incentive for the taxpayers to come clean.

The IRS is now urging others to take up the offer 
while they still have the chance, as 
non-compliant US taxpayers can only use 
the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program 
if they are not already under investigation by the IRS. 

US taxpayers can also not enter the program where the IRS has already received information regarding their bank account from their offshore bank.

With FATCA coming into force, the Swiss bank amnesty program under which Swiss banks can avoid US prosecutions if they pay appropriate penalties and cooperate with the investigations of the US Department of Justice, the number of US taxpayers barred from voluntary disclosure is increasing all the time.

For these US taxpayers to enter the program they must now face having to pay penalties of 50 % of their undeclared foreign assets, instead of the 27.5% offered by the OVDP.

The streamlined procedures, initiated in 2012, were developed to accommodate a wider group of U.S. taxpayers who have unreported foreign financial accounts but whose circumstances substantially differed from those taxpayers for whom the OVDP requirements were designed. More than 30,000 taxpayers have used streamlined procedures to come back into compliance with U.S. tax laws. Two-thirds of these have used the procedures since the IRS expanded the eligibility criteria in June 2014.
 
Separately, based on information obtained from investigations and under the terms of settlements with foreign financial institutions, the IRS has conducted thousands of offshore-related civil audits that have produced tens of millions of dollars. The IRS has also pursued criminal charges leading to billions of dollars in criminal fines and restitution.
 
The IRS remains committed to stopping offshore tax evasion wherever it occurs.  Even though the IRS has faced several years of budget reductions, the agency continues to pursue cases in all parts of the world.

Do You Have Undeclared Income from A Foreign Bank

Which is Delivering Names to the IRS?

Do You Value Your Freedom?

Want to Know if the OVDP Program is Right for You?

Contact the Tax Lawyers at 
Marini & Associates, P.A.  
 
for a FREE Tax Consultation
Toll Free at 888-8TaxAid (888) 882-9243

Read more at: Tax Times blog

US Individual Estate & Gift Tax Exemption is $5.45 MM for 2016.

October 27, 2015

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced that the individual estate and gift tax exemption will be $5.45 MM per individual for 2016, which translates into a $10.9 MM exemption for Married Couples. This is an increase from the $5.43 MM exemption in 2015. The annual gift tax exclusion remains the same at $14,000 per individual recipient.

The inflation adjustment is important  to wealthy taxpayer's who try to reduce their estates below the exempt amount. The exemption amount was $2 million in 2008, $1 million in 2003 and $675,000 in 2001and prior years. The top federal estate tax rate remains at 40%. 

The federal gift tax is tied to the estate tax, so the inflation indexing helps wealthy taxpayers by allowing them to make tax-free lifetime gifts as well up, to the exemption amount. 

 

 Have a US Estate Tax Problem?
 

Estate Tax Problems Require
an Experienced Estate Tax Attorney

Contact the Tax Lawyers at
Marini & Associates, P.A.
 for a FREE Tax Consultation Contact US at

www.TaxAid.us or www.TaxLaw.ms

or Toll Free at 888-8TaxAid (888 882-9243).

Robert S. Blumenfeld  - 

 Estate Tax Counsel

Mr. Blumenfeld concentrates his practice in the areas of International Tax and Estate Planning, Probate Law, and Representation of Resident and Non-Resident Aliens before the IRS.

Prior to joining Marini & Associates, P.A., he spent 32 years as the Senior Attorney with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Office of Deputy Commissioner, International.

While with the IRS, he examined approximately 2,000 Estate Tax Returns and litigated various international and tax issues associated with these returns.As a result of his experience, he has extensive knowledge of the issues associated with and the preparation of U.S. Estate Tax Returns for Resident and Non-Resident Aliens, Gift Tax Returns, Form 706QDT and Qualified Domestic Trusts.


Sources:

IRS
Forbes

Read more at: Tax Times blog

6 Techniques to Consider When You Receive an IRS Notice!

October 27, 2015

The IRS  sends many, many, many, letters and correspondence before they levy or garnished any Taxpayer's wages, bank accounts, or other assets. Many taxpayers take the ostrich approach and ignore the problem, in hopes that it will go away.
If you’re facing an IRS Problem, appropriate action can go a long way towards resolving it!

1. Respond Quickly to All Inquiries and Notices
  
The IRS will send a notice or letter if:
  • You have a balance due.
  • You are due a larger or smaller refund.
  • They have a question about your tax return.
  • They need to verify your identity.
  • They need additional information.
  • They changed your return.
  • They are notifying you of delays in processing your return.

2. Read the Entire Notice or Letter Carefully.

Typically, the IRS only needs a response if you don’t agree with the information, the IRS needs additional information, or you have a balance due. If the IRS changed your tax return, compare the information the IRS provided in the Notice or Letter with the information in your original return. If the IRS receives a return that they suspect is identity theft, the IRS will ask you to verify your identity using the web address provided in the letter.

When you get a notice in the mail from the IRS, it will have a file/case/claim or other reference
number on the document. You’ll also notice the document likely arrived days (or weeks) later
than the date on the letter/notice.

3. Contact the IRS if You Have Questions or Disagree With the Notice.

The IRS provides their contact phone number on the top right-hand corner of their correspondence.

Call the that phone number as soon as possible upon receipt of the notice to make certain the IRS is aware you are “pending action.” Be sure you have your tax return and any related documentation available when you call. Alternatively, you can write to the IRS at the address in the correspondence to explain why you disagree. If you write, allow at least 30 days for their response.

4. Respond Within the Required Time Frame.

 
If the IRS ask for a response within a specific time frame, you must respond on time to minimize additional interest and penalty charges or to preserve your appeal rights if you don’t agree.

5. Document all communications with the IRS
If you mail communications to the IRS, send them as certified mail to guarantee arrival and receipt. If you communicate with the IRS by telephone, the responding agent will give you his/her name and ID
number. Be certain to write it down along with the date/time/subject of your call and any
answers or information the agent provides. If you do not get a name and ID number, be sure to
ask and/or confirm before the end of your call. That way if there are any disputes, there is a
record of your communications.


6. Turn Over the Right Paperwork

Inexperienced taxpayers often think that the more paperwork they turn over, the better. The IRS
may even encourage this by stating that they can help you resolve your tax problem. While this may be true, IRS Revenue Agents can and often do make additional adjustments based upon the information and paper work which you supply. Only provide the information that is needed to resolve the problem at hand, not that which may open up a whole new set of problems.

6. Contacting an Experience Tax Attorney Can Help

When you respond quickly to notices and requests for information, you’re likely to find that the
situation can be resolved successfully on your own. But when audits or multiple issues arise, it is advisable to have an Experienced Tax Attorney on your side. 

When you have IRS tax problems, it is very important to handle them very carefully. IRS tax matters are very technical and sensitive; therefore a slight mistake in the process can cost you dearly in the form of loss of money, loss of time and general frustration. The tax laws and procedures involved in settling  your IRS taxes can be very complex and you may not completely understand it.

Dealing with IRS involves navigating the complicated maze of U.S. tax law. A Tax Attorney has the knowledge of tax law and expertise needed to negotiate with the IRS on your behalf to reduce Tax debt & IRS Problems.

The Internal Revenue Service has an army of employees and tax attorneys representing them

and as a taxpayer, you should have the same benefits which result from hiring an Experienced Tax Attorney to represent You, your Business & your Family.

Have a Tax Problem?
 



Contact the Tax Lawyers at
Marini & Associates, P.A.


 for a FREE Tax Consultation Contact US at 
www.TaxAid.us or www.TaxLaw.ms

or Toll Free at 888-8TaxAid (888 882-9243).

Read more at: Tax Times blog

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