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Yearly Archives: 2016

Streamlined Disclosure Program Will Not Continue Indefinitely

January 27, 2016

According to a statement made Commissioner Koskinen on  December 17, 2015 at the George Washington University Law conference on international taxation, the streamlined version of the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program, designed to bring taxpayers with unreported assets overseas into tax compliance, will end after the IRS determines there is no way a taxpayer who wanted to participate couldn't have heard about the process. 


“At some point, we will have assumed that people have
had enough notice that they should have become
 voluntarily compliant.”

This statement that the streamlined program will not continue indefinitely, has been reiterated by senior IRS officials at subsequent international tax conferences!
 

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) has helped bring visibility to the compliance issue. With the FATCA reporting mechanics in place, the IRS is now working to determine what data is the most useful and how to analyze the data for irregularities that could indicate an issue to examine. While no one will be immediately receiving tax-due notices; the IRS is collecting a lot of information through FATCA. 
We previously posted, FATCA - U.S. Began Reciprocal Automatic Exchange of Tax Information On Sept. 30, 2015! where we discussed that the IRS announced the on September 30, 2015 foreign banks and countries actually began exchanging financial account information pursuant to FATCA.

The Information NOW available provides
the United States and Partner Jurisdictions
an improved means of verifying the
Tax Compliance of Taxpayers using
Offshore Banking and Investment Facilities
 
 
& Improves Detection of those who 
Attempt to Evade Reporting
the existence of Offshore Accounts &
the Income Attributable to those Accounts.

The capacity for reciprocal automatic exchange builds on numerous accomplishments including the following:

  • Development of a consistent data reporting format, or schema, and the agreement to use this format by all jurisdictions;
  • Establishment of the details and procedures required to assure data confidentiality;
  • Creation of a data transmission system to meet high standards for encryption and security; and
  • Cooperation with foreign jurisdiction tax administrations to achieve the timely implementation of this exchange.
The Risks of Hiding Money Offshore are Growing!

Do You Have Undeclared Income from Offshore Banks 
Who Are Handing Over Names to the IRS?
 
 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
at: www.TaxAid.us or www.TaxLaw.ms or
Toll Free at 888-8TaxAid (888) 882-9243

Read more at: Tax Times blog

2016 Form 1099's are FATCA Compliant

January 27, 2016

IRS has issued the final version of 2016 Form 1099's which contain a checkbox to be used if the form is being used to meet requirements of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).
 

The 2016 Forms Form 1099-B (Proceeds from Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions), 1099-DIV (Dividends and Distributions), 1099-INT (Interest Income), 1099-OID (Original Issue Discount) and 1099-MISC (Miscellaneous Income) each contain a checkbox entitled "FATCA filing requirement" that the form instructions instruct taxpayers to complete if they are using the form to meet the requirements of either of those regs. 


A new checkbox was added to 2016 Form 1099-B to identify an FFI or U.S. payor filing this form to satisfy its chapter 4 reporting requirement. If the FATCA filing requirement box is checked, the payer is reporting on this Form 1099 to satisfy its chapter 4 account reporting requirement. A taxpayer who receives a Form 1099-B with the FATCA box checked, may also have a Form 8938 filing requirement.

For 2016's Form 1099-B, there is a third box which is labeled "Ordinary" Brokers, etc. are now required to determine whether the gain or loss is short-term or long-term and whether any portion of the gain or loss is ordinary. They are permitted to check up to 2 boxes if a portion of the gain or loss is ordinary and the remaining portion is short-term or long-term. They may not report both short-term and long-term gain or loss on the same Form 1099-B.

Towards the bottom of Form 1099-B is an unnumbered box for "Account number". Historically, an account number was required if the broker, etc. had multiple accounts for a recipient for whom it was filing more than one Form 1099-B.

For 2016, the instructions to Box 9 note that brokers, etc. should not include in that box amounts related to contracts that were open on Dec. 31, 2015 and were transferred to another broker during 2016. Any person that transfers custody of a "specified security" to a broker, after one of several statutorily specified dates, must give the broker a written transfer statement within 15 days after the date of settlement for the transfer.

The 2016 Form 1099-B instructions provide that the transfer statement information required in the case of a debt instrument has been expanded and that a transfer statement is required for the transfer of a section 1256 option occurring on or after Jan. 1, 2016.

Do You Have Undeclared Income from a Foreign Bank or Foreign Securities or Asset Management Company?
 
 
Is Your Name Being Handed Over to the IRS?
 
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
at: www.TaxAid.us or www.TaxLaw.ms or
Toll Free at 888-8TaxAid (888) 882-9243

Read more at: Tax Times blog

93 Swiss Banks Are Turning Over Your Names To The IRS – What Are Your Waiting For?

January 27, 2016

The IRS keeps updating its list of foreign banks which are turning over the names of their US Account Holders, who are now subject to a 50% (rather than 27.5%) penalty in the IRS’s Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP). This penalty is based on the highest account balance measured over up to eight years. 
On January 25, 2016 the Justice Department Announced that Leodan Privatbank AG (Leodan) is the 93rd Swiss Bank to reached a resolution under the department’s Swiss Bank Program.

Under the program, banks are required to:

  • Make a complete disclosure of their cross-border activities;
  • Provide detailed information on an account-by-account basis for accounts in which U.S. taxpayers have a direct or indirect interest;
  • Cooperate in treaty requests for account information;
  • Provide detailed information as to other banks that transferred funds into secret accounts or that accepted funds when secret accounts were closed;
  • Agree to close accounts of account holders who fail to come into compliance with U.S. reporting obligations; and
  • Pay appropriate penalties.

Until June 2013, Leodan conducted a U.S. cross-border banking business that aided and assisted certain of its U.S. clients in opening and maintaining undeclared accounts in Switzerland and concealing the assets and income they held in these accounts from the U.S. government.  Six private bankers at Leodan, including the Chief Executive Officer, serviced the 44 U.S.-related accounts at the bank.

Leodan opened and maintained undeclared accounts in the names of sham structures that were beneficially owned by U.S. taxpayers, while knowing, or having reason to know, that these structures were used by U.S. clients to help conceal their identities from the IRS.  These structured accounts were non-U.S. domiciled entities, such as an offshore corporation or trust, which aided and abetted the clients’ ability to conceal their undeclared accounts from the IRS. 

During the period since Aug. 1, 2008, Leodan held a total of 44 U.S.-related accounts, which included both declared and undeclared accounts, with an aggregate peak of approximately $59.42 million in assets under management.  Leodan will pay a penalty of $500,000.
 

The complete list of Swiss Banks which are turning over the names of their US Account Holders, who are now subject to a 50% (rather than 27.5%) penalty in the IRS’s Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP)is as of 1/25/16: 

  1. UBS AG
  2. Credit Suisse AG, Credit Suisse Fides, and Clariden Leu Ltd.
  3. Wegelin & Co.
  4. Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG
  5. Zurcher Kantonalbank
  6. swisspartners Investment Network AG, swisspartners Wealth Management AG, swisspartners Insurance Company SPC Ltd., and swisspartners Versicherung AG
  7. CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank Limited, its predecessors, subsidiaries, and affiliates
  8. Stanford International Bank, Ltd., Stanford Group Company, and Stanford Trust Company, Ltd.
  9. The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited in India (HSBC India)
  10. The Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited (also known as Butterfield Bank and Bank of Butterfield), its predecessors, subsidiaries, and affiliates
  11. Sovereign Management & Legal, Ltd., its predecessors, subsidiaries, and affiliates (effective 12/19/14)
  12. Bank Leumi le-Israel B.M., The Bank Leumi le-Israel Trust Company Ltd, Bank Leumi (Luxembourg) S.A., Leumi Private Bank S.A., and Bank Leumi USA (effective 12/22/14)
  13. BSI SA (effective 3/30/15)
  14. Vadian Bank AG (effective 5/8/15)
  15. Finter Bank Zurich AG (effective 5/15/15)  
  16. Societe Generale Private Banking (Lugano-Svizzera) SA (effective 5/28/15)
  17. MediBank AG (effective 5/28/15)
  18. LBBW (Schweiz) AG (effective 5/28/15)
  19. Scobag Privatbank AG (effective 5/28/15)  
  20. Rothschild Bank AG (effective 6/3/15)
  21. Banca Credinvest SA (effective 6/3/15)
  22. Societe Generale Private Banking (Suisse) SA (effective 6/9/15)
  23. Berner Kantonalbank AG (effective 6/9/15)
  24. Bank Linth LLB AG (effective 6/19/15)
  25. Bank Sparhafen Zurich AG (effective 6/19/15)
  26. Ersparniskasse Schaffhausen AG (effective 6/26/15)
  27. Privatbank Von Graffenried AG (effective 7/2/15)
  28. Banque Pasche SA (effective 7/9/15)
  29. ARVEST Privatbank AG (effective 7/9/15)
  30. Mercantil Bank (Schweiz) AG (effective 7/16/15)
  31. Banque Cantonale Neuchateloise (effective 7/16/15)
  32. Nidwaldner Kantonalbank (effective 7/16/15)
  33. SB Saanen Bank AG (effective 7/23/15)
  34. Privatbank Bellerive AG (effective 7/23/15)
  35. PKB Privatbank AG (effective 7/30/15)
  36. Falcon Private Bank AG (effective 7/30/15)
  37. Credito Privato Commerciale in liquidazione SA (effective 7/30/15)
  38. Bank EKI Genossenschaft (effective 8/3/15)
  39. Privatbank Reichmuth & Co. (effective 8/6/15)
  40. Banque Cantonale du Jura SA (effective 8/6/15)
  41. Banca Intermobiliare di Investimenti e Gestioni (Suisse) SA (effective 8/6/15)  
  42. bank zweiplus ag (effective 8/20/15)
  43. Banca dello Stato del Cantone Ticino (effective 8/20/15)
  44. Hypothekarbank Lenzburg AG (effective 8/27/15)
  45. Schroder & Co. Bank AG (effective 9/3/15)
  46. Valiant Bank AG (effective 9/10/15)
  47. Bank La Roche & Co AG (effective 9/15/15)
  48. Belize Bank International Limited, Belize Bank Limited, Belize Corporate Services Limited, their predecessors, subsidiaries, and affiliates (effective 9/16/15)
  49. St. Galler Kantonalbank AG (effective 9/17/15)
  50. E. Gutzwiller & Cie, Banquiers (effective 9/17/15)
  51. Migros Bank AG (effective 9/25/15)
  52. Graubundner Katonalbank (effective 9/25/15)
  53. BHF-Bank (Schweiz) AG (effective 10/1/15)
  54. Finacor SA (effective 10/6/15)
  55. Schaffhauser Kantonalbank (effective 10/8/15)
  56. BBVA Suiza S.A. (effective 10/16/15)
  57. Piguet Galland & Cie SA (effective 10/23/15)
  58. Luzerner Kantonalbank AG (effective 10/29/15)
  59. Habib Bank AG Zurich (effective 10/29/15)
  60. Banque Heritage SA (effective 10/29/15)
  61. Hyposwiss Private Bank Genève S.A. (effective 10/29/15)
  62. Banque Bonhôte & Cie SA (effective 11/3/15)
  63. Banque Internationale a Luxembourg (Suisse) SA (effective 11/12/15)
  64. Zuger Kantonalbank (effective 11/12/15)
  65. Standard Chartered Bank (Switzerland) SA, en liquidation (effective 11/13/15)
  66. Maerki Baumann & Co. AG (effective 11/17/15)
  67. BNP Paribas (Suisse) SA (effective 11/19/15)
  68. KBL (Switzerland) Ltd. (effective 11/19/15)
  69. Bank CIC (Switzerland) Ltd. (effective 11/19/15)
  70. Privatbank IHAG Zürich AG (effective 11/24/15)
  71. Deutsche Bank (Suisse) SA (effective 11/24/15)
  72. EFG Bank AG (effective 12/3/15)
  73. EFG Bank European Financial Group SA, Geneva (effective 12/3/15)
  74. Aargauische Kantonalbank (effective 12/8/15)
  75. Cornèr Banca SA (effective 12/10/15)
  76. Bank Coop AG (effective 12/10/15)
  77. Crédit Agricole (Suisse) SA (effective 12/15/15)
  78. Dreyfus Sons & Co Ltd, Banquiers (effective 12/15/15)
  79. Baumann & Cie, Banquiers (effective 12/15/15)
  80. Bordier & Cie Switzerland (effective 12/17/15)
  81. PBZ Verwaltungs AG (effective 12/17/15)
  82. PostFinance AG (effective 12/17/15)
  83. Edmond de Rothschild (Suisse) SA (effective 12/18/15)
  84. Edmond de Rothschild (Lugano) SA (effective 12/18/15)
  85. Bank J. Safra Sarasin AG (effective 12/23/15)
  86. Coutts & Co Ltd (effective 12/23/15)
  87. Gonet & Cie (effective 12/23/15)
  88. Banque Cantonal du Valais (effective 12/23/15)
  89. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise (effective 12/23/15)
  90. Bank Lombard Odier & Co Ltd (effective 12/31/15)
  91. DZ Privatbank (Schweiz) AG (effective 12/31/15)
  92. Union Bancaire Privée , USP SA (effective 1/6/16)
  93. PHZ Privat - und Handelsbank Zürich AG reorganized as Leodan Privatbank AG (effective 1/25/16)

Outside of these banks, the norm within the OVDP remains 27.5%. That is far better than prosecution or much bigger civil penalties. Some taxpayers, including taxpayers with accounts at one of the 93 Swiss Banks listed abover can opt for the easier and less costly Streamlined program. This list does not impact the Streamlined programs because you must be non-willful to qualify. All of this is part of the June 2014 improvements to the OVDP, which sparked new interest in cleaning up offshore accounts.
 
  1. With roughly 96 Swiss banks taking the DOJ deal and 
  2. FATCA requiring the entire world to report to the IRS
it is inevitable that this increased disclosure, will result in Every American eventually being discovered. Banks worldwide want to know if there US clients are compliant with the IRS.

Within the OVDP, people who pre-cleared before the various effective dates are generally safe from the higher 50% penalty. As additional banks are added to the list, only those American taxpayers that request pre-clearance before their bank is listed, will get the 27 1/2% OVDP penalty. The 50% penalty now applies to all taxpayers with accounts at financial institutions or with facilitators which are named, are cooperating or are identified in a court filing such as a John Doe summons.
 
Although the 50% penalty is high, willful civil violations can result in tax, penalties and interest totaling 325% of the highest balance in the account for the  most recent six years period. Recent guidance suggests that the IRS could be more lenient in the future, but the IRS’s definition of leniency can still make the OVDP a very good deal that provides certainty.  
 
Do You Have Undeclared Income from one of 
These Swiss Banks or

Swiss Asset Management Company?
 
 
Is Your Name Being Handed Over to the IRS?
 
 
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
at: www.TaxAid.us or www.TaxLaw.ms or
Toll Free at 888-8TaxAid (888) 882-9243

Read more at: Tax Times blog

IRS Erased Hard Drive In Microsoft's Quinn Emanuel Suit – Really?

January 20, 2016

According to Law 360 the Internal Revenue Service said Friday January 15, 2016 that it erased a hard drive belonging to a former agency official after a litigation hold had been ordered on materials relating to a Freedom of Information Act request by Microsoft for documents on the agency's contract with Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP.
 
The IRS informed the U.S. Department of Justice last month that it did not wipe the hard drive until April of last year, after the hold was in place, according to a Friday filing by the U.S. Department of Justice in a Washington federal court. The hard drive belonged to Samuel Maruca, former director of transfer pricing operations at the IRS Large Business and International Division.

IRS attorneys “have continued to study whether or how the foregoing might implicate the Service’s obligation to conduct a reasonable search in response to Microsoft’s FOIA requests,” the statement said.

In compliance with an October order from the court, the IRS continues to release records on a monthly basis pertaining to Microsoft’s FOIA request, according to the filing. Maruca’s hard drive was not captured by the litigation hold because under the IRS’ normal practices it would have been recycled the month after he left the agency in August 2014, which was before Microsoft requested the documents, the statement said.

 
 Have an IRS Tax Problem
You Would Like To Have Wiped Clean? 
 
Contact the Tax Lawyers at 
Marini & Associates, P.A.  
 
for a FREE Tax Consultation
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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