One thing is clear about the massive release of additional documents in the "Panama Papers" scandal yesterday: It's only a matter of time. There are several US taxpayers identified in yesterday's information release who should seriously consider their position and immediately file OVDP application to avoid potential criminal exposure for tax...
36 US Taxpayers Exposed for Tax Fraud by Panama Papers
A new batch of data in the "Panama Papers" was released this morning by the International Consortium of Journalists - the group of international journalists who is managing the editing and release of 11.5 million documents collectively known as the Panama Papers. 36 US taxpayers were among those exposed for...
The Swiss Are Providing the IRS with Direct Feeds on US Taxpayer Accounts
There are very few safe tax havens left in the world, and the vast majority of the Swiss financial houses, banks and investment management companies are providing the IRS with direct feeds on US taxpayer accounts. This information includes account information, balances, and transactional data. The Swiss institutions have agreed to...
How Has the IRS FBAR Definition of “Non-Willful” Changed?
Why has the IRS questioned or outright rejected many of the applications under the Streamlined Domestic Offshore procedures? How has the IRS FBAR definition of "non-willful" changed? Previously the forms associated with the streamlined domestic offshore procedures (IRS Forms 14653 and 14654) simply asked the taxpayer to "provide specific reasons...
What are the Panama Papers and What Picture Do They Paint of Offshore Tax Havens and the IRS?
In the past few days, news of the "Panama Papers" has revealed more than 11 million documents which contain private offshore banking information of many of the world's rich and famous. The papers reveal the offshore efforts to shelter income and assets of many world leaders and some of the...
IRS Voluntary Offshore Disclosures under the Streamlined Program Receive Disturbing News
We have been at the forefront of the IRS crackdown on offshore bank accounts, foreign investments and corporate ownership and the requirement for US taxpayers to come into compliance with FBAR reporting and associated IRS offshore voluntary disclosures. For those who have decided to file IRS voluntary offshore disclosures under the...
IRS Lists Hiding Income and Assets in Offshore Accounts in its “Dirty Dozen” Scam Targets
The IRS has listed hiding income and assets in offshore accounts in its "Dirty Dozen" annual scam target list. This is yet another signal to US taxpayers who have not yet come into compliance with the IRS and FBAR reporting reporting requirements relating to their offshore financial activities. The IRS...
IRS Adds Banks to the List of 50% OVDP Penalty Institutions
The IRS continues to add more and more international banks, financial and investment firms to its list of 50% OVDP penalty institutions each month. The list is based upon the IRS' determination that the bank or institution has actively helped US taxpayers to shelter income or avoid paying US taxes....
IRS Adds 7 More Swiss Banks to 50% OVDP Penalty List
The IRS has added 7 more Swiss banks to the 50% OVDP Penalty List in December, and now more than 100 Swiss banks are providing information about US taxpayers accounts and transactions directly to the IRS. For those US taxpayers who have already come into FBAR compliance with the IRS...