Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
page_header_v01
FBAR Compliance with IRS offshore bank accounts investments – FATCA

San Diego FBAR Compliance and OVDP Lawyers

FBAR Compliance - Rewards and Risks of International Business and TaxFBAR compliance has become a primary issue for US taxpayers who have foreign bank accounts, investments, and assets exceeding $10,000 at any point in the calendar year, even for a day. You are required to report them on the IRS Foreign Bank Account Report, also known as FBAR form, each year. This procedure has been in place for several years; however, many U.S. taxpayers have not fully disclosed the extent of their foreign accounts and balances.

In 2010, the U.S. Congress passed the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, also known as FATCA. This legislation targeted offshore banks, sovereign nations, and tax reporting agencies. It requires them to disclose information regarding U.S. taxpayers, or they would be forced to withhold a 30% tax and face exclusion from American markets. US taxpayers, including foreign nationals who reside in the US who do not come into IRS FBAR compliance face draconian penalties and potential criminal prosecution and jail time.

Play Video

FATCA FBAR Global Compliance - San Diego Tax AttorneyAs a result, over 70,000 institutions (and growing) worldwide have signed onto FATCA and are providing information about U.S. citizens, residents, and U.S. taxpayers, including their accounts and balance information, directly to the IRS.

The U.S. Justice Department pursued several prominent Swiss financial institutions for criminal acts relating to helping U.S. taxpayers avoid paying U.S. income taxes.

The success of these cases has added even more weight to the U.S. Justice Department and the IRS, and foreign banks, investment houses, and even sovereign tax authorities have decided to provide information on U.S. taxpayers.

Is Your Conduct Willful or Non-Willful From the IRS’ Perspective?

FBAR Compliance - Are Your Past Tax Issues Willful or Non-Willful according to the IRSOne of the primary factors US taxpayers will face when coming into FBAR compliance and other foreign informational reporting requirements is the concept of “Willful” or “Non-Willful” conduct on the part of the U.S. taxpayer.

Evading U.S. income taxes is a criminal offense, and the IRS has promised to pursue aggressive auditing and criminal tax charges against offshore account violators.

The Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program, or OVDP, provides a conditional release from criminal exposure if the taxpayer makes a “complete and transparent” effort to come into compliance with offshore account and asset reporting. The taxpayer agrees to pay a 27.5% penalty on the highest aggregate balance for “accounts associated with tax noncompliance” in the associated look-back period.

FBAR Compliance - Domestic / International Taxpayer Contact the IRS if They Receive an Audit Notification - San DiegoIf the taxpayer’s foreign asset and income non-compliance was “non-willful,” the IRS has provided the Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures, which allows the taxpayer to bring FBARs into compliance for a much lower 5% penalty. The big “catch” here is that the behavior of the taxpayer must be “non-willful,” and the IRS has been less than transparent about the types of behavior it will accept in this category. The decision point for our clients comes down to their appetite for risk:

“Are you willing to risk criminal tax exposure in order to claim “non-willful” conduct and take the lower 5% penalties provided under the streamlined program?”

If the IRS believes you purposefully withheld information or secreted money or assets to avoid paying U.S. taxes, your application to the streamlined program will be rejected, there will be no OVDP option available to you at that point, and you will be exposed to criminal tax evasion charges as well as fines and penalties up to and exceeding 100% of the cumulative balance of all your accounts at any point in the look-back period regardless of their present balance.

There are No More Safe Havens to Avoid Paying U.S. Taxes

FBAR Compliance - OVDP - Experienced San Diego Tax Attorney - International Tax LawyerThe resulting combination of U.S. taxpayers reporting their financial institutions and accounts on IRS FBARs, and the offshore financial institutions providing information on U.S. taxpayers in order to comply with FATCA has resulted in the perfect international tax storm for the IRS. U.S. taxpayers are finding it increasingly difficult to hide income and assets offshore, and are being forced to come into FBAR compliance in order to avoid massive penalties and interest and potential time in prison.

The IRS has identified a list of banks who it believes have willfully helped U.S. taxpayers to avoid income taxes, and if your institution is on this list you will be required to pay a 50% OVDP penalty, instead of the 27.5% provided by the standard OVDP or the 5% offered under the non-willful conduct covered by the Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures.

Contact an Experienced San Diego IRS FBAR, FATCA and Offshore Reporting Lawyers

San Diego Tax Attorney Janathan L. AllenIf you have not yet come into FBAR compliance with FATCA and required IRS offshore account, asset and income reporting, we urge you to contact us to schedule a free, substantive consultation at 866-631-3470 or contact us to schedule an appointment.

The net around international banks, foreign investment houses, and sovereign tax authorities has tightened substantially over the past several years.

Reduce your exposure to high penalties and interest, and eliminate your exposure to potential criminal tax evasion charges.

Contact our experienced tax attorney , Janathan L. Allen and Allen Barron professionals and learn about the protections of the “attorney-client privilege” and the extensive legal services, accounting expertise, and tax preparation services available from your single source: Allen Barron.

Resources

Downloads

Practices Areas

Contact Us To Learn More About Allen Barron's Services

For more information or to discuss your tax, legal and accounting needs contact Allen Barron or call 866-631-3470 for a free and confidential initial consultation. Learn about the importance of integrated business strategy and coordination across legal, tax and accounting systems.

Offices of Allen Barron, Inc.

Main Office

16745 West Bernardo Drive, Suite 260
San Diego, CA 92127
Phone: 858-304-0947
Phone: 866-631-3470
Fax: 858-376-1410

San Diego Office

5720 Oberlin Drive
San Diego, CA 92121
Phone: 866-631-3470
Fax: 760-741-1410

Las Vegas Office

333 South Sixth Street, Suite 230
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone: 702-749-4430
Fax: 702-933-1748

San Diego Office

750 B Street, Suite 2610
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-702-8356
Fax: 619-923-8356

San Francisco Office

300 Montgomery Street, Suite 410
San Francisco, CA 94101
Phone: 415-481-0475
Fax: 415-762-1539

Phoenix Office

40 North Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Phone: 602-903-7018
Fax: 602-357-1655