A common strategy many wealth management firms recommend is ensuring that as much as 30% of your portfolio includes foreign investments and securities. What is the potential tax impact of foreign investments? One of the keys to maximizing the advantages of offshore investment involves management of the effects of taxation...
A Foreign Trust Creates Complex IRS Reporting Requirements
The IRS has clearly identified legitimate reasons why "U.S. Persons" would establish or maintain ownership in a foreign trust. However, a foreign trust creates complex IRS reporting requirements for US taxpayers who own a foreign trust under the grantor trust rules, or are beneficiaries with an investment in a foreign...
IRS Form 5471 Carries Heavy Penalties and Consequences
If you have any ownership position in an offshore or foreign corporation it is important to understand your reporting responsibilities to the IRS. If you own 10% or more of any foreign corporation's voting authority, you are required to accurately and transparently complete IRS Form 5471 and attach it to your federal return...
What is a PFIC and How Do Offshore Investments Lead to Higher Taxation?
What is a PFIC and how could your offshore investments actually lead to a higher taxation rate on earned income? A Passive Foreign Investment Company or PFIC is classified by the IRS in two ways: 75% or more of the income from the foreign corporation is classified as "passive income,"...