Another Local New Jersey client of HSBC India Pleads Guilty
A local New Jersey client of HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBA) last month pleaded guilty to evading taxes on $1.2 million in income and using an account in India to hide some of his money. This
How to Defend Against FBAR Penalties
Following the IRS’ successful 2009 and 2011 offshore voluntary compliance initiatives, tax professionals should expect an increase in IRS examination activity of taxpayers who did not enter into these compliance initiatives. Approximately 30,000 taxpayers entered
Foreign HSBC Bank Customer Avoids Jail: Given Three Years’ Probation
A Wisconsin neurosurgeon convicted of tax charges related to a HSBC bank accounts owned abroad that held $8.76 million was spared prison and ordered to serve three years’ probation, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
Opting Out of the Offshore Voluntary Compliance Initiative Programs
As with other IRS’ 2009 and 2011 offshore voluntary compliance initiatives, the 2012 program gives no discretion to the IRS agents to reduce penalties. If a participant does not believe that he or she should
National Taxpayer Advocate Criticizes IRS over handling of offshore voluntary disclosures
The 2012 National Taxpayer Advocate (NTA) Annual Report to Congress criticized current IRS practices in the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP) that hinder voluntary compliance by penalizing taxpayers who are entitled to a reasonable cause
Appeals of penalties imposed during the Offshore Voluntary Opt-Out
When a taxpayer has a tax increase though a civil tax audit (or examination, in IRS terminology), a taxpayer has the right to appeal that increase administratively and through court, if unsuccessful administratively. For taxpayers
National Taxpayer Advocate Identifies OVDP Program as a Serious Problem
On January 17 that National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson recently issued her 2012 Annual Report to Congress calling on Congress to simplify the Tax Code. In her report, Olson questioned the “one-size-fits-all” approach of the
HSBC Payment of Largest Penalty and FATCA Encourages Taxpayers to Disclose
Last month, HSBC Holdings agreed to pay $1.92 billion in fines to U.S. authorities, which is the largest collective settlement in the Treasury Department’s history. The penalty assessment was based upon HSBC’s conduct in violation
Bank Leumi: Another Foreign Bank Recommends the IRS Voluntary Disclosure Program
Bank Leumi is urging its U.S. clients to disclose information about their accounts to U.S. authorities investigating Leumi and many other foreign banks over possible tax avoidance by Americans. In a December 16 letter Leumi
Another HSBC Customer Likely Going to Jail
Last week a New Jersey client of HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBA) pleaded guilty to charges that he hid as much as $4.7 million through Swiss and Indian accounts not declared to the U.S. Internal Revenue
New Comments of the IRS’ New Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures for Non-Resident Non-Filer U.S. Taxpayers
I just returned from the American Bar Association Section of Taxation’s annual National Institute on Criminal Tax Fraud in Las Vegas. A topic of discussion was the relatively new New Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures for
Benefits and consequences of entering or failing to enter the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Initiative program
Over the past several years our law firm has counseled hundreds of non-compliant U.S. taxpayers in the exploration of their legal options with respect to the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Initiative programs. As a result, we