Source: https://present5.com/fourth-annual-presentation-important-irs-and-international/
Timestamp: 2020-05-27 15:41:21
Document Index: 411190971

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 27', '§ 5', '§ 30', '§ 2', '§ 14', '§ 1296', '§ 2000', '§ 2003', '§ 2008', '§ 2009', '§ 4', '§ 43', '§ 14', '§ 106', '§ 64', '§ 27', '§ 1296', '§ 877']

Fourth Annual Presentation Important IRS and International
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Fourth Annual Presentation – Important IRS and International Tax Issues May 20, 2014 Tax Seminar, Jerusalem Ramada Hotel Stuart M. Schabes, Esquire Ober, Kaler, Grimes & Shriver [email protected] com 410 -347 -7696 (U. S. ) 052 -569 -7938 (Israel) www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 1
Agenda § Impact of New FATCA Agreement/IGA - Model 1 Between US and Israel and IRS Notice 2014 -33 § Why should we care about it? § Will this lead to disclosure of the names of Americans living in Israel and abroad who have (or had) accounts in Israeli banks? § New IRS international tax compliance initiatives including expanding IRS International Division, subarea specialties, personnel and hot tax areas www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 2
Agenda § Update on DOJ – Swiss Bank Tax Compliance Initiative § Category 1 -4 and disclosure of account holder information § PFIC’s and responses to dramatic increase in IRS focus on PFIC’s § Latest on Current Voluntary Disclosure/FBAR program § Is it working? § What are advantages and possible pitfalls? § What are the alternatives—“noisy vs. silent” disclosure, use of Streamline or other possibilities? § Multi-family OVDP participant cases and possible complications www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 3
Agenda § Updates on pre - 2012 OVDI tax cases that are still pending § Opt Out § What does it mean? § Is it worth the risk? § How to try and establish taxpayer ‘reasonable basis’ or acting in a non-willful manner www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 4
Agenda § General FBAR compliance and related matters § Possible ways to address IRS imposed penalties and possible abatement strategies § The IRS Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures for non-resident/non-filer US taxpayers - is this a viable alternative? § Expatriation and how to address Form 8854 related issues § New Israeli trust tax laws - is there hope for US (or other taxable) entities under new rules § Questions and Answers www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 5
Overlap OVDP – (formerly called OVDI) FATCA www. usisraeltaxlaw. com FBAR 6
IGA Update § Model 1 IGA – Disclosure between US and Foreign Government § 27 countries signed including: § Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cayman Islands, France, Germany, Isle of Man, Jersey, Luxemburg, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain & United Kingdom § Not all are the same § Model 2 IGA – Disclosure between Individual Foreign Banks § 5 countries signed including: § Austria, Bermuda, Chile, Japan & Switzerland www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 7
IGA Update § Model 1 IGA Agreements in Principle § 30 countries including: § Israel, Bahamas, BVI, Cyprus, Liechtenstein, India, Panama, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea & Sweden § Model 2 IGA Agreements in Principle § 2 countries including: § Armenia & Hong Kong www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 8
U. S. – Israel Implement IGA Model 1 § Details not officially released yet § Disclosure of Bank Account Information by Israeli Government to the U. S. § Timing? § Who is covered by this disclosure? § Implementation – even if parliamentary law change is required, supposed to be an expedited process § Not an issue of “if” information will be turned over – only “when”! § This is a very serious matter as part of the global efforts for clamping down on tax avoidance/evasion. www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 9
DOJ – Swiss Bank Tax Compliance Initiative § Banks must grade their compliance (Category 1 -4) § Category 1: § 14 banks under criminal investigation which appear to include: – Bank Frey, Bank Hapoalim (Switzerland), Bank Julius Baer, Basler Kantonalbank, Credit Suisse AG, HSBC Private Bank (Suisse), Liechtenstein Landesbank (Switzerland), Mizrahi Tefahot (Switzerland), Neue Zurcher Bank, Pictet & Cie, Rahn & Bodmer, Schroder & Co Banque SA and Zurcher Kantonalbank www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 10
DOJ – Swiss Bank Tax Compliance Initiative § Category 2: § Execute non-prosecution agreement § Large group of non-compliant accounts § Bank pays 20 -50% penalty of aggregate value of accounts § Penalty can be reduced by showing taxpayer’s entrance into OVDP or regular compliance § Look back period from August 2008 and forward – Banks which appear to include: Bank Privee Edmond de Rothschild, Berner Kantonalbank, Edmond de Rothschild Group, Migros Bank AG, Rothschild Bank AG Zurich, St. Galler Kantonalbank, Union Bancaire Privee www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 11
DOJ – Swiss Bank Tax Compliance Initiative § Category 3: § § Not committed any criminal tax related offenses Use of independent examiner No penalty applies Non target letter § Banks include: Bank am Bellevue, Notenstein Privatebank Ltd. , Raieffesen, Valartis Bank (Switzerland) § Category 4: § Threshold - less than 2% of non-compliant taxpayers as of December 31, 2009 and as of August 29, 2013. § Banks include: Acrevis Bank AG, AEK Bank 826, Appenzeller Kantonalbank, Glarus Bank www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 12
PFIC – Passive Foreign Investment Company § Most foreign mutual funds § Two tests: § Asset Test § Income Test § CFC vs. PFIC § Look through rules www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 13
Asset Test and Income Test § Asset test – 50% or more of the assets held to generate passive income; or § Income Test – 75% or more passive income www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 14
PFIC and Controlled Foreign Corporation (CFC) § CFC depends on stock ownership (usually not assets or income of foreign entity) § Corporation can be PFIC, even if foreign persons own virtually all stock § A foreign corporation can be subject to both the PFIC and CFC (subpart F income) rule. www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 15
CFC § US shareholders own more than 50% of the stock (by vote or value) § US shareholder: US person who own 10% or more of the stock § US shareholders’ ownership interests are aggregated www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 16
CFC Takes Precedence Over PFIC - § 1296(f) § If overlap of CFC and PFIC rules § U. S. shareholders relieved of complying with PFIC rule § Relief available for U. S. shareholder with QEF election § Most U. S. shareholders make QEF elections www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 17
§ With most foreign mutual funds, U. S. shareholder is subject to PFIC rules and need to be reported on US tax returns § With most other investments by foreign corporation, CFC with subpart F income under IRC Sect. 1296(f) www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 18
Subpart F Income Concerns § CFC with passive investment income, subpart F income § Capital gains rate is not available § Losses cannot offset gains (until corporation is liquidated) www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 19
Avoiding Subpart F Income and Related Issues § Some foreign entity laws may provide that no owner has personal liability (and thereby classified as foreign corporation) § International business companies § Some LLCs (Nevis and Cook Islands and others) § Perhaps file Form 8832 to elect: § Disregarded entity status for one owner § Foreign partnership for two or more owners www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 20
IRS International Division § Early 2013 – Foreign Payments Practice (FPP) formed (approximately) 70 personnel focused on: § administration and enforcement of provisions (FDAP withholding) § FATCA, Form 1099 reporting, and section 3406 (backup withholding) pertaining to payments to NRAs and foreign entities § FPP Director role – Ted Setzer § September 2013 – Director of International Strategy was formed – 1 st Director Diana Wollman www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 21
The International Matrix - IRS § Integrated International Program www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 22
International Practice Networks www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 23
IRS Areas of Current Focus (as per Senior IRS Representative at recent presentation) § FATCA implementation § Offshore non-compliance § Enforcement efforts § OVDP § Exchange of information enhancements § Mutual Agreement Program § FTC creditability § Transfer pricing compliance § Withholding and information reporting compliance § Form 1120 F compliance www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 24
Brief History of US Offshore Enforcement Efforts IRS/DOJ Efforts § 2000 -02 John Doe summonses - Offshore Credit Cards § 2003 Offshore Voluntary Compliance Initiative § 2008 John Doe summons to UBS § 2009 UBS Deferred Prosecution Agreement ($780 M Fine, Disclosure of § § § § 4, 500 US-related accounts) Criminal prosecution of US accountholders and enablers 2009 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program 2011 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Initiative 2012 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program 2013 US Swiss Bank Program US Correspondent Bank Forfeitures DPAs, Non-Target Letters, Penalties www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 25
Results of US Offshore Enforcement Efforts to Date § § 43, 000+ voluntary disclosures In excess of $6, 000, 000 in revenues and leads More than 100 criminal convictions Swiss Banks § 14 pending criminal investigations § 106 letters of intent under US Swiss Bank Program § Focus shifts beyond Switzerland – who’s next? § 64 countries – 32 countries signed Bilateral FATCA IGAs and another 32 agreed in principle (including Israel) § Global increase in tax enforcement § OECD proposes global standard for multi-lateral financial info sharing to increase tax compliance www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 26
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Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program Update § Round 1 § Pre-Clearance - takes 30 -45 days for response from IRS § Round 2 § Bank account and taxpayer information disclosure (OVDP Letter and Attachments) – takes 30 -45 days for response from IRS § Round 3 § Submission of 8 years tax returns (original or amended) and FBAR’s for 2006 - 2013 www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 28
OVDP - Penalties § Penalties – 27. 5% § 27. 5% - applies to assets “related in any way to tax non -compliance” § Includes financial accounts and assets like real estate artwork, patents and interest in a business § Assets are related to tax non-compliance if: § Taxpayer failed to report income from the asset, or § Failed to pay U. S. taxes on the money used to purchase the asset www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 29
OVDP - Penalties § Penalties – 12. 5% § Taxpayers whose offshore assets are valued at less than $75, 000 for each OVDP year § Includes the following assets: § Value of interests in offshore entities § Assets purchased with improperly untaxed funds § Assets producing income if taxes were not paid on the income www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 30
OVDP – 5% Reduced FBAR Penalty § Penalties – 5%: Three categories of taxpayers § Category 1 – Taxpayer: § (a) did not open the account § (b) minimal, infrequent contact with the account § (c) did not withdraw more than $1, 000 per noncompliant year § (d) U. S. taxes were paid on funds deposited in the account (only account earnings were non-compliant) www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 31
OVDP – 5% Reduced FBAR Penalty § Penalties – 5%: Three categories of taxpayers § Category 2 – Taxpayer: § (a) is a foreign resident § (b) did not know he/she is a U. S. citizen § If taxpayer knew he/she was a U. S. citizen but didn’t know required to pay U. S. taxes, not eligible under this § Foreign residents -- should they consider the streamlined filing program? (more on this later) www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 32
OVDP – 5% Reduced FBAR Penalty § Penalties – 5%: Three categories of taxpayers § Category 3 – Taxpayer: § (a) is a foreign resident § (b) tax compliant in country of residence § (c) less than $10, 000 U. S. sourced income per year § For taxpayers in this category only: penalty does not apply to business interests, real estate and other nonfinancial assets if applicable taxes were paid on the funds used to acquire the assets www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 33
OVDP § Round I – Pre-clearance § Pre-clearance requests faxed to IRS Criminal Investigation Lead Development Center § Purpose is to check eligibility to enter OVDP § Fax name, date of birth, social security number and address to IRS, along with POA § IRS responds via fax, used to be 24 -48 hours, then 5 -7 business days and now 30 -45 business days § After response, then 45 days to submit Round II www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 34
OVDP § Round II – OVD Letter and Attachments § The OVD Letter asks general questions about the taxpayer, including estimate of high balance § One (1) attachment for each financial account § Clients may need assistance filling out the forms § Forms sent to Philadelphia, PA and reviewed by CI § CI will notify by mail or fax if preliminarily accepted § CI supposed to notify within 45 days § Within 90 days of notification, submit Round III www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 35
OVDP § Round III – Full OVDP submission § Payment for tax, interest, 20 % accuracy-related penalty, and, if applicable, the failure to file and failure to pay penalties § Copies of previously filed tax returns, if any, for the past eight (8) years § Complete and accurate original or amended tax returns, if needed, for past eight (8) years, including § Schedules B, D, E and Forms 8938 and 5471 if applicable § Signed consents to waive statute of limitations to assess tax and to assess FBAR penalties www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 36
OVDP § Round III – Full OVDP submission § Complete and accurate FBARs for the past eight (8) years § Foreign account or asset statements for each account or asset § Penalty computation indicating aggregate highest account balance for the past eight (8) years § If aggregate account balance is greater than $500, 000 for even one (1) year, taxpayer must include copies of offshore financial account statements reflecting all account activity for each of the past eight (8) years § If aggregate account balance is less than $500, 000, still need to have the statements available in case the IRS requests them www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 37
OVDP § Round III – Full OVDP submission § What if you can’t pay the full amount? § You can still enter the program. Submit proposed payment plan and Form 433 -A § What if you need an extension? § You can request up to a 90 day extension § Submit as much information as possible and a statement of which information is missing and a request for an extension www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 38
OVDP – Post Submission § Procedural Steps § The case will be assigned to an OVDP civil examiner § But not for examination. Instead, for certification. Certification is less formal than examination – but this too is changing! § Certification is for accuracy and completeness § Examiner may request additional documentation § Taxpayer does not have right to appeal the IRS’ determination at this level – possible to opt out www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 39
Information Document Request (“IDR”) § Sample requests from an IDR received from the IRS after a Round III submission § Copies of offshore financial account statements reflecting all account activity for each of the tax years covered by your voluntary disclosure. These statements should reflect the corresponding income, deductions, asset and liability balances reflected on the tax returns. Explain any differences between the amounts reported on the account statements and the tax returns. § Complete copies of all foreign tax returns filed www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 40
Information Document Request (“IDR”) § Sample request from an IDR received from the IRS after a Round III submission. § Capital Gains/Losses: Complete financial statements should contain the details of capital gains (not just net amounts). All Passive Foreign Investment Companies (PFIC) should be identified for each year and detailed computation provided and included in the amended (if applicable, original) US Individual Income Tax Returns. Provide a statement if the applicant chooses to elect the alternative to he statutory PFIC computation that resolves PFIC issues on a basis that is consistent with the mark to market (MTM) methodology authorized in IRC § 1296 but does not require complete reconstruction of historical data. Note: All documents are to be provided in English and foreign tax returns are to have official translations. www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 41
Multi-Family Party OVDP Cases § Are all parties participating? § If not, why? § Are non-participating parties at risk? § Is the information submitted correct? (How does one know what is actually submitted? ) § How to deal with conflicts. § FBAR Penalty – to be applied only once to the same funds. § May be able to use FAQ 17 to solve some issues. www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 42
Some Alternatives to the OVDP § Do Nothing – Ignore the Issue § Noisy vs. Quiet Disclosure § Use of Streamlined Procedure § Prospective Tax Compliance Only § FAQ 17/FAQ 18 www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 43
Noisy Disclosure § Approach IRS (CID) and explain merits of case: § Why client is not participating in OVDP § Why not FBAR penalty § Need to establish reasonable basis for non-compliance § Advantages § No potential FBAR Penalty § Disadvantages § No OVDP program protection www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 44
Quiet Disclosure Reasons to Consider: § IRS OVDP is voluntary and OVDP penalties are substantial § OVDP may require taxpayer to address closed years § No requirement under Internal Revenue Code to amend returns § Amending returns/filing delinquent FBARs can show good faith § Qualified Amended Returns avoid accuracy-related penalties § Filing amended returns could start the period of limitations on assessment where it has not begun to run under IRC 6501 Risks: § IRS takes a dim view of quiet disclosures – GAO Report § Amended returns and delinquent FBARs are admissions § No protection from or cap on civil penalties § No protection from criminal investigation/prosecution www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 45
Non-Resident/Non-Filer Streamlined Filing Compliance Program Eligibility Requirements: § Individual must have resided outside of the U. S. since January 1, 2009 § Individual must not have filed a U. S. tax return from 2009 to current (exception is for amended returns where the sole purpose of amending is to include a Form 8891) § Individual does not owe more than $1, 500 in U. S. tax on any tax returns being submitted § Individual is deemed a “low compliance risk” www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 46
Non-Resident/Non-Filer Streamlined Filing Compliance Program Factors Raising “compliance risk”: § § § Returns submitted claiming a refund Material economic activity in the United States Failure to declare all income in his/her country of residence Pending audit or investigation by the IRS Previous assessment of FBAR penalties or receipt of FBAR warning letter Financial interest or authority over a financial account(s) located outside country of residence § Financial interest in an entity or entities located outside country of residence § U. S. source income § Indications of sophisticated tax planning or avoidance www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 47
FAQ 17 § Use FAQ 17 filing to correct: § Failure to File FBAR - where only have signature authority (Part IV of the FBAR document) § No unreported income and no FBAR filed. www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 48
FAQ 18 § Question 17 states that a taxpayer who only failed to file an FBAR should not use this process. What about a taxpayer who only has delinquent Form 5471 s or Form 3520 s but no tax due? Does that taxpayer fall outside this voluntary disclosure process? www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 49
FAQ 18 - Answer § A taxpayer who has failed to file tax information returns, such as Form 5471 or Form 3520, but reported and paid tax on all taxable income on related transactions, should file delinquent information returns with the appropriate service center and attach a statement explaining why the returns are filed late. (The Form 5471 should be submitted with an amended return showing no change to income or tax liability. ) § Include at the top of the first page of each information return "OVDI - FAQ #18" to indicate that the returns are being submitted under this procedure. § The IRS will not impose a penalty for failure to file the delinquent Forms 5471 and 3520 if there are no underreported tax liabilities and no previous contact by the IRS regarding an income tax examination or a request for delinquent returns. www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 50
Opt Out Guidance § “The decision to opt out of the civil settlement structure is irrevocable…[A]fter certain procedures are followed, the voluntary disclosure case is removed from the civil settlement structure and an examination is initiated. ” § “…there may be instances in which the results under the applicable voluntary disclosure program appear too severe…[t]here will be other instances where this is less clear. …[in] these cases, it is expected that full scope examinations will occur if opt out is initiated…to the extent that issues are found upon a full scope examination that were not disclosed, those issues may be the subject of review by the Criminal Investigation Division. ” § “An opt out could result in a taxpayer owing more…[or] less. Moreover, the scope of any resulting examination may change from being limited to offshore accounts. ” www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 51
Opt Out Procedure § Centralization of program – 2 locations (Milwaukee and St. Paul) § IRS sends Letter 4728 (“Program Status Report”) with status of the voluntary § § § disclosure, any documents outstanding, and if known, tax, penalties and interest under OVDP If taxpayer does not provide documents within 30 days (or request additional time), IRS issues a Letter 4564 (“the Written Warning”) directing taxpayer to provide a written statement of their case and penalty recommendation within 20 days Taxpayer submits a formal written decision to opt out and makes their written case as to what penalties should apply OVDP examiner summarizes case, noting whether non-willful FBAR penalty should apply, and recommending scope of audit Centralized Review Committee (IRS managers) reviews summary, considers OVDI penalty, and determines scope of audit In a full-scale audit, the revenue agent must interview taxpayer and review all open years www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 52
What else is going on at the IRS and DOJ? § On February 26, 2014, Swiss Investment Advisor and former UBS banker, Martin Luck plead guilty to tax evasion § On May 1, 2014, indictment of ex-Mizrahi Tefahot Banker – Shokrollah Baravavian involved in back-toback loans, similar to indictment for account holders at Mizrahi and Bank Leumi § On May 5, 2014, Swiss Partners Group agreed to pay $4. 4 M and turn over 110 US taxpayer client files to the US Government www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 53
What else is going on at the IRS and DOJ? § Senators Levin and Mc. Cain urge DOJ to seek extradition of fugitive Swiss Bankers § Beanie Babies creator Ty Warner pleaded guilty to one of largest tax frauds in Chicago area and received 2 years probation. § OECD published standard for automatic exchange of tax information among governments – closely follows FATCA but includes, by way of example, setting a $250, 000 initial threshold for due diligence requirements. www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 54
Expatriation Updates § Significant increase in the number of people giving up US citizenship § Need to determine if Exit Tax applies for expatriation on or after June 16, 2008 - § 877 A § Average annual net income tax for the five years ending before the date of expatriation (e. g. $155, 000 for 2013); § Net worth is $2. 0 M or more; or § Failed to certify on Form 8854 that you have complied with all Federal tax obligations for five years proceeding the date of expatriation § Form 8854 and potential complications www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 55
New Israeli Taxation of Trusts § On March 9, 2014, ITA published “transitional” arrangements § § for Israeli resident beneficiary trusts New tax on trust income where the settlor is a non-resident or non-resident upon his/her death and at lease one of the beneficiaries is, or was in the past, an Israeli resident Effects trusts created before and after January 1, 2014 Effects earnings between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2013 (or may use adjusted value of Trust’s capital on December 31, 2013 under special circumstances, possible step up of value of trust assets as of January 1, 2014) What about US Grantor Trusts where settlor was Israeli resident? Does use of complex trusts help create a “better match” of foreign tax credits in Israel? www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 56
§ Questions and Answers www. usisraeltaxlaw. com 57