Taxpayers Beware – IRS Scams! Every year the IRS publishes a list of the most popular tax scams so that taxpayers will be better able to protect themselves against schemes that develop in an around the preparation of tax returns. With the 2014 tax season fast approaching, it is a good time to be reminded… Continue reading →
The Blog
Crackdown on Offshore Tax Evasion
Although the requirement for filing an annual Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) has technically been on the books since 1970, the compliance rate was less that 20% until 2001. Since that time, the United States government has stepped up its efforts to identify and punish those individuals who are guilty… Continue reading →
The Consequences of FBAR Noncompliance
Things are changing as the consequences of the FBAR Noncompliance are becoming stricter. Up to this point, the sentencing of offshore tax evaders has been fairly lenient. Although judges must attempt to follow sentencing guidelines written to ensure consistent punishment for defendants convicted of similar crimes, they have been given considerable leeway. Within these guidelines,… Continue reading →
IRS Tax Phone Scam
Beware… IRS Tax Phone Scam: The IRS has identified a widespread phone scam that has popped up in nearly every state. Taxpayers who are victims of this scam receive phone calls from individuals impersonating IRS agents. During these calls, they are often told that they have a back tax balance which needs to be paid instantly either… Continue reading →
Family Finances: Tax Settlement, Innocent Spouse Relief, and Injured Spouse Relief
A recent study by Fidelity Investments revealed that individuals often lack adequate knowledge of family finances. The results of the study showed that a surprising number of marriage partners have insufficient information about important financial matters such as insurance policies, investment accounts, physical assets, beneficiary designations and income taxes, among other things. While this lack… Continue reading →
Expatriates Renouncing Citizenship
In the face of increasingly strict asset disclosure legislation, more and more United States citizens are renouncing their citizenship in order to avoid potential tax consequences. In the second quarter of this year, the number of expatriates turning in their passports to United States embassies abroad was up almost 500% from that same time period… Continue reading →
