Articles Posted in Offshore Bank Account Problems

FBAR reporting obligations require a US taxpayer holding $10,000 or more in a foreign financial account, at any moment in time during the tax year, to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR). Once this obligation is known, at least in some contexts, the FBAR reporting requirement seems fairly obvious. Funds held in a foreign bank or securities that exceed $10,000 would rather clearly trigger an FBAR filing requirement. However, services provided over the Internet and hybrid services that can be used for multiple purposes can sometimes obscure these distinctions.

Such was the case in United States v. Hom, where online poker accounts and an online payment service triggered an FBAR obligation. This matter – which was pursued without a tax lawyer on a pro se basis – further emphasizes the value of representation by an experienced tax lawyer for FBAR and other international tax issues.

What were the facts in Hom?

Since January of 2014, those holding accounts in foreign banks throughout the world have received Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) letters from their financial institutions. These letters are sent to account holders whom the institution believes have a link to the United States that would give rise to tax reporting and payment obligations. These letters will request that the recipient provide information regarding their disclosures, if any, to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). These disclosures typically include whether certain documents have been filed, including a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) and a 1040 personal return, and whether the individual has availed himself or herself of the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP) administered by the IRS to resolve tax compliance problems.

If you have received such a letter, it is often essential that you seek the advice of a tax professional. Failure to do so can result in significant civil penalties or a referral for criminal tax prosecution. The Brager Tax Law Group can explain your legal situation and present potential solutions.

Why did I receive a FATCA letter?

Hong Kong has been conspicuously absent from the list of early signatories of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). That ended last month with Hong Kong announcing its long-awaited entrance into a Model 2 IGA with the US government. Covered Hong Kong-based financial institutions must now enter into separate foreign financial agreements (FFAs) with the IRS. This new agreement could result in some painful lessons for US taxpayers who have failed to report or pay taxes on their international assets. The remainder of this post will analyze the IGA announced by US and Hong officials and some of the potential consequences of such an agreement.

What conditions does this IGA impose on Hong Kong Financial Institutions?

All foreign financial institutions falling under the purview of FATCA — including investment entities, banks, insurance companies and custodial institutions – are required to register with the IRS. Aside from registration with the US taxing authority, the foreign financial institutions must comply with the terms of the IGA. Failure to adhere to these terms can result in a 30% withholding tax being imposed on relevant payments that originated in the United States.

Many people assume that when the IRS discusses or references “willful” conduct, the agency is using the term “willful” in its ordinary sense. Unfortunately, while ignorance may be an excuse, those who fail to rely on the advice and guidance of an experienced tax professional, may find themselves embroiled in serious tax problems. While the IRS presents the Streamlined Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP) as a means to avoid civil prosecution and fines, failure to understand the program’s requirements caused by not consulting a tax lawyer can result in harsh civil consequences or even a referral for a criminal tax prosecution.

What does the IRS consider to be willful and non-willful conduct?

For purposes of the Streamlined OVDP, non-willful conduct is conduct that is due to negligence, inadvertence, or mistake or conduct that is the result of a good faith misunderstanding of the requirements of the law. While this standard may appear to a layperson to offer non-compliant taxpayers a quick and easy path out of tax compliance problems, the reality is that the standard is much more stringent.

Several months ago the Brager Tax Law Group requested IRS documents through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, which was filed on behalf of the TaxProblemAttorney Blog.com. The Brager Tax Law Group received a CD in response to this FOIA request. Out of the 7,092 responsive pages, the IRS sent over 6,500 pages and withheld the rest. This information was published on the Brager Tax Law Group website in November. The requested documents included material used in training IRS personnel in the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP), determining Program penalties and instructing IRS employees on the Program. The purpose of the OVDP program is for individuals who have failed to file an FBAR (Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts Report) form with the IRS, or didn’t report income from offshore activities to disclose their errors and to avoid criminal tax prosecution. The OVDP’s current penalty is 27.5 percent, but there are other alternatives available to certain taxpayers which may provide additional relief.

The OVDP is a complex program with countless rules; at times these rules may be conflicting. What complicates these OVDP rules are the “technical advisors” who review decisions that are made by individual revenue agents. Instead of being approved by the courts, these decisions are approved by these unknown advisors. The IRS does not disclose the identities of these technical advisors, which then doesn’t allow tax attorneys and their clients to communicate with these advisors directly. This material may shed some light on how decisions are being made.

The Brager Tax Law Group submitted a FOIA request in April and received the files about six months later. These files were stored on a password protective CD. These thousands of pages can be found on the Brager website on the offshore bank account problems page.

Our tax lawyers have reviewed the IRS’ newly issued FAQs for its Delinquent International Information Return Submission Procedures, the Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures for U.S. Taxpayers Residing in the United States (SDOP), and the Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures for U.S. Taxpayers Residing Outside the United States (SFOP). These programs are first cousins of the IRS’ Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP), but technically are not part of OVDP, and are options for individuals who have failed to report income from offshore bank accounts, and who may have failed to file a Foreign Bank Account Reports, FinCEN Form 114, formerly TDF 90-22.1 (FBAR) or other international information reporting returns.

Perhaps the most disturbing FAQ is the one issued for the Delinquent International Information Return Submission Procedures. The procedures replace former OVDP FAQ 18, and became effective July 1, 2014. Under old FAQ 18, if a taxpayer failed to file an information reporting form, but had reported all taxable income, and paid all the tax the IRS would not impose a penalty. Under the new Delinquent International Information Return Submission Procedures however, even if all income has been reported, and taxes paid, the taxpayer must submit a “reasonable cause statement” with each delinquent information return. Before the issuance of the new FAQ, many tax attorneys believed (hoped?) that if a taxpayer met the requirements of old FAQ 18 that no penalty will be imposed without regard to whether there was reasonable cause.

The FAQ makes clear that if the IRS does not accept the reasonable cause statement then penalties will be imposed. The FAQ states that the reasonable cause determination will be based upon longstanding authorities, and cites to Treas. Reg. § 1.6038-2(k)(3), Treas. Reg. § 1.6038A-4(b), and Treas. Reg. § 301.6679-1(a)(3). The FAQ suggests that a statement of facts made under penalties of perjury should be included with the late filed returns.