by Fresh Start Tax | Jun 25, 2012 | Back Taxes, Expatriate Tax, Income Tax Preparation, Representation, Tax Lawyer, Tax Returns
Expatriates – Ex Pat’s file Back Tax Returns – Former IRS Agents – Tax Attorneys, CPA’s, Former IRS Agents – Worry Free
If you are an Ex-Pat or you are working overseas you should be aware of the U.S. tax filing requirements.
Fresh Start Tax L.L.C. is a tax specialty firm specializing in Expatriates living overseas. We handle all areas of filing and tax compliance from the filing of all current tax returns, back or late filing of income tax returns and the settlements of back taxes that may be owed. We are IRS Tax Experts in Offers in Compromise.
We offer a no cost professional tax consultation.
Americans that are working overseas are usually aware that $70,000 of foreign earned income can be exempted when certain foreign residency requirements are met.
What is not obvious – Caution
It may not be so obvious, however, that every year a federal tax return should be filed reporting that income.
The reasons for Non- filing are numerous and vast.
Usually, United States IRS tax forms are not available and many of those forms are available but incomprehensible or the tax year for the employer is different from a calendar year so it’s hard to figure out income.
Many taxpayers are simply aware that a tax filing requirement even existed.
Reasonable Cause Does Exist-Get rid of the Penalties completely.
Reasonable cause can exist for a variety of reasons. Many times it is not always clear to the taxpayer that it is necessary to file a federal tax income tax return since it was not even known that there was a tax obligation. Many times taxpayers did not receive income reports or they depended on other third parties who gave them the wrong information.
Whatever the reason, it usually happens at some point that the taxpayer becomes aware of the fact that a U.S. tax return should have been filed and now the taxpayer is in default on that tax obligation to file current tax returns. Many find out they should have been filing many years of back taxes. Not to worry.
You can look at our website for a comprehensive list of of reasonable cause.
We are comprised of Board Certified Tax Attorneys, CPA’s and Former IRS Agents.
Expatriates, Ex-Pat’s File Back Tax Returns call us today. 1-866-700-1040
by Fresh Start Tax | Jun 25, 2012 | Expatriate Tax, FBAR, Representation, Tax Lawyer
FBAR – Offshore Voluntary Disclosure – Tax Attorneys, IRS Tax Experts – Former IRS – Tax Representation
Have IRS Tax Experts in FBAR in the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP) represent you before the Internal Revenue. Why call any other tax firm when we worked for the IRS and know there tax policies and procedures.
Our team is comprised of Board Certified Tax Attorneys, CPA’s and Former IRS agents, managers and teaching instructors with the IRS.
We have over 205 years of professional tax experience and over 60 years working directly with the IRS.
As you may know the Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ) reopened the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program to help people hiding offshore accounts get current with their taxes and announced the collection of more than $4.4 billion so far from the two previous international programs.
The third offshore program.
The Third and new Offshore Program comes as the IRS continues working on a wide range of international tax issues and follows ongoing efforts with the Justice Department to pursue criminal prosecution of international tax evasion.
This 3rd program will be open for an indefinite period until otherwise announced. The IRS has collected far more money than expected and this program will continue to generate large dollars of revenue into the federal government.
The new OVD program is similar to the 2011 program in many ways, but with a few key differences.
There is no set deadline for people to apply.
However, the terms of the program could change at any time going forward. For example, the IRS may increase penalties in the program for all or some taxpayers or defined classes of taxpayers – or decide to end the program entirely at any point.
The third offshore effort comes as Shulman also announced today the IRS has collected $3.4 billion so far from people who participated in the 2009 offshore program, reflecting closures of about 95 percent of the cases from the 2009 program. On top of that, the IRS has collected an additional $1 billion from up front payments required under the 2011 program. That number will grow as the IRS processes the 2011 cases.
In all, the IRS has seen 33,000 voluntary disclosures from the 2009 and 2011 offshore initiatives. We are expecting those numbers to soar.
Since the 2011 program closed last September, hundreds of taxpayers have come forward to make voluntary disclosures.
Those who have come in since the 2011 program closed last year will be able to be treated under the provisions of the new OVDP program.
The overall penalty structure for the new program is the same for 2011, except for taxpayers in the highest penalty category. It is best to look into the abate of certain penalties as it relates to FBAR.
Penalty Structure
For the new program, the penalty framework requires individuals to pay a penalty of 27.5 percent of the highest aggregate balance in foreign bank accounts/entities or value of foreign assets during the eight full tax years prior to the disclosure.
That is up from 25 percent in the 2011 program. Some taxpayers will be eligible for 5 or 12.5 percent penalties; these remain the same in the new program as in 2011.
Participants must file all original and amended tax returns and include payment for back-taxes and interest for up to eight years as well as paying accuracy-related and/or delinquency penalties.
Participants face a 27.5 percent penalty, but taxpayers in limited situations can qualify for a 5 percent penalty. Smaller offshore accounts will face a 12.5 percent penalty. People whose offshore accounts or assets did not surpass $75,000 in any calendar year covered by the new OVDP will qualify for this lower rate.
As under the prior programs, taxpayers who feel that the penalty is disproportionate may opt instead to be examined.
Call us today for a no cost professional consult and speak direct to a tax attorney who is a true IRS tax expert.
We specialize in all areas of Ex- Pats Tax Representation.
by Fresh Start Tax | Jun 25, 2012 | FBAR, IRS Tax Problem, Tax Help, Tax Lawyer
FBAR Tax Attorney – IRS Tax Experts – Former IRS – IRS Tax Representation
We are a Professional Tax Firm specializing in FBAR IRS tax representation.
We are comprised of Board Certified Tax Attorneys, CPA’s and Former IRS Agents and Managers.
We are familiar with all areas of the FBAR and can help you through any situation or problem you may have. We handle all areas of tax representation and you will never have to talk to the IRS.
We have over 205 years of professional tax experience and over 60 years of working directly for the Internal Revenue Service in all facets of the IRS.
We are True IRS Tax Experts. We also taught Tax Law at the Internal Revenue Service.
Call us today for a no cost professional consult and speak direct to Tax Attorneys, CPA’s or Former IRS Agents.
We handle all aspects of FBAR and all tax representation can be if necessary conducted under attorney-client privilege.
INFORMATION FOR – FBAR – Foreign Bank Financial Accounts
If you have a financial interest in or signature authority over a foreign financial account, including a bank account, brokerage account, mutual fund, trust, or other type of foreign financial account, the Bank Secrecy Act may require you to report the account yearly to the Internal Revenue Service by filing Form TD F 90-22.1, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR).
The FBAR is required because foreign financial institutions may not be subject to the same reporting requirements as domestic financial institutions.
The FBAR is a tool to help the United States government and the Internal Revenue Service identify person(s )who may be using foreign financial accounts to circumvent United States tax law.
Investigators use FBARs to help identify or trace funds used for illicit purposes or to identify unreported income maintained or generated abroad.
3 of the most FAQ’s
What is an FBAR?
A. An FBAR is a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. The form number is TD F 90-22.1 (PDF).
Who must file an FBAR?
A. Any United States person who has a financial interest in or signature authority or other authority over any financial account in a foreign country, if the aggregate value of these accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year.
Q. What is a foreign country?
A. A “foreign country” includes all geographical areas outside the United States, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories and possessions of the United States (including Guam, American Samoa, and the United States Virgin Islands).
What is a United States person?
A. “United States person” includes a citizen or resident of the United States, a domestic partnership, a domestic corporation, and a domestic estate or trust.
Call us today for a no cost professional tax consult. 1-866-700-1040
FBAR Tax Attorney’s – Affordable IRS Tax Experts – Former IRS – IRS Tax Representation
by Fresh Start Tax | Jun 25, 2012 | Abatements, Back Taxes, Expatriate Tax, Income Tax Preparation, Tax Lawyer, Tax Settlements
Ex-Pat Tax Return Filing – Tax Attorneys, CPA’s, Former IRS – IRS Tax Experts
We are comprised of Board Certified Tax Attorney’s, CPA’s and Former IRS Agents and Instructors.
You can have Former IRS Agents and Managers who know the system and the tax procedures get you back in the IRS system worry free.
We have taught Tax Law at the IRS as Former IRS Agents.
We have filed and resolved hundreds of U.S. Expatriates who have not filed their past due or late tax returns for all kinds of reason.
Many taxpayers do not have the proper records and many simply did not know there was even a tax filing requirement.
If you owe back IRS tax because of late filing we can also look to abate the penalties and interest and work out a tax settlement.
We have made this a very simple process. Because of our vast expertise in this Ex – Pat matters we have made this process very affordable and you will never have to contact the IRS. Ex- Pat’s will simply give us a power of attorney and we do the rest.
Because of our awareness of the U.S. Tax Laws you will pay the lowest amount allowed by law. There are special tax benefits such as the:
1. Foreign Tax Exclusions,
2. Foreign Tax Credits.
3. Earned Income Exclusion.
Fresh Start Tax L.L.C. can offer our clients attorney-client privilege in the process which is not available from other many other tax preparers.
We have over 205 years of professional tax experience and over 60 years working for the Internal Revenue Service in the local, district and regional offices of the IRS.
Call us today and speak directly to a tax professional and relief your Ex- Pat worries.
by Fresh Start Tax | Jun 20, 2012 | Back Taxes, IRS Tax Debt, IRS Tax Problem, Offer in Compromise, Tax Lawyer
With the new Fresh Start Program offered by the Internal Revenue Service the IRS will find itself flooded with hoards of new offers in compromise also called tax debt settlements so taxpayers can reduce and settle their tax debt with the IRS.
This new program will offer literally thousands of taxpayers a way out that was never afforded to them before.
The old program offered little in the way of a tax settlement. About 15,000 thousand cases were accepted each year out of the 55,000 offers in compromise filed.
I would expect that number of offers in compromise to triple this year. IRS will not have the manpower to keep up with the demand of the new offer in compromise settlements.
The main components of the new Offer in Compromise
The IRS looks at two major aspects;
1.Income and
2. Assets, they care little on your debt situation. Some rules have loosen and each case is based on it own merit.
IRS will investigate four major issues to accept your offer in compromise
The four components of collectibility:
1.net equity in assets,
2.present and future income,
3.amounts collectible from third parties,
4. and amounts available to the taxpayer but beyond the reach of the IRS)
IRS will determine the total asset value of all assets and what is called reasonable collection potential in regards to your present income.IRS adds the two together and comes up with a settlement proposal.
After the IRS reviews your 433 OIC and your 656 the IRS will assign a detailed evaluation of the case and send to you a proposed settlement based on the offer in compromise you turned in along with the financial statement that you provided.
You can have former IRS agents and managers pre-qualify your offer in compromise or your tax debt settlement.
We will provide a free analysis so your do not get ripped off by other tax resolution companies.
You will have Former IRS Agents who were offer in compromise specialists give you a detailed review of the your offer in compromise before it is sent in.
Get free advice on your tax debt settlement.
Call us today for free tax consult. 1-866-700-1040
