Tag Archive for Daniel Gray

Penalty Relief For The Procrastinating US Rental Property Owners Return Filing

So, you’re a Canadian, or other non-US citizens, who own and rents out US property, hasn’t yet obtained an ITIN and you don’t expect to make your June 15, 2018, 1040NR filing due date. No worry, go ahead and file an extension request on Form 4868 by writing “ITIN to be requested” on SSN line of the form.

Note – if US tax is due and paid after June 15, then the late payment penalty (usually ½ of 1% of any tax) and related interest does arise. But your extension is assisting you regarding the late filing penalty (usually 5% of the amount due for each month or part of a month your return is late; the maximum penalty is 25%) that is usually charged if your return is filed after the due date – as such due date includes extensions. Read More

Written by | Posted in Form 4868 • Penalty Relief • Rental Property • Rental Property Tax • TaxConnections

Canada: IRS Is Going After Taxpayers Abroad

IRS says it now plans to invest time and resources catching non-compliant Canadians and taxpayers abroad elsewhere with regards to forms commonly applicable to that specific group of taxpayers – ones unfortunately also commonly missed. It will focus on:

  • Form 3520/3520-A annual return to report transactions with foreign trusts and receipt of certain foreign gifts (a gift of more than $100,000 from a non-resident alien individual)
  • Forms 1042/1042-S Withholding – such as on payment from renters of USA property
  • Nonresident Alien Tax Treaty Exemptions – Improperly claim treaty benefits and exempt U.S. source income from taxation
  • Nonresident Alien – Proper deduction of eligible expenses including Sch A itemized
  • NRA Tax Credits – Erroneous claims of dependent (e.g., kids, spouse) tax credits or education credits only available to U.S. persons

Have questions? Contact Daniel Gray.

 

Written by | Posted in Canada • IRS • TaxConnections

Red Flags For A Casino Winners To Look For A Different Service Provider Of U.S. Tax Withholding Refund

Paid tax professionals aren’t permitted to endorse or otherwise negotiate a refund check issued to a taxpayer. This is true, even if the taxpayer requests their refund be directed into the paid tax professional’s bank account or in his/her name. Failure to comply could result in an Inter REvenue Code, Section 6695(f) penalty of $510 for each tax return with no maximum penalty amount and no reasonable cause exceptions.

This brings up the point regarding companies who advertise refunds of withholding of U.S. gambling winnings and insist that the refund go directly to their office.

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Written by | Posted in Gambling Loss • Gambling Tax • Gambling Winnings • Refund • Withheld Tax • Withholding

Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) Reasons And Qualification

You have to meet the return filing reason , or one of the exception-to-return-filing reasons. One cannot just arbitrarily apply for an ITIN as you must include documentation proving that you need one and that your reason aligns with IRS qualification requirements to receive one. The IRS sets out a finite prescribed list of qualification requirements – all split into two groups – IRS-return-filers OR exceptions. One reason that can be used for many applicants when they can’t qualify under other reasons, is owning many but not all types of USA bank accounts (so long as the US bank provides you with the required ITIN letter). Read More

Written by | Posted in IRS • ITIN

Missed The March 15 1042-S Filing Due Date? Better Hurry Up!

The following penalties apply to the person required to file Form 1042-S. The penalties apply to both paper filers and electronic filers. Late filing of correct Form 1042-S. A penalty may be imposed for failure to file each correct and complete Form 1042-S when due (including extensions).

The penalty, based on when you file a correct Form 1042-S, is: $50 per Form 1042-S if you correctly file within 30 days after the required filing date; the maximum penalty is $545,500 per year; if you file after August 1 or you do not file correct Forms 1042-S; the maximum penalty is $3,275,500 per year. If you intentionally disregard the requirement to report correct information, the penalty per Form 1042-S is increased.
Read More

Written by | Posted in Canada • Form 1042-S • TaxConnections

Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Withholding Calculator And New W-4

The Internal Revenue Service this week released an updated withholding calculator and a new version of Form W-4. The calculator and new W-4 can be used to ensure 2018 individual tax withholding amounts are accurate in light of the recent tax law changes.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act made changes to the tax law, including increasing the standard deduction, removing personal exemptions, increasing the child tax credit, limiting or discontinuing certain deductions and changing the tax rates and brackets. Read More

Written by | Posted in IRS • Withholding Calculator

FBAR Must Be Filed Electronically Through FinCEN’s BSA E-Filing System, Not With The Federal Tax Return

FBAR must be filed electronically through FinCEN’s BSA E-Filing System. The FBAR is not filed with a federal tax return.

Public Law 114-41 mandates a maximum six-month extension of the filing deadline. To implement the statute with minimal burden to the public and FinCEN, FinCEN will grant filers failing to meet the FBAR annual due date of April 15 an automatic extension to October 15 each year. Accordingly, specific requests for this extension are not required.

Thus, before the FBAR extended due date of October 15, file streamlined FBARs for each of the most recent 6 years for which the FBAR due date has passed (i.e., is delinquent, and of course timely file the current year FBAR too). Read More

Written by | Posted in Canada • FBAR • Federal • Tax Return

I Didn’t Receive My IRS Refund Check And My Address Has Changed

Note that IRS will mail you notices and/or a check to the most recent address that it has on file for you. Of note:

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Written by | Posted in IRS • Tax Refund

Explanation And 10 Examples Of The Rules For Determining An Alien’s Period Of Residency In The United States

An alien’s period of residency in the United States must have an official starting date and ending date. The rules for determining these dates are as follows.

Residency Starting Date Under The Green Card Test

If you meet the green card test at any time during a calendar year, but do not meet the substantial presence test for that year, your residency starting date is the first day in the calendar year on which you are present in the United States as a lawful permanent resident (the date on which the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially approved your petition to become an Immigrant). Read More

Written by | Posted in US Residency

Non-US Person Owing US Real Property – Check That You’ve Complied With Form BE-15 Claim For Exemption Reporting

All U.S. business enterprises in which a foreign person (in the broad legal sense, including a company) owns directly and/or indirectly a ten-percent-or-more voting interest (or the equivalent) are subject to these reporting requirements. This includes foreign ownership of real estate, improved and unimproved, except residential real estate held exclusively for personal use and not for profit making purposes. Read More

Written by | Posted in Exemptions

FBAR Reporting Requirement Or Exception – 4 Types Of Foreign Retirement Accounts

Foreign retirement accounts do not meet the FBAR filing exception for U.S. retirement accounts in 31 CFR 1010.350(g)(4).  That exception specifically applies to plans under sections of the Internal Revenue Code, that is, domestic U.S. plans.

FBAR reporting of foreign retirement accounts will be determined by the facts of each situation.  However, these general guidelines may be helpful in determining whether your foreign retirement account should be reported on the FBAR. Read More

Written by | Posted in FBAR • TaxConnections

ITIN For Bank Account Or PayPal

IRS will not issue an ITIN in order to allow a non-resident alien to open a USA bank account, it will only issue an ITIN for an existing open account that makes payments subject to withholding tax. The old conundrum is that most USA banks will not open an account without an ITIN. IRS will not issue an ITIN in order to allow a non-resident alien to open a USA bank account, it will only issue an ITIN for an existing open account that makes payments subject to withholding tax.

IRS will not issue an ITIN in order to allow a non-resident alien to open a USA bank account, it will only issue an ITIN for an existing open account that makes payments subject to withholding tax. The old conundrum is that most USA banks will not open an account without an ITIN. IRS will not issue an ITIN in order to allow a non-resident alien to open a USA bank account, it will only issue an ITIN for an existing open account that makes payments subject to withholding tax.

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Written by | Posted in ITIN • TaxConnections