Tag Archive for find a tax professional

Ex-Seyfarth Shaw Attorney Case: The Latest in a Series of Department of Justice Prosecutions For Tax Shelter Fraud

Recently, tax shelters have become the target of much prosecution by the Department of Justice. In the largest criminal tax case ever filed, professional services company KMPG LLP admitted to engaging in fraud and generating at least $11 billion dollars in false tax losses. The multi-billion dollar criminal tax fraud conspiracy involved the elaborate design, marketing, and implementation of fraudulent tax shelters.

Since the 2005 KPMG indictment and subsequent guilty plea, the Department of Justice has continued in its quest to uncover instances of tax shelter fraud. The case of Chicago tax lawyer and former Seyfarth Shaw LLP partner, John E. Rogers, is among the latest in a series of tax shelter fraud criminal prosecutions. Starting in 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice targeted John E. Rogers, ex-Seyfarth Shaw LLP partner, with a civil suit alleging he Read More

Written by | Posted in Tax Fraud/Evasion/Crimes

What Is A Church?

Churches occupy a distinct place in the tax code of the United States. They are tax exempt, but that is not where the uniqueness lies. Many types of charitable organizations are considered tax-exempt non-profit organizations. Most organizations wishing to obtain tax exempt status must first file Form 1023 (or the new Form 1023EZ) with the IRS, seeking approval as an IRS-qualified tax exempt organization. The unique aspect of a church is that qualifying as tax exempt is automatic if it meets the IRS definition of a 501(c)(3) organization:

1. The organization must be organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, or other charitable purpose.
2. Net earnings may not inure to the benefit of any private individual or shareholder. Read More

Written by | Posted in Clergy • Religion

My Halloween Nightmare – How I Almost Lost My Identity And Money To A Fake IRS Agent

With Halloween coming up, it is just not the neighbor kids looking forward to trick or treat but also people pretending that they are the Internal Revenue Service looking to steal your identity and scam you for your money.

Listen to the story of Arati who works in New York City and immigrated to the U.S. from India. Arati received a call from a Brian Cruz who called her house early in the morning before Arati left for work. He left his telephone number, name and noted he was calling from the IRS. Arati put the number in her cell phone without searching for it online first. After all it had a 202 area code which is Washington D.C. so she figured it had to be official. Once she got into her car she called, and the man who picked up the call answered that this was the investigations bureau for the IRS. Arati asked for Cruz, but he Read More

Written by | Posted in Individual • Tax Fraud/Evasion/Crimes

Premium Tax Credit Problems

Two of three recent federal court rulings held that the premium tax credit (PTC) is only available to individuals obtaining coverage through their state exchange, not the federal exchange. This is a big deal because the PTC serves to help make health insurance affordable to individuals with income between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty line. Also, the majority of states did not create their own exchange, forcing individuals in need of insurance to go to the federal exchange (if they are eligible for a PTC).

Resolution of this big issue likely won’t happen until next year. Meanwhile, the upcoming filing season will involve millions of individuals having to reconcile the PTC they may have received in advance, with their true amount. There is also a lot of complexity for practitioners too. Another key piece of the Affordable Care Act that comes into play in 2014 Read More

Written by | Posted in Individual • Specialty Tax Incentives

FBAR Account Reporting – Imperative

FBAR Foreign bank account reporting is imperative, Please pardon my writing you again about this but I am deeply concerned.

If you have a bank account anyplace outside of the USA, it doe not matter why even if it is an account with money to obtain your spouse or retirement visa, you need to report it. The law says, “total aggregate of all accounts exceeding $10,000” but I am not sure I trust the IRS to abide by those regulations, I recommend to file for any significant amount. And do so for the last SIX (6) years, 2013 and back 5 more years, as required by law.

PLEASE understand the penalties for non-compliance are draconian that start at $500 and go up from there and can even include criminal prosecution if your failure to file was Read More

Written by | Posted in FATCA • FBAR • Federal

Playing Russian Roulette With The IRS: Zwerner Learns The Cost of Hidden Offshore Accounts

Whether you have chosen to hide your account willingly or failed to file an FBAR by mistake, you may not know the full ramifications of your activities or your best course of action now. If you haven’t heard the horror stories yet, you’re about to have a couple to remember. For those who have kept an offshore account secret, there are three options: quiet disclosure, OVDP, or the streamlined offshore procedures. Some may even feel they have a fourth option: keeping the account a secret. The average person may have a hard time deciding what course of action they should take. It may not seem to matter much, but Charles Rettig gives us two frightening examples in his articles, “Jury Determines 150-Percent FBAR Penalty” and “U.S. Seeks FBAR Related Forfeiture of $12 Million!” These stories teach an important lesson, but first, let’s discuss proper offshore account Read More

Written by | Posted in FBAR • International • IRS • OVDP

Problems With The Streamlined Program

There are some shortcomings of the Streamlined Program:

“Despite the seemingly taxpayer-friendly incentives, the streamlined program has several shortcomings. The devil is in the details! First, participants are not guaranteed immunity from criminal prosecution. Second, with respect to the Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures, the five-percent penalty is imposed on a broader base of foreign assets – not just those relating to FBAR reporting.

Finally, to the extent that the IRS undertakes an examination of the taxpayer’s returns and finds that the taxpayer was willful, the taxpayer could be subject to any one of the following parade of horribles. First, and most obvious, the taxpayer will be barred from participating Read More

Written by | Posted in FATCA • FBAR • International • IRS • OVDP

Leading Tax Educators Attracted To Global Tax Education Platform

One of the many exciting benefits of TaxConnections is the aggregation of the finest tax instructors in the industry to one global platform. With nearly 200 tax courses currently available on https://www.taxconnections.com/taxeducation with CPE or without CPE, and hundreds more in line to be uploaded on our tax education video platform, it is exciting to attract an increasing number of the very best tax educators around the world to TaxConnections. A  group of experienced tax instructors are being assembled that are committed to promoting the very best tax education in the profession. TaxConnections is the catalyst  bringing together an extraordinary group of tax educators in order to connect them to one worldwide platform.

During the year, we have interviewed many of tax instructors and are proud to introduce Read More

Written by | Posted in TaxConnections

Minister’s Housing Allowance Subject of Court Battles

The housing allowance is a significant tax benefit for a minister. It can result in thousands of dollars in tax savings annually. The law currently allows a minister to occupy a church-owned parsonage without paying income tax on the value of the accommodations. Alternatively, the church may designate an amount to be paid to the minister as housing allowance. This amount, when used for housing costs, is not subject to income tax. Both a parsonage and a housing allowance are subject to self-employment taxes.

Only One Home Subject to Housing Allowance

Several court cases have recently been brought, seeking to limit or abolish this tax benefit for ministers.

Read More

Written by | Posted in Clergy • IRS • Religion • Tax Controversy • Tax Provision/Tax Reporting

2015 Budget Announced Today In Ireland

Here is a brief Summary of some of the Taxation Measures for introduction in Ireland in 2015.

Income Tax

There will be an increase in the standard rate band of income tax by €1,000 from €32,800 to €33,800 for single individuals and from €41,800 to €42,800 for married one earner couples.

There will also be a reduction in the higher rate of income tax from 41% to 40%.

Artists’ Exemption

The threshold for the artists’ exemption will be increased by €10,000 to €50,000. Read More

Written by | Posted in Capital Gains • Income Tax • Tax Deductions • Tax Policy • Tax Tips

L.A. Fashion District: The Most Recent Target of the U.S. Government’s Crackdown On Money Laundering And The BMPE

The Los Angeles Fashion District spans 100 blocks, with over 2,000 businesses selling fashions and accessories at 30% to 70% off retail prices.

Saturdays are the busiest Los Angeles Fashion District shopping days, when wholesale-only shops open to the general public. The Sunday shopping epicenter is Santee Alley, between Olympic and Pico Boulevards, where you’ll find low prices, lots of knock-offs and fakes.

Thanks to a recent raid of dozens of businesses in the Fashion District, rock bottom prices and a wide-selection of clothing isn’t all that the Fashion District is now known for. Law enforcement operations have revealed that money laundering activities and Read More

Written by | Posted in Tax Fraud/Evasion/Crimes

How Do I Set Up My New Business For Tax Purposes?

New business owners often ask, “How do I set up my business For Tax Purposes?” One of the choices you make when starting a business is the type of legal organization you select. This decision can affect how much you pay in taxes, the amount of bookkeeping and paperwork required, the personal liability you might be responsibility for, and your ability of borrow money.

For-profit businesses fall under one of four structures for tax purposes:

1. Sole Proprietor – An individual who owns an unincorporated business by themselves. Most small and home based businesses are sole proprietorships. For tax purposes, the business activity of a sole proprietor is reported on Schedule C of Form 1040. This is Read More

Written by | Posted in Corporate • Partnership • Small Business • Tax Tips
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