Home :: The Thorn Blog

Thorn's Tax Talk

Swiss Parliament announces it will help with Disclosure of Information concerning Undisclosed Offshore Bank Accounts

Posted:2 weeks ago in Categories: Offshore Account UpdateUBS | Tags: tax controversy | Comments: 0

Another twist in the ongoing drama between the U.S. and Swiss government over the Swiss id's of U.S. account holders at mega-bank UBS.


Another Swiss Banker to Disclose Offshore Account Information: Voluntary Disclosures are Likely to Increase!

Posted:4 weeks ago in Categories: Offshore Account Update | Tags: tax controversy | Comments: 0

The word on the street is that another Swiss banker is in the process of disclosing information concerning offshore accounts.


Swiss Federal Adminsitrative Court Halts Disclosure Of Offshore Account Names

Posted:1 month ago in Categories: UBS | Tags: tax controversy | Comments: 0

On January 22, 2010, a Swiss Administrative Court ruled, that the failure by US citizens to complete certain tax forms (like W9's) or to declare income does not constitute "tax fraud".


Donating to Haiti Relief Today May Reduce Your Last Year's Tax Liability

Posted:1 month ago in Categories: | Tags: | Comments: 0

President Obama signed a law on January 23, 2010 which allows taxpayers to claim a charitable deduction on their 2009 income tax returns for donations made to Haiti relief efforts in 2010.


One Week Remains: January 15, 2010 Deadline to Disclose Offshore Accounts

Posted:2 months ago in Categories: Offshore Account Update | Tags: tax controversy | Comments: 0

U.S. taxpayers with accounts in foreign banks have only 1 week left (January 15, 2010) to make a complete voluntary disclosure of their accounts to the IRS or risk facing increased monetary penalties.


Kovel Letters Not being Used or Misunderstood in Offshore Disclosures

Posted:3 months ago in Categories: Offshore Account Update | Tags: tax controversy | Comments: 0

Many accounting firms are not using or are improperly utilizing Kovel letters to protect their client’s interests in offshore voluntary disclosures.


IRS Moves onto Civil Information Document Requests to obtain information concerning Undisclosed Offshore Accounts

Posted:3 months ago in Categories: Offshore Account Update | Tags: tax controversy | Comments: 0

Now that the settlement initiative has ended, what will the IRS do next to find individuals with offshore accounts?


IRS Discloses What It Considers Tax Evasion By Persons With Offshore Accounts

Posted:4 months ago in Categories: Offshore Account UpdateUBS | Tags: | Comments: 0

Thanks to UBS, we now have a blueprint of how the IRS and DOJ will shape their tax evasion investigations vis-a vis offshore accounts.


Voluntary Disclosures Still Encouraged For U.S. Taxpayers With Offshore Accounts

Posted:4 months ago in Categories: Offshore Account UpdateUBS | Tags: | Comments: 0

The IRS Offshore Account Voluntary Disclosure Program (the “Program”) is over.  But that does not mean U.S. taxpayers with undisclosed foreign bank accounts should stay in hiding.  In fact, the relative success of the Program makes it imperative for people with still undisclosed accounts to come forward and make a voluntary disclosure.


Terms of UBS Agreement Offer Insight Into U.S. Tax Evasion Campaign

Posted:4 months ago in Categories: Offshore Account UpdateUBS | Tags: tax controversy | Comments: 0

Now we know how UBS will determine which U.S. clients to turn over to the IRS.


IRS EXTENDS OFFSHORE ACCOUNT VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE DEADLINE TO OCTOBER 15

Posted:6 months ago in Categories: | Tags: | Comments: 0

As anticipated, undisclosed government sources have confirmed that the IRS is extending the deadline for U.S. taxpayers with undisclosed foreign bank accounts to come forward and participate in the special voluntary disclosure settlement initiative.


IRS Offshore Account Voluntary Disclosure Program Closing in One Week

Posted:6 months ago in Categories: Offshore Account Update | Tags: | Comments: 2

The September 23rd IRS offshore account voluntary disclosure initiative deadline less than one week away.


U.S. Aggressively Pursuing Taxpayer Information from Other Countries

Posted:6 months ago in Categories: Offshore Account Update | Tags: | Comments: 0

U.S. authorities have been very busy negotiating agreements with other counties that will make it easier for the U.S. to identify and prosecute U.S. taxpayers hiding money and assets overseas.


New IRS Unit Dedicated to Investigating U.S. Taxpayers with Undisclosed Offshore Accounts

Posted:6 months ago in Categories: | Tags: | Comments: 0

The IRS recently reaffirmed its commitment to combating offshore tax evasion by forming a new elite unit of professionals dedicated to investigating and auditing offshore tax evasion by U.S. taxpayers.


Deadline Fast Approaching for US Taxpayers with Undeclared Offshore Accounts to Enter IRS Settlement Program

Posted:6 months ago in Categories: | Tags: | Comments: 0

IRS Commissioner Douglas Schulman announced that the September 23 deadline for U.S. taxpayers with undisclosed foreign bank accounts to come forward and participate in the Offshore Account Settlement Initiative will not be extended.   Thus, U.S. taxpayers with accounts in foreign banks have just three weeks to make a voluntary disclosure of their accounts to the IRS or risk facing increased monetary penalties and potential criminal prosecution.


UBS reached a final deal with the US Department of Justice and the Internal Revenue Service: it will disclose the names and account details for more than 4,450 Americans suspected of tax evasion

Posted:7 months ago in Categories: Offshore Account UpdateUBS | Tags: | Comments: 2

This number is a marked-decrease from the US Government's initial request to UBS for approximately 50,000 names and accounts.


UBS Settlement Details Are In - Will Disclose 4,500 Names

Posted:7 months ago in Categories: Offshore Account UpdateUBS | Tags: | Comments: 1

IRS released some details of its settlement with UBS regarding the bank's disclosure of account holder information.


US PREPARING TO PROSECUTE 150 WITH UNDISCLOSED FOREIGN ACCOUNTS

Posted:7 months ago in Categories: Offshore Account UpdateUBS | Tags: | Comments: 0

It appears the US government is preparing to prosecute 150 US citizens with undisclosed UBS offshore accounts.


US Confirms Settlement with Swiss in UBS Offshore Account Battle

Posted:7 months ago in Categories: Offshore Account UpdateUBS | Tags: | Comments: 0

US confirms it has reached a settlement agreement with the Swiss government in the battle over names of holders of UBS offshore accounts.  Details to come soon! Which foreign bank is next?


Kovel Letters Are Necessary for Offshore Voluntary Disclosures!

Posted:7 months ago in Categories: Offshore Account Update | Tags: | Comments: 0

CPAs, Accountants and Enrolled Agents should be retaining counsel and using Kovel letters with Offshore Voluntary Disclosures of Undisclosed Foreign Bank Accounts.


US & Switzerland Reach Deal In UBS Litigation

Posted:7 months ago in Categories: Offshore Account UpdateUBS | Tags: | Comments: 0

The U.S. and Swiss governments have reportedly reached a deal in the on-going UBS litigation saga.


IRS Using Settlement Initiative To Expand Offshore Enforcement Efforts – May Effect Practitioner Community

Posted:7 months ago in Categories: Offshore Account UpdateIRS Office of Professional Responsibility | Tags: | Comments: 0

The IRS questionnaire for taxpayers seeking to participate in the offshore voluntary disclosure settlement initiative may serve as a device to identify for further investigation practitioners involved in advising clients to use offshore accounts.


According to Swiss newspapers, UBS will not have to pay a fine

Posted:7 months ago in Categories: Offshore Account UpdateUBS | Tags: | Comments: 1

According to Swiss newspapers, UBS will not have to pay a fine as part of the settlement concerning the undisclosed offshore accounts.


Changes to the contingency section of Circular 230

Posted:7 months ago in Categories: IRS Office of Professional Responsibility | Tags: | Comments: 0

The IRS and the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility will be looking at changing the contingency section of Circular 230.


Meeting at the IRS Discussing Regulation of Return Preparers

Posted:7 months ago in Categories: IRS Office of Professional Responsibility | Tags: | Comments: 0

There was a meeting at the IRS this past week to discuss the regulation of return preparers.


For all those US citizens with undisclosed UBS accounts

Posted:7 months ago in Categories: | Tags: | Comments: 2

FYI, for all those US citizens with undisclosed UBS accounts.


News about Mr. Chernick

Posted:7 months ago in Categories: Offshore Account Update | Tags: | Comments: 0

News about, Mr. Chernick, the most recent guy to plead guilty came out the other day, and now it appears that Swiss bankers and an unnamed gov’t official have now been implicated.


Jeffry Chernick expected to plead to plead to one count of filing a false tax return

Posted:7 months ago in Categories: Offshore Account Update | Tags: | Comments: 0

Jeffry Chernick, a third US taxpayer was charged in Florida today and is expected to plead to one count of filing a false tax return for 2007.