As promised, the IRS has released the first list of financial institutions that have obtained their Global Intermediary Identification Numbers (GIINs) and have met the other requirements of FATCA. Taxpayers may now search financial institutions by name, country or...
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International Tax Law
Credit Suisse Pleads Guilty
Swiss authorities have been working with the United States since 2009 to ensure its banks are no longer utilized as a haven for U.S. tax evasion. Swiss government officials and banks have continued to cooperate with the United States in uncovering illegal activities...
IRS Contemplates Reduced Penalties for Non-Willful Taxpayers with Unreported Offshore
After serving as IRS Commissioner for only a few months, John Koskinen offers hope for taxpayers with unreported offshore accounts. As the next phase of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) begins in July, in which foreign financial institutions will begin...
New FATCA Guidance
The IRS provides further clarification and announces its intention to further amend certain Regulations concerning FATCA. In order to facilitate an orderly transition for withholding agents and Foreign Financial Institutions, the years 2014 and 2015 will be treated as...
The Countdown Begins as the IRS prepares to Release the First List of Approved Foreign Financial Institutions in Compliance with FATCA
The IRS recently issued Announcement 2014-17, providing an update on jurisdictions treated as having intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) with the United States in order to implement the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). As of the date of the announcement,...
IRS Reminds Those with Foreign Assets of U.S. Tax Obligations
The Internal Revenue Service reminds U.S. citizens and resident aliens, including those with dual citizenship who have lived or worked abroad during all or part of 2013, that they may have a U.S. tax liability and a filing requirement in 2014.The filing deadline is...
Foreign Financial Institutions can now get more information regarding FATCA Resources and Support
The FATCA FFI List Resources and Support Information Webpage has been posted to the FATCA Website. In addition, the FATCA FFI List Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) have been posted to the FATCA Website.
Fourth Circuit finds Fifth Amendment privilege inapplicable to documents required to be maintained under the Bank Secrecy Act
Last Friday, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's refusal to quash subpoenas related to foreign bank account records that were required to be maintained under the Bank Secrecy Act and Treasury Regulations.The case involves an investigation...
IRS updates FATCA Registration System
This FATCA Registration Update Summary provides a summary of the updates made to the FATCA Registration System located on the FATCA Website. An updated version of the FATCA Registration Online User Guide (PDF) is available.For more information, click here.
France Aligns with the US in Fighting Tax Evasion
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has announced that the United States has signed an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with France to implement the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). Enacted in 2010, FATCA aims to curtail offshore tax evasion by...