News and Events

While the end of 2020 is likely to mean many different things to many different people, one thing that it means for everyone is that Tax Day will be here before we know it. As we head into 2021, it is important to keep the impending filing deadline in mind—and to take appropriate steps to ensure that you are not putting yourself at risk for an IRS audit or investigation. There is a lot you need to know, and we covered some important issues for Maryland residents on our blog throughout the year. Here is a look back at 10 of the top articles published by US International Tax Advisors, in 2020:

Owning foreign financial assets triggers disclosure requirements for U.S. taxpayers; and, as we discussed previously, filing FinCEN Form 114, Report Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR), is not enough for many individuals and businesses. But, what if you file IRS Form 8938? Does this satisfy your FBAR filing requirements? Here US International Tax Advisors explains why filing Form 8938 alone may or may not be enough to protect you from IRS scrutiny.

For U.S. taxpayers who live in Maryland and have funds stored in offshore accounts, federal tax law compliance involves more than simply filing your annual income tax returns. Among various other requirements, ownership of offshore accounts triggers a requirement to comply with the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). Failure to comply with FATCA can have serious consequences; and, in order to avoid substantial tax penalties, U.S. taxpayers who have offshore accounts need to ensure FATCA compliance with the help of an experienced Maryland offshore tax attorney.

Many U.S. taxpayers are unaware that they have an obligation to disclose their offshore accounts to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Even if you do not owe any tax as a result of your foreign holdings, you must still report them, and failing to do so can lead to substantial liability.

The IRS’ Voluntary Disclosure Practice is a “compliance option” for U.S. taxpayers who are at risk for federal prosecution due to the commission of tax crimes and certain tax-related offenses. If you believe that you may be guilty of a federal crime, taking advantage of the Voluntary Disclosure Practice could be a good option. However, there are major risks involved in voluntarily disclosing criminal activity to the IRS; and, in order to protect yourself, you will need to rely on the advice of an experienced Maryland voluntary disclosure attorney.