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Surprising FBAR Cases: A Mixed Bag for Taxpayers Facing Foreign Account Penalties

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The tax press has focused recently on captive insurance, conservation easements, Employee Retention Credits, and other “hot” topics. However, international tax enforcement in general, and big penalties for unfiled FBARs in particular, are still key issues. Several cases, largely unnoticed, have held that the IRS can extend the period for assessing FBAR penalties, even though the initial deadline expired. Another case ruled that FBAR penalties are “fines” for constitutional purposes, such that courts can reduce them if they are “excessive.” This article examines disparate rules about extensions of assessment-periods, relevant IRS guidance, and new cases centered on these critical topics. Read the full article here. About Hale E. Sheppard HALE E. SHEPPARD, Esq. (B.S., M.A., J.D., LL.M., LL.M.T.)  is a partner in the Tax Controversy Section of Chamberlain Hrdlicka.  He defends clients in tax audits, tax appeals, and Tax Court litigation, covering both domestic and international ...
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Five New Events Affecting Employee Retention Credit Disputes

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Battles over Employee Retention Credit (“ERC”) claims are turning more serious now, with many audits, administrative appeals, and cases getting underway. Taxpayers hoping to prevail against the IRS or Department of Justice need to have a deep understanding of legislative, substantive, procedural, and strategic ERC issues. Understandably, loads of taxpayers are having trouble keeping up with evolving matters in the ERC world. This article, the latest in a long series, discusses five new items that might have escaped the attention of taxpayers. Read the full article here. About Hale E. Sheppard HALE E. SHEPPARD, Esq. (B.S., M.A., J.D., LL.M., LL.M.T.)  is a partner in the Tax Controversy Section of Chamberlain Hrdlicka.  He defends clients in tax audits, tax appeals, and Tax Court litigation, covering both domestic and international issues.
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Exploring Recent Cases and IRS Guidance on Unique International Disclosure Duties for Dual Residents

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Complying with international information-reporting duties is difficult; the rules are complex, dense, and obscure. Things get even more complicated when it comes to people who are residents, for tax purposes, of both the United States and another country. These so-called “dual residents” have special disclosure rules, the violation of which can trigger taxes, penalties, extended assessment periods, and more. This article explores information-reporting obligations, traditional IRS enforcement actions, and recent cases and IRS guidance featuring contradictory rulings involving dual residents. Read the full article here. About Hale E. Sheppard HALE E. SHEPPARD, Esq. (B.S., M.A., J.D., LL.M., LL.M.T.)  is a partner in the Tax Controversy Section of Chamberlain Hrdlicka.  He defends clients in tax audits, tax appeals, and Tax Court litigation, covering both domestic and international issues.
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Improper ERC Claims: IRS vs. Taxpayers vs. Payroll Companies

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When people think about tax enforcement, they rarely consider the IRS attacking payroll companies based on benefits they claimed for their clients, but this is happening with the Employee Retention Credit (“ERC”). What makes this more interesting is that the IRS is attacking both payroll companies and their clients thanks to their joint liability in certain situations. This reality sets the stage for primary battles against the IRS, accompanied by secondary clashes between payroll companies and their clients. The finger pointing has already started, and it will no doubt intensify as ERC enforcement escalates. This article analyzes four recent sources of IRS guidance about which parties will be on the hook when ERC claims get disallowed. Read the full article here. About Hale E. Sheppard HALE E. SHEPPARD, Esq. (B.S., M.A., J.D., LL.M., LL.M.T.)  is a partner in the Tax Controversy Section of Chamberlain Hrdlicka.  He defends clients in tax audits, tax appeals, and Tax Court lit...
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A Look at the Second ERC Voluntary Disclosure Program

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Congress introduced the Employee Retention Credit (“ERC”) more than four years ago, but serious enforcement actions are just now getting underway. The IRS, as one part of its comprehensive strategy, has been implementing a multi-step plan designed to convince taxpayers to willingly return ERC payments that they did not deserve in the first place. This article, the latest in a series, analyzes the evolution of ERC benefits by Congress, the no-win situation facing the IRS initially, and some of the steps taken that the IRS has taken thus far to reduce the number of taxpayers it must pursue, including the introduction of its second voluntary disclosure program. Read the full article here. About Hale E. Sheppard HALE E. SHEPPARD, Esq. (B.S., M.A., J.D., LL.M., LL.M.T.)  is a partner in the Tax Controversy Section of Chamberlain Hrdlicka.  He defends clients in tax audits, tax appeals, and Tax Court litigation, covering both domestic and international issues.
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Altered, Backdated and Inconsistent Documents Aren’t Enough for Fraud

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Taxpayers who engage in tax fraud face serious consequences, including steep penalties, endless assessment-periods, prolonged trials, reputational damage, and more. Mere allegations of fraud by the IRS can trigger these types of damaging outcomes. Cynics often argue that this is precisely the reason the IRS sometimes claims that fraud occurred in the first place. Fortunately for taxpayers, while alleging fraud is relatively easy, proving it can be hard for the IRS. Two recent Tax Court cases, analyzed in this article, demonstrate this reality. Read the full article here. About Hale E. Sheppard HALE E. SHEPPARD, Esq. (B.S., M.A., J.D., LL.M., LL.M.T.)  is a partner in the Tax Controversy Section of Chamberlain Hrdlicka.  He defends clients in tax audits, tax appeals, and Tax Court litigation, covering both domestic and international issues.
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The Latest on Foreign Trusts: Enforcement Actions, Relief Measures, New Cases, Proposed Regulations, and More

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Things constantly evolve when it comes to U.S. tax and information-reporting duties for foreign trusts. A major challenge for taxpayers is keeping up with all the changes because they derive from different sources, in different contexts, at different times. In an effort to clarify and update matters, this article offers a summary of foreign trust rules, followed by a chronological review of the latest enforcement actions, relief measures, cases, regulations, and more. Read the full article here. About Hale E. Sheppard HALE E. SHEPPARD, Esq. (B.S., M.A., J.D., LL.M., LL.M.T.)  is a partner in the Tax Controversy Section of Chamberlain Hrdlicka.  He defends clients in tax audits, tax appeals, and Tax Court litigation, covering both domestic and international issues.
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