106 Swiss banks have signed agreements to provide information about U.S. account holders. "The current Offshore Shore Disclosure Program (OVDP) began in January 2012 continues until it is terminated by the Service. Taxpayers whose names have yet to be disclosed…
And Chicago tax lawyer Robert E. McKenzie, who has defended rich folks claiming losses on everything from deer farms to race horses to yachts, says the Romneys -–despite the fact that Ann Romney’s statements on what dressage has done for her personally suggests lack of profit motive– likely did all the paperwork right and can assert they thought they’d make a profit, even if they never do. “The way I would argue it is `this horse competed in the Olympics and we’ll breed it and make money off the foal’,’’ says McKenzie. “When you’re that rich you can afford to have talented tax advisers.”
Despite your best efforts at diligently filing proper tax returns, the IRS can audit your tax returns and Robert McKenzie is a tax attorney who can help sort out the mess. Sometimes the audit results areworse than expected and other times with proper representation the process can be least intrusive. Inthis episode of Law Talk Radio we examine tax law from several perspectives
2-10-12 Robert E. McKenzie Quoted in Forbes Regarding Correspondence Audits
McKenzie Quoted on Offshore Accounts by Wall Street Journal MarketWatch.
In April the Justice Department filed a lawsuit that sought to force HSBC India to reveal the names of U.S. customers with secret accounts, and a U. S. District subsequently granted the IRS authority to issue John Doe Summons for the names of U. S. residents of Indian descent who have had NRE accounts (Non-resident External Rupee Accounts) at the bank.
The Compliance Center computers are programmed to select those returns with high DIF scores which reflect issues that could be easily resolved by mail. The computers select those returns which are appropriate for correspondence audits and each respective return is reviewed by either a Tax examiner or clerk. The returns are DIF screened and quality reviewed using technically proficient examination personnel who are experienced in DIF screening operations. Returns which have apparent examination issues other than those appropriate for correspondence audit are referred to the local Area Office. Some examples of the kinds of items which can be verified by correspondence are itemized deductions, such as interest, taxes, contributions, medical expenses, and simple miscellaneous deductions such as union dues and small tools. Issues other than itemized deductions may be examined if they are single matters which would not be appropriate for office audit or field examination.
If a debt is canceled or forgiven, other than as a gift or bequest, the debtor generally must include the canceled amount in gross income for tax purposes. A debt includes any indebtedness for which the debtor is liable or which attaches to property the debtor holds.
Gambling and Taxes = The Price of Winning By: Robert E. McKenzie ©2011 Custom Search Inclusion of Gambling Income in Gross Income Income from gambling,[1] lotteries,[2] sweepstake winnings,[3] and card playing[4] are included in gross income. Such income…
Under the Bank Secrecy Act, U.S. residents or a person in and doing business in the United States must file a report with the U.S. Treasury if he or she has a financial account in a foreign country with a value exceeding $10,000 at any time during the calendar year. Taxpayers comply with this law by noting the account on their tax return and by filing Form 90-22.1, the Foreign Bank and Financial Account Report (FBAR). Willfully failing to file an FBAR report can be punished under both civil and criminal law.