![]() GAccording to the IRS, eligible taxpayers who apply by April 15, 2003, may be able to avoid criminal prosecution and some civil penalties. Filing an amnesty request will not bar the IRS from imposing IRC section 6651 late-payment penalties and section 6662 accuracy-related penalties or from auditing a taxpayer’s related return and/or proposing changes.
WHY OFFER AMNESTY?
The credit cards can provide U.S. taxpayers easy access to offshore funds and accounts in bank-secrecy or tax-haven countries that allow income to be hidden from U.S. authorities. The service currently is investigating several thousand of these accounts. Its Criminal Investigation Division, however, lacks the financial and human resources to pursue all of them. According to the IRS, holding an offshore credit card is not illegal if there is a legitimate need, but U.S. citizens still are required to pay federal income tax on their worldwide income. The abuse stems from citizens’ using these cards solely to evade taxes. Example. A corporate executive deposits gambling winnings in an offshore account titled in her company’s name. She then spends these funds throughout the world via an internationally accepted debit card drawn on the account. The IRS cannot trace the origin.
ELIGIBILITY Taxpayers may participate in the amnesty program if they file a request in writing or by e-mail by April 15, 2003; see revenue procedure 2003-11 for details. The IRS will not grant extensions for the initial filing. A practitioner may submit a request on a client’s behalf by using a properly executed power of attorney. Taxpayers who demonstrate to the IRS that they cannot pay all the tax liabilities can request other payment arrangements. There are several other criteria for program eligibility. Amnesty is not guaranteed until the taxpayer signs a closing agreement with the IRS.
CONTACT INFORMATION
—Lesli
Laffie, editor
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