Archive for the ‘Tax news and tips’ Category

Treasury Proposes Multilateral Agreement for Offshore Compliance

Friday, February 10th, 2012

The U.S. Treasury Department announced this week a proposal for new regulations intended to make it easier for overseas banks to comply with Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA requirements.
An article in Reuters U.S. enlists 5 EU nations in offshore tax crackdown explains these proposals as the U.S. Government not only addressing concerns of foreign financial institutions regarding the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA, but also the
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Ask the Certified Tax Specialist – Small Business Back Taxes

Friday, February 10th, 2012

Question:
I have several years of unfiled tax returns and owe around $25 thousand dollars in back taxes to the IRS for my small business. I know I need to take care of this huge burden but I’m overwhelmed, what help is out there get me out of this mess?
Answer:
First, addressing your IRS tax issues right now is the first step towards finding the tax relief you need. There is a
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Michael Rozbruch Interviewed in Opportunist Magazine

Friday, February 10th, 2012

It is always a pleasure to be able to speak to others about the work I do as a tax resolution expert.
I recently had the unique opportunity to be interviewed by Opportunist Magazine’s Managing Editor, Leslie Stone for her article Talking With the Tax Expert-Michael Rozbruch.  She asked about the business of tax resolution, a subject of which I am WELL informed. The questions ranged from how my early business
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IRS Guidelines Help More Innocent Spouses

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

The Internal Revenue Service recently proposed new guidelines aimed at providing tax relief for more innocent spouses who request equitable relief from their income tax liability. A Forbes article entitled IRS Lowers The Bar For Innocent Spouse Relief, details how the new proposals address the criteria used in making innocent spouse relief determinations in equitable relief cases and adjust the factors used in granting equitable relief.
Since 2003, the Internal Revenue
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Big IRS Tax Lien for Lil’ Kim

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

An article from TMZ titled Lil’ Kim Breaks the Million Dollar Tax Lien Mark reported on rapper Lil Kim and her current $1,026,862.42 IRS tax lien. Lil’ Kim appears to be no stranger to tax troubles as hers are well documented and stretch out over a ten year period. A spokesperson for Lil’ Kim said that she “hired professional attorneys to handle this matter” and that “she, along with her
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Julius Baer Faces U.S. Tax Authorities

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Two articles recently published in the Wall Street Journal demonstrate that current Swiss offshore collection tactics are working to bring Swiss banks and American account holders into U.S. tax compliance. The latest bank to feel the heat of enforcement efforts is the Julius Baer Group, the largest private bank in Switzerland.  Julius Baer, hoping to avoid U.S. indictment, is already preparing to incur stiff fines from U.S. authorities for hiding
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Deductions For Business Tax Relief

Tuesday, February 7th, 2012

An article in Boston.com called Too Late to Lower Your 2011 Taxes? Not At All listed a few of the deductions a business owner can still take advantage of this year.
Here are three Tax Help Tips that every business owner needs to know about for this tax year:

1. Fund a Retirement Account
You can reduce your 2011 taxes by starting a retirement plan or Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) for you
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Swiss Pressured to Reveal All Offshore Accounts

Monday, February 6th, 2012

A recent article in Forbes, With Indictments, The IRS Will Get More Data From the Swiss stated that banks prosecuted by U.S. authorities moved money to smaller, discreet establishments such as Wegelin & Co..  Because of this, the U.S. authorities have stepped up their determination to go after IRS tax cheats and the banks that are hiding them, relentlessly.  With large AND small banks like Wegelin & Co. facing indictments,
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Doctor Sentenced for Failing to File FBAR Reports

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Michael Reiss, New Jersey doctor, professor and medical researcher, was sentenced on January 11, 2012 for failing to report his offshore (UBS) bank accounts. According to the IRS, Reiss was sentenced to eight months in a community confinement center for failing to file Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) with the IRS. Reiss pleaded guilty in August 2011 and agreed to pay back taxes of at least $400,000
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Homeowners: Take Advantage of Available Tax Help

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

With tax day just around the corner, many taxpayers will soon scramble to get their documents organized in order to take full advantage of all the tax breaks available to them. Of these taxpayers, homeowners have a lot to gain but to getting the tax help they need, will mean preparing the dreaded and often confusing itemized deductions.  A Fox Business Article entitled Six Tax Breaks Every Homeowner Should Know
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Tax Relief for Parents

Friday, January 27th, 2012

Parents of children and those with dependents should keep in mind the tax relief benefits and deductions available to them this tax season. The IRS has issued a brief reminder to all parents to keep these tax relief tips in mind as they file their 2011 taxes:

Dependents: You can start claiming a child as a dependent the year they are born, so if you gave birth to little bundle in
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IRS Cyber Scams – Protect Your Personal Information

Friday, January 27th, 2012

The IRS is issuing information to all taxpayers to stay on the lookout for fraudulent emails and correspondences claiming to be the IRS this tax season. Each year the IRS receives thousands of reports about suspicious calls, emails, faxes and notices claiming to be from the IRS. The goal of these fraudulent notices is an attempt to collect your personal information for identity theft or to take your money!
The IRS
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IRS Tax Help for Small Businesses and Self-Employed

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

As we move into tax season it is important to stay up to date and educated on the current regulations and laws surrounding taxes. By staying educated on important tax issues you can help keep yourself out of future IRS tax problems such as back taxes and tax liens.
To help make the tax process easier for small businesses and the self-employed the IRS has created a tax center on their
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IRS Tax Help for Disaster Victims

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported 12 natural disasters in 2011 that each caused more than $1 billion in damages, ranging from Hurricane Irene, to severe wildfires, tornadoes and flooding.  As the victims of these disasters rebuild their lives from utter destruction, this tax season many are receiving IRS tax help.
USA Today’s article Tax Relief Possible for Losses in Natural Disasters reports the good news that taxpayers affected
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IRS Tax Help Basics for the Self-Employed

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

Self-employment can be a liberating experience. You get to make your own rules, work your own hours and say goodbye to the horrors of a demanding boss. With this freedom comes responsibility and handling all your business affairs now solely rests on your shoulders, including paying your own taxes. A recent Ledyard-Patch article entitled Self-Employed? IRS Says You Should Read This reminds us that the self-employed are urged to get
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