Tax Prophet Newsletter July, 2009

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The Tax Prophet Newsletter

Issue #75 July, 2009

REDUCE TAXES! CHECK OUT THE TAX PROPHET'S Action Guides In This Issue: Introduction UBS Settlement Disclosure IRS Limitations Russian Roulette Conclusion		Foreign Account Holders Face Off Against IRS Introduction IRS's quest to identify 51,000 suspected tax cheats from Swiss banking giant UBS has ended in a settlement. Rumor has it that the Swiss will reveal the names of 5,000 U.S. taxpayers in an unprecedented reversal of its vaunted secrecy laws. U.S. taxpayers with secret Swiss holdings must either fess up and pay hefty fines, or play Russian roulette with IRS criminal investigators. If caught, they will face lengthy jail time and monstrous penalties.

UBS Settlement		UBS assisted U.S. taxpayers in hiding billions in Swiss bank accounts, assuring them that Swiss secrecy laws would prevent IRS disclosure. The scheme collapsed when UBS plead guilty to several tax felonies and was forced to cooperate with IRS. Although the Swiss government initially balked, it capitulated in settlement and will now identify thousands of tax evaders.
Disclosure		IRS has a limited amnesty program in effect until September 23, 2009. To avoid criminal prosecution, taxpayers must disclose their foreign bank accounts and pay all taxes due on unreported income, plus additional penalties. See my March, 2009 Newsletter, Limited Amnesty for Offshore Accounts..
IRS Limitations		IRS has a limited capacity to prosecute tax crimes. During fiscal year 2009, there were slightly under 2,000 criminal referrals. Assuming there are 51,000 potential tax criminals with Swiss accounts and IRS receives the names of 5,000, the chances of being caught is about 10% and the probability of being prosecuted drops to 4% (1 in 25).
Russian Roulette		Do the tax cheats comply with the amnesty and potentially lose up to 50% of foreign holdings, or play the odds, hoping to escape detection? The chances of being identified greatly increase if IRS nabs a promoter, a bank, investment advisor, accountant or attorney, who was actively involved with UBS. In contrast, if an individual taxpayer travelled to Switzerland and dealt with UBS directly without an intermediary, the likelihood of being caught should be greatly diminished
Conclusion		Tax cheats with Swiss accounts face a high stakes, bet-your-life decision. Given their proclivity to commit tax fraud in the first place, I doubt many will divulge their holdings. Those who were not actively engaged in tax fraud are the most likely candidates for limited amnesty offered by IRS.

All contents copyright Š 2009 Robert L. Sommers, attorney-at-law. All rights reserved. This newsletter provides information of a general nature for educational purposes only and is not intended to be legal or tax advice. This information has not been updated to reflect subsequent changes in the law, if any. Your particular facts and circumstances, and changes in the law, must be considered when applying U.S. tax law. You should always consult with a competent tax professional licensed in your state with respect to your particular situation. The Tax Prophet Ž is a registered trademark of Robert L. Sommers.