Export Control FinCEN Red Flags
On 11/6/23, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and FinCEN issued a joint notice regarding export control evasion highlighting a new Suspicious Activity Report key term (“FIN-2023-GLOBALEXPORT”) for financial institutions to reference when reporting potential efforts by individuals or entities seeking to evade U.S. export controls NOT related to Russia’s invasion […]
Terrorist Financing FinCEN Red Flags
On 10/20/23, Terrorist Financing Red Flags were issued by FinCEN to assist financial institutions in identifying funding streams for the terrorist organization Hamas in response to Hamas’s terrorist attack on the people of Israel. FinCEN is urging financial institutions including virtual asset service providers (VASPs) to be vigilant in identifying suspicious activity relating to financing […]
The Tax Gap Increased to $688 Billion in Tax Year 2021
On 10/12/23 announced new tax gap projections for tax years 2020 and 2021 showing the projected gross tax gap increased to $688 billion in tax year 2021, a rise of more than $192 billion from the prior estimates for tax years 2014-2016 and a rise of $138 billion from the revised projections for tax years […]
Fake Charities Scam Warning
On 10/23/23, the IRS issued a warning to taxpayers regarding Fake Charities scams and how unsuspecting donors may actually be contributing to fake charities and not be able to deduct donations on their tax returns despite the taxpayers response to the donation call to given the tragic crises and natural disasters happening around the globe […]
Artificial Intelligence to Assist IRS with Tax Cheats
On 9/20/23, the IRS announced that it plans to establish a special area to focus on large or complex pass-through entities to help with high-income compliance efforts. With the assistance of improved technology as well as Artificial Intelligence, the IRS compliance teams will be better able to detect tax cheating, identify emerging compliance threats and […]
Art Donation Scheme Warning from IRS
On 10/5/23, the IRS issued a warning and offered tips to all taxpayers, including, High-Net-Worth taxpayers (high income filers) to be on the lookout for promotions that promise art donation deductions that are a tax scheme. Although there are legitimate ways that taxpayers can claim donations of art, there are unscrupulous promoters may use direct […]
OFAC Suspends Certain Venezuela Sanctions
On 10/18/23, OFAC provided issued sanctions relief to Venezuela entities in the following sectors: oil and gas, state-owned gold mining company and Venezuelan sovereign bonds and PdVSA (Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A.) debt and equity. OFAC cautioned that it is prepared to revoke these authorizations, if appropriate, to support US foreign policy and national security priorities. […]
Understanding Trusts so You are not mislead by the word “Trust”
Trusts are vehicles that can assist in the preservation of wealth and property for future generations, protect assets, or carry out a charitable purpose. A trust is an entity created and governed under the state law in which it was formed. A trust involves the creation of a fiduciary relationship between a grantor, a trustee, […]
New IRS Compliance Efforts
On 9/823, the IRS announced new compliance efforts that will focus on increasing scrutiny on high-income taxpayers, partnerships, corporations and promoters abusing tax rules on the books by using Artificial Intelligence and improved technology to identify sophisticated schemes to avoid taxes. The new IRS compliance efforts are geared towards having the IRS compliance teams better […]
Identity Theft Do’s and Don’ts to Protect Yourself
The IRS concluded its special summer series with important reminders to tax professionals and taxpayers to protect themselves against Identity theft. The reminders for tax professionals and taxpayers to reduce identity theft risk are: Be cautious of email attachments and web links. Do not open a link or attachment that arrives unexpectedly. Many scammers can […]
IRS Relief for Certain Late-Filed International Documents
On 8/11/23, the IRS announced that under the right circumstances, international taxpayers will be able to use a new, fully electronic tool to submit penalty IRS relief requests for a few late-filed forms: a fax (855-582-4842). For now, the new fax option applies to just three types of filings: gain recognition agreements, dual consolidated losses, […]
IRS Digital Assets Proposed Regulations
On 8/29/23, the IRS issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Notice of Public Hearing for Digital Assets Proposed Regulations. The IRS Digital Assets Proposed Regulations address information reporting, the determination of amount realized and basis, and backup withholding, for certain digital asset sales and exchanges by requiring brokers, digital asset trading platforms, digital asset […]
