United States and Singapore Buddy Up on Tax Evasion

For those who are still not convinced that the United States is serious about tracking down tax dodgers who are trying to hide money in offshore accounts, here’s one more piece of evidence that might change your mind. In a deal announced last week, the country of Singapore says it has come to terms with the U.S. on an agreement to share information regarding overseas account holders.

Under the new deal, financial institutions in Singapore will now be able to report any information it has regarding U.S. account holders in the country. Those financial institutions will share the information with local tax authorities in Singapore, who will then turn that information over to the IRS. That means those institutions can avoid dealing directly with the IRS,

This deal is another move by U.S. tax authorities to crack down on anyone trying to avoid their tax bill. Banks and other institutions in Singapore, as well as many other countries in Asia and across the globe, are coming to terms with the IRS and agreeing to turn over financial records of U.S. account holders as part of the U.S.’s Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).

If these firms choose to ignore FATCA, the consequences can be costly. According to the terms of FATCA, any institution that does not comply could be stuck with a withholding fee of 30 percent on their U.S. investment income. They could also essentially be locked out of U.S. capital markets.

If you are still noncompliant then now may be the time to get some help. Call us today at GROCO at 1-877-CPA-2006, or contact us online.

Posted in
THE WASH SALE RULE OF CAPITAL GAINS TAX

The Wash Sale Rule of Capital Gains Tax

The Wash Sale Rule of Capital Gains Tax Awash sale is a trading activity in which shares of a security are sold at a loss and substantially identical security is purchased within 30 days. The subsequent purchase could occur before or after the security is sold, creating a 61-day window that must be monitored to…

Employers linking employee premiums to health screen programs

Employers linking employee premiums to health screen programs

Employers linking employee premiums to health screen programs As more employers require employees to take greater financial responsibility for their own health care as part of the consumerism movement, some employers are going even further, tying employees’ premium contributions to their participation in health risk appraisals and, in some cases, to improvements in health status.…

Persistence - Use Good Judgment

Persistence – Use Good Judgment

Persistence – Use Good Judgment Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “Press…

Feeding a Dream

Feeding a Dream

Feeding a Dream Taking Tex-Mex to Bangalore by Elizabeth Bowden-David Christopher Columbus, as the story goes, pursued a dream of India and landed on American shores. I, too, set out on a journey to India, but my dream was launched from American shores. Eight years ago, I moved with my Indian-born husband from California to…