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INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE TAX INCOME 
TAX RETURN  POSSIBLE PENALTIES
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Depending on a taxpayer’s particular facts and circumstances, the following 
penalties 
might apply : 
	- 
	
	A penalty for failing to file the Form TD F 90-22.1 (Report 
	of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, commonly known as an “FBAR”). United 
	States citizens, residents and certain other persons must annually report 
	their direct or indirect financial interest in, or signature authority (or 
	other authority that is comparable to signature authority) over, a financial 
	account that is maintained with a financial institution located in a foreign 
	country if, for any calendar year, the aggregate value of all foreign 
	accounts exceeded $10,000 at any time during the year. Generally, the civil 
	penalty for willfully failing to file an FBAR can be as high as the greater 
	of $100,000 or 50 percent of the total balance of the foreign account per 
	violation. See 31 U.S.C. § 5321(a)(5). Non-willful violations that the IRS 
	determines were not due to reasonable cause are subject to a $10,000 penalty 
	per violation.  
	- 
	
	A penalty for failing to file Form 3520, Annual Return to 
	Report Transactions With Foreign Trusts and Receipt of Certain Foreign 
	Gifts. Taxpayers must also report various transactions involving foreign 
	trusts, including creation of a foreign trust by a United States person, 
	transfers of property from a United States person to a foreign trust and 
	receipt of distributions from foreign trusts under IRC § 6048.This return 
	also reports the receipt of gifts from foreign entities under section 
	6039F.The penalty for failing to file each one of these information returns, 
	or for filing an incomplete return, is 35 percent of the gross reportable 
	amount, except for returns reporting gifts, where the penalty is five 
	percent of the gift per month, up to a maximum penalty of 25 percent of the 
	gift.  
	- 
	
	A penalty for failing to file Form 3520-A, Information Return of Foreign 
	Trust With a U.S. Owner. Taxpayers must also report ownership interests in 
	foreign trusts, by United States persons with various interests in and 
	powers over those trusts under IRC § 6048(b).The penalty for failing to file 
	each one of these information returns or for filing an incomplete return, is 
	five percent of the gross value of trust assets determined to be owned by 
	the United States person.  
	- 
	
	A penalty for failing to file Form 5471, Information Return of U.S. Persons 
	with Respect to Certain Foreign Corporations. Certain United States persons 
	who are officers, directors or shareholders in certain foreign corporations 
	(including International Business Corporations) are required to report 
	information under IRC §§ 6035, 6038 and 6046.The penalty for failing to file 
	each one of these information returns is $10,000, with an additional $10,000 
	added for each month the failure continues beginning 90 days after the 
	taxpayer is notified of the delinquency, up to a maximum of $50,000 per 
	return.  
	- 
	
	A penalty for failing to file Form 5472, Information Return of a 25% 
	Foreign-Owned U.S. Corporation or a Foreign Corporation Engaged in a U.S. 
	Trade or Business. Taxpayers may be required to report transactions between 
	a 25 percent foreign-owned domestic corporation or a foreign corporation 
	engaged in a trade or business in the United States and a related party as 
	required by IRC §§ 6038A and 6038C. The penalty for failing to file each one 
	of these information returns, or to keep certain records regarding 
	reportable transactions, is $10,000, with an additional $10,000 added for 
	each month the failure continues beginning 90 days after the taxpayer is 
	notified of the delinquency.  
	- 
	
	A penalty for failing to file Form 926, Return by a U.S. Transferor of 
	Property to a Foreign Corporation. Taxpayers are required to report 
	transfers of property to foreign corporations and other information under 
	IRC § 6038B. The penalty for failing to file each one of these information 
	returns is ten percent of the value of the property transferred, up to a 
	maximum of $100,000 per return, with no limit if the failure to report the 
	transfer was intentional.  
	- 
	
	A penalty for failing to file Form 8865, Return of U.S. Persons With Respect 
	to Certain Foreign Partnerships. United States persons with certain 
	interests in foreign partnerships use this form to report interests in and 
	transactions of the foreign partnerships, transfers of property to the 
	foreign partnerships, and acquisitions, dispositions and changes in foreign 
	partnership interests under IRC §§ 6038, 6038B, and 6046A. Penalties include 
	$10,000 for failure to file each return, with an additional $10,000 added 
	for each month the failure continues beginning 90 days after the taxpayer is 
	notified of the delinquency, up to a maximum of $50,000 per return, and ten 
	percent of the value of any transferred property that is not reported, 
	subject to a $100,000 limit.  
	- 
	
	Fraud penalties imposed under IRC §§ 6651(f) or 6663. Where an underpayment 
	of tax, or a failure to file a tax return, is due to fraud, the taxpayer is 
	liable for penalties that, although calculated differently, essentially 
	amount to 75 percent of the unpaid tax.  
	- 
	
	A penalty for failing to file a tax return imposed under IRC § 6651(a)(1). 
	Generally, taxpayers are required to file income tax returns. If a taxpayer 
	fails to do so, a penalty of 5 percent of the balance due, plus an 
	additional 5 percent for each month or fraction thereof during which the 
	failure continues may be imposed. The penalty shall not exceed 25 percent.  
	- 
	
	A penalty for failing to pay the amount of tax shown on the return under IRC 
	§ 6651(a)(2). If a taxpayer fails to pay the amount of tax shown on the 
	return, he or she may be liable for a penalty of .5 percent of the amount of 
	tax shown on the return, plus an additional .5 percent for each additional 
	month or fraction thereof that the amount remains unpaid, not exceeding 25 
	percent.  
	- 
	
	An accuracy-related penalty on underpayments imposed under IRC § 6662. 
	Depending upon which component of the accuracy-related penalty is 
	applicable, a taxpayer may be liable for a 20 percent or 40 percent penalty.  
 
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Don D. Nelson, Attorney at Law, C.P.A. with over thirty years experience in 
International  and Expatriate Taxation can help you and  guide you through this Offshore Voluntary Enclosure 
Process including preparing the returns, dealing with the IRS, and offering 
attorney-client privilege. 
He has the knowledge and experience.... see  more 
about Don.  
Phone 949-481-4094                  
Fax 949-218-6483                                  
Email: ddnelson@gmail.com    
Skype: dondnelson 
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