Advance Pricing Agreements Report

Highlights excerpts of the IRS Report Concerning Advance Pricing Agreements (2013)

In February of 2012, the former APA Program was moved from the Office of Chief Counsel to the Office of Transfer Pricing Operations, Large Business and International Division of the IRS (TPO) and combined with the United States Competent Authority (USCA) staff responsible for transfer pricing cases, thereby forming the Advance Pricing and Mutual Agreement (APMA) Program.  During the last quarter of 2013, new proposed revenue procedures governing APA applications and MAP applications were released for public comment in Notice 2013-79, 2013-50 I.R.B. 653, and Notice 2013-78, 2013-50 I.R.B. 633, respectively. These proposed revenue procedures reflect the changes in APMA’s structure, and more importantly, were informed by the cumulative experience of more than 20 years of APA practice in the United States, which has produced more than eleven hundred unilateral and bilateral agreements since 1991.

During 2013, the APMA Program continued to benefit from the merger and processing efficiencies that began in 2012. For the second year in a row, the number of executed APAs increased (from 140 in 2012 to 145 in 2013). The median completion time fell from 39.8 months in 2012 to 32.7 months in 2013. The increase in efficiency is further illustrated by the fact that the number of executed APAs (145) again surpassed the number of applications filed (111).

Part I of this report includes information on the structure, composition, and operation of the APMA Program; Part II presents statistical data for 2013; and Part III includes general descriptions of various elements of the APAs executed in 2013, including types of transactions covered, transfer pricing methods used, and completion time.

The 111 APA applications received during 2013, represent a slight decrease from the 126 received in 2012.  Almost 75 percent of the bilateral applications filed in 2013 involved either Japan or Canada.  The APMA Program increased the number of APAs executed in its second year. The 145 APAs executed in 2013 surpassed the previous record of 140 executed agreements set in 2012. Of the 145 agreements executed in 2013, 68 of the agreements (47 percent) were new APAs (i.e., not renewal APAs), an increase from the 57 (41 percent) new APAs executed in 2012.

In 2013, approximately 55 percent of the APAs executed involved transactions between a non-U.S. parent and a U.S. subsidiary; 40 percent of the APAs executed involved transactions between a U.S. parent and a non-U.S. subsidiary; and the remaining 5 percent involved transactions that included either a partnership or a branch. In 2012, approximately 75 percent of the APAs executed involved transactions between a non-U.S. parent and a U.S. subsidiary, while the remaining 25 percent involved transactions between a U.S. parent and a non-U.S. subsidiary.

Although more than 75 percent of covered transactions involve tangible goods and services transactions, the IRS also has successfully completed numerous APAs involving transfers of intangibles.  More than 60 percent of the tested parties in the APAs executed in 2013 involved distribution or related functions, e.g., marketing and product support.

In controlled transactions using the CPM/TNMM, the Operating Margin was the most common profit level indicator (PLI) used to benchmark results for transfers of tangible and intangible property. Per the applicable regulations, Operating Margin is defined as the ratio of operating profits to sales. The Berry Ratio, defined as the ratio of gross profit to operating expenses, was applied as the profit level indicator in 8 percent of the controlled transactions that used the CPM/TNMM. Each other profit level indicator accounted for a smaller share.

For services transactions, the majority of cases applied the Services Cost Method or the CPM/TNMM. The Services Cost Method evaluates the amount charged for certain services with reference to the total services costs.

For the APAs executed in 2013 that used external comparables data in the analysis, the most widely used data source for comparables was the Standard and Poor’s Compustat database. Other sources were also used in appropriate cases, e.g., where the tested party was not the U.S. entity. The most commonly used sources are:

• Disclosure
• Mergent
• Orbis
• GlobalVantage
• Worldscope
• OneSource
• Osirus

Lexis’ Practical Guide to U.S. Transfer Pricing, 28 chapters from 30 expert contributors led by international tax Professor William Byrnes,  is designed to help multinationals cope with the U.S. transfer pricing rules and procedures, taking into account the international norms established by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It is also designed for use by tax administrators, both those belonging to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and those belonging to the tax administrations of other countries, and tax professionals in and out of government, corporate executives, and their non-tax advisors, both American and foreign.  Fifty co-authors contribute subject matter expertise on technical issues faced by tax and risk management counsel.

Ten Tax Facts about Capital Gains and Losses

In Tax Tip 2014-27, the IRS discussed capital gains and losses.  The IRS stated that when a taxpayer sells a ’capital asset,’ the sale usually results in a capital gain or loss. A ‘capital asset’ includes most property owned and used for personal or investment purposes.

10 tax facts about capital gains and losses:

1. Capital assets include property such as a home or a car. They also include investment property such as stocks and bonds.

2. A capital gain or loss is the difference between the “basis” and the amount earned upon the sale of the asset.  The basis is usually what the taxpayer paid for the asset.

3. A taxpayer must include all capital gains in income.  Beginning in 2013, a taxpayer may be subject to the Obama Care “Net Investment Income Tax”.  The NIIT applies at a rate of 3.8% to certain net investment income of individuals, estates, and trusts that have income above statutory threshold amounts.

4. A taxpayer can deduct capital losses on the sale of investment property (such as an apartment building) but can not deduct losses on the sale of personal-use property (such as the family home).

5. Capital gains and losses are either long-term or short-term, depending on how long the property is owned.  If a taxpayer owns the property for more than one year, the gain or loss is long-term.  If owned one year or less, the gain or loss is short-term.

6. If long-term gains are more than long-term losses, the difference between the two is a “net long-term capital gain”.  If net long-term capital gain is more than net short-term capital loss, then the taxpayer has a ‘net capital gain.’

7. The tax rates that apply to net capital gains will usually depend on a taxpayer’s income.  For lower-income individuals, the rate may be zero percent on some or all of their net capital gains.  In 2013, the maximum net capital gain tax rate increased from 15 to 20 percent. A 25 or 28 percent tax rate can also apply to special types of net capital gains.

8. If capital losses are more than capital gains, the taxpayer can deduct the difference as a loss on the tax return. This loss is limited to $3,000 per year, or $1,500 if filing married but separate returns.

9. If total net capital loss is more than the deduction limit above, the losses above the allowable deduction can be carried over to next year’s tax return.  The carried over losses will be treated as if they happened next year.

10. File Form 8949, Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets, with the federal tax return to report your gains and losses.   Also file Schedule D, Capital Gains and Losses with the federal tax return.

2014 Tax Facts on Investments provides clear, concise answers to often complex tax questions concerning investments.  Pertinent planning points are provided throughout.

Organized in a convenient Q&A format to speed you to the information you need, 2014 Tax Facts on Investments delivers the latest guidance on:

• Mutual Funds, Unit Trusts, REITs
• Incentive Stock Options
• Options & Futures
• Real Estate
• Stocks, Bonds
• Oil & Gas
• Precious Metals & Collectibles
• And much more!

Key updates for 2014:

• Important federal income and estate tax developments impacting investments, including changes from the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012
• Expanded coverage of Reverse Mortgages
• Expanded coverage of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
• More than 30 new Planning Points, written by practitioners for practitioners, in the following areas:
  • Limitations on Loss Deductions
  • Charitable Gifts
  • Reverse Mortgages
  • Deduction of Interest and Expenses
  • REITs

Plus, you’re kept up-to-date with online supplements for critical developments.  Written and reviewed by practicing professionals who are subject matter experts in their respective topics, Tax Facts is the practical resource you can rely on.

12 more estate planning tax tips

The estate tax, and planning for it, confuses most clients.  By example, a client needs to know what the IRS's share of a life insurance policy and an annuity will be if these become part of their estate, or are part of a recent inheritance.

1. When are death proceeds of life insurance includable in an insured’s gross estate?

They are includable in the following four situations: article available at LifeHealthPro

10 estate planning tax tips

The fiscal cliff deal cleared up every estate planning tax question ever, right? Or not. Because for as much fanfare as the new estate tax received, there are still a lot of sticky tax-related questions out there.

Like what, exactly, constitutes an estate?

Do life insurance proceeds count?

What about employer-provided income benefits?

How are annuities treated?

The 10 most confronted estate planning tax questions are answered in the article by Professor William Byrnes at LifeHealthPro 

If you are interested in discussing the online law degree in international taxation and financial services, then please call, skype, or email.  My office in San Diego at (619) 961-4211 or Skype with me “professorbyrnes”. Email: profbyrnes@gmail.com

9 retirement savings tax tips

You might be able to muddle through retirement without knowing each and every line of Uncle Sam’s tax code. But you’ll likely give the federal government more than its fair share of your nest egg if you don’t know what William Byrnes, author of National Underwriter’s Tax Facts, calls the big retirement plan tax facts.

Read the USA Today analysis, written by renown financial journalist Robert Powell:  “Stretching the retirement savings available for an additional 20 years of life expectancy requires correctly managing the complex retirement taxation rules established by Congress and the IRS,” says Byrnes, who is also associate dean at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, Calif.

The full analysis is available on USA Today at 9 retirement savings tax tips!  USA TODAY and USATODAY.com reach a combined seven million readers daily.

2014 Form 1042 instructions with FATCA withholding released

The IRS has released the Instructions for 2014 Form 1042: Annual Withholding Tax Return for U.S. Source Income of Foreign Persons to correspond to FATCA (Chapter 4 of the Internal Revenue Code).

A withholding agent must use Form 1042 to report the tax withheld on certain income of foreign persons, including nonresident aliens, foreign partnerships, foreign corporations, foreign estates, and foreign trusts, or 2% excise tax due on specified foreign procurement payments.

The IRS has provided the final 2014 version of the Form 1042 at this time for informational purposes in order to provide time for withholding agents and intermediaries to implement the new requirements of FATCA. The 2014 version of the Form 1042 reflects the new FATCA requirements and will be filed by taxpayers in 2015 to report with respect to 2014.  See link for the 2013 Form.

What changed?

The Form 1042 for 2014 has been modified from the previous Form 1042 primarily for withholding agents to report payments and amounts withheld under FATCA chapter 4 of the Code (chapter 4) in addition to those payments and amounts required to be reported under chapter 3 of the Code (chapter 3).

The 2014 Form 1042:

1. adds lines for reporting of the tax liability under chapters 3 and 4,
2. includes separate chapter 3 and 4 status codes for withholding agents, and
3. provides for a reconciliation of U.S. source fixed or determinable annual or periodical (FDAP) income payments that are withholdable payments for chapter 4 purposes.

Withholding agents that make nonfinancial payments generally will not be affected by the new requirements under chapter 4.

When is Form 1042 Due?

Form 1042 is a calendar year tax return.  The Forms 1042 and 1042-S must be filed by March 15 of the year following the calendar year in which the income subject to reporting was paid. Thus, for the 2014 year, the filing date in Monday, March 16, 2015 (because March 15^th is a Sunday).

Who Must File?

Every withholding agent or intermediary who has control, receipt, custody, disposal or payment of any fixed or determinable, annual or periodic U.S. source income must file an annual return for the preceding calendar year on Form 1042.

A withholding agent or intermediary must file Form 1042 if:

• required to file Form(s) 1042-S (whether or not any tax was withheld or was required to be withheld),
• Is a qualified intermediary (QI), withholding foreign partnership (WP), withholding foreign trust (WT), participating foreign financial institution (FFI), or reporting Model 1 FFI making a claim for a collective refund under the respective agreement with the IRS,
• pays gross investment income to foreign private foundations that are subject to tax under section 4948(a), or
• pays any foreign person specified federal procurement payments that are subject to withholding under section 5000C.

(Chapter updates since November 2013 are available at http://profwilliambyrnes.com/category/fatca/)

The LexisNexis® Guide to FATCA Compliance (2^nd Edition) comprises 34 Chapters of the analysis of 50 FATCA experts grouped in three parts: compliance program (Chapters 1–4), analysis of FATCA regulations (Chapters 5–16) and analysis of Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) and local law compliance requirements (Chapters 17–34), including  information exchange protocols and systems.  complimentary chapter http://www.lexisnexis.com/store/images/samples/9780769853734.pdf

If you are interested in discussing the Master or Doctoral degree in the areas of financial services or international taxation, please contact me: profbyrnes@gmail.com to Google Hangout or Skype that I may take you on an “online tour” 

Many of the retiring wealthy over coming decade – will outlive retirement savings!

How many baby boomers are retiring?

“The 10,000 baby boomer that reach retirement age each day in America are waking up to the probability that they will outspend their retirement plan designed before the financial crisis, forcing a drastic reduction in quality of life style for the ‘golden years’” shared William Byrnes, author of National Underwriter’s Tax Facts.

“The largest concern for most middle class Americans is that social security since Ronald Reagan’s presidency did not increase enough to beat actual inflation.  The average social security monthly payment in 2014 is only $1,294 for a single retiree, and $2,111 for a married couple.  And it is possible that Congress will further reduce inflation adjustments for the future.”

“Moreover, baby boomers are outliving their retirement plans by at least ten years, and thus selling off their remaining assets and relying on children”, continued Professor Byrnes. “It’s no wonder that reverse mortgages have become so popular.”

“It’s not just the middle class retirees trying to survive on $2,500 a month over at least the next 20 years as lifestyle becomes more expensive, upper middle class Americans and even the wealthy also have lifestyle challenges.  A couple who for the past twenty years is used to spending $200,000 a year after tax needs to have significant assets.”

What about the wealthy?

On April 28, 2014 The American Lawyer published its annual (2014) Big Law report in which it found that 16% of partners in the US’ largest 200 law firms by revenue are 60 years old or older with at least 8% least 65.  This generally means that these partners will be retiring over the next five years.  Moreover, right behind this retiring group are 28% more of the partners that have reached at least 50 years of age.

While these thousands of retiring partners have in general been earning between $1 million and $3 million annually, most also have lifestyles that correspond to spending this level of income.  These retiring partners are now asking “Will my retirement portfolio maintain my spouse and my lifestyles if we live another 30 years?”  “Will we have enough to truly enjoy our retirement, or will we have to cut back our lifestyle to make due?”  Will plans for luxurious global travel and spas be thrown out the window?  Wealth managers and financial planners have turned attention to these retirees.

Is $2,439,817 savings enough to retire on by age 67 ?

“Let’s run an example using a National Underwriter Advanced Markets retirement calculator.  A 50 year old partner at a law firm that requires retirement by age 67 currently earns after tax $300,000.  The partner will begin saving $60,000 a year toward retirement, and already has $400,000 saved and earned in tax deferred retirement accounts.  The partner expects earnings to increase 1.5% on average per year.  The partner expects to live until 90 years old, and will cut the annual lifestyle by 30% to $210,00 a year upon retirement.  The partner expects a healthy annual rate of return on the investments until reaching 90 of 5%, and average annual inflation of only 2%.”

“The question is: Will the partner’s retirement dollars last  until age 90? Unfortunately, the partner has only 13 years of retirement based on this scenario, and that only if including $42,937 of average annual social security.  At age 80, the $2,439,817 of retirement savings simply runs out. So given these variables, the partner must either save significantly more for retirement, have assets that can be sold down during retirement (such as the family home), or live on only $150,000 a year.  While $150,000 a year sounds like a lot to middle class retirees, for law firm partners living in New York, Miami, DC, LA, San Fran who are used to an upper class lifestyle, living on half the income with double the free time is a shock. And remember, this includes social security paying out over $40,000 of that $150,000 a year.”

“Stretching the retirement savings available for these additional ten years of life expectancy in the example above requires correctly calibrating a retirement plan over the next 20 years which includes managing the complex retirement savings and retirement plans tax rules.”

Retiring baby boomers' questions

Robert Bloink added, “Baby boomers retirement taxation questions include: How are earnings on an IRA taxed? What is the penalty for making excessive contributions to an IRA? How are amounts distributed from a traditional and from a ROTH IRA taxed?  How is the required minimum distribution (RMD) calculated?”

“By example of managing the retirement taxation rules, if the baby boomer engages in a prohibited transaction with his IRA, his or her individual retirement account may cease to qualify for the tax benefits.  Thus, then baby boomer needs to understand what is a prohibited transaction?  When can the baby boomer tax pull retirement funds as a loan from a retirement account or policy without it being prohibited?”

Complex modern families

“For complex modern families with multiple marriages and various children, a retirement and estate planner should analyze the non-probate assets”, interjected Dr. George Mentz. “Such assets may include the client’s 401k, 403b, 459, annuities, property and joint tenancy, among others.  Regarding insurance policy designations, the client may need to reexamine the beneficiaries, contingent and secondary, and percentages among them, based on current circumstances.”

Long term care

“Because client’s are outliving their life expectancy and thus outliving their retirement planning, and medical expenses certainly factor into retirement planning, long term care for family members must also be addressed,” said William Byrnes.  “Moreover, recent press has focused client’s attention on tragic incident and end of life issues, such as a durable power of attorney for health care (DPA/HC), living will, or advance directives that explain the patient’s wishes in certain medical situations.  Finally in this regard, a client may require a Limited Powers of Attorney to address situations of incapacity, as well as orderly continuation of immediate family needs upon death.“

Robert Bloink included, “Other important issues to address with the client include pre-marital property contracts/pre-nuptials involving the second marriage(s), IRA beneficiary planning in blended families, spousal lifetime access trust (SLATs), and planning for unmarried domestic partners.”

“Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M., and William H. Byrnes, Esq., LL.M., CWM®—are delivering real-life guidance based on decades of experience.” said Rick Kravitz.  “The authors’ knowledge and experience in tax law and practice provides the expert guidance for National Underwriter to once again deliver a valuable resource for the financial advising community.”

Anyone interested can try Tax Facts on Individuals & Small Business, risk-free for 30 days, with a 100% guarantee of complete satisfaction.  For more information, please go to www.nationalunderwriter.com/TaxFactsIndividuals or call 1-800-543-0874.

 Authoritative and easy-to-use, 2014 Tax Facts on Insurance & Employee Benefits shows you how the tax law and regulations are relevant to your insurance, employee benefits, and financial planning practices.  Often complex tax law and regulations are explained in clear, understandable language.  Pertinent planning points are provided throughout.

2014 Tax Facts on Investments provides clear, concise answers to often complex tax questions concerning investments.  2014 expanded sections on Limitations on Loss Deductions, Charitable Gifts, Reverse Mortgages, and REITs.

New Planning Techniques for Investment Income Tax for Trusts

The Tax Court recently handed down a decision that could prove to be just the break that trusts participating in business activities need to escape liability for the new 3.8 percent tax on investment-type income (the NIIT) enacted with the ACA / ObamaCare.

Many trusts with business-related income are finally feeling the sting of the tax, which applied to all trust investment income for trusts with income in excess of a low $11,950 in 2013 ($12,150 for 2014).* The decision paves the way for new planning techniques in 2014 and beyond …

Read about the new planning techniques for the new investment tax: https://www.lifehealthpro.com/2014/04/21/court-untangles-investment-income-tax-trap-for-tru

Previous NIIT planning analysis at http://profwilliambyrnes.com/2014/01/02/irs-gives-high-income-taxpayers-a-break-on-new-3-8-tax/

See also: 10 things to know about how investments are taxed

* Estates and trusts are subject to the Net Investment Income Tax if they have undistributed Net Investment Income and also have adjusted gross income over the dollar amount at which the highest tax bracket for an estate or trust begins for such taxable year under section 1(e) (for tax year 2013, this threshold amount is $11,950). For 2014, the threshold amount is $12,150.

Interested in discussing the law degree in international taxation and financial services, then please call, skype, or email William Byrnes.  My office in San Diego at (619) 961-4211 or Skype with me “professorbyrnes”. Email: profbyrnes@gmail.com

In Newswire 2014-62, the IRS reported that "small" employers may be eligible to claim a small business health care tax credit up to 50% of employee premiums for two additional years beginning in 2014.  

A brief educational summary of the small business health care tax credit is below.  The law and its accompanying regulations contain caveats and exceptions, and require calculations that require consultation with an advisor.    

How Does the Small Business Health Care Credit Help Small Employers Provide Health Care Coverage?

"Small employers that pay at least half of the premiums for employee health insurance coverage under a qualifying arrangement may be eligible for the small business health care tax credit," stated the IRS in its news release. "The maximum credit rate rises to 50 percent for small businesses and 35 percent for tax-exempt organizations."

A qualifying arrangement requires that the small employer pay the health care premiums on behalf of employees enrolled in a qualified health plan offered through a Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace (or through a direct enrollment process if available).  

The credit is only available for two additional years beginning with 2014.

If the Small Business Does Not Owe Tax in 2014, How Can It Use the Tax Credit? 

A small business employer who does not owe tax during the year may carry the credit back or forward to other tax years. 

Do The Health Care Premiums Cost More than the Credit Is Worth?  

Yes, but eligible small businesses may claim a business expense deduction for the health care premiums that exceed the tax credit. Thus, an eligible small business may claim both a credit and a deduction for employee premium payments.

What Is An Eligible Small Business?

To be eligible, a business must have fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs).  The employees must have average wages of less than $50,000 (as adjusted for inflation beginning in 2014) per year. 

The small business must cover at least 50% of the cost of single (not family) health care coverage for each employee. 

Due to a number of recent changes in the law, taxpayers are currently facing many questions connected to important issues such as healthcare, home office use, capital gains, investments, and whether an individual is considered an employee or a contractor. Financial advisors are continually looking for updated tax information that can help them provide the right answers to the right people at the right time. This brand-new resource provides fast, clear, and authoritative answers to pressing questions, and it does so in the convenient, timesaving, Q&A format for which Tax Facts is famous.

“Our brand-new Tax Facts title is exciting in many ways,” says Rick Kravitz, Vice President & Managing Director of Summit Professional Network’s Professional Publishing Division. “First of all, it fills a huge gap in the resources available to today’s advisors. Small business is a big market, and this book enables advisors to get up-and-running right away, with proven guidance that will help them serve their clients’ needs. Secondly, it addresses the biggest questions facing all taxpayers and provides absolutely reliable answers that help advisors solve today’s biggest problems with confidence.”

“Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M., and William H. Byrnes, Esq., LL.M., CWM®—are delivering real-life guidance based on decades of experience.  The authors’ knowledge and experience in tax law and practice provides the expert guidance for National Underwriter to once again deliver a valuable resource for the financial advising community,” added Rick Kravitz.

Anyone interested can try Tax Facts on Individuals & Small Business, risk-free for 30 days, with a 100% guarantee of complete satisfaction.  For more information, please go to www.nationalunderwriter.com/TaxFactsIndividuals or call 1-800-543-0874.

5 Tax Facts for Early Retirement Plan Withdrawals

In Tax Tip 2014-35, the IRS addressed the issue of potential tax penalties for withdrawing money before retirement age from a retirement account.

5 tax tips about early withdrawals from retirement plans:

1. An early withdrawal normally means taking money from a retirement plan before age 59½.

2. If a taxpayer makes a withdrawal from a plan, that withdrawal amount must be reported to the IRS on the annual tax return.  Income tax may be due as well as an additional 10 percent tax on the amount of the early withdrawal.  The taxpayer may need to file Form 5329, “Additional Taxes on Qualified Plans (Including IRAs) and Other Tax-Favored Accounts”, with the annual federal tax return.

3. The additional 10 percent tax does not apply to nontaxable withdrawals.  Nontaxable withdrawals include withdrawals of the cost to participate in the retirement plan.  The cost includes the taxpayer’s after-tax contributions before the contributions are contributed to the plan.

4. A “rollover” is a type of nontaxable withdrawal. Generally, a rollover is a distribution to the taxpayer of cash or other assets from one retirement plan that is then immediately contributed to another retirement plan.  The taxpayer has 60 days to complete the rollover to make it tax-free.

5. There are many exceptions to the additional 10 percent tax. Some of the exceptions for retirement plans are different from the rules for IRAs.

Exceptions to Tax on Early Distributions

Generally, the amounts an individual withdraws from an IRA or retirement plan before reaching age 59½ are called ”early” or ”premature” distributions. Individuals must pay an additional 10% early withdrawal tax and report the amount to the IRS for any early distributions, unless an exception applies.

The distribution will NOT be subject to the 10% additional early distribution tax in the following circumstances:	Exception to 10% Additional Tax
	Qualified Plans (401(k), etc.)	IRA, SEP, SIMPLE IRA* and SARSEP Plans	Internal Revenue Code Section(s)
Age
after participant/IRA owner reaches age 59½	yes	yes	72(t)(2)(A)(i)
Automatic Enrollment
permissive withdrawals from a plan with auto enrollment features	yes	yes for SIMPLE IRAs and SARSEPs	414(w)(1)(B)
Corrective Distributions
corrective distributions (and associated earnings) of excess contributions, excess aggregate contributions and excess deferrals, made timely	yes	n/a	401(k)(8)(D), 401(m)(7)(A), 402(g)(2)(C)
Death
after death of the participant/IRA owner	yes	yes	72(t)(2)(A)(ii)
Disability
total and permanent disability of the participant/IRA owner	yes	yes	72(t)(2)(A)(iii)
Domestic Relations
to an alternate payee under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order	yes	n/a	72(t)(2)(C)
Education
qualified higher education expenses	no	yes	72(t)(2)(E)
Equal Payments
series of substantially equal payments	yes	yes	72(t)(2)(A)(iv)
ESOP
dividend pass through from an ESOP	yes	n/a	72(t)(2)(A)(vi)
Homebuyers
qualified first-time homebuyers, up to $10,000	no	yes	72(t)(2)(F)
Levy
because of an IRS levy of the plan	yes	yes	72(t)(2)(A)(vii)
Medical
amount of unreimbursed medical expenses (>7.5% AGI; after 2012, 10% if under age 65)	yes	yes	72(t)(2)(B)
health insurance premiums paid while unemployed	no	yes	72(t)(2)(D)
Military
certain distributions to qualified military reservists called to active duty	yes	yes	72(t)(2)(G)
Returned IRA Contributions
if withdrawn by extended due date of return	n/a	yes	408(d)(4)
earnings on these returned contributions	n/a	no	408(d)(4)
Rollovers
in-plan Roth rollovers or eligible distributions contributed to another retirement plan or IRA within 60 days	yes	yes	402(c), 402A(d)(3), 403(a)(4), 403(b)(8), 408(d)(3), 408A(d)(3)
Separation from Service
the employee separates from service during or after the year the employee reaches age 55 (age 50 for public safety employees in a governmental defined benefit plan)	yes	no	72(t)(2)(A)(v), 72(t)(10)

NOTE: Governmental 457(b) distributions are not subject to the 10% additional tax except for distributions attributable to rollovers from another type of plan or IRA.

*25% instead of 10% if made within the first 2 years of participation

Authoritative and easy-to-use, 2014 Tax Facts on Insurance & Employee Benefits shows you how the tax law and regulations are relevant to your insurance, employee benefits, and financial planning practices.  Often complex tax law and regulations are explained in clear, understandable language.  Pertinent planning points are provided throughout.  Due to a number of recent changes in the law, taxpayers are currently facing many questions connected to important issues such as healthcare, home office use, capital gains, investments, and whether an individual is considered an employee or a contractor. Financial advisors are continually looking for updated tax information that can help them provide the right answers to the right people at the right time. This brand-new resource provides fast, clear, and authoritative answers to pressing questions, and it does so in the convenient, timesaving, Q&A format for which Tax Facts is famous.

“Our brand-new Tax Facts title is exciting in many ways,” says Rick Kravitz, Vice President & Managing Director of Summit Professional Network’s Professional Publishing Division. “First of all, it fills a huge gap in the resources available to today’s advisors. Small business is a big market, and this book enables advisors to get up-and-running right away, with proven guidance that will help them serve their clients’ needs. Secondly, it addresses the biggest questions facing all taxpayers and provides absolutely reliable answers that help advisors solve today’s biggest problems with confidence.”

“Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M., and William H. Byrnes, Esq., LL.M., CWM®—are delivering real-life guidance based on decades of experience.  The authors’ knowledge and experience in tax law and practice provides the expert guidance for National Underwriter to once again deliver a valuable resource for the financial advising community,” added Rick Kravitz.

Anyone interested can try Tax Facts on Individuals & Small Business, risk-free for 30 days, with a 100% guarantee of complete satisfaction.  For more information, please go to www.nationalunderwriter.com/TaxFactsIndividuals or call 1-800-543-0874.

Do I Owe an Obama Care “Individual Shared Responsibility Payment” with my 2014 tax return?

Whether a taxpayer owes an Obama Care Tax Penalty (or “Fee” or as it is formally known an “Individual Shared Responsibility Payment”) to be paid with the 2014 tax return filed by April 15, 2015 was addressed by the IRS in Health Care Tax Tip 2014-04.  What ever the required payment with the tax return is referred to, e.g. penalty, fee, payment, contribution, the payment was imposed by Congress with a supra majority Senate vote.  

So … the question is: Do I owe it?

The short answer is that for any month in 2014 that a taxpayer or any of a taxpayer’s dependents do not maintain health care coverage and do not qualify for an exemption from having health care coverage, then the taxpayer will owe an “individual shared responsibility payment” with your 2014 tax return filed in 2015 (exemption is the same as exception, and in tax it is said that there is always an exception to a rule, and an exception to the exception).  

What is the “less than three-month gap” exemption / exception?

The exception is if a taxpayer went without health care coverage for less than three consecutive months during the year, then the taxpayer may qualify for the short coverage gap exemption and will not have to make a payment for those months. However, if a taxpayer has more than one short coverage gap during a year, the short coverage gap exemption only applies to the first.  So by example, the taxpayer has health care coverage January 1, 2014 until February 28, and May 1 until August 30, and then again from November 15 through December 31, 2014.  The first health care coverage gap that falls within the exception is March 1 until April 30 because it is less than three consecutive months.  The second gap in coverage is also less than three consecutive months, being September 1 through November 15 – but the exception has already been used for the year so it does not fall within it.

How much do I owe?

If a taxpayer (or any dependents) do not maintain health care coverage and do not qualify for an exemption, then the taxpayer must make an individual shared responsibility payment with the 2014 tax return.  In general, this health care coverage penalty is either a percentage of the taxpayer’s income or a flat dollar amount, whichever is greater.  High income taxpayers will pay a higher penalty.  A taxpayer will owe 1/12th of this penalty for each month of the taxpayer or taxpayer’s dependents gap in coverage.  The annual payment amount for 2014 is the greater of:

• one percent (1%) of the household income that is above the tax return threshold for the taxpayer’s filing status, such as Married Filing Jointly or single, or
• a family’s flat dollar amount, which is $95 per adult and $47.50 per child, limited to a maximum of $285.

This individual shared responsibility payment is capped at the cost of the national average premium for the bronze level health plan available through the Marketplace in 2014.  The taxpayer will pay the due amount with the 2014 federal income tax return filed in 2015.  For example, a single adult under age 65 with household income less than $19,650 (but more than $10,150) would pay the $95 flat rate.  However, a single adult under age 65 with household income greater than $19,650 would pay an annual payment based on the one percent rate.  

Why greater than $19,650?  The filing threshold for a single adult in 2014 is 10,150, subtract that from $19,650, leaving a base amount of $9, 500.  Multiply 1% to that base amount and the penalty is $95, the same as the flat rate.

So, from the beginning of this year (January 1, 2014) a taxpayer and the family must either have “qualifying” health insurance coverage throughout the year, qualify for an exemption from coverage, or make the above payment when filing the 2014 federal income tax return in 2015.

What qualifies as “qualifying health insurance coverage”?

Qualifying coverage includes coverage provided by an employer, health insurance purchased in the Health Insurance Marketplace, most government-sponsored coverage, and coverage purchased directly from an insurance company.  However, qualifying coverage does not include coverage that may provide limited benefits, such as coverage only for vision care or dental care, workers’ compensation, or coverage that only covers a specific disease or condition.

What are the exemptions to obtaining or maintaining required health care coverage?

A taxpayer may be exempt from the requirement to maintain qualified coverage if:

• Have no affordable coverage options because the minimum amount a taxpayer must pay for the annual premiums is more than eight percent (8%) of household income,
• Have a gap in coverage for less than three consecutive months (see abo0ve), or
• Qualify for an exemption for one of several other reasons, including having a hardship that prevents the taxpayer from obtaining coverage, or belonging to a group explicitly exempt from the requirement.
• A special hardship exemption applies to taxpayers who purchase their insurance through the Marketplace during the initial enrollment period for 2014 but due to the enrollment process have a coverage gap at the beginning of 2014.

Due to a number of recent changes in the law, taxpayers are currently facing many questions connected to important issues such as healthcare, home office use, capital gains, investments, and whether an individual is considered an employee or a contractor. Financial advisors are continually looking for updated tax information that can help them provide the right answers to the right people at the right time. This brand-new resource provides fast, clear, and authoritative answers to pressing questions, and it does so in the convenient, timesaving, Q&A format for which Tax Facts is famous.

“Our brand-new Tax Facts title is exciting in many ways,” says Rick Kravitz, Vice President & Managing Director of Summit Professional Network’s Professional Publishing Division. “First of all, it fills a huge gap in the resources available to today’s advisors. Small business is a big market, and this book enables advisors to get up-and-running right away, with proven guidance that will help them serve their clients’ needs. Secondly, it addresses the biggest questions facing all taxpayers and provides absolutely reliable answers that help advisors solve today’s biggest problems with confidence.”

“Robert Bloink, Esq., LL.M., and William H. Byrnes, Esq., LL.M., CWM®—are delivering real-life guidance based on decades of experience.  The authors’ knowledge and experience in tax law and practice provides the expert guidance for National Underwriter to once again deliver a valuable resource for the financial advising community,” added Rick Kravitz.

Anyone interested can try Tax Facts on Individuals & Small Business, risk-free for 30 days, with a 100% guarantee of complete satisfaction.  For more information, please go to www.nationalunderwriter.com/TaxFactsIndividuals or call 1-800-543-0874.

Swisspartners Enters into Non Prosecution Agreement and Turns Over US clients account information

Swisspartners Enters into Non Prosecution Agreement and Turns Over US clients account information

The Tax Division of the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the IRS’ Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) announced a major victory in their joint campaign “… to identify U.S. tax cheats who have hidden behind phony offshore trusts and foundations,” said Deputy Attorney General Cole in the Friday, May 9, 2014 release by the DOJ’s Office of Public Affairs.

“This office will continue to work aggressively to hold accountable not only those U.S. taxpayers who evade their tax obligations by hiding money overseas, but also those abroad who make such tax evasion possible,” said U.S. Attorney Bharara.

The asset management firm, Swisspartners, entered into a non-prosecution agreement (NPA), the terms of which were verified by signature in a May 8, 2014 DOJ letter attached to the May 9^th  complaint filed with the New York Southern District.  Almost a year ago, the DOJ reported that in July 2013 Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG, a bank based in Vaduz, Liechtenstein that owns 71% of Swisspartners, entered into a non-prosecution agreement and agreed to pay more than $23.8 million stemming from its offshore banking activities, and turned over more than 200 account files of U.S. taxpayers who held undeclared accounts at the bank.

“I am very pleased that we have successfully concluded negotiations with the Swisspartners Group,” said IRS-CI Chief Weber .  “In making amends, the Swisspartners Group has turned over 110 account files relating to U.S. taxpayer-clients who maintained undeclared assets overseas…."

Swisspartners Group confessed to assisting U.S. taxpayer-clients in opening and maintaining undeclared foreign bank accounts from in or about 2001 through in or about 2011.  The DOJ provided the following factors as the basis of the NPA:

• the Swisspartners Group’s voluntary implementation of various remedial measures beginning in or about May 2008;
• the Swisspartners Group’s voluntary self-reporting in 2012 of its criminal conduct at a time when it was neither a subject nor target of any investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice;
• the Swisspartners Group’s voluntary and extraordinary cooperation, including its voluntary production of account files that include the identities of U.S. taxpayer-clients;
• the Swisspartners Group’s willingness to continue to cooperate to the extent permitted by applicable law;
• the Swisspartners Group’s representation, based on an investigation by outside counsel, the results of which have been shared with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Tax Division, that the misconduct under investigation did not, and does not, extend beyond that described in the Statement of Facts; and
• the NPA requires the Swisspartners Group to continue to cooperate with the United States for at least three years from the date of the agreement.

The NPA requires the Swisspartners Group to forfeit $3.5 million to the United States, representing certain fees that it earned by assisting its U.S. taxpayer-clients in opening and maintaining these undeclared accounts, and to pay $900,000 in restitution to the IRS, representing the approximate amount of unpaid taxes arising from the tax evasion by the Swisspartners Group’s U.S. taxpayer-clients from 2001 to 2011.  In the complaint, Swisspartners admitted to:

1. establishing sham corporate entities whereby the clients continued to maintain control of accounts,
2. smuggling cash, in the tens of thousands, without reporting into the US to deliver to its clients, and
3. establishing sham insurance policies with premiums from undeclared sources and in which the clients continued to control the underlying investments.

On its website, Swisspartners states: "swisspartners analyzes your tax and fiscal law situation and provides structuring services at an international level – complementary to the services provided by your tax advisor in your home country."  Regarding insurance policies, its website states: "swisspartners designs private-placement insurance contracts that take into account the legal and tax requirements of the countries in which the family members involved have their fiscal domiciles.  Not only are our efficiently designed contracts not subject to ongoing taxation in the asset owner’s country of residence, they are also non-taxable in several other countries."

In the DOJ release statements, Deputy Attorney General Cole stated, “Swisspartners avoided criminal charges as a direct result of its decision to self-report its misconduct at a time when it was not even under investigation and its extraordinary cooperation, including its decision to turn over voluntarily the files and identities of U.S. taxpayer clients it helped hide money from the IRS.  The case serves as a clear example of the benefits that can be obtained from early and complete cooperation with federal law enforcement.”

Credit Suisse, subject to US Congressional and IRS investigations, is in ongoing negotiations to avoid criminal prosecution and enter a NPA.

What is the Program for Non-Prosecution Agreements or Non-Target Letters for Swiss Banks?

The Tax Division of the Department of Justice released a statement on December 12, 2013 that strongly encouraged Swiss banks wanting to seek non-prosecution agreements to resolve past cross-border criminal tax violations to submit letters of intent by a Dec. 31, 2013 deadline required by the Program for Non-Prosecution Agreements or Non-Target Letters (the “Program“).  The Program was announced on Aug. 29, 2013, in a joint statement signed by Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole and Ambassador Manuel Sager of Switzerland (> See the Swiss government’s explanation of the Program < ).  Switzerland’s Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) had issued a deadline of Monday, December 16, 2013 for a bank to inform it with its intention to apply for the DOJ’s Program.

106 Swiss Banks Enter DOJ's NPA program

David Voreacos of Bloomberg News reported that Kathryn Keneally, assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, in her keynote remarks to the American Bar Association Section of Taxation mid-year  (January 25, 2014), stated that 106 Swiss banks (of approximately 300 total) filed the requisite letter of intent to join the Program for Non-Prosecution Agreements or Non-Target Letters (the “Program“) by the December 31, 2013 deadline.  Renown attorney and Professor Jack Townsend reported on his blog on April 30, 2014 a list of 52 Swiss banks that had publicly announced the intention to submit the letter of intent, as well as each bank’s category for entry: six announced seeking category 4 status, eight for category 3, thirty-eight for category 2.

However, while 106 may be a large jump from a mid-December report by the international service of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (“SwissInfo”) that only a few Swiss banks had filed for non prosecution with the DOJ’s program, William R. Davis and Lee A. Sheppard of Tax Analysts’ Worldwide Tax Daily reported that “one private practitioner estimated that some 350 banks holding 40,000 accounts have not come in.” (see “ABA Meeting: Keneally Reports Success With Swiss Bank Program”, Jan. 28, 2014, 2014 WTD 18-3.)

Framework of Swiss Bank NPA Program

The DOJ statement described the framework of the Program for Non-Prosecution Agreements: every Swiss bank not currently under formal criminal investigation concerning offshore activities will be able to provide the cooperation necessary to resolve potential criminal matters with the DOJ.  Currently, the department is actively investigating the Swiss-based activities of 14 banks.  Those banks, referred to as Category 1 banks in the Program, are expressly excluded from the Program.  Category 1 Banks against which the DOJ has initiated a criminal investigation as of 29 August 2013 (date of program publication).

On November 5, 2013 the Tax Division of the DOJ released comments about the Program for Non-Prosecution Agreements or Non-Target Letters for Swiss Banks.  Swiss banks that have committed violations of U.S. tax laws and wished to cooperate and receive a non-prosecution agreement under the Program, known as Category 2 banks, had until Dec. 31, 2013 to submit a letter of intent to join the program, and the category sought.

To be eligible for a non-prosecution agreement, Category 2 banks must meet several requirements, which include agreeing to pay penalties based on the amount held in undeclared U.S. accounts, fully disclosing their cross-border activities, and providing detailed information on an account-by-account basis for accounts in which U.S. taxpayers have a direct or indirect interest.  Providing detailed information regarding other banks that transferred funds into secret accounts or that accepted funds when secret accounts were closed is also a stipulation for eligibility. The Swiss Federal Department of Finance has released a > model order and guidance note < that will allow Swiss banks to cooperate with the DOJ and fulfill the requirements of the Program.

The DOJ’s November 2013 comments responded to such issues as: (a) Bank-specific issues and issues concerning individuals, (b) Choosing which category among 2, 3, or 4, (c) Qualifications of independent examiner (attorney or accountant), (d) Content of independent examiner report, (e) Information required under the Program – no aggregate account data, (f) Penalty calculation – permitted reductions, (g) Category 4 banks – retroactive application of FATCA Annex II, paragraph II.A.1, and (h) Civil penalties.

Which of Four Categories To File for Non-Prosecution Under?

Regarding which category to file under, the DOJ replied: “Each eligible Swiss bank should carefully analyze whether it is a category 2, 3 or 4 bank. While it may appear more desirable for a bank to attempt to position itself as a category 3 or 4 bank to receive a non-target letter, no non-target letter will be issued to any bank as to which the Department has information of criminal culpability. If the Department learns of criminal conduct by the bank after a non-target letter has been issued, the bank is not protected from prosecution for that conduct. If the bank has hidden or misrepresented its activities to obtain a non-target letter, it is exposed to increased criminal liability.”

SwissInfo reported that Migros Bank selected Program Category 2 because “370 of its 825,000 clients, mostly Swiss citizens residing temporarily in the US or clients with dual nationality”, met the criteria of US taxpayer.  Valiant told SwissInfo that “an internal review showed it had never actively sought US clients or visited Americans to drum up business. The bank said less than 0.1% of its clients were American.”

Category 2

Banks against which the DoJ has not initiated a criminal investigation but have reasons to believe that that they have violated US tax law in their dealings with clients are subject to fines of on a flat-rate basis.  Set scale of fine rates (%) applied to the untaxed US assets of the bank in question:

1. Existing accounts on 01.08.2008: 20%
2. New accounts opened between 01.08.2008 and 28.02.2009: 30%
3. New accounts after 28.02.2009: 50%

Category 2 banks must delivery of information on cross-border business with US clients, name and function of the employees and third parties concerned, anonymised data on terminated client relationships including statistics as to where the accounts re-domiciled.

Category 3

Banks have no reason to believe that they have violated US tax law in their dealings with clients and that can have this demonstrated by an independent third party. A category 3 bank must provide to the IRS the data on its total US assets under management and confirmation of an effective compliance program in force.

Category 4

Banks are a local business in accordance with the FATCA definition.

Independence of Qualified Attorney or Accountant Examiner

Regarding the requirement of the independence of the qualified attorney or accountant examiner, the DOJ stated that the examiner “is not an advocate, agent, or attorney for the bank, nor is he or she an advocate or agent for the government. He or she must provide a neutral, dispassionate analysis of the bank’s activities. Communications with the independent examiner should not be considered confidential or protected by any privilege or immunity.”  The attorney / accountant’s report must be substantive, detailed, and address the requirements set out in the DOJ’s non-prosecution Program.  The DOJ stated that “Banks are required to cooperate fully and “come clean” to obtain the protection that is offered under the Program.”

In the ‘bottom line’ words of the DOJ: “Each eligible Swiss bank should carefully weigh the benefits of coming forward, and the risks of not taking this opportunity to be fully forthcoming. A bank that has engaged in or facilitated U.S. tax-related or monetary transaction crimes has a unique opportunity to resolve its criminal liability under the Program. Those that have criminal exposure but fail to come forward or participate but are not fully forthcoming do so at considerable risk.”

(Chapter updates since November 2013 are available at http://profwilliambyrnes.com/category/fatca/)

The LexisNexis® Guide to FATCA Compliance (2^nd Edition) comprises 34 Chapters of the analysis of 50 FATCA experts grouped in three parts: compliance program (Chapters 1–4), analysis of FATCA regulations (Chapters 5–16) and analysis of Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) and local law compliance requirements (Chapters 17–34), including  information exchange protocols and systems.  free chapter: http://www.lexisnexis.com/store/images/samples/9780769853734.pdf

If you are interested in discussing the Master or Doctoral degree in the areas of international taxation, please contact me: profbyrnes@gmail.com to Google Hangout or Skype that I may take you on an “online tour”