Undeclared Accounts in Singapore Are Under IRS Investigation | FBAR Attorney
For several years now, Sherayzen Law Office has been warning U.S. taxpayers about the ever-increasing IRS interest in undeclared accounts in Singapore. On June 22, 2016, the IRS announced that UBS AG has complied with the IRS summons for bank records held in its Singapore office. This news come after repeated initiatives by the IRS to follow the money that was flowing out of what used to be secret Swiss bank accounts into the undeclared accounts in Singapore.
Facts Surrounding the IRS Summons Regarding UBS Undeclared Accounts in Singapore
The IRS served an administrative summons on UBS for records pertaining to accounts held by Ching-Ye “Henry” Hsiaw. According to the petition, the IRS needed the records in order to determine Hsiaw’s federal income tax liabilities for the years 2006 through 2011. Hsiaw transferred funds from a Switzerland-based account with UBS to the UBS Singapore branch in 2002, according to the declaration of a revenue agent filed at the same time as the petition. UBS refused to produce the records, and the United States filed its petition to enforce the summons.
“The Department of Justice and the IRS are committed to making sure that offshore tax evasion is detected and dealt with appropriately,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Tax Division. “One critical component of that effort is making sure that the IRS has all of the information it needs to audit taxpayers with offshore assets. In this case, we filed a petition to enforce a summons for offshore documents, but that’s only one of the tools we have available for gathering information. Taxpayers with offshore assets who underreported their income should come forward before we come looking for them.”
Lessons to be Learned from the Recent Summons of UBS Undeclared Accounts in Singapore
The recent IRS summons of UBS undeclared accounts in Singapore and the startling ease with which the IRS obtained the necessary information, confirm three earlier predictions that Sherayzen Law Office made after the announcing of the DOJ Program for Swiss Banks. First, the IRS takes a keen interest in the undeclared accounts in Singapore and it will not satisfy itself simply with destroying the Swiss bank secrecy laws with respect to U.S. taxpayers. The IRS is actively expanding its investigations beyond Switzerland and Singapore is definitely one of its top targets.
Second, the IRS will continue to utilize in its investigations the information that it obtained from the Swiss Bank Program, the IRS offshore voluntary disclosure programs and the IRS compliance procedures. The IRS has obtained mountains of information from these programs regarding not only the “favorite” countries for opening and maintaining undeclared accounts, but also the main patterns of U.S. tax noncompliance. In fact, the IRS now has evidence at its disposal to prosecute foreign banks far beyond Switzerland (a fact confirmed by recent criminal prosecutions of two Cayman Islands financial institutions). Hence, the undeclared accounts in Singapore and the foreign banks which are holding them are under increased IRS scrutiny today.
Finally, the implementation of FATCA combined with the two trends described above makes the discovery of undeclared accounts in Singapore (and most other countries) increasingly likely. Furthermore, it seems that the IRS also feels more and more confident to ask the courts for harsher penalties against noncomplying U.S. taxpayers.
What Should U.S. Taxpayers with Undeclared Accounts in Singapore Do?
U.S. taxpayers with undeclared accounts in Singapore now face a very unpleasant scenario where their discovery by the IRS can occur at any point with the imposition of draconian penalties and even potential prison time. Furthermore, it appears that such a discovery by the IRS is not only possible, but very likely.
Given the high probability of the discovery of their undeclared accounts in Singapore, the noncompliant U.S. taxpayers should retain as soon as possible an experienced international tax firm to explore their voluntary disclosure options. One of the best international tax law firms that provides these services is Sherayzen Law Office, Ltd.
Contact Sherayzen Law Office for Professional Help with Your Undeclared Accounts in Singapore
If you have undeclared accounts in Singapore (or any other country), you should immediately contact Sherayzen Law Office for professional help. Sherayzen Law Office is an international tax law firm that is highly experienced in offshore voluntary disclosures, including IRS Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program and Streamlined Compliance Procedures (both Domestic and Foreign). You can rely on us with confidence that your case will be handled in an efficient, speedy and professional manner. We will strive for the best result for you!
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