The IRS Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures

Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures

Expats can be found all over the world, whether in the United States, Italy, Canada, or Mexico. They are the ones who prefer to enjoy life and go out into the world to challenge the world with their talents and appreciate the beauty that it has to offer. However, other expats are solely in the country for work reasons, which is extremely inspiring given that you have to leave your entire life behind for a simple job that could transform your life drastically. Many expats who leave the United States are unaware that the United States is one of two countries that force expatriates to pay taxes regardless of where they live as U.S. citizens. The streamlined filing compliance procedures (“streamlined procedures”) describe below in detail.

Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures

When you move to a new country, it’s easy to lose sight of your previous responsibilities. Many expats have not submitted their tax returns in the 10 or five years since they left. It is critical to file your tax returns when travelling outside of the United States in accordance with U.S. tax rules. In 2012, the IRS introduced a new approach known as the streamlined filing compliance procedures to assist foreigners in catching up on their taxes without incurring any penalties. The streamlined procedure is ideal for expats who want to file all of their prior tax returns without stress.

What are the Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures?

As previously stated, streamlined filing compliance procedures were designed in 2012 to assist expats in catching up on their taxes for past years. It is a method for expats to avoid penalties and fines when submitting previously unpaid taxes. Before you worry about anything else, the first and most crucial step is to catch up on your U.S. expat taxes as well as your foreign bank account reports (FBAR). The IRS streamlined filing compliance procedures and delinquent FBARS procedures can be used to do this. All of this information can be overwhelming to hear and comprehend; leave the stress to us, and our experienced Tax Preparer team will submit all of your U.S. expat taxes.

How Do I Know if I Qualify for A Streamlined Filing Procedure?

To qualify for the streamlined procedures, you must present documentation that you have been living in a separate country and were not advised that you were required to file your taxes in both the United States and the nation in which you are living. This can be accomplished by mailing a signed form known as Form 14653, which validates your status as unknown and contains other forms that will all be mailed as a package.

What Steps Should I Take to Complete the Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures?

IRS Form 14653

This is what you need to do next if you qualify for a streamlined procedure:

  1. The first step is to file your income tax return for the most recent three tax years. This necessitates the preparation of your documents.
  2. The second stage is to file the most recent six years of FBAR forms. If you were reporting for a single year, you would generally only file FBAR if the total of your non-US bank accounts amounted to more than $10,000 at any point throughout the year. However, because you are filing for six years under the streamlined procedure, you must file FBAR regardless of whether you meet the $10,000 requirement. The FBAR forms are only intended to be submitted online.
  3. The third and most crucial step is to submit your signed Form 14653, which certifies that you are an expat living outside of the country, that you are a U.S. citizen, and that you were unaware that you were required to file taxes while living outside of the country.

How to Prepare for the Streamlined Procedure?

To prepare for the streamlined procedure, we recommend that you hire an experienced Expat Tax Accountant in the United States to help you file all of your FBARs and other program-required forms. All they would need are your tax returns for the previous years and your foreign financial accounts for the last six years.

What if I Do Not Qualify for the Streamlined Procedures?

If you were notified that you are obligated to file your taxes as a U.S. citizen while living outside of the United States, you do not qualify for the streamlined procedures.

To remedy this, the IRS provides another service that can assist you in catching up. The IRS Criminal Investigation Voluntary Disclosure Program, for example, or the Delinquent FBAR Submission Procedures. Contacting a U.S. Expat Tax Accountant who can assist you identify the right program for your case is your best option.

Contact SDG Accountants, which offers U.S. Expat Tax Services and has numerous professional tax accountants all around the world. Make an appointment for a consultation today using the link below!

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Being Audited by the IRS

IRS

IRS audits are uncommon, but they can be extremely harmful if not handled properly with appropriate representation and proof. Many taxpayers become terrified when they hear the words “audit,” particularly “IRS audits,” since it takes their breath away. However, many people are unaware that IRS audits are not as awful as they believe. You must ensure that you specify the sort of audit requested, and you will be able to make sense of all the misunderstandings.

Types of IRS Audits:

The IRS can conduct a variety of audits, many of which do not need a visit to your home. To begin, let us define an IRS audit. An IRS audit is essentially an assessment of an individual’s or an organization’s financial statements and all financial information to ensure that all income and tax forms are appropriately recorded. Its primary purpose is to ensure that you are reporting the correct amount on your tax forms to be taxed. The IRS can conduct three sorts of audits to verify your tax information: correspondence audits, field audits, and office audits. Let’s take a good look at those audits and see what you can do to deal with them effectively.

Correspondence Audits:

IRS Audit

Correspondence audits are audits that are conducted exclusively through the mail. They are the simplest type of audit to deal with because they do not focus on large areas of your financial records, but rather on minor problems on your tax return and tax forms.

The IRS can send you two sorts of letters in the mail to finish the audit. The first is a simple letter informing you that you owe money to the government. A simple letter can be sent if there is an error on your tax return; for example, the IRS will notice if you declare the wrong income by mistake. For example, if you only record $3,500 of your $4,000 income, you will be required to pay taxes on the remaining $500.

If you receive a letter like this from the IRS, the first thing to do is not panic. Accepting that you made a mistake and paying the amount owed, whether it is taxes, interest, or penalties, is a straightforward answer. However, if you do not believe you made an error and wish to dispute, you may do so by asking for further examination, which can be done over the phone or by mail. To ensure that you follow the proper measures while dealing with the IRS, consult with a tax accountant who can assist you assess the issue and professionally represent you to the IRS. Schedule a consultation right away with our Miami Tax Accountant!

An audit letter, which requests specific paperwork and proof to validate the deductions made on your tax return, is another sort of letter that the IRS may send. The IRS requires actual proof that demonstrates your deductions are genuine, such as a cancelled check for a deductible expense. All you have to do to address this problem is provide the appropriate paperwork to the IRS, making sure to send a copy rather than the original. If you are unsure about which documents to send, it is usually better to call a tax accountant, such as SDG Accountants, and ask their assistance in resolving this situation.

If you do not have the paperwork and hence cannot provide confirmation of the deduction, you can simply pay a fee to have your audit cancelled. However, if certain taxpayers wish to further argue and pursue the issue, they may do so via mail. Remember that if you hired a tax accounting firm to complete your return, they can serve as your perfect representative to the IRS and resolve the issue for you on an hourly basis.

Field Audit:

A field audit is a physical visit by the IRS to your home, place of business, or the office of your accountant. This is a significant audit because an IRS agent will come to your door and demand an answer in person. Many of these audits are more likely to occur if you operate a business than if you are an individual. In instances like this, you must consult a tax accountant who can represent you before the IRS. It is difficult to deal with the IRS on your own; you require the assistance of a professional who can counsel you wisely and negotiate with the IRS on your behalf.

Office Audit:

IRS Audit

The IRS may want to question you in person during an office audit. This form of audit is severe because it forces you to deal with the IRS in a professional setting face to face. You will receive a letter in which you will be asked to appear at a specified location on a specific date and at a specific time. If you are unable to attend the appointment, you can reschedule it by contacting the IRS.

It is critical in instances like this to bring a tax preparer or a tax professional with you who can represent you to the IRS. A regular taxpayer does not have the same level of expertise as a tax preparer or tax attorney; the IRS is very sophisticated and talking with them is difficult. You might become nervous and say things that should be kept confidential, which is why you need the assistance of a Tax Preparer.

How to Respond to IRS Audits?

SDG Accountants comprises tax professionals who are experts in dealing with the IRS; we can assist you in navigating the audit and communicating with the IRS on your behalf. All you have to do is use our consultation calendar to schedule an appointment with us and explain your position to our accountants and tax professionals. From that point on, it is not only your problem but also ours, to address the problem efficiently. Now is the time to schedule a consultation!

How to Claim a Dependent on Your Tax Return?

Tax Return

Many parents are unaware that claiming their children as dependents might save them money on taxes. Claiming a dependent can drastically cut your taxable income and enhance your tax return. All of this is dependent on whether the dependent meets all of the IRS requirements and passes all of the tests and credits required to be classified as a dependent.

Who is a Dependent?

A dependent is someone who relies on you for financial support or who is otherwise reliant on you. Dependents can be a child, a relative, or anyone else you know who is financially dependent on you. Although not everyone you look after qualifies as a dependent according to the IRS. To qualify as a dependent, you must ensure that the person you are caring for complies with all of the IRS’s rules and regulations. Let’s take a look at what those regulations and standards are.

Requirements for a Dependent:

The IRS states that in order to qualify for a dependent, the dependent must meet all of their standards. The dependent is usually a child, an adopted child, a stepchild, or an eligible foster child who you fully care for. According to the IRS standards, every dependant must be a qualifying relative to you. Being the primary provider for these dependents grants you the head of household filing status, which permits you to pay lower tax rates than a single or married tax filer.

Even if you paid your own taxes and filed a tax return, there is a method for you to become a dependent. However, if you become dependent on your own, you will be unable to claim a dependent. If you file joint taxes with your spouse, you may be able to claim yourself as a dependant, but neither you nor your partner may claim any additional dependents.

Here is a list of the tests, as well as an explanation of who qualifies. Keep in mind that this is only the first step; there will be more tests to determine the tax credits and deductions that apply to you as a result of the dependent.

Claiming a Child:

If you are looking for higher tax credits, claiming a child as a dependent is the best option. Here is a list of IRS tests for a qualifying child:

Claiming a Child
  • Relationship Test: They are your child, stepchild, foster child, sibling, half-sibling, stepsibling, or a descendant of any of them.
  • Age Test: They must be under the age of 19 at the end of the year and younger than you (or your spouse if filing jointly), a full-time student under the age of 24 at the end of the year, and younger than you (or your spouse if filing jointly), or permanently and totally disabled at any time during the year, regardless of age.
  • Residency Test: They must have spent more than half of the year with you. There are exceptions if the child was absent for a short period of time due to illness, education, business, or vacation. Another exemption is if the child was born or died during the annual year.
  • Support Test: The child must have been provided support from you for more than half a year.
  • Child’s Filing Status: The child must not have been married, married but not filing a joint return, or married but only filing a joint return to claim a refund.

Claiming a Relative:

The requirements for a qualifying relative to become a dependent differ from those for a child dependent. Remember that even if a child does not fulfill the qualifications for a qualifying child dependent, they can be a qualifying relative.

To qualify as a qualifying relative, either the relationship test or the member of the household test must be met. If the dependant fits either of these criteria, they will be subjected to additional tests in order to qualify.

Here are the rules/tests that the IRS has put out for a qualifying relative:

Relationship Test:

  1. Confirm that neither you nor anybody else is already claiming them as a qualifying child dependent.
  2. The dependent must have lived with you for the whole year, with the exception of temporary absences, unless they are a relative who is exempt from having to live with you while being your dependant.
  3. Relatives who live apart from you but are financially reliant on you: your child, parent, sibling, stepparent, stepchild, step-sibling, half-sibling, grandparent, grandchild, grandparent, and in-laws. Your blood relatives, such as your uncle/aunt and niece/nephew, also meet the relationship test; but, your cousin cannot qualify.

Member of Household Test:

  1. Taxpayers can meet the member of household test if the dependent lives with them under the following conditions: the dependent does not have to be related to the taxpayer, the dependent must have lived with the taxpayer all year except for any temporary absences, and the relationship between the taxpayer and the dependent must not violate local laws.

After meeting the requirements for one of the above tests, the dependent and the taxpayer then need to meet other requirements:

  • Filing Status and Citizen Test: The dependent must be unmarried, married but does not file a joint return, or married but only files a joint return for withheld tax refunds. The dependent was a U.S. citizen, resident, or national for some of the year, or a Canadian or Mexican resident for some of the year.
  • Gross Income Test: The person attempting to qualify as a dependant must have earned less than $4,300 in gross income for the tax year 2020, which will be shown on their 2021 tax returns.
  • Support Test: The support test assures that the taxpayer, which means you, contributed more than half of the total support for the dependant for the entire year. Support from other sources is exempt, as are children receiving support from divorced or separated parents.

Tax Credits for Claiming a Dependent:

The primary reason taxpayers claim a dependant on their tax return is to obtain lower tax rates and bigger returns. By claiming a dependant, you are eligible for tax credits and deductions. Tax credits reduce the amount of taxes owed by a specific amount based on the type of dependent and your income. Here are some of the credits that can be applied to your tax rate when you claim a dependent:

Child Tax Credit (CTC):

The CTC is a tax benefit that can be worth up to $2,000 per qualified child. If you file your taxes single and earn up to $200,000 in adjusted gross income, or if you file jointly with your spouse and have a combined income of $400,000, the credit may be reduced. All of this requires a qualifying child who meets all of the IRS’s requirements for all of the tests.

Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC):

If your tax liability is reduced to zero as a result of CTC, you will be repaid the remaining credit of up to $1,400 per qualified child, and the income limits indicated in CTC apply here as well.

Other Dependent Credit (ODC):

This non-refundable credit is for the taxpayer’s additional dependents and can be claimed for up to $500 per dependent. If the taxpayer claimed a CTC or ACTC for this dependent, they will not be granted this amount.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC):

Earned Income Tax Credit

The EITC is for taxpayers who earn very low income and therefore cannot fully take care of their dependents. The EITC helps those families get a tax break to reduce the taxes they owe. The credit amount depends on your filing status, the number of dependents, and your income.

The amount you can claim for the EITC varies depending on your filing status. The chart below illustrates the maximum credits you can claim for the tax year 2020 based on the number of qualifying dependents and your AGI.

Number of Dependents QualifiedMaximum Adjusted Gross Income (filing as single, head of household, or widowed)Maximum Adjusted Gross Income (filing as married filing jointly)Maximum Credits
1.$15,820$21,710$538
2.$41,756$47,646$3,584
3.$47,440$53,330$5,920
4.$50,594$56,844$6,660

There are various exceptions for investment income. If a person earns more than $3,650 in investment income, he or she will be unable to claim the EITC for tax years 2020 or 2021.

Tax Deductions for Claiming a Dependent:

Tax Deductions

A deduction occurs when a portion of your income is deducted and the remainder is only taxable. So, if I had a $10,000 income and a $1,000 deduction, just $9,000 of my income would be taxable.

The standard deduction varies depending on your filing status; most taxpayers use the standard deduction. If you are single or married filing separately, your standard deduction is $12,550. If you are a head of household, your deductions increase to $18,800, and if you are married filing jointly or a widower, your deductions climb to $25,100. All of these deductions are effective in 2021. You can also take the standard deduction if your total deductions are less than the standard deduction.

Many deductions are not contingent on whether or not you have qualifying dependents, but some are, such as the medical and dental expenses deduction and the student loan interest deduction. Medical and dental expenditures are deductible if your and your dependents’ medical expenses exceed 7.5 percent of your AGI. If you pay your dependent’s student loan, you can deduct the interest paid.

Tax Exemptions for Claiming a Dependent:

Tax exemptions are similar to deductions, however, they no longer exist as of 2017 according to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. However, you can still claim tax breaks for years prior to 2018. Contact SDG Accountant to see if you qualify for any exemptions for tax years 2017 and prior. All this requires a tax accountant who can help you navigate through your options and tax credits and find the credits available for you. We at SDG Accountants can reduce your tax rates by qualifying your dependents and claiming tax credits for you. Book a consultation today!