IRS Announcement this Month (April 2015): IRS Reminds Those with Foreign Assets of U.S. Tax Obligations
The IRS again this year reminded U.S. citizens residing overseas of their tax return filing obligations. 
In the IRS announcement, IR-2015-70, April 10, 2015, titled IRS Reminds Those with Foreign Assets of U.S. Tax Obligations, the federal agency charged with enforcement of U.S. federal tax and financial account reporting laws, provides in part as follows:
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Most People Abroad Need to File
A filing requirement generally applies even if a taxpayer qualifies for tax benefits, such as the foreign earned income exclusion or the foreign tax credit , that substantially reduce or eliminate their U.S. tax liability. These tax benefits are not automatic and are only available if an eligible taxpayer files a U.S. income tax return.
The filing deadline is Monday, June 15, 2015, for U.S. citizens and resident aliens whose tax home and abode are outside the United States and Puerto Rico, and for those serving in the military outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico, on the regular due date of their tax return. To use this automatic two-month extension, taxpayers must attach a statement to their return explaining which of these two situations applies. See U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad for details.
. . .
Prior posts have discussed related filing issues, including the following:
Does the IRS have access to the USCIS immigration data for former lawful permanent residents (LPRs)?
Information about former LPRs, such as the individuals names, is not published under the statute, IRC Section 6039G, which only covers former U.S. citizens. 
This raises the question of whether the Department of Homeland Security tracks former LPRs – names and addresses overseas and provides that information to the Internal Revenue Service?
A prior post discussed the newly published USCIS immigration form I-407 for LPRs who must now use it when formally abandoning LPR status. See, More Information and More Information: USCIS Creates New Form for Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Residency
The new I-407 Form requires much more information and is 2 pages in length. The old form had only 6 lines and was less than 1/2 of a page in length. These forms
are set forth here. The new form requires the address overseas of the individual.
As readers here know, the names of former U.S. citizens are published quarterly by the U.S. federal government for the world to see. See a prior post, The 2014 Third Quarter Renunciations Is probably the New Norm –
The complete set of lists going back to the mid-1990s can be reviewed here. Quarterly Publications.
Of course, the IRS can easily select and identify individuals for audit, by simply drawing from the published names of former U.S. citizens, which is currently tracking at an average of about 850 former USCs quarterly. In contrast, the number of former LPRs who have filed USCIS Form I-407 is tracking at an average of about 4,000 to 5,000 individuals quarterly. 
While citizens are often the focus of the public press and Congress regarding “expatriation taxation”; the statute also wraps in so-called “long-term residents.” These are individuals who had or continue to have “lawful permanent residency status.” There are numerous technical considerations in this area, but needless to say, the number of former lawful permanent residents who have simply filed Form I-407 – Abandonment is far in excess of those U.S. citizens who have filed for and received a Certificate of Loss of Nationality (“CLN”) – Form DS-4083 (CLN). The graph reflects the enormous difference.
See, earlier post The Number of LPRs “Leaving” the U.S. is 16X Greater than the Number of U.S. Citizens Renouncing Citizenship
On a related post, the question was raised –What are the Number of LPRs who Leave U.S. Annually without filing Form I-407 – Abandonment?
This is important, since many LPR individuals will have “expatriated” without actually having filed USCIS Form I-407. See, Oops…Did I “Expatriate” and Never Know It: Lawful Permanent Residents Beware! International Tax Journal, CCH Wolters Kluwer, Jan.-Feb. 2014, Vol. 40 Issue 1, p9 
While the IRS has specific information about U.S. citizens, it is not clear whether the Department of Homeland Security via the USCIS provides data to the IRS regarding lawful permanent residents who have filed Form I-407? If such an individual becomes a “covered expatriate” under the U.S. tax law, the range of adverse tax consequences can follow them and their future beneficiaries and heirs, including as follows:
- “mark to market” taxation on their worldwide assets,
- 40% inheritance tax to U.S. beneficiaries,
- 40% tax on gifts to U.S. beneficiaries,
- etc.
It seems fairly easy, from a legal perspective, that the IRS can request the names, addresses (and indeed the newly completed form) from the USCIS of all individuals who have filed USCIS Form I-407. From the USCIS records, the IRS will be able to determine if the individual was a “long term resident” based upon the number of years the individual had such status.
Assuming the IRS determines the individual is a long term resident, they can then simply check to see if the they have received IRS Form 8854 from the former LPR; in order to determine if she or he satisfied the certification requirement of Section 877(a)(2)(C). If not, the IRS will necessarily know the individual is a “covered expatriate.”
The Information in DHS/USCIS Database (A-Files, EMDS, CIS, PII, eCISCOR, PCQS, Midas, etc.) on Individuals is Extensive and Can be Shared with Internal Revenue Service
A prior post discussed the new USCIS Form I-407 that must be filed by a lawful permanent resident (LPR) who wishes to formally create a record of their abandonment of LPR status. See, More Information and More Information: USCIS Creates New Form for Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Residency
Page 1 of 2 of this form is replicated here.
This raises many questions regarding how information maintained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the United States Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) can be shared with
and provided to the IRS.
Former “long-term residents” have extensive U.S. tax compliance obligations, including certification requirements under Section 877(a)(2)(C) to avoid “covered expatriate” status and the various adverse tax consequences.
Importantly many LPR individuals will have “expatriated” without actually having filed USCIS Form I-407. See, Oops…Did I “Expatriate” and Never Know It: Lawful Permanent Residents Beware! International Tax Journal, CCH Wolters Kluwer, Jan.-Feb. 2014, Vol. 40 Issue 1, p9
Some of the important records that are maintained by DHS/USCIS, include the following, much of which can be helpful in the enforcement of U.S. federal tax obligations.
System location:
Alien Files (A-Files) are maintained in electronic and paper format throughout DHS. Digitized A-Files are located in the Enterprise Document Management System (EDMS). The Central Index System (CIS) maintains an index of the key personally identifiable information (PII) in the A-File, which can be used to retrieve additional information through such applications as Enterprise Citizenship and Immigrations Services Centralized Operational Repository (eCISCOR), the Person Centric Query Service (PCQS) and the Microfilm Digitization Application System (MiDAS). The National File Tracking System (NFTS) provides a tracking system of where the A-Files are physically located, including whether the file has been digitized.
The databases maintaining the above information are located within the DHS data center in the Washington, DC metropolitan area as well as throughout the country. Computer terminals providing electronic access are located at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) sites at Headquarters and in the Field throughout the United States and at appropriate facilities under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other locations at which officers of DHS component agencies may be posted or operate to facilitate DHS’s mission of homeland security.
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Categories of records in this system include:
A. The hardcopy paper A-File, which contains the official record material about each individual for whom DHS has created a record under the INA such as: naturalization certificates; various documents and attachments (e.g., birth and marriage certificates); applications and petitions for benefits under the immigration and nationality laws; reports of arrests and investigations; statements; other reports; records of proceedings before or filings made with the U.S. immigration courts and any administrative or federal district court or court of appeal; correspondence; and memoranda. Specific data elements may include:
- Alien Registration Number(s) (A-Numbers);
- Receipt file number(s);
- Full name and any aliases used;
- Physical and mailing addresses;
- Phone numbers and email addresses;
- Social Security Number (SSN);
- Date of birth;
- Place of birth (city, state, and country);
- Countries of citizenship;
- Gender;
- Physical characteristics (height, weight, race, eye and hair color, photographs, fingerprints);
- Government-issued identification information (i.e., passport, driver’s license):
? Document type,
? issuing organization,
? document number, and
? expiration date;
- Military membership;
- Arrival/Departure information (record number, expiration date, class of admission, etc.);
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Identification Number;
- Fingerprint Identification Number;
- Immigration enforcement history, including arrests and charges, immigration proceedings and appeals, and dispositions including removals or voluntary departures;
- Immigration status;
- Family history;
- Travel history;
- Education history;
- Employment history;
- Criminal history;
- Professional accreditation information;
- Medical information relevant to an individual’s application for benefits under the INA before DHS or the immigration court, an individual’s removability from and/or admissibility to the United States, or an individual’s competency before the immigration court;
- Specific benefit eligibility information as required by the benefit being sought; and
- Video or transcript of immigration interview
Subsequent posts will discuss how and when the law allows the IRS to access these records.
More Information and More Information: USCIS Creates New Form for Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Residency
The U.S. Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) just announced on 23 March 2015, that a new Form I-407 is available and is to be used, per the USCIS website announcement, which announcment provides in part as follows:
New Version of Form I-407 Now Available
USCIS has published a new edition of USCIS Form I-407, Record of Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Status (OMB No. 1615-0130). You can download the form on our website.
You may begin using the revised Form I-407, Record of Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Resident Status today. The current edition is dated 02/26/2015, and we will not accept previous form editions
The new form has additional information compared to the prior form. Specifically, the Alien Registration Number and USCIS ELIS Account Number is required to be included.
Now, the individual is required to state the reasons for abandoning lawful permanent residency status.
Responses to
each of these questions will have important legal consequences, including potential tax implications under IRC Sections 877, 877A, et. seq. See, for instance a prior post: What could be the focal point of IRS Criminal Investigations of Former U.S. Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents?
One of the important enforcement and practical questions raised, is: Will the IRS be able to better track former “long-term residents” (certain former lawful permanent residents) for purposes of the “expatriation tax” under the new reporting form and system?
As has been explained, if an individual fails to certify under the tax law, they will necessarily be a “covered expatriate”; even if they do not meet the asset or income tax liability thresholds. See a prior post, Certification Requirement of Section 877(a)(2)(C) – (5 Years of Tax Compliance) and Important Timing Considerations per the Statute.
The Problem with PFICs! “Avoid PFICs Like the Plague”
There are typically numerous tax issues that USCs and LPRs need to consider prior to renouncing their citizenship; or abandoning th
eir lawful permanent residency status.
One of the most confusing comes from the complex rules of a so-called “PFIC” – the acronym for a “passive foreign investment company.” A prior post in March 2014 discussed the basics of these U.S. tax creatures – “PFICs” – What is a PFIC – and their Complications for USCs and LPRs Living Outside the U.S.
Most USCs and LPRs with basic mutual fund investments in their country of residence have PFICs and probably don’t even know it.
The IRS and Treasury have recently spent much attention and resources to the regulation of PFICs. In January of 2014, temporary regulations were issued regarding PFICs. See, Regulations §1.1291–0T, et. seq.
One of the many new requirements of these regulations are annual information filing requirements. This means that a U.S. taxpayer (e.g., U.S. citizen or LPR) residing outside the U.S., must file an annual report on IRS Form 8621.
- When Might You have a PFIC?
Taxpayers who have simple passive investments in mutual funds based outside the U.S.. e.g., in their country of residence, almost always have PFICs. There is no percentage ownership threshold in the foreign entity that triggers PFIC tax consequences. An ownership interest of 0.000001% triggers the consequences if either the “income test” or “asset test” are satisfied. Other type of investment funds in the form of a legal entity also typically qualify as a PFIC.
Specifically, a PFIC is a foreign corporation in which a U.S. person has some ownership in (without any percentage threshold requirement) if (i) at least 75% of its gross income is passive income (the “income test”), or (ii) at least 50% of its assets produce passive income (the “asset test”). See IRC § 1297(a).
Also, many retirement funds in various countries (including both private and many government run retirement plans) typically fall into the category of a PFIC. For instance, the Singapore retirement fund system, Central Provident Fund (“CPF”), is actually created by the government, but Singapore taxpayers who are obligated to contribute to the retirement fund will select various mutual funds to invest in through the CPF. Hence, these mutual fund investments are PFICs. See also the technical paper regarding Mexican retirement funds that argues, WHY MEXICAN RETIREMENT FUNDS SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE NEW REPORTING REQUIREMENTS UNDER IRC SECTION 1298(f).
- Ugly Tax Consequences of a PFIC
PFICs are taxed to the U.S. taxpayer in a very complicated manner compared to taxation of U.S. based mutual funds or other U.S. based investments. In short, the income earned from PFICs, under the default regime, are taxed at the ordinary income rates, and for past years are typically taxed at the highest marginal ordinary income tax rate is 39.6% (even if the income would otherwise qualify for qualified dividend or long-term capital gains rates – which are taxed at no more than 20%).
There are three alternative regimes for how a U.S. investor is taxed in a PFIC: (i) the “excess distribution” regime (which is the default regime); (ii) the qualified electing fund (“QEF”) regime and (iii) the market-to-market (“MTM”) regime. Each of these regimes will be discussed in later posts.
One key point to know is that most foreign investment funds do not keep records and account for income and expenses in a manner that even allows a U.S. taxpayer to report accurately under the QEF or MTM regime, even if such treatment provides a lower overall U.S. tax.
More on how PFICs are taxed in a later post.
- Even Uglier Tax Reporting – Compliance Consequences of PFICs Driven by FATCA
Finally, the 2010 FATCA legislation has led to the new regulations that now require annual reporting of PFICs. This is done on IRS Form 8621. It is a laborious form and requires extensive and detailed information.
The consequences of not reporting can lead to disastrous tax results. See a prior post from March 2014, When the U.S. Tax Law has no Statute of Limitations against the IRS; i.e., for the U.S. citizen and LPR residing outside the U.S.
- Why You Don’t Want to Die with a PFIC or Gift a PFIC Away (even to Your Favorite Charity or Spouse).
Lastly, a later post will explain in more detail why a USC or LPR generally wants to avoid PFICs if at all possible. Many countries require their residents to contribute on a mandatory basis to retirement funds that invest in mutual funds, which may not allow a USC to avoid PFICs. One of the principle reasons to avoid PFICs is the income tax that arises and is owed by the U.S. person, even if he or she tries to give the PFIC away. A gift of a PFIC will typically cause an income tax to the donor in addition to the estate/gift tax rules. This is true for gifts to charity and even to your own spouse.
- Why You Should Avoid PFICs Like the Plague
At the end of the day, the above complications, mean that most USCs and LPRs residing overseas should “avoid PFICs like the plague”.
In the context of USCs who wish to renounce their U.S. citizenship, they will not be able to avoid “covered expatriate” status if they have not complied with these PFIC rules, as they will not be able to “certify under penalty of perjury that he has met the requirements of this title for the 5 preceding taxable years or fails to submit such evidence of such compliance as the Secretary may require.”
The ugly consequences of PFICs can be summarized as follows:
- Higher income tax rate than U.S. based investments on the earnings of the investment, at least under the default method;
- Practically impossible to report the earnings on a more favorable MTM or QEF method;
- Extensive information reporting requirements annually;
- Open ended statute of limitations in favor of the IRS to audit all items on the tax return, for failure to properly file IRS Form 8621;
- Paying a U.S. income tax, even if you gift away the PFIC to charity or to your spouse;
- Trying to even explain effectively the consequences of a PFIC to your tax return preparer; and
- Being subject to the “forever taint” of being a “covered expatriate” for failure to comply with the PFIC rules. See, The “Hidden Tax” of Expatriation – Section 2801 and its “Forever Taint.”
The IRS Can Make an Assessment of Taxes and Penalties and Ask Questions Later
Taxpayers have a distinct disadvantage under the law vis-à-vis the IRS, since the law creates a “presumption of correctness” in favor of the IRS determination of taxes owing by any particular taxpayer.
This concept is decades old and is found in U.S. Supreme Court precedence at least as far back as 1933, where the Court in Welch v. Helvering (290 U.S. 111 (1933)) explained:
The Commissioner of Internal Revenue resorted to that standard in assessing the petitioner’s income, and found that the payments in controversy came closer to capital outlays than to ordinary and necessary expenses in the operation of a business. His ruling has the support of a presumption of correctness, and the petitioner has the burden of proving it to be wrong. Wickwire v. Reinecke,275 U. S. 101; Jones v. Commissioner, 38 F.2d 550, 552. [emphasis added]
This continues to be the law to this day.
What this means for taxpayers, particularly United States citizens and lawful permanent residents (“LPRs”) who reside outside the U.S., is that the IRS will often make erroneous tax determinations; yet the calculation of the amount of tax owing is presumptively correct.
The individual has the burden of proving the government wrong.
As an international tax practitioner, I have seen some of the most farfetched tax assessments by the IRS in the international context. If the IRS uses bad or incomplete information and then produces a tax assessment result, it is like the old computer saying; “junk in junk out.”
The IRS almost always, by definition, has incomplete information for taxpayers residing overseas. For that reason, it is not uncommon for them to make statutory notices of deficiency that are not supported by the law or the facts. See, the IRS explanation of a Notice of Deficiency CP3219N (“90-day letter”) proposing a tax assessment. Understanding Your CP3219N Notice
This power of the IRS under the law, is also compounded by the ability of the IRS to file a “substitiute return” for those USCS and LPRs residing overseas. See a prior post from November 2014, How the IRS Can file a “Substitute Return” for those USCs and LPRs Residing Overseas.
U.S. Department of State has Allowed (Starting in at least 2013) USCs to Keep their U.S. Passports After Oath and Prior to Receiving CLN
Washington Post journalist, Ms. had an interesting article on March 3, 2015, titled Yes, the State Department can jump on a problem and fix it in record time.
The focus of the article was that the U.S. Department of State can indeed fix a problem (in this case how and when U.S. passports are taken from U.S. citizens who take the oath of renunciation).
The article was a bit of a surprise to me, as I have had experience with several clients where the Consulate offices have indeed allowed the U.S. citizen to physically maintain their U.S. passport after taking the Oath of Renunciation (Form DS-4080, Oath of Renunciation of the Nationality of the United States) but prior to actually receiving the “Certificate of Loss of Nationality” (“CLN”).
After a U.S. citizen has formally renounced (or relinquished) their U.S. citizenship, the U.S. Department of State provides a CLN. This form can be located here at – Certificate of Loss of Nationality of the United States, Form DS-4083 (CLN)
You can go to the page “U.S. Department of State” under “Resources” for further U.S. Department of State Documents related to loss of nationality.
Sometimes, the U.S. Department of State will take several months to process the file in Washington D.C., before they actually issue the CLN. I have had cases (worst case scenarios) that take upwards of 9-10 months. See, The IRS does not give a “Certificate of Expatriation” or similar tax document . . .
However, my experience on several cases is that consular officer will generally allow t
he individual to physically keep the U.S. passport until the CLN is actually issued and received by the individual in exchange for their passport. This has been the case for some 2 +/- years.
This procedure has been formalized in the Foreign Affairs Manual which added the additional key language in paragraph (4) regarding U.S. citizens who need their passport for travel to the U.S.
Key Concepts of Senate Finance Chairman Hatch’s Proposal Re: “Non-Resident U.S. Citizens”
The complete report can be located at the Senate Finance Committee website at Comprehensive Tax Reform for 2015 and Beyond – Senate Republican Staff –
The crucial policy considerations are set out in the report. The key paragraph of the report is reproduced here:
The principle idea is to impose U.S. income taxation on U.S. sources only for U.S. citizens residing overseas. The report leaves many unanswered questions. One of those questions is how to integrate the “expatriation tax rules” into such a concept? There is one sentence addressing this point, which contemplates the “mark to market exit tax” will continue as part of the law, if such a proposal were to become law.
The report does not discuss how the U.S. transfer tax system (U.S. estate, gift and generation skipping transfer taxes) might be reformed. Current law, imposes worldwide U.S. estate, gift and generation skipping transfer taxes on the worldwide assets of a U.S. citizen.
Time will tell if such a proposal gets any political traction in Congress or at the White House.
Will Congress and the President Finally Act in 2015 to Repeal or Modify U.S. Citizenship Based Taxation?
U.S. citizenship based taxation has been the law since its origins from the U.S. civil war. See, The U.S. Civil War is the Origin of U.S. Citizenship Based Taxation on Worldwide Income for Persons Living Outside the U.S. ***Does it still make sense?
Throughout most of the last 100+/- years, there has never bee
n a repeal of U.S. citizenship based taxation. Indeed, it is difficult to locate any legislative proposals from years past (if there were any) that proposed such a modification.
However, it is worth noting the following string of events over the last 18 months, which may indicate U.S. citizenship based tax reform could be possible:
- For the first time, both political parties and the President have identified issues with the current U.S. citizenship based taxation rules which they have proposed to modify;
- Second, there have been a number of serious proposals to modify and repeal U.S. citizenship based taxation. See, the American Citizens Abroad proposal (ACA proposal). See, “Tax Simplification: The Need for Consistent Tax Treatment of All Individuals (Citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents and Non-Citizens Regardless of Immigration Status) Residing Overseas, Including the Repeal of U.S. Citizenship Based Taxation,” by Patrick W. Martin and Professor Reuven Avi-Yonah, among several others;
- Third, a little over a year ago, the Senate Finance Committee, which was then controlled by Democrats identified U.S. citizenship based taxation as an international competitiveness issue. See, Senate Finance Report on International Competitiveness Identifies Possible “Expatriation” Reforms for U.S. Citizens Residing Overseas. Will U.S. citizens who live outside the U.S. find any relief soon?
- Fourth, in December of 2014, the the Senate Finance Committee Republican Staff issued a detailed report dedicating substantial discussion and analysis to “Non-Resident U.S. Citizens”. See pages 282 and 283 of the Comprehensive Tax Reform for 2015 and Beyond – Senate Republican Staff
- Fifth, the President in his Green Book proposal in February 2015, addressed (although in only the most narrow of circumstances), the need for reform of U.S. citizenship based taxation. See, The Proposal by the President to Exempt Certain U.S. Citizens from Worldwide Taxation: – Very Small, Select Group
This is the first time in my career, where both political parties and the President are at least talking about the possibility of tax reform in this area.
There is one key piece of the legislative puzzle missing from the above picture. The House has not weighed in on a proposal to modify substantially or repeal U.S. citizenship based taxation. See, former House Ways and Means Committee Chair Camp’s proposal to modify substantially international tax policy and rules (Making America A More Attractive Place To Hire and Invest: International Tax Reform). These House proposals do not include U.S. citizenship based taxation reform. In addition, I am not aware of any Democrats in the House who are pushing such a reform.
Even if there is approval in both the Senate and with the President (as there has been in other major legislative reform proposal, such as immigration), it is entirely possible the House will block any such U.S. citizenship based tax reform.

