Tax Blawg

By Sebastien Chain and Tamara Woods

Beginning with the 2011 tax year (i.e., for returns filed April 17, 2012 or later), individual taxpayers will be required to file Form 8938 if he or she has an interest in a “specified foreign financial asset” (“SFFA”) (click for additional information on FATCA requirements) that has a value exceeding a certain threshold.  A Taxpayer has an interest in a SFFA if any income, gains, losses, deductions, credits, gross proceeds or distributions from the asset would be required to be reported on the income tax return.

The reporting thresholds differ depending on whether the taxpayer is married or single and whether the taxpayer is living inside or outside the United States.

Form 8938 Reporting Thresholds

There are certain exceptions and limitations to reporting.  Arguably, the most important limitation (other than the thresholds listed above) is whether the taxpayer reports the same assets on a separate foreign information return such as Forms 3520, 5471, 8621, 8865 or 8891 (but not Form T.D. F 90-22.1, Report of Foreign Bank Account (“FBAR”).  If so, the taxpayer is only relieved from fully completing the Form 8938.  The taxpayer is NOT relieved from filing Form 8938.

Form 8938 requires the following information:

• Basic identification of the account/asset;
• Name/address of financial institution where account is held (if applicable);
• Name/address of issuer or counterparty of stock, securities or financial instruments (if applicable);
• Information regarding whether the account/asset was acquired (opened) or disposed of (closed) during the year, the amount of income, gain, or other tax attributes recognized during the year and schedule, form or return on which reported to IRS, currency exchange rate (and source of rate, if not from Treasury’s Financial Management Service); and
• If the SFFA is reported on another form (3520, 5471, etc.), the report type and number of such other form.

The minimum penalty for failing to file or report an asset on Form 8938 is $10,000 per year the Form 8938 is not filed.  The penalty can be increased up to a $50,000 maximum for noncompliance 90 days after receipt of an IRS notice.  It is important to note that the IRS has no discretion to reduce this penalty unless the Taxpayer “affirmatively shows the facts that support a reasonable cause claim.” It is unclear at this time what will constitute sufficient reasonable cause.  In addition to the above penalties, accuracy related penalties are increased from 20% to 40% for underpayments involving undisclosed SFFAs.

By Sebastien Chain and Tamara Woods

The Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act of 2010 (“HIRE Act”) enacted the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”).  P.L. 111-47.  FATCA greatly increases disclosure requirements and penalties on taxpayers with foreign accounts and assets.  These reporting requirements will affect individuals beginning with the 2011 tax year, and are expected to apply to certain domestic entities beginning with the 2012 tax year.

FATCA reporting is in addition to the Form T.D. F 90-22.1, Report of Foreign Bank Accounts (“FBAR”) requirements and other foreign reporting requirements such as Form 5471 (foreign corporations); Form 3520 (foreign estates and trusts); 8865 (foreign partnerships); 8621 (passive foreign investment companies); 8891 (beneficiaries of certain Canadian registered retirement plans).

These new reporting obligations apply to U.S. individuals with an interest in “specified foreign financial assets” (“SFFA”) with an aggregate value exceeding certain thresholds. SFFAs generally include:

• Any financial account maintained by a foreign financial institution (i.e., a bank);
• Any stock or security issued by a foreign person,
• Any financial instrument or contract held for investment that has a non-U.S. issuer or counter-party, or any interest in a foreign entity.

It is important to note that the SFFA concept is much broader than related FBAR concepts.  Some examples include:

• Investments by an entity that holds real estate;
• Investments in foreign hedge funds and private equity funds;
• Capital or profits interest in foreign partnership;
• Foreign debt(e.g., notes, bonds, other indebtedness issued by a foreign person);
• Interests in a foreign trust or estate;
• Swaps, options, derivatives, etc. with a foreign counterparty; and
• Foreign pension or deferred compensation plans.

As previously mentioned, beginning with the 2011 tax year, i.e., by April (or October if on extension) of 2012, Taxpayers with SFFAs must report these assets on new Form 8938 (click for additional information on Form 8938 ).  If a Taxpayer is required to file Form 8938, they must attach the Form to their 2011 tax return.  In contrast, the FBAR is not due until June 30^th of each year and is mailed to Detroit (not with the Taxpayer’s tax return).