If you own “specified foreign financial assets,” you may have an obligation to disclose these assets to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). So, what types of assets qualify, and what do you need to disclose on IRS Form 8938? New Jersey FATCA attorney Kevin E. Thorn, Managing Partner of Thorn Law Group, explains.  

On January 13, 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published a Tax Tip titled, “Here Are Reasons People Who Don’t Normally File Should File a 2021 Tax Return.” The Tax Tip goes on to explain various reasons why taxpayers may be entitled to refunds, and it discusses the opportunities that are available for first-time filers to claim child tax credits and recovery rebate credits, among others. But, what the IRS’s Tax Tip doesn’t explain is that filing for the first time can be risky if you should have filed in the past. With this in mind, here are some important considerations for first-time filers in the U.S. and abroad from New Jersey tax attorney Kevin E. Thorn, Managing Partner of Thorn Law Group:

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regularly publishes frequently-asked questions (FAQs) on important topics for individual and corporate U.S. taxpayers. For example, the IRS recently published a series of FAQs on the tax implications associated with Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFR Funds). However, while the IRS encourages taxpayers to review its guidance, it also wants taxpayers to know that they cannot rely on its guidance exclusively. New Jersey IRS lawyer Kevin E. Thorn, Managing Partner of Thorn Law Group, explains:

When do you have the right to hire a New Jersey tax lawyer to deal with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on your behalf? The answer is much simpler than most people think. While there are complex and nuanced rules about when defendants in criminal matters have the right to representation, you have the right to representation any time you are dealing with the IRS.

As the end of the year approaches, many taxpayers begin the process of preparing to file next year’s tax returns. When going through this process, some taxpayers will discover that they made mistakes in their previous filings. If you discover that you made mistakes, should you file an amended federal tax return? New Jersey tax lawyer Kevin E. Thorn, Managing Partner of Thorn Law Group, explains: