The promise of anonymity and potential high interest rates are just two of the reasons investors might decide to explore moving funds to offshore bank accounts. But opting to deposit funds in a foreign bank account without understanding all the potential ramifications could be a mistake.

Under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, U.S. individuals and businesses are prohibited from bribing foreign officials. That seems clear enough. But the problem is things are often not what they seem. Unfortunately for unsuspecting companies, many violations of the FCPA are the result of ignorance of what could constitute a bribe under the law. Other violations occur because individuals in a company will do whatever they can to keep business humming, even if it violates the federal anti-bribery statute.

Many Americans dream of retiring abroad, perhaps to a tropical island or other exotic and stress-free location. The last thing anyone wants during their retirement years is an IRS tax reporting headache. That’s why consulting a New Jersey tax lawyer is a great way to understand the IRS requirements for banking abroad before you make an error that could cost you some of that retirement money.

In the first quarter of 2018, a total of 1,099 U.S. citizens gave up their citizenship. In both 2016 and 2017, more than 5,000 people decided they  no longer wanted to be citizens of the United States. A big part of the reason why so many Americans have decided to give up their citizenship is because they are burdened by complex tax laws that make it difficult for them to live their lives.  

The Internal Revenue Service has been trying a number of tactics in recent years to identify U.S. affiliated taxpayers who keep funds offshore in an effort to avoid their responsibilities to pay taxes on income earned.  Because of the aggressive crackdown by the IRS on offshore investments, any Americans with undeclared accounts offshore should consult with a New Jersey international tax attorney in order to obtain help protecting their assets and exploring options to reduce the risk of IRS prosecution.