The Offshore Tax Enforcement Dragnet
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BUYING IN: RESIDENCE and CITIZENSHIP by INVESTMENT ALLISON CHRISTIANS* Italy Recently Announced a New Immigration Program That I
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW BUYING IN: RESIDENCE AND CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT ALLISON CHRISTIANS* INTRODUCTION Italy recently announced a new immigration program that invites certain high net worth individuals to make Italy their country of residence, enticing them with the right to pay a “substitute tax” of €100,000 per year on their foreign income and gains.1 For those already residing in Italy, the highest marginal tax rate on income is 43%, with additional regional and municipal rates bringing the rate closer to 50%; capital gains are subject to a reduced rate (about half the regular rate).2 Assuming eligible immigrants have significant foreign income and gains that would otherwise face the highest marginal rates of tax, the new program’s outcome would seem to ensure that prior residents face a significantly higher overall tax bracket than their new neighbours (unless of course, such individuals use other mechanisms and programs, whether in Italy or elsewhere, to also reduce their own tax rates). Why would Italy design a tax scheme that appears to privilege certain immigrants over its other taxpayers in this manner? In reporting on the program for Forbes, journalist David Schrieberg stated that “[s]ome observers speculate that the new tax regime is aimed particularly at super-rich individuals * H. Heward Stikeman Chair in the Law of Taxation, McGill University Faculty of Law. This research was assisted by a grant from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Thanks for helpful comments on an early draft are due to Montano Cabezas, David Lesperance, Henry Ordower, Peter Szigeti, and the participants of the Sanford E. -
SSRN Paper by Allison Christians
Uncle Sam Wants … Who? A Global Perspective on Citizenship Taxation Allison Christians* Abstract Across the globe, banks are flagging accounts with indicia indicating their owners may be “US Persons,” making it possible for the United States to enforce its taxation of nonresident citizens extraterritorially for the first time in history. The indicia method constitutes a mining expedition for US Persons carried out by foreign banks and governments. Establishing a tax jurisdiction in this manner is unprecedented and has significant practical and normative consequences. In the case of so-called “accidental Americans,” it violates one of the most fundamental and universally- acknowledged tenets of taxpayer rights, namely, the right to be informed about what the law requires. Third party indicia-searching should be universally rejected as a means of identifying a taxpayer population. Instead, the United States itself is responsible for cataloguing, informing, and educating its global population of taxpayers. Those who don’t belong in the system should be allowed to opt out without cost. Table of Contents Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 I. The Accidental American: Origin and Implications ..................................... 3 A. Tina’s Story ............................................................................................ 3 B. Law’s Intent: the “US Person” ................................................................ 6 C. Law’s Reach after -
Senate Bill 2198, Taxpayer Compliance Improvement Act of 1982
UNITED STATES GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE - WASHINGTON, D.C. 20548 FOR RELEjhSE ON DELIVERY EXPECTED AT LO:00 &$.[*I. EST MONDAY, MARCH 22, 1982 STATEMENT OF WILLIAM J. ANDERSON, DIRECTOR, GENERAL GOVERNMENTDIVISION , BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE ON ( S~~NATEBILL 2198, TAXPAYER COMPLIANCE IMPkOVEMENT ACT OF 1982 1 I 117850 Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee: We are pleased to be here today to assist your Subcommittee in considering the problem of the income tax compliance gap and the need for 5.2198, the Taxpayer Compliance Improvement Act of 1982, to help address this problem. Ourr testimony is based pri- marily on our overall experience gained from conducting audits of tax administration operations and activities over the past several years. We first addressed the issue of unreported income in July 1979 l At that time, we issued a comprehensive report in which we estimated that about 5 million individuals and couples owing about $2 billion in taxes did not file tax returns for tax year 1972, the year for which the most current data was available for analysis. We also estimated that IRS had only been able to secure delinquent returns from about 12 percent of the estimated 5 mil- lion nonfilers. Since July 1979, we have issued numerous reports and provided extensive testimony addressing IRS' &x administra- tion activities and the actions needed to improve IRS' compli- ance enforcement efforts, particularly against, the unreported income problem. We are also presently conducting several reviews of various IRS programs which are directed wholly or partially at addressing the unreported income problem. -
Taxpayer First Act of 2019 R E P O R T Committee On
1 116TH CONGRESS " ! REPT. 116–39 1st Session HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Part 1 TAXPAYER FIRST ACT OF 2019 R E P O R T OF THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON H.R. 1957 [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] APRIL 9, 2019.—Ordered to be printed VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:28 Apr 16, 2019 Jkt 089006 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6012 Sfmt 6012 E:\HR\OC\HR039P1.XXX HR039P1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with REPORTS E:\Seals\Congress.#13 TAXPAYER FIRST ACT OF 2019 VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:28 Apr 16, 2019 Jkt 089006 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6019 Sfmt 6019 E:\HR\OC\HR039P1.XXX HR039P1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with REPORTS with DSKBBXCHB2PROD on SSpencer 1 116TH CONGRESS " ! REPT. 116–39 1st Session HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Part 1 TAXPAYER FIRST ACT OF 2019 R E P O R T OF THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON H.R. 1957 [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] APRIL 9, 2019.—Ordered to be printed U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 89–006 WASHINGTON : 2019 VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:28 Apr 16, 2019 Jkt 089006 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4012 Sfmt 4012 E:\HR\OC\HR039P1.XXX HR039P1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with REPORTS E:\Seals\Congress.#13 VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:28 Apr 16, 2019 Jkt 089006 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4012 Sfmt 4012 E:\HR\OC\HR039P1.XXX HR039P1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with REPORTS C O N T E N T S Page I. -
Investors' Reaction to a Reform of Corporate Income Taxation
Investors' Reaction to a Reform of Corporate Income Taxation Dennis Voeller z (University of Mannheim) Jens M¨uller z (University of Graz) Draft: November 2011 Abstract: This paper investigates the stock market response to the corporate tax reform in Germany of 2008. The reform included a decrease in the statutary corporate income tax rate from 25% to 15% and a considerable reduction of interest taxation at the shareholder level. As a result, it provided for a higher tax benefit of debt. As it comprises changes in corporate taxation as well as the introduction of a final withholding tax on capital income, the German tax reform act of 2008 allows for a joint consideration of investors' reactions on both changes in corporate and personal income taxes. Analyzing company returns around fifteen events in 2006 and 2007 which mark important steps in the legislatory process preceding the passage of the reform, the study provides evidence on whether investors expect a reduction in their respective tax burden. Especially, it considers differences in investors' reactions depending on the financial structure of a company. While no significant average market reactions can be observed, the results suggest positive price reactions of highly levered companies. Keywords: Tax Reform, Corporate Income Tax, Stock Market Reaction JEL Classification: G30, G32, H25, H32 z University of Mannheim, Schloss Ostfl¨ugel,D-68161 Mannheim, Germany, [email protected]. z University of Graz, Universit¨atsstraße15, A-8010 Graz, Austria, [email protected]. 1 Introduction Previous literature provides evidence that companies adjust their capital structure as a response to changes in the tax treatment of different sources of finance. -
How to Achieve Tax Compliance by the Wealthy: a Review of the Literature and Agenda for Policy
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by IRIHS - Institutional Repository at IHS How to Achieve Tax Compliance by the Wealthy: A Review of the Literature and Agenda for Policy Katharina Gangl1 Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS), Competence Centre: Insight Austria, Josefstädter Straße 39, 1080 Vienna, Austria, phone: +43 1599 91-147, e-mail: [email protected] University of Goettingen, Department of Economic and Social Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Göttingen, Germany Benno Torgler Queensland University of Technology, School of Economics and Finance and Centre for Behavioural Economics, Society and Technology (BEST), Brisbane, Australia, e-mail: [email protected] CREMA-Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts, Zurich, Switzerland Tax compliance by the wealthy is relevant not only because their contributions are essential to maintain public budgets and social equality, but because their (non)compliance behaviour and the perceived (un)fairness of their contributions can fuel social unrest. In this paper, after giving a brief history of taxing the wealthy, we review the existing theoretical, empirical and policy literature on their tax compliance. We discuss how and why the wealthy differ from less affluent taxpayers because of specific interrelated political, social and psychological conditions. Understanding the psychological mechanisms that determine the tax compliance of the wealthy can provide policy insights on how to better integrate the wealthy in the tax system. Therefore, the present review is also a starting point for new policy approaches to increase tax compliance and tax morale among the wealthy. Keywords: high net worth individuals, tax evasion, income tax. -
“How Do I Protect Myself?” a Case Study in the Marginalization of Americans Living Overseas Post 1 of 4
“How Do I Protect Myself?” A Case Study in the Marginalization of Americans Living Overseas Post 1 of 4 by Laura Snyder* I am cut off from my own company's bank accounts and accounts with my husband thanks to tax, FATCA and FBAR. My name is also not on property. How do I protect myself? Last year I formed a new business with two cofounders. First a partnership, then this week we formed a company. Trying to make decisions with the constantly shifting and complex tax laws is incredibly difficult. Our first year we had no take-home pay and to get tax advice and to file requires me to ask my husband for money to meet my obligations as a U.S. citizen. Last year I opened a bank account for my maternity leave payments, and my account was frozen until I supplied information for FATCA. I am not on our business bank account and my US citizenship is a constant source of embarrassment and a headache for my cofounders. They are both dual citizens and yet have none of the problems I have, because they are not U.S. citizens. I am surprised they even wanted to start the business with me, and I try to shield them from as much US trouble as I can. I can't buy post-its or a pen without going through my cofounder to supply the funds. The first year of my business I had $0 take home pay, and yet was quoted $300 to discuss my tax situation and expect over a $1,000 to file and report. -
Race and Tax Policy: the Case of the Chinese Poll Tax
Race and Tax Policy: The Case of the Chinese Poll Tax Sue Yong and Rob Vosslamber Abstract The Chinese poll tax was introduced in English-speaking countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States, during the nineteenth century. Though this tax was justified on social and economic grounds, it is largely a race-based tax as it was targeted at Chinese immigrants. This article provides a historical analysis of the New Zealand and Californian (American) poll tax. It also evaluates the relationship between the poll tax and immigration. Given the widespread Chinese poll tax in these countries, this evaluation has international significance, and demonstrates the central role of taxes in the formation and maintenance of civic identity. It also has contemporary implications given the extensive number of racially diverse immigrants, including the Chinese, who have migrated and are migrating to Western developed nations. I. INTRODUCTION Poll taxes on Chinese immigrants were common in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and California (America) in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The Chinese were drawn to these countries in large numbers due to the gold rush and the construction of railway lines for Canada and America. Their significant presence in the English-speaking countries aroused hostility in the European population; this hostility eventually translated into discriminatory legislation, an example of which was the poll tax. The poll tax was imposed concurrently with other anti-Chinese legislation to stem Chinese immigration.1 The tax was Senior Lecturer, Accounting Department, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. Email: [email protected]. (contacting author) Senior Lecturer, Accounting and Information Systems Department, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. -
Citizenship Overreach, 38 MICH. J. INT'l L. 167 (2017)
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by University of Michigan School of Law Michigan Journal of International Law Volume 38 Issue 2 2017 Citizenship Overreach Peter J. Spiro Temple University Law School Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.law.umich.edu/mjil Part of the International Law Commons, Legislation Commons, Taxation-Transnational Commons, and the Tax Law Commons Recommended Citation Peter J. Spiro, Citizenship Overreach, 38 MICH. J. INT'L L. 167 (2017). Available at: https://repository.law.umich.edu/mjil/vol38/iss2/2 This Symposium Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Michigan Journal of International Law at University of Michigan Law School Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Michigan Journal of International Law by an authorized editor of University of Michigan Law School Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. CITIZENSHIP OVERREACH Peter J. Spiro* TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTERNATIONAL LAW : A RIGHT NOT TO HAVE CITIZENSHIP ............................................ 173 A. Constraining Citizenship Allocations................. 174 B. Letting Citizens Go ................................. 179 II. U.S. CITIZENSHIP: TOO EASY TO GET, TOO HARD TO SHED ................................................... 182 III. CORRECTING CITIZENSHIP OVERREACH ................. 186 IV. CONCLUSION: AMERICANS ABROAD, LAYING LOW ...... 190 London mayor Boris Johnson was born in New York City in 1964 to British parents. His father studied at Columbia University and subsequently took a job at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. In 1969 the family returned to the United Kingdom where Johnson has lived as a British citizen since. -
COVID-19 : Revenue Administration Implications
1 COVID-19 | WORLD BANK GROUP Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized COVID-19: REVENUE POTENTIAL TAX ADMINISTRATION AND CUSTOMS MEASURES TO ADMINISTRATION RESPOND TO THE CRISIS. Public Disclosure Authorized IMPLICATIONS Public Disclosure Authorized 2 COVID-19 | WORLD BANK GROUP This note brings together the thinking that is occurring in global and regional teams on governance and institutional approaches to dealing with COVID-19, with a focus on Revenue Administrations. .1 It presents the governance and institutional reforms that could 2 support Revenue administration responses to COVID-19 . The pandemic will bring a new normal where work practices should change. Usually, shocks trigger responses, and one of the responses here could be automatization of tax and customs services over the medium term, and a massive acceleration in the use of digital and virtual technologies. 2 1 This note is a joint effort between MTI and GGP colleagues. The note and its annexes were prepared by a Task Force overseen by Chiara Bronchi, led by Raul Junquera-Varela and comprising Ana Cebreiro Gomez, Anna Custers, Daniel Alvarez, Dialigué Ba, Viet Anh Nguyen, Rajul Awasthi, Roel Dom, Rick Fisher, Paola Arce, Claudia Lucia Vargas Pastor, Alfredo Revilak, and Ivan Krsul, MTI-EMFTX. Contributions and comments received from Jim Brumby (EPSDR), Gael Raballand (EA1G1), Marijn Verhoeven (EMFTX), Mohan Nagarajan (ESAG2), and Oleksii Balabushko (EA1G2). 2 This note and its annexes focus on revenue administration measures only. For a discussion on broader governance issues, please visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/governance/brief/governance-institutions-covid-19-response- resources 3 COVID-19 | WORLD BANK GROUP TABLE OF CONTENTS Current Framework & Fiscal Impact Analysis Phases 01 1. -
Analyzing the Nature of the Income Tax Gap GAO/T-GGD-97-35
United States General Accounting Office Testimony GAO Before the National Commission on Restructuring the Internal Revenue Service For Release on Delivery TAXPAYER COMPLIANCE Expected at 11:00 a.m. EST Thursday January 9, 1997 Analyzing the Nature of the Income Tax Gap Statement of Lynda D. Willis, Director, Tax Policy and Administration Issues, General Government Division GAO/T-GGD-97-35 Statement Taxpayer Compliance: Analyzing the Nature of the Income Tax Gap Messrs. Chairmen and Members of the Commission: We are pleased to be invited by you to discuss the income tax gap—the difference between income taxes owed and those voluntarily paid. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has estimated that taxpayers do not voluntarily pay more than $100 billion annually of taxes due on income from legal sources.1 While such “tax gap” estimate is necessarily imprecise, it indicates significant noncompliance and the challenge that IRS faces in finding ways to reduce the tax gap. When some taxpayers do not pay all the taxes they owe, that part of the burden of funding approved government programs shifts to taxpayers who fully comply. Thus, maintaining high levels of compliance and reducing the tax gap are important for equity reasons. However, it would be unrealistic to assume that our tax system, or any tax system, can achieve 100-percent compliance and thus eliminate the tax gap. My statement covers four points which are based on our previous reports and ongoing work. These points are: • First, IRS’ data suggest that U.S. taxpayers voluntarily pay about 83 percent of the income taxes they owe and ultimately pay about 87 percent after IRS enforcement programs. -
Publication 3415 (Rev. 6-2021) Catalog Number 28110R Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service ETAAC MEMBERS
Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS June 2021 Publication 3415 (Rev. 6-2021) Catalog Number 28110R Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service www.irs.gov ETAAC MEMBERS The Chair would like to recognize this year's IRS Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC) members. Due to the COVID pandemic, the committee only met virtually. Despite not meeting in person, the committee became a virtual team and spent countless hours researching, discussing, and developing the report's recommendations. Dmitri Alexeev Jared Ballew Luanne Brown Latryna Carlton Daniel Eubanks Larry Gray Jenine Hallings Eric Inkrott Courtney Kay-Decker (Vice-Chair) John Kreger Carlos Lopez Laura Macca Julie Magee Sherice McCarthy-Hill Andrew Phillips Lynnette T. Riley Cynthia Rowley Gene Salo (Chair) Timur Taluy Matthew Vickers Lindsey West Biographies of the Committee members are set forth in Appendix C. The Committee members also recognize and thank the IRS staff and leadership for their assistance in this report's development. We appreciate the amount of time spent and their responsiveness to numerous meetings and data requests. The Committee acknowledges the difficulties that the IRS is encountering during the COVID pandemic. 1 HOW TO READ THIS REPORT ETAAC organized this report to provide brief critical insights through a high-level overview and deeper context in our full-length analysis. ETAAC organized this report into three sections that are consistent with our charter. • Recommendations for Congressional consideration • Recommendations for the IRS focused on Electronic filing • Recommendations for the IRS focused on Security For a high-level overview, review the • Letter from the Chair and Vice-Chair • Summary List of ETAAC 2021 Recommendations To gain a deeper context for our 2021 recommendations, review the • Current Environment for Electronic Tax Administration • About the IRS Security Summit • Detailed Support for ETAAC 2021 Recommendations Finally, review the entire report to get the full context and analysis.