Orlando Estate & Elder Law

Retiring Overseas? The IRS Is Still Watching

“Retirees living abroad have to take special care with their tax returns. If you forget to check it off this box on Schedule B when you live overseas, it could mean big trouble with the IRS.”

It’s something you don’t hear discussed often, but there are people who like to hide money overseas. Others just love the idea of retiring to a European country where they can live out a life-long dream. However, according to a recent article from CNBC titled “How to retire overseas and avoid IRS penalties,” Congress enacted the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA, in 2010 expressly to increase tax compliance by Americans, who keep financial assets outside of the U.S.

FATCA works through what is called “dual reporting.” Other countries agree to report on assets owned by American account holders. Those living outside of the U.S. must report honestly what they have in those foreign bank accounts every year, when they file their income taxes.

For people who are not big-time tax evaders hiding large amounts of money offshore and make an honest mistake, it can become a nightmare.

One client forgot to tell his accountant about an account with $3,500 that he owned in a foreign bank. The penalties were stiff. An attorney who was experienced in tax situations faced by people living outside of the U.S. had to be retained.

Here’s the thing: most automated tax preparation programs default to answering “No” on Schedule B, where the person filling out the form is asked if they have a bank account in a foreign country.

Who has to file? All Americans living overseas are required to file a tax return. It doesn’t matter if you pay foreign taxes, or even if the U.S. has a tax treaty with the country.

In addition to a 1040 form, you must file additional forms for the foreign earned income exclusion or the foreign tax credit form.

The only exception might be if you receive Social Security benefits and have no other income sources. That is a “might,” though—check with your CPA!

Some people choose to retire outside of the U.S.  in the hope of keeping healthcare costs manageable.  However, any gains from having lower healthcare costs would evaporate quickly in the face of tax penalties from the IRS.

Be certain to work with a CPA who has experience in overseas tax requirements and FBAR rules (Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts).

Remember that the form is very specific: if you have any overseas accounts, you must report them to the IRS. It doesn’t matter how large or small they are.

For more information about estate planning in Orlando, FL (and throughout the rest of Central Florida), visit our estate planning website and be sure to subscribe to our complimentary estate planning e-newsletter while you are there.

Reference: CNBC (Aug. 25, 2018) “How to retire overseas and avoid IRS penalties”

Michael Jackson's Image A Million Dollar IRS Question

The ongoing estate tax battle between the IRS and the estate of Michael Jackson has been going on for years and the sides are still very far apart.

Michael Jackson passed away about eight years ago. That is a long time to figure out the value of his estate for estate tax purposes. However, there is still no definitive answer to what the pop singer was worth when he died.

His estate, executed by his longtime friend and attorney, is engaged in a lengthy battle with the IRS over the value of the estate. The Michael Jackson Trust is currently believed to be worth about $1 billion, but it is not certain how much of that value can be attributed to events during Jackson's lifetime as opposed to events after his death.

Bloomberg recently took up this story in "Michael Jackson Is Worth More Than Ever, and the IRS Wants Its Cut."

The central issue in the dispute is how much Jackson's image rights and music rights were worth at the moment of his death. As you may recall, the singer had been disgraced by high-profile scandals, including allegations of child sexual abuse. Because of Jackson's negative image at the time, his estate values his likeness at $2,105.

Not so fast.

The IRS points out that immediately upon his passing, Jackson's image was resurrected and his music began selling again. The IRS uses this to place a value of Jackson's likeness at the moment of his death at $434 million. Obviously, the two sides to the dispute are not even in the same ballpark, or even on the same continent.

It seems inevitable that this dispute will eventually have to be settled by the courts. Estate attorneys will watch closely,  since any ruling will go a long way in determining how celebrity images will be treated for estate tax purposes in the future.

For more information about estate planning in Orlando, FL (and throughout the rest of Central Florida), visit our estate planning website and be sure to subscribe to our complimentary estate planning e-newsletter while you are there.

Reference: Bloomberg (Feb. 1, 2017) "Michael Jackson Is Worth More Than Ever, and the IRS Wants Its Cut."

It Is Important to Designate a Contingent Beneficiary for Your IRA

A recent IRS private letter ruling highlights why it is important to designate a contingent beneficiary for your IRA in case the primary beneficiary predeceases you.

Individual retirement accounts are an important part of many estate plans. By designating a beneficiary for the account the funds can pass to another person automatically without having to go through probate. However, if the primary beneficiary of your IRA passes away before you do, then the IRA might have to go through your estate. That can cause problems as a recently released private letter ruling by the IRS illustrates.

This was the subject of a recent Wealth Management article titled "The Importance of Naming a Contingent Beneficiary of a Retirement Account."

In this case the primary beneficiary of an IRA and a Roth IRA passed away before the testator. As a consequence the accounts had to go through the estate. As the sole beneficiary of the estate, the IRA and Roth IRA went to the deceased's spouse.

The spouse elected to roll over the IRA and Roth IRA into her own IRA. The IRS determined that she could do that. However, she was only allowed to do so because of the particular facts of this case and some language in the preamble of the regulations, not the body of the regulations.

This is important because the ruling seems to indicate that in other situations the result would not be as favorable. Naming a contingent beneficiary on your IRA can guard against such outcomes. If the primary beneficiary has already passed away, the contingent beneficiary will receive the funds instead.

This area can be complex.  For help navigating the churning waters, please set up a consultation.

Reference: Wealth Management (March 21, 2016) "The Importance of Naming a Contingent Beneficiary of a Retirement Account."

New IRS Policy Helps Identity Theft Victims

Identity thieves do not content themselves with just taking out credit cards in their victims' names. They also often file fraudulent tax returns for refund checks. A new IRS policy should help victims figure out what happened.

Imagine receiving a letter from the IRS that the tax return you filed could not be processed because one had already been filed under your name and Social Security number. This is an increasing problem for many people.

Identity thieves who are able to get some basic information about a person will rush to file a fraudulent tax return before the victim does in the hopes that the IRS will send a refund to the thief. The victim then has a mess to sort out and needs to figure out what happened. This can be exceedingly difficult for the victim and even more difficult for those filing returns on the behalf of others, such as executors and guardians.

In the past, the IRS has not helped matters too much as the victim was not able to get a copy of the fraudulent tax return. However, as reported by the Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog in "IRS Will Now Offer A Copy Of Fraudulently Filed Tax Returns To Identity Theft Victims," the IRS has changed its policy.

Now victims and their authorized representatives can get a copy of the return, which should help in figuring out what happened. The fraudulent return will be redacted pursuant to federal privacy laws, but not to an extent that would make viewing the return worthless.

Of course, if you are a victim of this tax scam, you should not attempt to handle it on your own, especially if you are an executor or guardian. Seek the services of a professional to make sure that you are doing things correctly.

Reference: Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog (Nov. 30, 2015) "IRS Will Now Offer A Copy Of Fraudulently Filed Tax Returns To Identity Theft Victims"

Hear Ye, Hear Me - On Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Please join me this Wednesday for an update on Estate Planning 2015.

The presentation will be held at Horizon Bay at 360 Montgomery Road, Altamonte Springs 32714 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

There is no charge to attend but reservations are requested so we can have plenty of room and materials for all.

Call my friends at Horizon Bay at 407-786-5637 or register on my website.

Bring your questions and come see me this week.

 

UK Historic Wills Are Available Online - Will Yours?

 

Wills can tell a lot about what people value. Looking through old wills can show how values might have changed over the years. The UK has recently aided that effort by making its archived wills available electronically dating back to 1858.

 

We often hear about the estates of recently deceased celebrities. Anyone can read the newspaper or search Google to find out the details of Michael Jackson's estate. However, the estates of historic famous people are more difficult to find. It often requires going to the library and pouring over history books.

 

 In the United Kingdom, however, some historic wills have recently been made available online for people to search through. The Independenthas the story in an article titled "New digital archive will allow public to view wills of historic names."

 

The database includes many famous names, such as Winston Churchill and Charles Dickens. This is an interesting project and well worth a look for anyone who is interested in the lives and deaths of historic figures.

 

 Closer to home, in the United States, something like this would need to be done on the state level.

 

One important message for modern estate planning is that wills are public.

 

 When filed with a probate court, wills become available for the public to access. While it is not as easy to access wills in the United States as it is in the United Kingdom, it can still be done.

 

 Thus, if you want your estate to remain private, you should not rely on a will. Please consider a consultation to explore your options.  Visit my website for more information and to schedule an appointment.

 

 

 

Reference: The Independent (December 27, 2014) "New digital archive will allow public to view wills of historic names"

High-Drama Estate Battle - What Not To Do

Sarah Long was found dead in her home last July. While police are still investigating the circumstances of her death, the battle over her estate is heating up.

Sarah Long was reported missing last July and found dead in her home of gunshot wounds. Initially, her death was ruled to be a suicide. However, inconsistent evidence at the scene later caused police to open up a homicide investigation. The police still do not know what happened to Ms. Long.

 She left behind an estate worth nearly $1 million.

 DavidsonNews.net has the full story in "As police investigate, battle rages over shooting victim's estate."

 Here is a quick overview:

 Long had previously made a will that left everything to her boyfriend. She also had an estranged husband and, under South Carolina law, the husband should be entitled to 15% of her estate regardless of what her will states.  (In Florida, the amount would be 30%.)

 The husband and the boyfriend have been fighting over the estate in probate court. To make interesting matters more interesting, Long's family has also intervened.

 There are allegations that Long made the will giving everything to her boyfriend under duress and that her husband abused her.

 The latest development? The boyfriend and the husband have reached an agreement to which Long's family objects. If it turns out that Long was murdered, then the identity of the killer may also play a role in who gets the estate.

Even if your estate won't involve this kind of intrigue, advance planning can save your family a lot of heartache.  Please contact my office to so we can keep your estate plan drama-free.

 Reference: DavidsonNews.net (December 24, 2014) "As police investigate, battle rages over shooting victim's estate"

Actor's Plan is Ordinary - And Public

The details of another celebrity's estate have recently been revealed. This time it is the estate of late actor Bob Hoskins. Unlike some other celebrity estates, Hoskins' is fairly ordinary.

Actor Bob Hoskins passed away last April at the age of 71. He was known for playing tough guys in movies who normally had a soft interior. Recently, the contents of his will were released.

 He left his entire 1 million pound estate to his wife of 32 years.

 The Daily Mailhas the full story in "Pennies from heaven... Bob Hoskins leave 1 million to wife of 32 years who helped him battle depression." The article includes a brief rundown of Hoskins' acting career, including his time as a circus fire-eater.

 Hoskins' will is somewhat refreshing. Recent celebrity estate cases have often been fairly messy with serious estate planning mistakes. Hoskins, however, did what many ordinary people choose to do, he left everything to his spouse.

 If a mistake was made here, it is that we know what Hoskins chose to do with his estate. By using a will, the details of his estate were made public. If he had used a trust, it is more likely that his estate and his wife's privacy would have remained free from public scrutiny.

 That is something that everyone should keep in mind. Wills are made public. If you do not want everyone knowing the details of your estate, then you need something besides a will.

 I would be happy to educate you on the full range of options available to fit your unique circumstances.  Please visit my website for more information.

 Reference: Daily Mail (December 20, 2014) "Pennies from heaven... Bob Hoskins leaves 1 million to wife of 32 years who helped him battle depression"

Ruby Says "Don't Do It!" - Let Your Dog Survive You

For many people, dogs are more than just best friends. They are a valued member of the family. However, pets, unlike other family members, are legally property. This raises the question whether you can direct that your pets be put to sleep after you pass away.

An Indiana woman named Connie Ley passed away in November. In her will, she made provisions for her pet German shepherd. The first provision was fairly standard. Ley directed that one of her friends should look after the dog. However, Ley also went on to direct that the dog should be put to sleep, cremated and that its ashes should be buried with Ley.

 The Washington Posthas the full story in an article titled "Indiana woman wants to be laid to rest with her German shepherd. One problem: The dog is still alive."

In this particular case, the dog is currently in a shelter waiting for a court to determine whether Ley's wishes will be followed.

 This is not the first time that the issue has come up. In some other cases courts have decided to put pets down as directed in the wills of the owners. The reason for this is that as much as we often think of our pets as part of the family, the law treats them as personal property.

 Animal cruelty laws aside, we are free to do with our pets as we please, including directing what should happen to them after we pass away.

 The lesson here? If you want to determine what will happen to your pets after you pass away, then you should make that a part of your will.   I would be happy to assist in crafting a plan that is fair to you and your furry friends.  

Reference: Washington Post (December 17, 2014) "Indiana woman wants to be laid to rest with her German shepherd. One problem: The dog is still alive"