Streamlined Compliance for Green Card Holders

Green Card holders in the United States face unique tax reporting and compliance challenges, especially when it comes to foreign financial assets and offshore income. Understanding and navigating the IRS’s Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures is crucial for those who have failed to report foreign income or file FBARs (Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts Reports) in the past. This guide aims to demystify these procedures and provide Green Card holders with essential insights to achieve compliance.

Understanding the Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures

The Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures (SDOP) were introduced by the IRS to provide a way for U.S. taxpayers, including Green Card holders, to become compliant with their tax obligations if they have inadvertently failed to report foreign financial assets and offshore income. This program is particularly relevant for lawful permanent residents who may not have been fully aware of their filing requirements.

Eligibility Criteria for Green Card Holders

To be eligible for the SDOP, Green Card holders must meet specific criteria:

• They must have resided in the United States for at least 330 days in any one of the last three years.
• They must have failed to report income from a foreign financial asset and pay tax as required by U.S. law, and the failure must have resulted from non-willful conduct.
• They must have a valid Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) or SSN.

Compliance Steps Under SDOP

If you’re a Green Card holder looking to get back on track with your tax obligations under the Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures, here’s what you need to do:

1. File Last 3 Years of Federal Tax Returns: You must file amended or delinquent tax returns, along with all required information returns, for the most recent three-year period.
2. File Last 6 Years of FBARs: You must also file any delinquent FBARs for the last six years.
3. Pay the Required Tax and Interest: You must pay the full amount of tax and interest due with these submissions.
4. Submit a Signed Statement: You must include a statement certifying that your failure to report all income, pay all tax, and submit all required information returns, including FBARs, resulted from non-willful conduct.

Benefits of Compliance

The SDOP offers several benefits to eligible Green Card holders:

• Protection from penalties: Once accepted into the program, participants are protected from failure-to-file and failure-to-pay penalties, accuracy-related penalties, information return penalties, and FBAR penalties.
• A path to tax compliance: This program provides a structured way for taxpayers to rectify past non-compliance and avoid the potential legal consequences of failing to report foreign financial assets.

Risks and Considerations

It’s important to note that the SDOP is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Green Card holders considering this option should be aware that:

• The IRS may audit the tax returns and FBARs submitted under the program.
• Participants who have willfully failed to report income or file FBARs are not eligible and may face significant penalties if they attempt to use this program.

If you’re a Green Card holder and have accidentally missed reporting your foreign assets or income, don’t worry. The Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures are here to help you fix this issue, often with smaller penalties. These tax rules can be tricky, though, and making a mistake could have consequences. At DimovTax we can guide you through these procedures, ensuring everything is done right. With our expertise in international tax compliance, we’ll help you sort out your tax situation smoothly and efficiently.