OVDP vs Streamlined 

OVDP vs Streamlined: Comparing OVDP vs Streamlined Filing Compliance is complicated. U.S. Taxpayers who have not reported foreign accounts (FBAR & FATCA) or income to the IRS in prior years may be eligible for these programs. Both of these offshore compliance programs are designed to reduce and eliminate offshore penalties.

OVDP is the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program. Streamlined involves the Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures. Even though the IRS closed OVDP in 2018, they also expanded the traditional voluntary disclosure on matters involving offshore disclosure.

When a U.S. person has offshore or foreign accounts, assets, investments & income that has not been properly reported to the IRS, they have a decision to make.

They can either:

  • Submit to “new” OVDP (Updated in 2018/2019)
  • Submit to the Streamlined Program or Delinquency Procedures
  • Prepare a Reasonable Cause Application
  • Make an illegal Quiet Disclosure

Since the IRS has increased enforcement of foreign accounts compliance, and can close these programs without much notice — time is of the essence.

We have prepared a 2020 OVDP vs Streamlined Filing Compliance comparison update.

IRS Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP)

When OVDP (Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program) ended back in September 2018, the Internal Revenue Service was unclear as to whether a New “Offshore” Voluntary Disclosure Program would be introduced.

Instead of a “new program,” the traditional voluntary disclosure program was expanded.

You can use the disclosure program to submit FBARs for your Foreign Bank Accounts, FATCA, PFIC, along with your Domestic Income as well.

IRS Streamlined Filing Compliance

IRS Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures are a stand-alone “streamlined” version of the traditional OVDP.

The “stand-alone” streamlined filing procedures were created in 2014 by the Internal Revenue Service.

The purpose of the procedures are to assist taxpayers who were noncompliant with offshore reporting requirements – but were also non-willful.

If the Taxpayer can certify under penalty of perjury of being non-willful, the IRS reduces the penalty structure, and even waives the penalty for applicants who qualify as foreign residents.

IRS Streamlined Domestic 

The Streamlined Domestic (SDOP).

It is the program designed for for U.S. persons residing in the United States (or do not meet the technical “Foreign Resident Test”) 

IRS Streamlined Foreign 

The Streamlined Foreign (SFOP) is the Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures.

These are the Procedures for U.S. persons residing outside the United States is referred to as the Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures.

Delinquency Procedures for International Information Return

The Delinquency Procedures are an alternative to OVDP and Streamlined.

The program ended in 2020.

RC – Reasonable Cause for Offshore & Foreign Accounts and Assets

Reasonable Cause may be an option for some taxpayers.

Specifically, if you were completely non-willful in your failure to disclosure, and were unaware that there was any reporting requirement, then the thought of paying any penalty may sound absurd.

IRS Offshore Penalties 

It is important that if you are non-compliant, that you consider making an offshore disclosure submission. This will help to reduce, minimize, and/or even avoid penalties.

Here is a brief list of the potential penalties you can get hit with by the IRS:

What are the Fees for Hiring a Streamlined Domestic Offshore Attorney?

Experienced Streamlined Offshore counsel always charge flat-fees and not hourly fees.

Why?

It avoids inexperienced counsel from puffing up your bill and charging you for nonsense services that should be bundled into a flat-fee service (tax and legal) and protects you from the low up-front hourly retainer bait-and-switch.

Golding & Golding: About Our International Tax Law Firm

Golding & Golding specializes exclusively in international tax, and specifically IRS offshore disclosure and OVDP vs Streamlined Filing Compliance.

Contact our firm today for assistance with getting compliant.