The IRS recently announced it will begin using private debt collectors to collect certain types of tax debts. The IRS has contracted with four private collection agencies that will focus their efforts on the following types of tax debts:
The (private) tax collectors cometh
A major player in the marijuana business challenges federal tax rates
Half of all states and the District of Columbia have legalized the use or sale of marijuana, either for medicinal purposes or in some cases recreational and medicinal purposes. Despite these changes to state laws, marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I drug under federal law. This tension between state and federal laws has created serious and perhaps unintended tax consequences for marijuana dispensaries.
Israel's Highest Court Approves Transfer of Financial Information to United States
As we wrote recently, the Supreme Court of Israel was considering a challenge to the legality of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA. FATCA is a U.S. law under which banks and other financial institutions outside the United States are required to report financial information on American citizens and green card holders who have $50,000 or more. Failure to do so would lead to substantial penalties on any American assets.
Supreme Court of Israel temporarily delays transfer of tax information to United States
The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA, has major implications for people with dual citizenship in Israel and the United States. Under FATCA, foreign financial institutions are to provide account information for taxpayers holding more than $50,000 in foreign accounts to the U.S. government. Institutions that refuse to provide this information could face a withholding tax of up to 30% on any U.S. assets. FATCA is controversial in many locales as many believe the U.S. Government is infringing on privacy and interfering with the sovereignty of other nations.
