The streamlined filing compliance procedures are designed only for individual taxpayers, including estates of individual taxpayers. The streamlined procedures are available to both U.S. individual taxpayers residing outside the United States and U.S. individual taxpayers residing in the United States.
Taxpayers using either the Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures or the Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures, will be required to certify that the failure to report all income, pay all tax and submit all required information returns, including FBARs (FinCEN Form 114) was due to non-willful conduct. Non-willful conduct is conduct that is due to negligence, inadvertence, or mistake or conduct that is the result of a good faith misunderstanding of the requirements of the law
In order to follow the streamline procedure, the taxpayer must:
· Submit a complete and accurate tax return for the last three years which tax return is due.
· Write the words “Streamlined Foreign Offshore” preferable in red ink at the top of the first page of each years return.
· Submit payment of all tax due and interest due.
· Submit FBAR reports for the last 6 years.
Generally, amended return will not be accepted in this program.
Taxpayers who are concerned that their failure to report income, pay tax, and submit required information returns was due to willful conduct and who therefore seek assurances that they will not be subject to criminal liability and/or substantial monetary penalties should consider participating in the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP).
After a taxpayer has completed the streamlined filing compliance procedures, he or she will be expected to comply with U.S. law for all future years and file returns according to regular filing procedures.
