Tax & Accounting Blog

A number of important changes this year make it critical to get a jump start on proactive tax planning now.

On January 23, 2013, the IRS issued Notice 2013-10. The Notice postpones the date that domestic entities, including trusts, will be required to report their interests in specified foreign financial assets on Form 8938. Background Code § 6038D was enacted by section 511 of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (the … Read More

A common withholding exemption is a claim under an applicable provision of an income tax treaty with the country of tax residence of the income’s beneficial owner. Such a claim must be made by the vendor on a valid Form W- 8BEN, or a Form 8233 in the case of treaty claims by individuals on … Read More

Whether an exemption from withholding under either income tax rules or an applicable income tax treaty applies depends on the character of the U.S.-source income being paid (as defined by U.S. tax rules). For example, a foreign vendor with income that is effectively connected to the conduct of a U.S. trade or business (called “ECI”) … Read More

AP must also know whether or not the income being paid is U.S.-source in order to withhold and report correctly. During an audit, the IRS will request evidence supporting foreign-source payments such as contracts, invoices, expense reports and so forth. If a payment to a foreign vendor includes both U.S.- and foreign-source income and no … Read More

When an income payment is one amount that covers more than one type of income, the payment must be reasonably allocated among all types of income covered by the payment. For example, a single payment to a foreign vendor for the purchase of equipment, which is not subject to 30 percent withholding, might include shipping … Read More