A Guide to the IRS’ New Streamlined Offshore Compliance Program

On June 18, the IRS announced major changes to its offshore voluntary compliance programs, providing new options to help taxpayers residing both overseas and in the United States. The changes are intended to give thousands of people a new avenue to comply with their U.S. tax obligations (IR-2014-73). Modifications were made in response to public comments that the existing program lacked a path to compliance for individuals whose failure to report offshore accounts was not willful.