The Streamline Program Turns Two

The Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedure (SFCP) is now two years old. The SFCP was designed for taxpayers whose failure to disclose their offshore accounts was "non-willful," due to a lack of understanding or knowledge of reporting requirements for U.S. persons. Unlike the full blown Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program ("OVDP"), the SFCP places the burden of proving that the taxpayer's noncompliance was willful on the IRS once the taxpayer has asserted that their non-compliance was not willful. Taxpayers who's tax returns and informational filing requirements satisfy the SFCP are only required to file tax returns for the previous 3 years and FBAR's for the previous 6 years while taxpayers in the OVDP must file tax and information returns and FBAR's for the previous eight years.