Passive Foreign Investment Problems Solved

Form 8621 Basics

Everything you need to know about Form 8621 reporting to avoid problems

Correcting Common Form 8621 Errors

The US government has solutions to correct common Form 8621 errors.

Frequently Asked Form 8621 Questions

Frequently asked questions about Form 8621 and filing.

The Top 10 Form 8621 Problems

There are many common problems that can be avoided.

Meet Mr. Patel

Mr. Patel’s expertise is in all stages of tax controversies including international tax law, foreign bank accounts and disclosures, tax audit defense, and tax appeals. Mr. Patel has counseled over 1000 voluntary tax matters for assets before the US Internal Revenue Service.

Mr. Patel is a graduate of Georgetown (J.D.) and New York University (LL.M tax) law schools, which are the top 2 tax law schools in the United States. Mr. Patel is a Board Certified Tax Law Attorney, Board Certified Estate Planning Law Specialist, Board Certified Elder Law Attorney, and frequent speaker on legal issues affecting tax, offshore tax planning, and estate planning.

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About Us

Patel Law Offices’ goal is to achieve our clients’ objectives in the most creative, responsive, and cost-effective manner.

Our International Tax Attorney team represents clients nationwide and globally in IRS offshore and voluntary disclosure solutions.  We have counseled clients in over 1000 voluntary disclosure matters and are one of the most experienced IRS offshore and voluntary disclosure law firms.

Each case is led by Mr. Patel, who is a Board Certified Tax Law Lawyer. Our International Tax Attorney team concentrates in IRS offshore and voluntary disclosure solutions for undisclosed accounts, assets and investments including Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures (SDOP), Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures (SFOP), Voluntary Disclosure Practice (VDP), Delinquent International Information Return Submission Procedure (DIIRSP), Delinquent FBAR Submission Procedure (DFSP).

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Rahul Sharma ★★★★★

Parag provided both professional and personal advice in a super timely manner. Would definitely recommend and work with again in the future.

Nicholas Visco ★★★★★

Extremely knowledgeable and well versed in probate matter. Mr. Patel and his team have been excellent to work with.

Latest Blog Posts

Live Webinar on U.S.-India Tax Planning: Key Issues, Tax Treaties: Limited Free Registrations Available


I am pleased to announce that I will be speaking in an upcoming Strafford live video webinar, U.S.-India Tax Planning: Key Issues, Tax Treaties on Monday, December 16, from 1:00pm-2:30pm EST. Our panel will provide tax counsel and advisers with a thorough and practical guide into the tax reporting requirements and planning opportuni…

New IRS Form Simplifies Section 83(b) Election for Restricted Stock


Understanding the Section 83(b) Election Employees who receive restricted stock or other property for their services often face a complex tax situation. Typically, income tax is due when the stock vests, meaning when the employee gains full ownership rights. However, a Section 83(b) election allows employees to pay taxes upfront, base…

Taxpayer Wins Form 5471 Penalty Case


In the case of Mukhi v. Commissioner (163 T.C. No. 8, November 18, 2024), the U.S. Tax Court ruled that the IRS lacks the authority under Code Section 6038(b)(1) to impose an assessment for failure to file Form 5471 (Information Return of U.S. Persons With Respect To Certain Foreign Corporations). While Code…

Analysis of the Revised Form 14457: Key Changes to the IRS Voluntary Disclosure Practice


The IRS’s updates to Form 14457, “Voluntary Disclosure Practice Preclearance and Application,” mark a significant tightening of the program’s requirements and an intensification of its focus on enforcement. These changes, including a new willfulness admission, stricter timelines for document submission, and mandatory full payment of liabilities, demand careful consideration by taxpayers and…

Common Problems Solved

Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures (SDOP)

The Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures is one of the two popular programs available under the IRS Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures. It is for U.S. Resident Taxpayers who originally filed income tax returns, but were non-willful in not reporting foreign accounts, investments or income, who can use Form 14654 Certification by U.S. Person Residing in the U.S. to become compliant. This limited tax amnesty solution for U.S. resident taxpayers holding noncompliant foreign accounts has a reduced single year 5% offshore penalty. Our legal team has advised and prepared hundreds of Streamlined cases with the IRS.

Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures (SFOP)

The Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures is one of the two popular programs available under the IRS Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures. Applicants need not have filed original tax returns, but they must be non-willful in not reporting foreign accounts, investments or income, via Form 14653 Certification by U.S. Person Residing Outside of the U.S. to become compliant. This limited tax amnesty solution for U.S. non-resident taxpayers holding noncompliant foreign accounts has a 0% penalty. Our legal team has advised and prepared hundreds of Streamlined cases with the IRS.

Delinquent International Informational Return Submission Procedures (DIIRSP)

The DIIRSP is one of the four methods for taxpayers with unreported offshore accounts to become compliant. Taxpayers who have failed to file certain international-related information returns including Forms 5471, 8938, 3520, 8865, 926, 5472, an 8858 can use the DIIRSP to cure the non-compliance. No penalties are applied if there is reasonable cause for the failure to file the information form and the IRS agrees. Reasonable Cause is a fact specific submission, which is based on each applicant's facts and circumstances.

Delinquent FBAR Submission Procedure (DFSP)

The FBAR is the FinCEN Form 114, which is commonly misunderstood. A delinquent or late FBAR is subject to very high penalties. The DFSP is one of the four methods for taxpayers with unreported offshore accounts to become compliant. Taxpayers who have failed to an FBAR can use the DFSP to cure the non-compliance. While there is no DFSP penalty the DFSP has complex rigid eligibility requirements. Our legal team mitigates foreign account FBAR mistakes for clients around the globe.

Form 8938 Penalties

A delinquent or late Form 8938 Statement of Foreign Financial Assets is subject to many common mistakes and high penalties. Our legal team cures many common Form 8938 errors for clients around the globe.

Form 5471 Penalties

U.S. owners and investors of certain foreign corporations must file a Form 5471, otherwise there are very high Form 5471 Penalties. Form 5471 is a complex form with many common mistakes. because of the expansive disclosure of corporation's assets, liabilities and equity. Our legal team can help you fix late or unfiled Form 5471 errors.

Malta Pension Plan Problems

Malta Pension Plans have been criminally and civilly investigated by the IRS and are on the IRS "dirty dozen" list. Recently in late 2021, the United States and Malta entered an agreement regarding Malta pension rollovers. We have assisted dozens of taxpayers with compliance and solutions with Malta Pension Plan problems.

Form 3520 Penalties

U.S. persons connected to foreign trusts or US recipients of foreign gifts must file a Form 3520, otherwise there are very high Form 3520 penalties. Form 3520 is a complex form with many common mistakes. Our legal team can help you fix late or unfiled Form 3520 errors.