Call Now (800) 681-1295
Close

Californian Sent to Federal Prison for Failing to Disclose an Offshore Account

Table of Contents

    Another One Bites the Dust

    A California resident is the latest taxpayer to fall victim to the ever-expansive push by the Department of Justice to crack down on those who fail to report monies associated with offshore accounts.  Last week, San Mateo County resident Christopher Berg was sentenced to just over a year in federal prison for failing to report his overseas bank account and the money within it.  In addition to serving time behind bars, Berg paid in excess of $250,000 in back taxes in addition to penalties that also exceeded a quarter of a million dollars.

    Berg’s Activity

    For four years, starting in 2001, Berg funneled money into a Swiss bank account that he set up with UBS, a Swiss Bank, at their branch in San Francisco. Working as a consultant, Berg would shelter a portion of his income by making large deposits into his UBS account. During this period, prosecutors say that Berg transferred nearly $650,000 and spent it, and the interest earned on it, in Europe for travel and other luxury expenses.

    UBS

    This certainly isn’t the first time that a UBS customer has been targeted by the Department of Justice for this exact same practice. The truth is, UBS has been working with the IRS for years in an effort to save itself from prosecution.  Since 2009, UBS has been providing the IRS with information on United States taxpayers who hold accounts at the Swiss bank. And it only gets worse for taxpayers with overseas accounts. Foreign banks based in Switzerland and beyond are rushing to accept the same offer that UBS took advantage of to avoid their own prosecution.

    What does this mean for you?

    If you have money in a foreign bank that you have not declared, chances are high that your secret is not safe with your overseas bank. With Department of Justiceprosecutions of not only U.S. citizens but foreign banks sharply increasing, the chances that your financial institution will sell you out to save themselves jumps, just the same.  But, it’s not too late to do something about it. The IRS established a Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program that can keep you out of jail.  You would be much better off contacting us to discuss your options than wishing you had while sitting in a federal prison serving out a sentence for tax evasion. Our office can effectively remove the risk of criminal prosecution and keep this issue about money rather than jail time.  Come see us before the Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS comes to see you!   Once a foreign bank turns in your account information and you subsequently become under audit or criminal investigation we can no longer prevent the very real risk of incarceration.

    Tax Help Videos

    Representing Clients from U.S. and International Locations Regarding Federal and California Tax Issues

    tax lawyers

    Main Office

    Orange County
    2601 Main St. Penthouse Suite
    Irvine, CA 92614
    (949) 681-3502

    Our headquarters is located in Irvine, CA. Our beautiful 19,700 office space is staffed full-time and always available for our clients to meet with our highly qualified and experienced staff of Attorneys, Certified Public Accountants and Enrolled Agents. We also offer virtual consultations and can travel to meet with clients in one of our satellite offices.

    Outside of our 4 hour initial consultation option, we do not charge travel time or travel expenses when traveling to one of our Satellite offices, or surrounding business districts, where it is necessary to meet personally with taxing authority personnel, make court appearances, or any in person meeting deemed necessary for the effective representation of a client. To make this as flexible, efficient, and convenient as possible, David W. Klasing is an Instrument Rated Private Pilot and Utilizes the Firms Cirrus SR22 to service client’s in California and in the Southwest by air. Offices outside these areas are serviced via commercial jet airlines. None of these costs are charged to our clients.

    Satellite Offices

    California
    (310) 492-5583
    (760) 338-7035
    (916) 290-6625
    (415) 287-6568
    (909) 991-7557
    (619) 780-2538
    (661) 432-1480
    (818) 935-6098
    (805) 200-4053
    (510) 764-1020
    (408) 643-0573
    (760) 338-7035
    Arizona
    (602) 975-0296
    New Mexico
    (505) 206-5308
    New York
    (332) 224-8515
    Texas
    (512) 828-6646
    Washington, DC
    (202) 918-9329
    Nevada
    (702) 997-6465
    Florida
    (786) 999-8406
    Utah
    (385) 501-5934