By ExpatBriefing.com Editorial 24 May, 2012
The New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) is calling
on the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to provide a simplified method of electing
deferral of US taxation on Canadian pension plans, and is requesting additional
guidance on the taxation of foreign retirement and pension plans due to consumer
confusion over the filing procedures required by such programs.
As noted in a comment letter sent to the IRS on May 3, the NYSSCPA says that
the IRS must consider mechanisms and policies for addressing potential inequities
associated with foreign retirement plans.
It is not the taxpayers intent to avoid taxation, said
the NYSSCPA International Taxation Committee Chair Melissa Gillespie. One
of the biggest issues we are seeing is a general lack of familiarity with foreign
pensions and retirement plans and the related US taxation.
The Society noted in its comment letter that US taxpayers with retirement or
pension plans in Canada and other countries are unaware that these plans could
be subject to US tax and US tax reporting, despite the fact that many savers
cannot yet access these plans.
The NYSSCPA is asking the IRS to simplify the election mechanism that saves
US taxpayers from current US taxation as the Canadian retirement savings plan
derives income. The NYSSCPA also wants the IRS to address how to more equitably
treat retirement savings plans from countries that do not have tax treaties
similar to the US Canada agreement.
Currently, those who fail to timely file the election with respect to a Canadian
retirement savings plan are either taxed on the retirement plans income
or must apply for a private letter ruling from the IRS to make a late election.
But, according to the comment letter, private letter rulings can be prohibitively
expensive.
In order to address this issue, the NYSSCPA suggests the IRS either treat
all relevant taxpayers as having made the election, unless the taxpayer opts
out, or create a streamlined process to facilitate late elections rather than
requiring a full private letter ruling from the IRS.
For those with retirement savings accounts in countries that do not currently
have specific tax treaties with the US, the NYSSCPA is asking the IRS to put
forth legislation that would provide for the deferral of tax on foreign retirement
plans which had compulsory participation required by the foreign country.
Many taxpayers and tax-return preparers are unaware of the election mechanism and requirements, said NYSSCPA International Taxation Committee member Ryan Dudley. To have no practical way to correct this oversight, when the result is accelerated tax on retirement savings, would be unjust.
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