For years, life insurance companies and agents have tried to find ways of making life insurance premiums paid by business owners tax deductible. This would allow them to sell policies at a "discount."
The problem became acute a few years ago with outlandish claims about how §§419A(f)(5) and (6) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) exempted employers from any tax deduction limitations. Other inaccurate assertions were made as well, until the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) finally put a stop to such egregious misrepresentations in 2002 by issuing regulations and naming such plans as "potentially abusive tax shelters" (or "listed transactions") that needed to be registered and disclosed to the IRS.This appeared to put an end to the scourge of scurrilous promoters, as many such plans disappeared from the landscape.
And what happened to the providers that were peddling §§419A(f)(5) and (6) life insurance plans a few years ago? We recently found the answer: Most of them found a new life as promoters of so-called "419(e)" welfare benefit plans.
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Large IRS Fines Continue For 419, 412i, Captive Insurance and Section79 Plans
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Taxpayers must report certain transactions to the IRS under Section 6707A of the Tax Code, which was enacted in 2004 to help detect, deter, and shut down abusive tax shelter activities. For example, reportable transactions may include being in a 419,412i, or other insurance plan sold by insurance agents for tax deduction purposes. Other abusive transactions could include captive insurance and section 79 plans, which are usually sold by insurance agents for tax deductions. Taxpayers must disclose their participation in these and other transactions by filing a Reportable Transactions Disclosure Statement (Form 8886) with their income tax returns. People that sell these plans are called material advisors and must also file 8918 forms properly. Failure to report the transactions could result in very large penalties. Accountants who sign tax returns, which have these deductions, can also be called material advisors and should also file forms 8918 properly.
The IRS has fined hundreds of taxpayers who did file under 6707A. They said that they did not fill out the forms properly, or did not file correctly. The plan administrator of a 412i advised over 200 of his clients how to file. They were then all fined by the IRS for filling out the forms wrong. The fines averaged about $500,000 per taxpayer.
A report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) found that the procedures for documenting and assessing the Section 6707A penalty were not sufficient or formalized, and cases often
Large IRS Fines Continue For 419, 412i, Captive Insurance and Section79 Plans abusive tax shelters. He writes about 412(i), 419, and captive insurance plans. He speaks at more than ten conventions annually, writes for more than 20 publications, is quoted regularly in the press and has been featured on television and radio financial talk shows including NBC, National Pubic Radio’s All Things Considered, and others. Lance has written numerous books including Protecting Clients from Fraud, Incompetence and Scams published by John Wiley and Sons, BiskEducation’s CPA’s Guide to Life Insurance and Federal Estate and Gift Taxation, as well as AICPA best-selling books, including Avoiding Circular 230 Malpractice Traps and Common Abusive Small Business Hot Spots. He does expert witness testimony and his side has never lost a case. Contact him at 516.938.5007, wallachinc@gmail.com, or visitLanceWallach.com, www.taxaudit419.com or www.taxlibrary.us.
ReplyDeleteThe information provided by Lance is not intended as legal, accounting, financial or any type of advice for any specific individual or other entity. You should contact an appropriate professional for any such advice.
[Ed. Note: Lance Wallach is the expert witness we use in our welfare benefit plan cases. Frequently the owner (taxpayer) of one of these plans received bad advice from a broker, insurance agent and sometimes an accountant. Many people sell these plans but few fully understand them - if they did you wouldn't be reading this article! If you purchased one of these bad plans, you need representation before the IRS and help in recovering any penalties from the people who sold you the plan. With penalties usually over $100,000, do not attempt this on your own.
If you lost money and want to get it back, contact
Large IRS Fines Continue For 419, 412i, Captive Insurance and Section79 Plans
ReplyDeleteGuest Post by Lance Wallach
Taxpayers must report certain transactions to the IRS under Section 6707A of the Tax Code, which was enacted in 2004 to help detect, deter, and shut down abusive tax shelter activities. For example, reportable transactions may include being in a 419,412i, or other insurance plan sold by insurance agents for tax deduction purposes. Other abusive transactions could include captive insurance and section 79 plans, which are usually sold by insurance agents for tax deductions. Taxpayers must disclose their participation in these and other transactions by filing a Reportable Transactions Disclosure Statement (Form 8886) with their income tax returns. People that sell these plans are called material advisors and must also file 8918 forms properly. Failure to report the transactions could result in very large penalties. Accountants who sign tax returns, which have these deductions, can also be called material advisors and should also file forms 8918 properly.
The IRS has fined hundreds of taxpayers who did file under 6707A. They said that they did not fill out the forms properly, or did not file correctly. The plan administrator of a 412i advised over 200 of his clients how to file. They were then all fined by the IRS for filling out the forms wrong. The fines averaged about $500,000 per taxpayer.
A report by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) found that the procedures for documenting and assessing the Section 6707A penalty were not sufficient or formalized, and cases often are not fully developed.
TIGTA evaluated the IRS’s effectiveness in identifying, developing, and applying the Section 6707A penalty. Based on its review of 114 assessed Section 6707A penalties, TIGTA determined that many of these files were incomplete or did not contain sufficient audit evidence. TIGTA also found a need for better coordination between the IRS’s Office of Tax Shelter Analysis and other functions.
The Section 6707A penalty is a stand-alone penalty and does not require an associated income tax examination; therefore, it applies regardless of whether the reportable transaction results in an understatement of tax. TIGTA determined that, in most cases, the Section 6707A penalty was substantially higher than additional tax assessments taxpayers received from the audit of underlying tax returns. I have had phone calls from taxpayers that contributed less than $100,000 to a listed transaction and were fined over $500,000. I have had phone calls from taxpayers that went into 419, or 412i plans but made no contributions and were fined a large amount of money for being in a listed transaction and not properly filing forms under IRC section 6707A. The IRS claims that the fines are non-appealable.
If you are, or were in a 412i, 419, captive insurance or section 79 plan you should immediately file under 6707A protectively. If you have already filed you should find someone who knows what he is doing to review the forms. I only know of two people who know how to properly file. The IRS instructions are vague. If a taxpayer files wrong, or fills out the forms wrong he still gets the fine. I have had hundreds of phone calls from people in that situation.
Lance Wallach, National Society of Accountants Speaker of the Year and member of the AICPA faculty of teaching professionals, is a frequent speaker on retirement plans, financial and estate planning, an
Large IRS Fines Continue For 419, 412i, Captive Insurance and Section79 Plans
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large amount of money for being in a listed transaction and not properly filing forms under IRC section 6707A. The IRS claims that the fines are non-appealable.
If you are, or were in a 412i, 419, captive insurance or section 79 plan you should immediately file under 6707A protectively. If you have already filed you should find someone who knows what he is doing to review the forms. I only know of two people who know how to properly file. The IRS instructions are vague. If a taxpayer files wrong, or fills out the forms wrong he still gets the fine. I have had hundreds of phone calls from people in that situation.
Lance Wallach, National Society of Accountants Speaker of the Year and member of the AICPA faculty of teaching professionals, is a frequent speaker on retirement plans, financial and estate planning, and abusive tax shelters. He writes about 412(i), 419, and captive insurance plans. He speaks at more than ten conventions annually, writes for more than 20 publications, is quoted regularly in the press and has been featured on television and radio financial talk shows including NBC, National Pubic Radio’s All Things Considered, and others. Lance has written numerous books including Protecting Clients from Fraud, Incompetence and Scams published by John Wiley and Sons, BiskEducation’s CPA’s Guide to Life Insurance and Federal Estate and Gift Taxation, as well as AICPA best-selling books, including Avoiding Circular 230 Malpractice Traps and Common Abusive Small Business Hot Spots. He does expert witness testimony and his side has never lost a case. Contact him at 516.938.5007, wallachinc@gmail.com, or visitLanceWallach.com, www.taxaudit419.com or www.taxlibrary.us.
Lance Wallach
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Abusive tax shelters, 419, section 79, 412i micro captive insurance, VEBA, expert witness, author, speaker
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Lance Wallach
Lance Wallach
Abusive tax shelters, 419, section 79, 412i micro captive insurance, VEBA, expert witness, author, speaker
Interesting ideas are being touted as the latest and greatest uses of Life Insurance for obtaining enormous tax savings. This idea is not really new and makes use of certain tax codes eg. 419 and 419(e). The plans have typically used lousy life insurance plans (the plan works better that way) and the IRS has reviewed bits and pieces of this area of tax law for years. These RPT's may fall under Listed Transactions connected with Benefit Plans. Go for it but you CPA's out there make sure you have a ton of E & O insurance.
Taxpayers should expect the IRS to take an even harder stance on “micro-captive” insurance arrangements after a recent U.S. Tax Court decision in the agency’s favor,
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Lance Wallach
Lance Wallach
Abusive tax shelters, 419, section 79, 412i micro captive insurance, VEBA, expert witness, author, speaker
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If you are in a small micro captive 831b plan you have a problem. I have been writing about this for years, and have received hundreds of calls about audits.
For three consecutive years, the Service has targeted micro-captive insurance arrangements as an abusive tax shelter. Micro captives are discussed in detail by the Service as an abusive tax shelter and have been listed as a “transaction of interest” since 2016. Being listed as a transaction of interest means that the Service and the Treasury Department have found that it has the potential for tax avoidance or felonious tax evasion, but lack sufficient information to determine whether to list the transaction as a “tax avoidance transaction.”
As a “transaction of interest,” micro-captive arrangements must report to the Service using IRS Form 8886. The report must include: the insurance coverage provided, identification of the actuaries and underwriters, an explanation of how premiums were determined, a description of claims, and a description of the captive’s assets. The initial report for transactions was due May 1, 2017. Failing to report the transaction incurs a penalty equal to 75% of the reduction in the tax, subject to a minimum penalty of $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for other taxpayers and a maximum of $10,000 for individuals and $50,000 for other taxpayers.
Because micro-captive insurance arrangements are authorized by the tax code under section 831(b), they are not per seabusive. Problems developed with captives failing to operate in good faith, jeopardizing recognition as a bona fide captive insurance company. These problems were exacerbated by unscrupulous promoters promising tantalizing tax benefits. These promoters implemented slipshod insurance structures to reverse-engineer the promised tax benefits.
Widespread uncertainty exists as to the how the Service’s challenges to micro-captives will be resolved. There are currently a host of tax cases percolating through the courts which will ultimately provide guidance. Notably, the Service recently obtained a victory in the case of Avrahami v. Commissioner, a case with particularly bad facts.
If your company currently maintains a micro-captive arrangement, it is a good time to confirm that you have complied with the reporting requirements. Likewise, it is also a good time to obtain professional review of the arrangement to make sure that best practices have been followed.