U.S. real estate is enormously attractive to many foreign investors, who are thus ushered into the ambit of the complex U.S. Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA). A full understanding of the associated tax implications on the part of these investors and their advisors is essential if they are to implement the correct structure to maximize their returns, avoid unnecessary withholding, and comply with applicable requirements. This book, the first practical guide to FIRPTA, clearly articulates the operation and transactional implications of FIRPTA and its interaction with various other regimes, sets forth real life situations, and points out potential traps, all in a readily graspable format. Among the tax issues and consequences that directly or indirectly affect foreign investors in U.S. real property interests, the author highlights the following and more: • the real estate investment trust (REIT); • withholding taxes that are jointly and severally liable for buyers and sellers; • treatment of rental, interest, and dividend income; • effect of the branch profits tax; • tax treaty benefits; • exemptions to FIRPTA; • special rules applicable to foreign governmental investors; • tax reporting standards and potential penalties for noncompliance; and • state and local tax issues relating to U.S. real estate investments. Providing a straightforward and accessible guide for navigating the tax issues that confront foreign investors in U.S. real estate, this resource will prove invaluable in identifying and formulating the correct strategies for investors and their advisors with respect to investments in the U.S. real estate market. It is sure to benefit all interested parties for years to come. Angela W. Yu, a tax partner of KPMG’s New York office, has extensive experience providing integrated tax advice to clients on cross-border transactions. She is a frequent speaker on U.S. tax issues, and has addressed many professional organizations.

Excerpt from Taxation of Foreign Investment in U. S. Real Estate Dear Mr. Chairman: Section 553 of Public Law No. 95-500, the "Revenue Act of 1978," required the Treasury Department to conduct a study and analysis of the appropriate tax treatment of income from, or gain on the sale of, interest in United States property held by nonresident aliens and foreign corporations. The Secretary is required to transmit a report of the results of this study, together with the recommendations of the Department, within six months of the date of enactment of the Act. Pursuant to these provisions, I hereby submit a report entitled "Taxation of Foreign Investment in U.S. Real Estate." Under present law, capital gains realized by nonresident aliens and foreign corporations are not subject to U.S. tax unless they are "effectively connected" with a U.S. trade or business. The Treasury Report finds that, while most real property holdings of foreign person is used in a U.S. trade or business, foreign persons rarely incur capital gains tax on the disposition of their U.S. property holdings. The Report identifies various ways in which the capital gains on real estate, which would ordinarily be taxable, can be converted into capital gain on some other asset, which would not. The principal means by which this is accomplished is through a real property holding company and converting gain realized on disposition of the "effectively connected" property into gain realized on disposition of the shares, which is not deemed "effectively connected." The Treasury does not believe that taxing capital gain on the sale of corporate shares is desirable or practical. But to prevent unintended tax avoidance, the Treasury recommends modifying certain specific statutory provisions under which foreign taxpayers convert taxable gain on real estate into nontaxable gain. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Designed for use in law schools, business schools and schools of management, this casebook outlines the determination and administration of U.S. income tax liabilities resulting from international transactions. Textual discussion, cases, rulings and problems, guides students through the basic tax considerations that confront foreign individuals and entities participating in the U.S. economy, and U.S. individuals and entities seeking to derive income abroad. Covers both the U.S. tax rules applicable to international transactions and the tax policy considerations underlying those rules.

CFIUS is comprised of 9 members, two ex officio members, and other members as appointed by the Pres. representing major departments and agencies within the Exec. Branch. While the group generally has operated in relative obscurity, the proposed acquisition of commercial operations at six U.S. ports by Dubai Ports World in 2006 placed the group¿s operations under intense scrutiny. Contents of this report: Background; Establishment of CFIUS; The ¿Exon-Florio¿ Provision; Treasury Dept. Regulations; The ¿Byrd Amendment¿; The Amended CFIUS Process; Procedures; Factors for Consideration; Confidentiality Require.; Mitigation and Tracking; Congressional Oversight; CFIUS Since Exon-Florio; Impact of the Exon-Florio Process on CFIUS. Illus.