If you're a U.S. person receiving income from abroad, or a foreign person earning income connected to the U.S., withholding rules can catch you off guard. Getting the basics right now can prevent notices, penalties, and cash-flow surprises later.

Internal structure in CFCs If you're a U.S. person who owns (or has a stake in) a company incorporated outside the United States, three terms should be on your radar: Controlled Foreign Corporation (CFC), Subpart F income, and GILTI. These rules exist to prevent U.S. shareholders from parking profits offshore indefinitely — and they can generate a current U.S. tax bill even if you never see a dividend from the foreign company. This week, we're breaking down how these three pi

Putting your spouse, child, or parent on the payroll is one of the most common — and most misunderstood — small business tax moves. Done correctly, family employment can shift income to lower tax brackets, unlock retirement plan contributions for a minor, and even eliminate certain payroll taxes entirely. Done carelessly, it's one of the fastest ways to draw an IRS examination, because the family relationship itself is a built-in audit flag.