The U.S. real estate market is quite active, and foreign investors are investing substantial amounts of money in the U.S. real estate market to either obtain rents or flip properties. This session will discuss the basic tax considerations related to the disposition of real estate by foreign investors. In particular, the session will focus on the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA), the mechanics of the FIRPTA withholding, the rates, and the most common exemptions. It will also discuss some of the potential pitfalls when requesting a FIRPTA Certificate.
Learning objectives:
Freeman Law, PLLC
International Tax Principal
[email protected]
(855) 676-1040
Fernando Juarez, LL.M. EA, is an International Tax Principal with Freeman Law, PLLC. He advises on complex U.S. and international tax planning. His practice focuses on domestic and cross-border transactions. He is also experienced in voluntary disclosures, FBAR, and global compliance.
Fernando’s tax planning expertise extends to Fortune 500 companies, family offices, and medium & small businesses. His primary areas of expertise include inbound structures for international investors and outbound tax planning for U.S.-based companies. He is a frequent speaker at conferences involving tax topics in the U.S. and around the world. Recent speaking engagements include the Organization for the Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, France, the Tax Executives Institute in Houston, the Start-Up Week in San Antonio, and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Texas. Fernando has published multiple tax articles with international editors such as Thomson Reuters and the International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation (IBFD) in the Netherlands.
Fernando received his law degree from the Escuela Libre de Derecho in Mexico City and holds a Master’s in Laws from Stanford Law School, where he served as the first Hispanic Chair of the Stanford Tax Club. He is licensed to provide tax advice in the U.S. and Mexico.
Currently, he is a National Reporter for the Observatory for the Protection of Taxpayer’s Rights by the IBFD. Until 2020, he served as the Secretary of the International section of the San Antonio Bar Association.
Bar Admissions/Licensing: Mr. Juarez is licensed to practice law in Mexico and is licensed to practice before the Internal Revenue Service.
Freeman Law, PLLC
Founding Member
[email protected]
(214) 984-3410
Mr. Freeman is the founding member of Freeman Law, PLLC. He is a dual-credentialed attorney-CPA, author, law professor, and trial attorney. Mr. Freeman has been recognized multiple times by D Magazine as one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas and by Super Lawyers and Texas Monthly magazine. He was recently honored by the American Bar Association, receiving its “On the Rise – Top 40 Young Lawyers” in America award, and recognized as a Top 100 Up-And-Coming Attorney in Texas. He was also named the “Leading Tax Controversy Litigation Attorney of the Year” for the State of Texas by AI.
He serves on the law school faculty at SMU’s Dedman School of Law, where he teaches a federal income tax law course. He is a frequent public speaker across the country, presenting and educating on various legal topics. He is the President of the North Texas chapter of the American Academy of Attorney-CPAs, a former executive board member of the Texas Society of CPAs, and the Texas Society of CPAs chairman-elect. He is also a council member for the Tax Section of the Texas State Bar.
Mr. Freeman represents clients in litigation and disputes, with a particular focus on federal and state tax controversies, as well as white-collar and financial disputes, both civil and criminal. He handles IRS audits and other investigations and represents clients facing tax and white-collar or financial-related charges. He also advises and assists clients with tax and regulatory compliance, including domestic and international tax planning and regulatory reporting requirements, as well as cryptocurrency and Blockchain implementations.