US Government moves forward on passport denials for those significantly delinquent on taxes

The U.S. State Department has begun acting on a law that requires the denial of passport applications (new or renewals) from individuals who the IRS identifies as being significantly delinquent on their taxes. This mandate was passed into law three years ago. The government has been issuing warnings regarding the new law for more than two years.

“If you have seriously delinquent tax debt, IRC § 7345 authorizes the IRS to certify that debt to the State Department for action. The State Department generally will not issue a passport to you after receiving certification from the IRS,” the IRS website reads.

Potentially impacted citizens should note that the law also allows the State Department to revoke a current passport.

Notices have reportedly already been sent out to a number of tax debtors owing more than $51,000 in delinquent taxes. It is expected that the entire list of 362,000 will be notified in writing by the State Department by the end of 2018.

There are exemptions for American citizens living overseas. The State Department noted that it will not prevent citizens from traveling back to the U.S. because of back taxes. However, a serious delinquency may impact travel once the debtor arrives back in the country.

Exemptions will also be made for citizens who owe taxes because of a tax-related identity theft, those who reside in a federal disaster area, those who are in bankruptcy, and those who are already in negotiation with the IRS.

Debtors will have 90 days to make full payments, or resolve any problems, before the State Department will deny a passport application.

New openings and construction projects at airports in the U.S. and abroad

Several airports announced the opening of new facilities for travelers

At Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Southwest Airlines became the first carrier to operate flights out of the newly opened Concourse A expansion. The new concourse is 30 feet wider and offers passengers many new amenities in a beautiful area with a soaring, all-glass façade. United, Spirit, Frontier and Via will also move from their current locations in the original part of Concourse A to the new expansion. American and Delta will then occupy some of the empty gates while others will be left open as the airport begins staged renovation work in the original part of Concourse A. The airport is also starting work on another new concourse that will connect to Concourse A and also has plans to widen the narrow B and C concourses.   

Air France and Japan Airlines have opened new lounge locations. The new Air France facility, which is available for select elite and business class travelers flying on Air France or Sky Team member flights, is in Hall L of Terminal 2E at Paris-Charles de Gaulle. The well-designed new space has a decidedly chic feel and offers gourmet dining, a Clarins Spa, dedicated areas for quiet, work or play and more. The most unique feature is a bar area that uses mirrors and LED lighting to create the sensation of the sky and ground moving past the seating banks.  Meanwhile, JAL’s newly renovate Sakura Lounge is opening at Matsuyama Airport on July 18. The new lounge offers sophisticated, high quality amenities similar to those offered at the new Sapparo Chitose Airport facility.

Denver International Airport will revamp terminal and gate areas to boost capacity while providing better security screening. Construction will begin in the “Great Hall”, the iconic white tented area that conjures up images of Colorado’s snow-capped peaks.