The Justice Department's crackdown on Swiss bank accounts has been called the beginning of the end of super-secret offshore banks favored by the world's elite. Following a contentious eight-month legal battle between the U.S., Switzerland and UBS, the IRS will get access to 4,450 UBS Swiss bank accounts that represent an estimated $18 billion in untaxed savings. While that may be true, the tax crackdown doesn't just threaten the super rich, says  tax litigation attorney Charles Meadows of Meadows, Collier, Reed, Cousins & Blau. "People with $10,000 or more in a foreign account who fail to check the right boxes and don't file the proper disclosures are at risk," he says.

While the IRS has offered an amnesty period of sorts set to end Sept. 23, the voluntary disclosure period allows taxpayers a break from prosecution provided they agree to pay back taxes, interest and penalties. But not everyone's off the hook, particularly those already under investigation. "If they already have your name, you may be ineligible for the amnesty," Meadows says. "In these cases the IRS reserves the right to move forward with criminal prosecution." To interview Mr. Meadows, contact Scott Holcomb at 800-559-4534 or scott@androvett.com.