If you have an authority over or interest in a foreign financial account, then the IRS wants you to provide information about the account by filing a form called the “Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts” (FBAR).

The annual deadline for filing FBARs has been changed and now coincides with the tax filing deadlines for individuals, under the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015. You must generally file FBARs by April 18, 2017 for accounts held in 2016. The previous deadline was June 30, excluding weekends and holidays.

Important note: The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) will grant an automatic extension to October 15 if you fail to meet the annual FBAR due date. Accordingly, specific requests for this extension aren’t required.

Reporting Requirements

FBARs are not filed with federal tax returns. Each year, citizens and resident aliens of the United States, as well as domestic partnerships, corporations, estates and trusts, must generally file an FBAR form electronically with the FinCEN if:

1. They have a direct or indirect financial interest in — or signature authority over — one or more accounts in a foreign country. This includes bank accounts, brokerage accounts, mutual funds, trusts or other types of foreign financial accounts, and

2. The total value of the foreign accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year.

FBARs may be required even if the foreign account doesn’t produce any taxable income. And an individual who jointly owns an account with a spouse may file a single FBAR report as an individual.

Taxpayers also may be subject to FBAR compliance if they file an information return related to certain foreign corporations, foreign partnerships, foreign disregarded entities, or transactions with foreign trusts and receipt of certain foreign gifts. Some individuals are exempt, however.

Exceptions to the Rules

FBAR filing exceptions are available for the following U.S. taxpayers or foreign financial accounts:

• Foreign financial accounts owned by a governmental entity,
• Foreign financial accounts owned by an international financial institution,
• Certain foreign financial accounts jointly owned by spouses,
• United States persons included in a consolidated FBAR,
• Correspondent/nostro accounts,
• IRA owners and beneficiaries,
• Participants in and beneficiaries of tax-qualified retirement plans,
• Certain individuals with signature authority over — but no financial interest in — a foreign financial account,
• Trust beneficiaries (but only if a U.S. person reports the account on an FBAR filed on behalf of the trust), and
• Foreign financial accounts maintained on a United States military banking facility.

Important note: Filers living abroad may coordinate FBAR filing with their tax return deadline (June 15, 2017).

Penalties for Noncompliance

It is important to take the FBAR requirement seriously. Failing to file an FBAR can result in the following penalties if assessed after August 1, 2016, and associated violations occurred after November 2, 2015:

• An inflation-adjusted civil penalty of as much as $12,459 per violation, if the failure wasn’t willful. This penalty may be waived if income from the account was properly reported on the income tax return and there was reasonable cause for not reporting it.
• A civil penalty equal to the greater of: 1) 50% of the account, or 2) $124,588 per violation, if the failure to report was willful.
• Criminal penalties and time in prison.

The IRS states that the FBAR “is a tool to help the U.S. government identify persons who may be using foreign financial accounts to circumvent U.S. law. Investigators use FBARs to help identify or trace funds used for illicit purposes or to identify unreported income maintained or generated abroad.”

Beyond FBARs

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) is another initiative to combat tax fraud using offshore accounts. It led to the creation of Form 8938, “Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets.” This form must be attached to your federal income tax return each year if your specified foreign financial assets exceed these reporting thresholds:

• For married taxpayers filing a joint income tax return and living in the United States, the total value of your specified foreign financial assets is more than $100,000 on the last day of the tax year or more than $150,000 at any time during the tax year.
• For married taxpayers filing separate income tax returns and living in the United States, the total value of your specified foreign financial assets is more than $50,000 on the last day of the tax year or more than $75,000 at any time during the tax year.
• For unmarried taxpayers living in the United States, the total value of your specified foreign financial assets is more than $50,000 on the last day of the tax year or more than $75,000 at any time during the tax year.

For taxpayers living abroad, different reporting rules and limits apply. Form 8938 covers an expanded list of foreign assets not covered by FBAR. And filing Form 8938 does not exempt you from having to file an FBAR.

The penalty for failing to file Form 8938 is $10,000, with an additional penalty up to $50,000 for continued failure to file after IRS notification. A 40% penalty on any understatement of tax attributable to a transaction related to the nondisclosed assets can also be imposed.

Find Assistance

If you have an interest in, or authority over, a foreign account, it’s wise to consult with a tax professional. Your tax advisor can ensure you meet the requirements for reporting foreign accounts and help avoid penalties for noncompliance.