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What Is FBAR?
A clear definition of the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts and why it exists.
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FinCEN Form 114 · Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts
Understand the FBAR — clearly, before your deadline
If you are a U.S. person with foreign bank or financial accounts, you may be legally required to file an FBAR. FBAR Info Guide explains the rules in plain English so you know whether you must file, when, and how.
$10,000
Aggregate threshold that can trigger filing
Apr 15
Annual deadline (automatic extension to Oct 15)
Form 114
Filed electronically via BSA E-Filing
FinCEN
The agency that administers the FBAR
Everything you need to understand FBAR
The FBAR is a common but often misunderstood U.S. reporting obligation. Start with the topic that matters most to you.
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Who Must File
Understand what a "U.S. person" is, which accounts count, and the $10,000 threshold.
Check the rules →🗂️
How to File
A step-by-step walkthrough of filing FinCEN Form 114 through the BSA E-Filing System.
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Deadlines & Penalties
Key dates, the automatic extension, and what can happen if you file late or not at all.
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FAQ
Quick answers to the most common questions people ask about foreign account reporting.
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Contact Us
Have feedback or a general question about the information on this site? Get in touch.
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Overview
Read the full explanation
What is the FBAR in one paragraph?
The FBAR — short for the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, officially FinCEN Form 114 — is an annual report that certain U.S. persons must file if the total value of their foreign financial accounts exceeded $10,000 at any point during the calendar year. It is filed with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and is separate from your federal income tax return.
Good to know: The FBAR is an informational report. Filing it does not, by itself, mean you owe additional tax. It exists so the government can maintain visibility into foreign-held assets.
Why getting this right matters
FBAR rules can be surprisingly broad. They can apply to accounts you may not think of as "yours" — such as accounts you have signature authority over, or accounts held jointly. Because penalties for non-compliance can be significant, it helps to understand your obligations early.
- The threshold is measured on the combined value of all foreign accounts.
- Reporting is required even if the account produced no income.
- The FBAR is filed separately from your tax return.
- Deadlines and penalties are set by federal law and can change.
Quick self-check
You may need to look into FBAR filing if all of the following are true:
- You are a U.S. person (citizen, resident, or certain entities).
- You had a financial interest in, or signature authority over, one or more foreign accounts.
- The combined value of those accounts topped $10,000 at any time in the year.
Not sure where to start?
Begin with our plain-English overview, then use the "Who Must File" guide to see whether the rules apply to your situation.
Start with the basics