?
What Is FBAR?
A clear definition of the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts and why it exists.
Read the overview →
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. {{SITE_NAME}} 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.
👤
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.
See the steps →📅
Deadlines & Penalties
Key dates, the automatic extension, and what can happen if you file late or not at all.
View the dates →💬
FAQ
Quick answers to the most common questions people ask about foreign account reporting.
Browse answers →✉️
Contact Us
Have feedback or a general question about the information on this site? Get in touch.
Reach out →
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