Foreign Bank and Financial Account Information Report Deadline is 6/30, and IRS is Enforcing Penalties

The IRS has announced that it intends to enforce penalties for FBAR noncompliance – as far back as 6 years. It might be possible to negotiate for one year of penalties if compliance is started. Effective March 24, 2008, IRS has delegated the authority (Delegation Order 4-35) to handle such enforcement to various government officials, including: investigation of possible civil violations of the FBAR requirements; issuance, service and recommendation of enforcement of summonses; preparation and filing of proofs of claims for FBAR penalties; referral to the Justice Department for the institution of proceedings; issuance of administrative rulings; and approval of written agreements relating to a person’s civil liability for a FBAR penalty.

Tax practitioners with clients with foreign bank accounts should notify clients of their responsibility to file the "Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts" (Treasury Form TD F 90-22.1, referred to as FBAR) on or before June 30, 2008. The AICPA also reminds tax practitioners that when gathering information for Form 1040s and Form 1120s to ask clients about the existence of foreign bank accounts and to disclose the information in Question 7, Part III of Form 1040, Schedule B, Interest and Ordinary Dividends, and disclose it on Line 6a of Schedule N of Form 1120. Taxpayers who are currently filing Form 5471, Form 8858, Form 8865 or Form 3520 may also be subject to FBAR reporting requirements. Be aware that a new TD F 90-22.1 is being developed and expected to be released possibly over the next year.

This TD F 90-22.1 form is required to be filed by U.S. citizens and residents (including an individual, corporation, partnership, trust or estate) who have a financial interest in or signature or other authority over any financial accounts (including bank, securities, mutual funds or other types of financial accounts in a foreign country), if the aggregate value of such accounts exceeded $10,000 at any time during 2007. For more information on this, see the forms and instructions for TD F 90-22.1 and see related IRS international tax forms instructions and publications for the definition of a financial interest, frequently asked questions on FBAR,.