Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)

This is a new law that requires foreign banks to share financial information to the US. FATCA rules requires reporting of foreign bank accounts and specified foreign financial assets. The range for reporting thresholds vary and we can help identify these thresholds for taxpayers living abroad. There is a significant failure to disclose penalty as well as an additional penalty of non-filing.

Reportable Assets

  • Financial (deposit & custodial) accounts held at foreign financial institutions
  • Shares in a mutual fund
  • Foreign stock or securities account
  • Indirect interest through an entity (>50% interest)
  • Foreign life insurance or annuity contract with cash value
  • Financial account in a foreign branch of a U.S financial institution
  • Foreign accounts held by a foreign or domestic grantor trust

Non-reportable assets

  • Financial account held at a U.S. branch of a foreign financial institution
  • Foreign real estate held directly (includes personal residence and rental properties)
  • Foreign real estate held through a foreign entity
  • Domestic mutual fund investing in foreign stocks and securities
  • Foreign currency held directly
  • Precious metals held directly
  • Personal property, held directly, such as art, antiques, jewelry, cars and other collectibles
  • Social security, social insurance, or other similar program of a foreign government
We help our clients with the following tax filings
Type of Filing Form
Expat Taxes 1040, 2555, 1116 and/or State Income Taxes
FBAR 114
FATCA 8938
CFC 5471
PFIC 8621