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FBAR deadline relief for new filers

June 29, 2009

The IRS says that folks who didn't know about their foreign financial account ("FBAR") reporting requirements until recently, but who have reported whatever foreign income they have earned for 2008, may file their current report on Form 90-22.1 as late as September 23:

Taxpayers who reported and paid tax on all their 2008 taxable income but only recently learned of their FBAR filing obligation and have insufficient time to gather the necessary information to complete the FBAR, should file the delinquent FBAR report according to the instructions and attach a statement explaining why the report is filed late.

Send a copy of the delinquent FBAR, together with a copy of the 2008 tax return, by September 23, 2009, to the Philadelphia Offshore Identification Unit, at the following address:

Internal Revenue Service
11501 Roosevelt Blvd.
South Bldg., Room 2002
Philadelphia, PA 19154
Attn: Charlie Judge, Offshore Unit, DP S-611

In this situation, the IRS will not impose a penalty for the failure to file the FBAR.

Additionally, if all 2008 taxable income with respect to a foreign financial account is timely reported and a United States person only recently learned they have a 2008 FBAR obligation and there is insufficient time to gather the necessary information to complete the FBAR, the United States person may follow the procedures set forth above and no penalty will be imposed.

For everyone else, the deadline is tomorrow. If you haven't filed yet, used certified mail to document your timely filing today or tomorrow.

Tags: FBAR.

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