Penalty Regime for Foreign Bank Account Filing (FBAR)
The California Tax Lawyer (Summer 2009 Edition) published my article: Penalty Regime for Foreign Bank Account Filing (FBAR), please see copy below.
Penalty Regime for Foreign Bank Account Filing (FBAR)
Each U.S. person who has a financial interest in, or signature or other authority over, one or more foreign financial accounts (valued over $10,000, at any time during a calendar year) is required to report the account on Schedule B/Form 1040, and TD F 90-22.1 (Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR)), due by June 30 of the succeeding year (I.R.M. 5.21.6.1. (2/17/09)). The IRS has six years to assess a civil penalty against a taxpayer who violates the FBAR reporting rules.
Failure to file the required report or maintain adequate records (for 5 years) is a violation of Title 31, with civil and criminal penalties (or both). For each violation a separate penalty may be asserted.
(I) Non Willful Violation: Civil Penalty – Up to $10,000 for each violation.
(II) Negligent Violation: Civil Penalty – Up to the greater of $100,000, or 35 percent of the greatest amount in the account.
(III) Intentional Violations -
(1) Willful Failure to File FBAR or retain records of account: (a) Civil Penalty – Up to the greater of $100,000, or 50 percent of the greatest amount in the account; (b) Criminal Penalty – Up to $250,000 or 5 years or both.
(2) Knowingly and Willfully Filing False FBAR: (a) Civil Penalty – Up to the greater of $100,000, or 50 percent of the greatest amount in the account; (b) Criminal Penalty – $10,000 or 5 years or both.
(3) Willful Failure to File FBAR or retain records of account while violating certain other laws: (a) Civil Penalty – Up to the greater of $100,000, or 50 percent of the greatest amount in the account; (b) Criminal Penalty – Up to $500,000 or 10 years or both.
