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Report of Foreign Bank Accounts (FBAR) Requirements
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TaxAct® supports the creation of FinCEN Form 114 (FBAR); however, it must be filed separately from your income tax return with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Since this is a Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) form, it is not processed by the IRS. Additionally, TaxAct does not support the e-filing of this form.

Beginning July 1, 2013 this form MUST be e-filed or a penalty will be assessed. You can use TaxAct to prepare the form, and use a printed copy to help you fill in the form when e-filing through the BSA E-File System. Because you cannot file the printed copy from TaxAct (but only use it to help complete the e-filing through the BSA website), the printed copy will contain the watermark DO NOT FILE.

(1065) To enter a Report of Foreign Bank Accounts (FBAR):

  1. From within your TaxAct return, click Federal. On smaller devices, click the menu icon in the upper left-hand corner, then select Federal
  2. Click Basic Information to expand the category and then click Schedule B – Other Partnership Information.
  3. The program will proceed with the interview questions for you to enter or review the appropriate information.
  4. Select Yes to the question titled Schedule B – Foreign Account and enter the foreign country in which the foreign financial account is located.
  5. Select Yes to the next question to begin the process of completing the FBAR.

(1120S) To enter a Report of Foreign Bank Accounts (FBAR):

  1. From within your TaxAct return, click Federal. On smaller devices, click the menu icon in the upper left-hand corner, then select Federal
  2. Click Basic Information to expand the category and then click Schedule B – Other Information.
  3. The program will proceed with the interview questions for you to enter or review the appropriate information.
  4. Select Yes to question titled Investment Income – Foreign Accounts.
  5. Select Yes to the next question to begin the process of completing the FBAR.

(1120) To enter a Report of Foreign Bank Accounts (FBAR):

  1. From within your TaxAct return, click Federal. On smaller devices, click the menu icon in the upper left-hand corner, then select Federal
  2. Click Basic Information to expand the category and then click Other Information.
  3. The program will proceed with the interview questions for you to enter or review the appropriate information.
  4. Select Yes to question titled Investment Income – Foreign Accounts.
  5. Select Yes to the next question to begin the process of completing the FBAR.

You will have the option to fill out the form in the TaxAct program. Alternatively, you can fill out the form manually (outside of your TaxAct return).

To print FinCEN Form 114, if filled out in the TaxAct program:

Online Navigation Instructions
  1. From within your TaxAct Online return, click Print Center in the left column.
  2. Click Custom Print
  3. Click the checkbox(es) to the left of the item(s) Federal FinCEN Form 114 - Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. You may have to scroll down in the section to locate the item. 
  4. Click Print and then click the PDF link. Click the printer icon or the save icon (available when you hover your mouse over the bottom of the PDF form) to print or save the PDF copy.  As explained above, the printed copy will contain the watermark DO NOT FILE.

Note. If you see a message indicating that you have not paid your return fees, click theView/Pay your return fees link, which will direct you through the Paper Filing steps. Continue through the screens until you have processed the payment for your product fees and then repeat the steps to print.

Desktop Navigation Instructions
  1. Click Forms at the top of the screen.
  2. Expand the Federal folder, then expand the Forms and Schedules folder.
  3. Scroll down and double-click FinCEN Form 114 - Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts.
  4. Click the Printer icon in the blue toolbar.  In the print dialog box that appears you are able to choose if you wish to send the output to a printer or a PDF document. As explained above, the printed copy will contain the watermark DO NOT FILE. 

If you own a foreign bank account, brokerage account, mutual fund, unit trust, or other financial account, then you may be required to report the account yearly to the Internal Revenue Service. Under the Bank Secrecy Act, each United States person must file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR), if:

  • The person has financial interest in, signature authority, or other authority over one or more accounts in a foreign country, and
  • The aggregate value of the accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year.

A "financial account" includes any bank, securities, securities derivatives or other financial instruments accounts. The term includes any savings, demand, checking, deposit or any other account maintained with a financial institution or other person engaged in the business of a financial institution. Financial account also generally includes any accounts in which the assets are held in a commingled fund, and the account owner holds an equity interest in the fund (including mutual funds). Individual bonds, notes, or stock certificates held by the filer are not a financial account nor is an unsecured loan to a foreign trade or business that is not a financial institution.

Per the Instructions for FBAR (FinCEN 114):

General Instructions:

Purpose. FinCEN Report 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, is used to report a financial interest in or signature authority over a foreign financial account. The FBAR must be received by the Department of the Treasury on or before April 15th of the year immediately following the calendar year being reported. FinCEN will grant filers failing to meet the FBAR annual due date of April 15th an automatic extension to October 15th each year. Accordingly, specific requests for this extension are not required.

Who Must File an FBAR. A United States person that has a financial interest in or signature authority over foreign financial accounts must file an FBAR if the aggregate value of the foreign financial accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year. See General Definitions, to determine who is a United States person.

Additional Information:

The form is available online at IRS.gov and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Website or by telephone at (800) 829-3676. Questions regarding the FBAR can be sent to FBARquestions@irs.gov.