Tax Rules and Compliance

Understanding FBAR: How the U.S. Tracks Foreign Accounts

Young woman using an ATM, a reminder that foreign bank accounts like this may need to be reported under FBAR.

Got a bank account abroad? Congratulations—you’re more interesting than the average taxpayer. Unfortunately, you’re also on the IRS’s radar. Enter the FBAR: the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. Filed on FinCEN Form 114, the FBAR exists thanks to the Bank Secrecy Act, which basically says, “If you’ve got money overseas, we want the […]

Who Are Accidental Americans—and Why Do They Owe U.S. Taxes?

Unexpected news and complex rules—this surprised woman reflects the reality for many accidental Americans.

It’s the world’s most surprising membership: “accidental Americans.” These are people who hold U.S. citizenship—sometimes without even realizing it—and suddenly find themselves caught up in a global game of tax tag. Maybe you were born during a family layover in New York, or you inherited American citizenship from a parent, even though you’ve spent your […]