June 30 Deadline Approaches For Mandatory E-File FBAR Reporting

2014 presents particular challenges with respect to FBAR, the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, for certain U.S. persons with interests in or signature authority over assets exceeding $10,000 held outside the U.S. in foreign accounts. The deadline for calendar year 2013 reporting obligations is June 30, 2014, and by then all taxpayers must e-file completed forms using the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) E-Filing System. Failure to file the FBAR can result in criminal sanctions. In addition, failure to file the FBAR can result in civil penalties exceeding 100 percent of the foreign account balance, as recently determined by the Federal District Court in the May 28, 2014, decision in U.S. v. Carl R. Zwerner.