U.S. taxpayers, including not-for-profit/exempt organizations, with a financial interest in or signatory authority over a foreign financial account are generally required to file the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, Form TD F 90-22.1 (FBAR) with the Department of the Treasury each June 30 if the aggregate value of all of the U.S. person’s foreign financial accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the year. Taxpayers must also report whether they have such interests on their tax returns (for example, Forms 1040, 1041, 1065, 1120, and 990).
Under new IRS guidance, persons who have only signatory authority over a foreign financial account for calendar year 2009 and previous years has been extended again to June 30, 2011. In addition, owners of foreign hedge funds and private equity funds do not have to file FBARs for calendar year 2009 and previous years. And, persons who are relieved of filing FBARs this year also do not have to report the interest on their own returns. Holders of foreign mutual funds, however, will need to file FBARs by June 30, 2010 for calendar year 2009 and previous years.