FBAR Extension for Certain Individuals: FinCEN Notices 2011-1 and 2011-2
On May 31, 2011, and June 17, 2011, in FinCEN Notices 2011-1 and 2011-2, the Internal Revenue Service and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced that a small subset of individuals, who are required to file the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR), will receive a one-year extension beyond the recent filing date of June 30, 2011.
FinCEN Notices 2011-1 and 2011-2 concern only individuals with signature authority and apply to the following narrow categories of filers:
1). An employee or officer of a covered entity (see 31 C.F.R. § 1010.350(f)(2)(i)-(v)) who has signature or other authority over and no financial interest in a foreign financial account of another entity more than 50 percent owned, directly or indirectly, by the entity (a “controlled person”).
2). An employee or officer of a controlled person of a covered entity (see 31 C.F.R. § 1010.350(f)(2)(i)-(v)) who has signature or other authority over and no financial interest in a foreign financial account of the entity or another controlled person of the entity.
3). An employee or officer of an investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission who has signature or other authority over and no financial interest in a foreign financial account of persons that are not investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Notice that categories 1 and 2 do not apply to companies that are not publicly traded or not SEC-registrants.
The new extended filing deadline for the categories of individuals above is June 30, 2012. The deadline applies to FBARs for 2010, 2009 and earlier years.
Unless another relief notice applies, all other U.S. persons required to file an FBAR this year are required to meet the June 30, 2011 filing date. Unlike with federal income tax returns, extensions of time to file are not available.
Contact Sherayzen Law Office for FBAR Guidance
If you have any questions with respect to FinCEN Notices 2011-1 and 2011-2 or if you are looking for FBAR guidance, contact Sherayzen Law Office NOW! Eugene Sherayzen an experienced tax attorney will explain to you the current FBAR requirements and devise the appropriate FBAR compliance strategy for you.