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San Francisco FBAR Attorney | International Tax Lawyer California

If you have foreign financial accounts and reside in San Francisco (California), you should be looking for a San Francisco FBAR Attorney in California. In your search, you could consider out-of-state attorneys such as Mr. Eugene Sherayzen of Sherayzen Law Office, Ltd. (“Sherayzen Law Office”). Let’s explore in more detail why this is the case.

San Francisco FBAR Attorney: International Tax Attorney

First of all, it is very important to understand that, by looking for a San Francisco FBAR attorney, in reality, you are looking for an international tax attorney whose specialty includes FBAR compliance.

Ever since the FBAR enforcement was turned over to the IRS (in 2001), the term FBAR attorney applies exclusively to tax attorneys.

Moreover, FBAR enforcement belongs to a very special field of US tax law – US international tax law. The reason for this is simple: FBAR is an information return concerning foreign assets and the tax compliance concerning foreign assets and foreign income belongs to US international tax law. Hence, when you look for an FBAR attorney, you are looking for an international tax attorney with a specialty in FBAR compliance.

San Francisco FBAR Attorney: Out-Of-State International Tax Attorney

It is further important to note that, since you are looking for an attorney who specializes in US international tax law (i.e. a federal area of law), you do not need to limit yourself to lawyers who reside in San Francisco, California. On the contrary, you could consider international tax attorneys who reside in other states and help San Francisco residents with their FBAR compliance.

Sherayzen Law Office is an international tax law firm that specializes in US international tax compliance, including FBARs. While our office is in Minneapolis, Minnesota, we help taxpayers who reside throughout the United States, including San Francisco, California.

San Francisco FBAR Attorney: Broad Scope of Compliance

When retaining a San Francisco FBAR Attorney, you should consider the fact that such an attorney’s work is not limited only to the preparation and filing of FBARs. Rather, the attorney needs to be able to deliver a variety of services and freely operate with experience and knowledge in all relevant areas of US international tax law, including the various offshore voluntary disclosure options concerning delinquent FBARs.

Moreover, as part of an offshore voluntary disclosure, an FBAR attorney often needs to amend US tax returns, properly prepare foreign financial statements according to US GAAP, correctly calculate PFICs, and complete an innumerable number of other tasks.

Contact Sherayzen Law Office If You Need A San Francisco FBAR Attorney

Mr. Sherayzen has helped hundreds of US taxpayers worldwide to bring their tax affairs into full compliance with US tax laws. This work included the preparation and filing of offshore voluntary disclosures concerning delinquent FBARs. Sherayzen Law Office offers help with all kinds of offshore voluntary disclosure options, including: SDOP (Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures), SFOP (Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures), DFSP (Delinquent FBAR Submission Procedures), DIIRSP (Delinquent International Information Return Submission Procedures), IRS VDP (IRS Voluntary Disclosure Practice) and Reasonable Cause disclosures.

Thus, if you are a resident of San Francisco looking for an FBAR help, contact Sherayzen Law Office as soon as possible to secure Your Confidential Consultation!

FinCEN Form 114 Estate Filers | FBAR Tax Lawyer & Attorney

Many taxpayers and even tax professionals are completely unaware of the fact that FBAR needs to be filed not just by individuals, businesses and trusts, but also by estates. In this article, I will discuss FinCEN Form 114 Estate filers (i.e. estates that need to file FinCEN Form 114).

FinCEN Form 114 Estate filers: FBAR Background Information

FinCEN Form 114, commonly known as FBAR, was created in the 1970s as a result of the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970. The original purpose of the form was to fight financial crimes and terrorism; FinCEN was in charge of FBAR rulemaking and FBAR enforcement. After September 11, 2001, the US Congress turned over the function of FBAR enforcement to the IRS.

While the initial justification for the IRS involvement was fighting terrorism, it soon became clear that the IRS would use its new FBAR powers for international tax enforcement. This is exactly what happened; FinCEN Form 114 turned into the most formidable and scary weapon of the IRS to force US taxpayers to turn over their foreign bank account information.

FinCEN Form 114 Estate filers: FBAR Filing Requirements

If a US person has a financial interest in or signatory authority over foreign financial accounts and the aggregate value of these foreign financial accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year, then he has to file FBAR for that year. FBAR requires its filers determine the highest value of each of his accounts in “native” currency (i.e. the currency in which the account is denominated) first and then report this highest balance in US dollars. The Department of the Treasury publishes every year special FBAR currency conversion rates.

Prior to 2016 FBAR, the FBAR deadline was June 30 of each year. Starting 2016 FBAR, the FBAR deadline is aligned with the tax return deadline; as of the tax year 2019, the FBAR deadline is automatically extended to October 15. This may change in the future years.

FinCEN Form 114 Estate filers: Estates Must File FBARs

It is not just individuals, businesses and trusts who are required to file FinCEN Form 114. Estates must also file FBARs for any foreign accounts in the estate. It should be remembered that indirect ownership of foreign accounts (for example, through corporate shares in the estate) may also result in the requirement to file FBARs. Failure to file FinCEN Form 114 timely may result in the imposition of FBAR penalties on the estate.

FinCEN Form 114 Estate filers: Executor Liability for Decedent’s FBAR Noncompliance

If you are an executor of an estate and you discovered that the decedent should have filed FinCEN Forms 114 for prior years but never did so, then you need to explore your offshore voluntary disclosure options as soon as possible. There is a powerful incentive for the executors to resolve the decedent’s FBAR noncompliance – failure do so may result in the imposition of FBAR penalties on the executor of the estate.

Contact Sherayzen Law Office for Professional Help With FinCEN Form 114 Estate Filings and Offshore Voluntary Disclosure

If you are an executor or a personal representative of an estate and there is a reason to believe that the decedent failed to file FBARs in the past, then contact Sherayzen Law Office for professional help as soon as possible.

We have helped hundreds of US taxpayers, including estates, to successfully resolve their FinCEN Form 114 noncompliance. We can help you!

Contact Us Today to Schedule Your Confidential Consultation!

FBAR: Exclusion of Personal and Homeowner’s Lines of Credit

Often, I receive specific questions from my clients with respect to whether certain types of accounts should be reported on the Report on Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (“FBAR”). Recently, one of my clients wanted to know whether he needs to report his personal and homeowner’s lines of credits on the FBAR.

A little disclaimer before I deal with the main subject of this essay. In this legal note, I do not discuss the situations where you loaned the money to someone else. This essay focus strictly on the money loaned to you.

Generally, whether the money loaned to you should be reported on the FBAR is a highly fact-dependent situation. Most such loans are not reported on the FBAR, because these loans are not considered assets. However, if a loan can be considered as an asset because of the way it is structured or because it is a part of a larger financial arrangement, the loan needs to be reported on the FBAR. You should discuss this situation with an international tax attorney who specializes in FBARs.

The situation with respect to personal and homeowner’s lines of credit, however, is much clearer. The IRS does not regard these lines of credit as assets and does not require you to disclose them on the FBAR. While this is a general rule, you should call us to discuss your specific situation in order to make sure that nothing in your situation makes these lines of credit reportable.

Contact Sherayzen Law Office to Get FBAR Help

If you have any questions with respect to FBAR or voluntary disclosure, Sherayzen Law Office can help. Our international tax firm has guided our clients throughout the United States through voluntary disclosure and FBAR reporting, making sure that the rights of our clients are protected and they pay only fair taxes and penalties.

Official Treasury Currency Conversion Rates of December 31, 2010

Every quarter the U.S. Department of Treasury publishes its official currency conversion rates (they are called “Treasury’s Financial Management Service rates). While there are many uses for these rates, the current (March 2011 revision) FBAR instructions require their use, if available, to determine the maximum value of a foreign bank account. In particular, the FBAR instructions state:

In the case of non-United States currency, convert the maximum account value for each account into United States dollars. Convert foreign currency by using the Treasury’s Financial Management Service rate (this rate may be found at www.fms.treas.gov) from the last day of the calendar year. If no Treasury Financial Management Service rate is available, use another verifiable exchange rate and provide the source of that rate. In valuing currency of a country that uses multiple exchange rates, use the rate that would apply if the currency in the account were converted into United States dollars on the last day of the calendar year.

Here is the table of the official Treasury currency conversion rates:

Country Currency Foreign Currency to $1.00
Afghanistan Afghani 44.5000
Albania Lek 106.3600
Algeria Dinar 73.1500
Angola Kwanza 90.0000
Antigua-Barbuda East Caribbean Dollar 2.7000
Argentina Peso 3.9800
Armenia Dram 360.0000
Australia Dollar 1.0400
Austria Euro 0.7700
Azerbaijan Manat 0.8200
Bahamas Dollar 1.0000
Bahrain Dinar 0.3800
Bangladesh Taka 69.0000
Barbados Dollar 2.0200
Belarus Ruble 3010.0000
Belgium Euro 0.7700
Belize Dollar 2.0000
Benin CFA Franc 503.3000
Bermuda Dollar 1.0000
Bolivia Boliviano 6.9600
Bosnia-Hercegovina Marka 1.5000
Botwana Pula 6.7500
Brazil Real 1.7200
Brunei Dollar 1.3200
Bulgaria Lev 1.5000
Burkina Faso CFA Franc 503.3000
Burma Kyat 450.0000
Burundi Franc 1243.0000
Cambodia (Khmer) Riel 4239.0000
Cameroon CFA Franc 503.3000
Canada Dollar 1.0200
Cape Verde Escudo 81.6700
Cayman Islands Dollar 0.8200
Central African Republic CFA Franc 503.3000
Chad CFA Franc 503.3000
Chile Peso 486.7000
China Renminbi 6.6700
Colombia Peso 1920.0000
Comoros Franc 361.3500
Congo CFA Franc 503.3000
Costa Rica Colon 501.9500
Cote D’Ivoire CFA Franc 503.3000
Croatia Kuna 5.5900
Cuba Peso 0.9300
Cyprus Euro 0.7700
Czech Republic Koruna 18.6400
Democratic Republic of Congo Congolese Franc 900.0000
Denmark Krone 5.7200
Djibouti Franc 177.0000
Dominican Republic Peso 37.0500
East Timor Dili 1.0000
Ecuador Dolares 1.0000
Egypt Pound 5.7900
El Salvador Dolares 1.0000
Equatorial Guinea CFA Franc 503.3000
Eritrea Nakfa 15.0000
Estonia Kroon 12.0000
Ethiopia Birr 16.4900
Euro Zone EURO 0.7700
Fiji Dollar 1.8200
Finland Euro 0.7700
France Euro 0.7700
Gabon CFA Franc 503.3000
Gambia Dalasi 28.0000
Georgia Lari 1.7600
Germany FRG Euro 0.7700
Ghana Cedi 1.4500
Greece Euro 0.7700
Grenada East Carribean Dollar 2.7000
Guatemala Quentzel 8.0000
Guinea Franc 6078.0000
Guinea Bissau CFA Franc 503.3000
Guyana Dollar 201.0000
Haiti Gourde 38.5000
Honduras Lempira 18.9000
Hong Kong Dollar 7.7700
Hungary Forint 217.1200
Iceland Krona 117.0700
India Rupee 45.7000
Indonesia Rupiah 8900.0000
Iran Rial 8229.0000
Iraq Dinar 1166.5000
Ireland Euro 0.7700
Israel Shekel 3.6800
Italy Euro 0.7700
Jamaica Dollar 85.8000
Japan Yen 83.8300
Jordan Dinar 0.7100
Kazakhstan Tenge 147.5000
Kenya Shilling 80.9000
Korea Won 1160.1500
Kuwait Dinar 0.2800
Kyrgyzstan Som 46.8000
Laos Kip 8031.0000
Latvia Lats 0.5400
Lebanon Pound 1500.0000
Lesotho South African Rand 7.0700
Liberia Dollar 49.0000
Libya Dinar 1.2500
Lithuania Litas 2.6500
Luxembourg Euro 0.7700
Macao Mop 8.0000
Macedonia FYROM Denar 45.8000
Madagascar Aria 2010.6100
Malawi Kwacha 151.0000
Malaysia Ringgit 3.1700
Mali CFA Franc 503.3000
Malta Euro 0.7700
Marshall Islands Dollar 1.0000
Martinique Euro 0.7700
Mauritania Ouguiya 290.0000
Mauritius Rupee 30.3000
Mexico New Peso 12.5000
Micronesia Dollar 1.0000
Moldova Leu 12.1700
Mongolia Tugrik 1262.4500
Montenegro Euro 0.7700
Morocco Dirham 8.5000
Mozambique Metical 35.7100
Namibia Dollar 7.0700
Nepal Rupee 72.9500
Netherlands Euro 0.7700
Netherlands Antilles Guilder 1.7800
New Zealand Dollar 1.3400
Nicaragua Cordoba 21.7900
Niger CFA Franc 503.3000
Nigeria Naira 150.6000
Norway Krone 6.2000
Oman Rial 0.3900
Pakistan Rupee 85.7000
Palau Dollar 1.0000
Panama Balboa 1.0000
Papua New Guinea Kina 2.4800
Paraguay Guarani 4700.0000
Peru Inti 0.0000
Peru Nuevo Sol 2.8300
Philippines Peso 44.1000
Poland Zloty 3.1100
Portugal Euro 0.7700
Qatar Riyal 3.6400
Romania Leu 3.2900
Russia Ruble 31.4000
Rwanda Franc 592.0200
Sao Tome & Principe Dobras 18526.1191
Saudi Arabia Riyal 3.7500
Senegal CFA Franc 503.3000
Serbia Dinar 0.7700
Seychelles Rupee 12.1000
Sierra Leone Leone 4146.0000
Singapore Dollar 1.3200
Slovak Euro 0.7700
Slovenia Euro 0.7700
Solomon Islands Dollar 7.4000
South Africa Rand 7.0700
Spain Euro 0.7700
Sri Lanka Rupee 111.3500
St Lucia East Carribean Dollar 2.7000
Sudan Pound 2.3700
Suriname Guilder 2.8000
Swaziland Lilangeni 7.0700
Sweden Krona 7.0400
Switzerland Franc 1.0000
Syria Pound 46.4500
Taiwan Dollar 30.5000
Tajikistan Somoni 4.4000
Tanzania Shilling 1483.0000
Thailand Baht 30.1800
Togo CFA Franc 503.3000
Tonga Pa’anga 1.7700
Trinidad & Tobago Dollar 6.3200
Tunisia Dinar 1.4500
Turkey Lira 1.5100
Turkmenistan Manat 2.8400
Uganda Shilling 2313.0000
Ukraine Hryvnia 7.8900
United Arab Emirates Dirham 3.6700
United Kingdom Pound Sterling 0.6400
Uruguay New Peso 19.9000
Uzbekistan Som 1645.0000
Vanuatu Vatu 92.5900
Venezuela New Bolivar 2.6000
Vietnam Dong 19500.0000
Western Samoa Tala 2.2300
Yemen Rial 214.0000
Yugoslavia Dinar 0.7700
Zambia Kwacha 4925.0000
Zimbabwe Dollar 1.0000

1. Lesotho’s loti is pegged to South African Rand 1:1 basis
2. Macao is also spelled Macau: currency is Macanese pataka
3. Macedonia: due to the conflict over name with Greece, the official name if FYROM – former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.