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This premium walkthrough will help U.S. expats understand FBAR filing, foreign account reporting, FinCEN submission, maximum account values, and how FBAR differs from Form 8938.
The dedicated FBAR walkthrough is not open yet. We are building it carefully because FBAR is separate from the tax return, separate from Form 8938, and absolutely not the kind of thing you want to “figure out later” after the deadline has passed.
For now, this page exists as the future premium destination so users do not land on a broken 404 while the behind-the-paywall structure is being built.
Once complete, this walkthrough will focus on the practical FBAR filing sequence: which accounts to review, how the combined threshold works, how to gather maximum account values, and how to file through FinCEN’s BSA E-Filing system.
How to identify foreign bank accounts, business accounts, joint accounts, signature authority accounts, and other accounts that may need to be reviewed.
How the $10,000 combined threshold works across foreign accounts, and why it is not a per-account threshold.
How to gather and organize the highest account value for each reportable account during the calendar year.
Why FBAR is filed separately through FinCEN while Form 8938 attaches to Form 1040 when required. One does not automatically replace the other.
FBAR is not filed with Form 1040. It is filed separately through FinCEN’s BSA E-Filing system.
Form 8938 follows a different path:
Some expats may need both FBAR and Form 8938. Filing one does not automatically satisfy the other.
Until the premium walkthrough is ready, use the free FBAR guide and Form 8938 guide to understand the difference between foreign account reporting and foreign asset reporting.
This premium page is intentionally marked noindex/nofollow until the paid walkthrough system is ready.
Disclaimer: This page is for general educational purposes only and is not legal, tax, or accounting advice. U.S. expat tax rules can change and individual facts matter. Review current IRS guidance or consult a qualified tax professional before filing.