I know that it came as a surprise to a lot of us that we had to file a FBAR form with the US gov't about all of our bank accounts. Just a friendly reminder (as I take a break from pulling my hair out and finishing up my forms and tax returns) that you need to have your FBAR forms in the mail by Thursday the 15th of October.

And don't forget accounts like the holding account where you have your rent deposit....

If we just moved in July of this year do we have to file one?

No, it is for up through 2008. But you will need to file a tax return (even if you don't owe anything) and an FBAR next year.

OK thanks - when you say tax return you mean for next year as well or am I wrong?

Your 2009 tax return and FBAR form are due in 2010 (june 15 for the tax return, not sure when for FBAR)

For your tax return, you can file an extension up until October 15th
which is what I do every year.

The filing requirement has nothing to do with your residence; it depends on the aggregate value of your foreign financial accounts. See the form here and read the instructions. As a hypothetical example, if you had foreign bank (etc) accounts in 2007, and the aggregate value was at any time over $10k, you were obliged to fine the form TDF90 by June 2008.

Incorrect advice, Evilshell: you cannot know from the query if the OP has a FBAR filing requirement, since the OP's residence is not relevant.

A second, if minor error: the filing requirement is based on gross income, so if you are under the threshold you do not have to file a tax return. See IRS publication 54 here for your filing requirements.

You're correct, I made the assumption that (like most Americans), they didn't have any foreign bank accounts before moving. Thank you for correcting me.

I took a look at the requirements, the threshold is pretty low (married filing separately is $3,500, jointly $17,900), so most people need to file.

Can you clarify what the below statement is in reference to? Is this for a deposit on the apartment I just moved in to or something else?

Yes, when you rent an apartment your deposit is put into a bank account - a Mieterkautionssparkonto in German. It is in your name, but you can't access it until the landlord releases it. It should earn interest every year, though, and the bank should send you an annual statement.

Which form are you talking about here? Form TD F 90-22.1 is due by June 30 each year.

The extension for the TD F 99-22.1 for those of us who never knew it was a requirement/never filed one.

The FBAR needs to arrive in the US by Oct 15th not be sent as the FBAR is not like the Income tax return which just needs to be post marked.

My colleague at work did not know he needed to do these forms and has been going crazy with lawyers and accountants. I don't think he has been doing much else since he discovered this.

Anyway, his lawyer called US, and was told they need to arrive by that date to be covered by the amnesty, and so he sent it off express.

Sh!t. Well, I'll just have to go with the postmark date, as I can't get them there in time....there's no overnight service.

Thanks for that heads up!

Got it. Also, be aware that Swiss Post is not a recognized private delivery service for IRS filing purposes.

That is quite wrong: IRS written policy is that "timely mailing is timely filing" and the IRS views a foreign national postal service as equivalent to the US postal service. (See IRS Bulletin 2002-18.) From the same link you cited:

"Revenue Ruling 2002-23, 2002-18 IRB 811 provides that federal tax returns mailed by taxpayers in foreign countries will be accepted as timely filed if they bear an official postmark dated on or before midnight of the last date prescribed for filing, including any extension of time for such filing."

That is correct!! Last year, I mailed the return on the 15th, and I
received a bill for about 1 week's interest although it was postmarked
on the 15th.

I Looked on SWisspost site, and they do international with TNT
You dispatch goods to places all over the world? Whether they're going to Berlin, New York, Singapore, Melbourne or Cape Town, we make sure that your parcels reach their destination safely and in good time. Find out about dimensions, weights, prices and the various services you can choose from.

• Kurier International: URGENT – the global courier service of TNT Swiss Post
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I don't know if TNT would not be considered by IRS, but can not imagine why they would not. They have a guarentee if you send it by a certain time.

Here is the link
http://www.post.ch/en/post-startseit...ational-gk.htm

Not correct, as noted above, per IRS Bulletin 2002-18. I have also received a late filing penalty for a tax return postmarked prior to the due date (but delivered later). A quick 'phone call to the IRS and the penalty was rescinded (I didn't even have to send them a copy of the postal receipt).