Missed the 2026 FBAR Filing Deadline? File a Voluntary Disclosure Before It’s Too Late

If you are behind on your foreign bank account reporting obligations, you may be able to file a voluntary disclosure and eliminate your risk of facing an audit or investigation. But you will need to make an informed decision about how best to proceed, and you will need to act promptly while you still have time.

Filing a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) is mandatory for U.S. taxpayers who have offshore accounts with an aggregate value greater than $10,000 at any point during the tax year. If you have missed the deadline to file an FBAR, you will need to come into compliance proactively to avoid facing a high-risk IRS audit or investigation. Learn more from Maryland tax lawyer Kevin E. Thorn, Managing Partner of U.S. International Tax Advisors.

When Is It Too Late to File an FBAR?

The deadline to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) is April 15 (though taxpayers who do not file by the deadline receive an automatic six-month extension). For taxpayers who fail to file an FBAR on time, coming into compliance needs to be a priority.

What Are the Options for Voluntarily Disclosing FBAR Noncompliance in 2026?

Taxpayers have two primary options for coming into compliance after missing the FBAR filing deadline. Depending on the circumstances at hand, taxpayers may be able to come into compliance through either:

1. IRS Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures

The IRS’ Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures provide a pathway for taxpayers to resolve non-willful FBAR filing violations. If you inadvertently failed to file an FBAR and you are not yet facing an IRS audit or investigation, submitting a streamlined filing could be your best option.

2. IRS CI Voluntary Disclosure Practice

IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS CI) accepts voluntary disclosures in cases involving willful tax law violations. If you willfully failed to file an FBAR, you may need to come forward through IRS CI’s Voluntary Disclosure Practice to eliminate your risk of facing federal charges.

How U.S. International Tax Advisors Can Help

If you need to remedy an FBAR delinquency, we can help you come into compliance through the IRS’ Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures or IRS CI’s Voluntary Disclosure Practice. We can help you make an informed decision about how best to proceed, then communicate with the IRS on your behalf throughout the process.

If you are no longer eligible to submit a streamlined filing or voluntary disclosure, we can help in that situation as well. We have extensive experience representing clients in IRS audits and investigations involving offshore account disclosure issues, and we can use that experience to help protect you by all available means.

Request a Confidential Consultation with Maryland Tax Lawyer Kevin E. Thorn

We represent U.S. taxpayers worldwide in IRS matters involving offshore bank account disclosures. To discuss your situation with Maryland tax lawyer Kevin E. Thorn, Managing Partner of U.S. International Tax Advisors, in confidence, call 240-235-5096 or request a confidential consultation online today.