Recently, due to volatile rupee and favorable currency exchange rates, Banks have been aggressively marketing to NRIs for investments in the FCNR deposits with Forward cover highlighting a limited time opportunity comparing the yields with NRE Fixed Deposits. Banks have been selling the idea as an Arbitrage (Risk Free) opportunity between […]
Since the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) came out in 2010, US Government has already signed Bilateral Agreements with 9 countries until June 2013. The November 8, 2012 Press Release mentioned that the US is engaged with more than 50 countries (including India) to implement FATCA. After analyzing all 9 […]
FATCA Basics: The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), enacted in 2010, is an important development in U.S. efforts to combat tax evasion by U.S. persons holding investments in offshore (out of USA) accounts. Under FATCA, 1. U.S. taxpayers holding financial assets outside the United States must report those assets to […]
FBAR Requirement: In simple terms, US Citizens and resident aliens (i.e. anyone filing Form 1040) are required to report Foreign Financial Accounts in FBAR form if Value of their Foreign Financial Accounts (FFA) (including bank, FD, shares, securities, mutual fund, cash value of life insurance, etc.) exceed $10,000 at any time […]
No. Foreign Financial Accounts ^ Reported in FBAR?^ Example* 1 Financial (deposit & custodial) accounts held at foreign financial institutions Yes Account with Indian Bank e.g. Kotak in India 2 Financial account held at a foreign branch of a U.S. financial institution Yes Account with US Bank e.g. Citi Bank in […]
Steps for FBAR Compliance: 1. List investments made in foreign countries and money in foreign accounts/investments 2. Determine which foreign financial accounts to be included for respective filing (FBAR 2) 3. Verify if FBAR is applicable based on filing status and reporting threshold (# 5, 6, 7) 4. Gather information required […]