FBAR Compliance for Italians with US Assets

If you are an Italian resident with US accounts above $10,000 aggregate at any point in the year, you must file the FBAR. The penalties for omission can exceed the account balances.

FBAR (FinCEN 114) preparation, Quadro RW coordination and voluntary disclosure advisory for Italian residents with US accounts.

What problem we solve: Who must file the FBAR

  • Italian residents with US bank, brokerage, or financial accounts whose aggregate balance exceeded $10,000 at any point during the year
  • Italian residents with signature authority over US accounts (even without ownership)
  • Italian residents who own a US LLC with a US bank account above the threshold
  • Italian residents holding US-issued life insurance with cash value or annuity contracts

What you receive: What we deliver

  • FBAR (FinCEN 114) preparation and electronic submission
  • Maximum-balance reconstruction across all US accounts
  • Quadro RW alignment so Italian and US filings are consistent
  • Form 8938 (FATCA) advisory where the higher threshold applies
  • Voluntary disclosure pathway analysis for prior non-filers (Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures vs. Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures vs. Voluntary Disclosure Practice)
  • Multi-year retroactive FBAR filing where applicable

Who this is for: Who it's for

  • Italian residents holding US accounts who never filed FBAR
  • Italians who recently moved to or from the US and are catching up on filings
  • Italian-American dual nationals with US accounts

Investment: Pricing

Fixed fee defined case-by-case after a preliminary consultation, based on the number of accounts, years involved and whether a Streamlined or Voluntary Disclosure path is required. The preliminary consultation is a 45-minute paid online session ($250); the engagement letter with the agreed fee is signed before any chargeable work begins.

Frequently asked questions

What is the deadline for filing the FBAR?

The FBAR is due April 15, with an automatic extension to October 15. Unlike the US income tax return, no separate extension request is needed — the October 15 extension is automatic.

What is the penalty for not filing the FBAR?

Non-willful failure: up to $10,000 per account per year (adjusted for inflation). Willful failure: the greater of $100,000 or 50% of the maximum account balance, per account per year, plus potential criminal exposure including imprisonment up to 5 years for the most egregious cases.

Is the FBAR the same as Quadro RW?

No — they are different filings to different jurisdictions, with different thresholds and different forms. Italians with US accounts above $10K must file both. Critically, the data must match: Italian Agenzia delle Entrate and US FinCEN both receive the data and inconsistencies trigger inquiries.

Is FBAR the same as Form 8938?

No. Form 8938 (FATCA) is filed with the IRS as part of Form 1040 and applies to Italians who are US tax residents with foreign accounts above higher thresholds ($50K single / $100K joint, with higher thresholds for residents abroad). FBAR goes to FinCEN and applies at $10K. They overlap but are separate.

I haven't filed for years — what do I do?

Most Italian residents qualify for the Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures if the non-filing was non-willful. This typically means: 3 years of amended/delinquent income tax returns, 6 years of FBAR, a non-willfulness certification (Form 14653), and no penalty other than tax + interest on the income returns. We assess eligibility and execute the program.

Do I file FBAR if my US accounts are below $10,000?

If the aggregate of all your US accounts (bank, brokerage, financial) at any point during the calendar year never exceeded $10,000 even by one dollar, you do not file. Even one day above $10,000 in aggregate triggers the requirement.

Does the FBAR apply to my Florida LLC's bank account?

If the LLC's bank account is above $10K and you have signature authority or a financial interest, yes — you file FBAR personally. The LLC itself does not file.

Can my US CPA file the FBAR for me?

Yes, but most US CPAs do not coordinate the Quadro RW alignment, which is where the Italian risk concentrates. We file the FBAR while ensuring it matches the Italian declarations, which is the value of an Italian-side advisor.

Related services

  • Quadro RW & IVAFE for Italians with US Assets — Complete Italian foreign-asset reporting for residents with US LLCs, accounts, securities and real estate. Quadro RW + IVAFE + IVIE.
  • Italy-US Compliance Diagnostic — 75-minute structured session and written report mapping every Italian fiscal and legal exposure tied to your US structure.
  • US Tax Obligations for Italians Resident in the USA — Comprehensive cross-border compliance: Form 1040, FBAR, Form 8938, 5471, 8865, 8621, 3520, 8854 — coordinated with Italian filings.

Next step — book a 45-minute online consultation

Book a consultation (USD 250 · 45 minutes) · Send a contact request

About the firm

IIILEX International Consulting LLC is the Florida-based practice of Avv. Dott. Massimo Leonardi — Italian Attorney (Avvocato), Certified Public Accountant (Dottore Commercialista) and Statutory Auditor (Revisore Legale) with 30+ years of Italian practice. We work exclusively on cross-border matters between Italy and the United States.

IIILEX International Consulting LLC · 7901 4th St N STE 300, St. Petersburg, FL 33702 · us@3lex.us · +1 (786) 604-8764 · +39 335 344 9660

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