The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has announced that victims of the California Wildfires, the Iowa Derecho, Hurricane Laura, the Oregon Wildfires, and Hurricane Sally have until December 31, 2020, to file Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (commonly referred to the FBAR form) for the 2019 calendar year. The FBAR for calendar year 2019 otherwise would be due on or before October 15, 2020.

FinCEN is offering this expanded relief to any area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as qualifying for individual assistance as a result of the California Wildfires, the Iowa Derecho, Hurricane Laura, the Oregon Wildfires, and Hurricane Sally.  Should FEMA designate FBAR filers in other localities affected by these natural disasters as eligible for individual assistance at a later date, they will receive the same filing relief automatically.

In addition, FinCEN stated that it will work with any FBAR filer who lives outside the disaster areas and whose records that are required to meet the deadline are located in the affected areas. FBAR filers who live outside the affected areas seeking assistance in meeting their filing obligations (including workers assisting the relief activities who are affiliated with a recognized government or philanthropic organization), should contact the FinCEN Regulatory Support Section at 800-767-2825 or electronically at frc@fincen.gov.

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