Two ways to start. A free fit call, or the Diagnostic in writing.
Client login786-952-6621

FBAR, FATCA, and foreign account reporting

Who files the FBAR and Form 8938, how the TFSA and FHSA are treated, Canadian mutual funds as PFICs, Form 3520 penalties, and the Canadian T1135 for US accounts.

20 guides, each written by a CPA licensed in the US and Canada.

Cross-Border

CRA T1135 Penalties: Missed Foreign Property Reporting and How to Fix It

The penalties apply even if you reported all the income from those accounts on your return and owe zero additional tax. Covers key rules, filing.

Aug 26, 2026
Cross-Border

FATCA and CRS: Foreign Account Reporting Between Canada and the US

US persons report foreign accounts on FBAR and Form 8938. Canadian residents report foreign property on T1135. Thresholds, due dates, and penalties differ.

Sep 4, 2026
Cross-Border

FATCA Explained: What the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act Means for You

FATCA requires foreign banks to report accounts held by US persons to the IRS and requires US persons to report foreign financial assets on Form 8938.

Aug 24, 2026
Cross-Border

FBAR Filing Requirements: Who Needs to File and How

The FBAR (FinCEN 114) requires US persons with foreign financial accounts exceeding $10,000 in aggregate to report them.

Aug 30, 2026
Cross-Border

Form 3520 Penalty Abatement: The Policy Change and What It Means

The IRS changed how it handles Form 3520 penalties in late 2024. What this means for TFSA, RESP, and foreign trust penalties, and how to request abatement.

Aug 26, 2026
Cross-Border

Form 5471 and 5472 Penalties: Abatement Paths After the Tax Court Rulings

The penalties are designed for large multinationals hiding offshore income, but they land equally on dual citizens running a one-person Canadian company.

Aug 26, 2026
Cross-Border

Form 8621 and PFICs: Are Canadian Mutual Funds and ETFs Caught?

Form 8621 is the information return a US taxpayer files for each passive foreign investment company they hold (Form 8621 instructions).

Jul 22, 2026
Cross-Border

Form 8938 vs FBAR: Do I File Both?

They are different forms, filed with different agencies, under different statutes, with different thresholds, and one does not replace.

Aug 21, 2026
Cross-Border

Form 8938: Filing Requirements, Thresholds, and What to Report

You file it with your income tax return if your foreign financial assets exceed a threshold that depends on where you live and how you file.

Aug 24, 2026
Canadian Tax

Form T1135: Who Files, What Counts, Deadlines, and Penalties

The T1135 is required when your foreign property exceeds $100,000 CAD (cost, not market value) at any point as a Canadian resident.

Aug 24, 2026
Cross-Border

How Canadians report US income on their return

How to report US income on your Canadian T1, including foreign tax credits on T2209, T1135 filing thresholds, and the mistakes that trigger reassessments.

Aug 27, 2026
Cross-Border

Is a TFSA a Foreign Trust? Do I Really Need Form 3520?

No definitive answer. The IRS has never ruled on TFSAs specifically. There's no definitive answer, because the IRS has never ruled on TFSAs specifically.

Jul 20, 2026
Cross-Border

Is my FHSA a foreign trust I have to report to the IRS?

Two of the three FHSA types at ITA 146.6(1) aren't trusts at all. Where yours is the trusteed kind, Rev. Proc.

Aug 16, 2026
Cross-Border

Joint Accounts Cross-Border: Tax Reporting and FBAR Obligations

A joint bank or investment account with a person in the other country creates reporting obligations for both parties. Covers treaty provisions, foreign.

Aug 30, 2026
Cross-Border

My bank closed my account because of FATCA. Now what?

Canadian and European banks are closing accounts over FATCA when a customer can't produce a US Social Security number. Covers key rules, filing.

Aug 27, 2026
Cross-Border

Reporting US Airbnb Income on Your Canadian Tax Return

Canadian residents report US Airbnb income on Form T776, claim the foreign tax credit on T2209, and file T1135 if the property cost exceeds $100,000 CAD.

Aug 27, 2026
Cross-Border

The IRS Penalized Me for a Late Form 3520 on My TFSA. Can I Fight It?

A section 6677 penalty is assessable, meaning the IRS can charge it without first sending a proposed notice you get to argue.

Jul 29, 2026
Cross-Border

What Can a US Citizen in Canada Invest In Without PFIC Problems?

US-listed ETFs and individual stocks avoid PFIC rules, but Canadian mutual funds and Canadian-listed ETFs do not. Covers key rules, filing requirements,.

Aug 21, 2026
Cross-Border

What Is an In-Trust-For (ITF) Account and How Is It Taxed?

An ITF account at a Canadian bank looks simple but triggers Canadian attribution rules, plus foreign trust reporting when a parent or child is a US person.

Aug 27, 2026
Cross-Border

Who actually files Form 3520-A, and why is a calendar-year trust's deadline before my tax return?

The foreign trust files it, the trustee signs it, and it's due the 15th day of the 3rd month after the trust's year end (15 March for a calendar-year.

Aug 7, 2026

Related topics in Cross-Border