Why this site exists
Expat Tax Desk exists because the rules for reporting foreign bank accounts — the FBAR, Form 8938, and their relatives — are enforced aggressively, explained badly, and surrounded by decade-old articles. Most people who get in trouble did nothing dishonest: they didn't know a rule existed, or read a guide written before the rules changed.
This site's promise is narrow: plain-English guides that cite the IRS and FinCEN pages that say the same thing, updated as the rules change. The most recent structural change — the IRS's removal of the Delinquent FBAR Submission Procedures on July 1, 2026 — is documented where other sites still describe the old procedure as current.
Editorial standards
- Every load-bearing number (deadlines, penalty maximums, thresholds) is checked against primary sources before publication, and re-checked at each update. The date of the last update appears at the top of every guide.
- When a question is genuinely unsettled (foreign pensions under the FBAR, crypto held at foreign exchanges), the guides say so instead of inventing certainty.
- Sources are linked inline. If we can't find the source, we don't state the fact.
What this site is not
Not a law firm, not a CPA practice, and not individual advice. Nothing here creates a professional relationship, and no guide can know your facts. For decisions with real money attached — especially anything touching willfulness — use a licensed cross-border tax professional, and use the guides to have a smarter conversation.
How the site is funded
Display advertising, specifically Google AdSense. Advertising does not influence content: there is nothing to sell, no lead forms, and no sponsored posts. See the privacy policy for what advertising cookies do.
Corrections
Spotted an error or an outdated rule? Write to the address on the contact page. Corrections are made visibly and the update date on affected pages changes.