Am I an accidental American?
Accidental Americans are people who hold US citizenship without realizing it — typically born in the US to foreign parents or born abroad to American parents. Learn your filing obligations and options.
You may be an accidental American if: (1) you were born in the United States to foreign parents and acquired US citizenship at birth, even if you left as an infant and have never returned, or (2) you were born abroad to a US citizen parent who met the residency requirements to transmit citizenship. Many accidental Americans discover their status only when a foreign bank requests a US tax identification number or sends a FATCA letter. As a US citizen, you are required to file US tax returns regardless of where you live, and you may also have FBAR and Form 8938 obligations. Options include coming into compliance via Streamlined Filing or renouncing citizenship.