How to File FBAR from Australia
If you are an American living in Australia with Australian bank accounts, you may need to file FBAR (FinCEN Form 114). This guide walks you through the process step by step, with Australia-specific details.
Who Needs to File
You must file FBAR if the aggregate value of all your foreign financial accounts exceeds $10,000 at any point during the calendar year. This includes bank accounts, investment accounts, and superannuation accounts held in Australia or any other foreign country.
Step-by-Step Filing Process
Step 1: Identify All Foreign Accounts
List all foreign financial accounts. For Australia:
- Australian bank accounts (Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, Westpac, NAB, Macquarie)
- Superannuation accounts
- Investment accounts at Australian brokers
- Accounts in other countries
Step 2: Get Account Statements
Log in to each bank's online banking and download statements showing the maximum balance. For Australian banks:
- CBA: Online banking → "Accounts" → "Statements"
- ANZ: Online banking → "Accounts" → "Statements"
- Westpac: Online banking → "Accounts" → "Statements"
Step 3: Convert to USD
Australia uses the Australian dollar (AUD). Convert each account's maximum balance to USD using the Treasury Department's year-end exchange rate.
Step 4: File Electronically
FBAR is filed electronically through FinCEN's BSA E-Filing System.
Step 5: Keep Records
Keep copies for 5 years.
Deadlines
FBAR is due April 15, with automatic extension to October 15.
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting superannuation accounts — Super accounts are reportable on FBAR.
- Not aggregating across countries — If you have accounts in Australia and elsewhere, combine them.
- Using wrong exchange rate — Use Treasury year-end rate.
- Filing FBAR with your tax return — FBAR is filed separately with FinCEN.
How FileAbroad Can Help
FileAbroad prepares FBAR filings for Americans with foreign accounts in Australia and other countries, including complex superannuation reporting.
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FileAbroad explains U.S. federal tax and U.S. international information-reporting consequences of documented foreign facts. It does not provide foreign-country legal or tax representation, valuation opinions, banking or remittance advice, or advice on what a foreign authority will accept.
Scope statement reviewed 2026-08-30 · FileAbroad product/content owner