How to File FBAR from Switzerland

If you are an American living in Switzerland with Swiss bank accounts, you may need to file FBAR (FinCEN Form 114). This guide walks you through the process step by step, with Switzerland-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 pension accounts (Pillar 2, Pillar 3a) held in Switzerland or any other foreign country.

Step-by-Step Filing Process

Step 1: Identify All Foreign Accounts

List all foreign financial accounts. For Switzerland:

• Swiss bank accounts (UBS, ZKB, Credit Suisse/UBS, Raiffeisen, Pictet)
• Pillar 2 (occupational pension) accounts
• Pillar 3a (private pension) accounts
• Investment accounts at Swiss 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 Swiss banks:

• UBS: Online banking → "Documents" → download
• ZKB: Online banking → "Kontoauszüge"
• Raiffeisen: Online banking → "Auszüge"

Step 3: Convert to USD

Switzerland uses the Swiss franc (CHF). 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

1. Forgetting Pillar 2 and Pillar 3a — Swiss pension accounts are reportable on FBAR.
2. Not aggregating across countries — If you have accounts in Switzerland and elsewhere, combine them.
3. Using wrong exchange rate — Use Treasury year-end rate.
4. Assuming Swiss banking secrecy still applies — It does not. Swiss banks report to the IRS under FATCA.
5. 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 Switzerland and other countries, including complex Swiss pension 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