Create an FBAR e-file
Complete, validate, and create FBAR e-files for individual filers and review them before transmission to FinCEN.
Follow these steps to create an FBAR e-file:
- Complete and review your FBARs:
- Complete and review your FBARs within a return. You can prepare only 1 FBAR in a return, except for 1040 returns.
- For Form 1040, you can prepare separate FBARs for the taxpayer and spouse.
- You can include multiple financial accounts on a single FBAR.
- You need to prepare FBARs forIndividual Filerswithin Form 1040 returns.
- Generate a validation file:
- Run a full recompute of the return, then generate a validation file.
- In the e-file folder of theFBAR Organizer, generate the validation file.noteThe validation process detects errors and omissions so you don't have to program an extensive list of reject diagnostics.
- Review and correct validation errors:
- With the XML file generated for validation, go to for a list of errors.
- Review each error, which explains the specific item you need to complete. Select the error and the system takes you to the field in the FBAR for correction.
- Repeat this process until you've eliminated all errors.
- For Form 1040 returns only:If you prepared separate FBARs for the taxpayer and spouse, you also need to generate separate validation files.noteThe validation errors at only show errors from the last generated validation file. We recommend generating a validation file and correcting errors for 1 FBAR before validating the 2nd FBAR.
- Create and review the FBAR e-file:
- Create the FBAR e-file in thee-filefolder of theFBAR Organizer.
- Review it using thee-file Viewer.Thee-file Viewershows the contents of the FBAR. While the system transmits a text-based file to FinCEN, the e-file Viewer shows information as an XML file. You can also view the FBAR information as a PDF file.
- For Form 1040 Returns only:If you prepared separate FBARs for the taxpayer and spouse, create separate FBAR e-files. The e-file Viewer displays both the taxpayer and spouse FBARs as separate files.
