FinCEN — FBAR Relief for Victims of Recent Natural Disasters (2020)

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# Notice October 6, 2020 FinCEN Provides FBAR Relief to Victims of Recent Natural Disasters; Filers Have Until December 31, 2020 to File

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– FinCEN announced today that victims of the California
Wildfires, the Iowa Derecho, Hurricane Laura, the Oregon Wildfires, and Hurricane
Sally have until December 31, 2020, to file Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial
Accounts (FBAR) for the 2019 calendar year.
The FBAR for calendar year 2019 otherwise would be due on or before October 15,
2020.
FinCEN is offering this expanded relief to any area designated by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as qualifying for individual assistance as a result of the California Wildfires,1 the Iowa Derecho,2 Hurricane Laura,3 the Oregon Wildfires,4 and Hurricane Sally5 (the “affected areas”). Should FEMA designate FBAR filers in other localities affected by these natural disasters as eligible for individual assistance at a later date, they will receive the same filing relief automatically.
In addition, FinCEN will work with any FBAR filer who lives outside the disaster areas and whose records that are required to meet the deadline are located in the 1 Currently, individuals and households who reside or have a business in Butte, Lake, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, and Yolo counties in California qualify for the FBAR extension, as a result of the California Wildfires, because FEMA designated those counties as qualifying for individual assistance.
2 Currently, individuals and households who reside or have a business in Benton, Boone, Cedar, Jasper, Linn, Marshall, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Story, and Tama counties in Iowa qualify for the FBAR extension, as a result of the Iowa Derecho, because FEMA designated those counties as qualifying for individual assistance.
3 Currently, individuals and households who reside or have a business in Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Caddo, Calcasieu, Cameron, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, La Salle, Lincoln, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Sabine, St. Landry, Union, Vermillion, Vernon, and Winn parishes in Louisiana qualify for the FBAR extension, as a result of Hurricane Laura, because FEMA designated those counties as qualifying for individual assistance.
4 Currently, individuals and households who reside or have a business in Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, and Marion counties in Oregon qualify for the FBAR extension, as a result of the Oregon Wildfires, because FEMA designated those counties as qualifying for individual assistance.
5 Currently, individuals and households who reside or have a business in Baldwin, Escambia, and Mobile counties in Alabama qualify for the FBAR extension, as a result of the Hurricane Sally, because FEMA designated those counties as qualifying for individual assistance.
2 affected areas. FBAR filers who live outside the affected areas seeking assistance in meeting their filing obligations (including workers assisting the relief activities who are affiliated with a recognized government or philanthropic organization), should contact the FinCEN Regulatory Support Section at 800-767-2825 or electronically at frc@fincen.gov.
FBAR relief is part of a coordinated federal response to the damage caused by natural disasters and is based on local damage assessments by FEMA. For information on disaster recovery, visit https://www.disasterassistance.gov/.
For information on government-wide efforts related to recent natural disasters, please visit: https://www.usa.gov/disasters-and-emergencies.