Quick question

Moved to US on 31st March 2016 on an L2. I had sold my house in January so for a short time had that cash in my UK account. I also had an ISA over £10k but sold all assets before I moved over. So does FBAR need doing if all assets were transferred to my US account before I moved? The wording I see says AT ANY TIME DURING THE YEAR so I'm thinking I'm going to need to do it.
Thanks

1 second in your account = you must file.

Remember once FBAR is triggered for one (or through a combination of accounts) you must disclose ALL accounts no matter how much is in them.

Including pension pots?

Yes. As I have posted elsewhere even for an account holding $22 would you believe?

Oh joy!

I had a savings account in 2016 that had a total of £0 throughout the year. Still needs to be declared.

do copies of statements need to be included ?

Just declare. It's not that onerous.

No. You do it here on-line:

BSA E-Filing System - Welcome to the BSA E-Filing System

If he's filing dual status, surely he only counts as a US person when he is a US taxpayer, and not before he moves to the US?

That's exactly my point. Since I entered the US I have only had pennies in my UK accounts.

It appears the PDF form is the same as last year. So you can just update the pdf from last year and resubmit. I had issues in the past, but it eventually went. Has anyone used the new online form?

The biggest issue I have with FBAR is that with an active bank account, it is sometimes difficult to establish the highest balance throughout the year, with income coming in one day and bills going out the next or same day.

I am not sure how accurate that balance has to be. I use moneydashboard.

With a defined benefit pension, would it be fair to say I do have a financial interest but no signature authority?
I certainly will benefit financially from the account one day, I hope.

Why is it difficult to establish the highest balance of a bank account? Why is a defined benefit pension reported on an FBAR?

So if I have £100 going in and £20 coming,then few days later £30 goes out, few days later £200 goes in.

I'm sure your checking account goes up and down a lot.

The question on FBAR asks "Do you have a financial interest in the account?" Any account where you benefit financially from, I would have thought falls into this category.

I know it has been generally accepted DB pensions do not need to be reported.

So you just glance through the first statement and see the highest balance, make a note of it then change it if there is a higher balance on a subsequent statement. Do that as the year goes by and you have your answer.

The definition of financial interest includes: the United States person is the owner of record or holder of legal title. That is not you if you have a DB pension.