Build FBAR Batch E-File (FinCEN 114 XML)

Skill: Convert foreign financial account data into a FinCEN 114 (FBAR) batch XML

Region: United States Category: FinCEN / BSA Does: Takes a filer's foreign financial account data and assembles the FinCEN Report 114 (FBAR) batch XML for the BSA E-Filing System — the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts that U.S. persons file when their foreign accounts exceed the reporting threshold. Spec: FinCEN BSA E-Filing — FinCEN Report 114 / FinCEN XML Batch Schema 2.0

The FBAR is filed with FinCEN (Treasury), not the IRS, and is separate from the income-tax return. Batch filers (institutions, tax-prep firms, software) use the FinCEN Batch XML schema; individuals typically use the online form. Element names below follow the FinCEN 114 / BSA batch structure — always validate against the current published FinCEN XML schema and batch user guide before transmitting.

When filing is required

• A U.S. person (citizen, resident, entity) must file an FBAR if the aggregate value of all foreign financial accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year.
• "Foreign financial accounts" include bank, securities, and certain other accounts held outside the U.S., plus accounts over which the person has signature or other authority.
• Due April 15, with an automatic extension to October 15 (no separate extension request needed). FBAR is filed annually for the prior calendar year.

Input data required

Structure (FinCEN 114 batch → XML)

FinCEN Batch (EFilingBatchXML)
  FormTypeCode = FBARX
  Activity                         (one FBAR per subject)
    FilingDateText, ActivityAssociation (new / amended / late flags)
    Party                          (repeating, distinguished by role code)
      role: Transmitter
      role: Transmitter Contact
      role: Filer (Part I — identity, TIN, address, filer type)
      role: Principal Joint Owner (Part III, if applicable)
      role: Owner/Authority subject (Part IV, signature authority)
    Account                        (repeating — Part II financial-interest /
                                     Part III signature-authority accounts)
      AccountNumberText, AccountMaximumValueAmountText
      Party role = Account institution (foreign bank name + address + country)

Data rules

• Maximum account value is the largest value the account reached during the year, converted to U.S. dollars using the Treasury year-end exchange rate (or another verifiable rate); report whole dollars, rounded up. Mark the "value unknown" indicator only when the maximum genuinely cannot be determined.
• Financial interest (Part II) vs signature authority only (Part III/IV) are reported in distinct account/party groupings — keep them separate.
• Consolidated / 25+ accounts: if a filer has financial interest in 25+ accounts (or signature authority over 25+), set the count indicator and the per-account detail may be summarized per the instructions — but records must be retained.
• Amended filings must carry the prior BSA Identifier and the amended flag; late filings include a reason-for-late code.
• The batch must conform to the FinCEN XML schema (element order, country/state code lists, date formats YYYYMMDD); the transmitter receives a BSA Identifier acknowledgment per accepted filing.

Worked example (one individual, two accounts — outline)

U.S. individual with two foreign bank accounts; max values $40,000 and $15,000:

FormTypeCode = FBARX
Activity
  ActivityAssociation: InitialReportIndicator = Y
  Party (Filer): TIN=123456789 type=SSN, Name=DOE JANE, DOB=19850115, US address
  Account #1 (financial interest):
     AccountNumber = DE89370400440532013000
     MaximumValue  = 40000
     Institution   = DEUTSCHE BANK, address in DE (country=GERMANY)
  Account #2 (financial interest):
     AccountNumber = GB29NWBK60161331926819
     MaximumValue  = 15000
     Institution   = NATWEST, address in GB (country=UNITED KINGDOM)

Aggregate $55,000 > $10,000 → FBAR required; both accounts reported under financial interest (Part II). The structure is emitted as a FinCEN batch EFilingBatchXML with FormTypeCode=FBARX and transmitted through BSA E-Filing.

Validation checklist

• Aggregate max value of all foreign accounts > $10,000 at any point in the year (filing actually required)
• Current FinCEN FBAR batch XML schema used; FormTypeCode = FBARX; transmitter party present
• Filer identity complete (TIN + type, name, DOB for individuals, address, filer type)
• Financial interest (Part II) vs signature authority (Part III/IV) accounts in the correct groupings
• Each account: number, max value in USD (whole dollars, rounded up), and foreign institution + country
• 25+ accounts / consolidated indicators set where applicable; records retained
• Amended filings carry the prior BSA Identifier + amended flag; late filings include a reason code
• Country/state codes and YYYYMMDD dates valid; schema-validated before BSA E-Filing upload; deadline (Apr 15 / auto Oct 15) met

Last updated: 2026-05-31 — the FBAR is filed with FinCEN (not the IRS); confirm element names, the current FinCEN XML batch schema version, code lists, exchange-rate guidance, and deadlines against the current FinCEN BSA E-Filing FBAR batch user guide before use.