Why this site exists
Form 8938 catches an enormous number of people off guard. Someone opens a savings account after moving abroad, inherits shares in a foreign company, or keeps a pension from a job in another country — and only later discovers there's a separate IRS form for it, with penalties that start at $10,000. The official instructions are thorough but dense, and much of what's written online is either a sales pitch or a scare tactic.
We built Form 8938 Guide to sit in between: a clear, honest, jargon-free explanation of how Form 8938 works, who it applies to, and where the real traps are — so you can walk into a conversation with a tax professional already knowing the right questions to ask.
What we are — and what we're not
We are an independent educational publisher. We are not a law firm, an accounting firm, or a tax-preparation service, and we are not affiliated with the IRS or the U.S. Treasury. We don't file forms for you and we don't charge for anything on this site.
Our editorial approach
- Plain English first. If a concept can be explained without jargon, we explain it without jargon — and define the jargon when it's unavoidable.
- Sourced from primary material. Our content is based on the statute, IRS forms and instructions, and official guidance available at the time of writing.
- Honest about limits. Foreign-asset reporting is full of fact-specific exceptions. Where a question genuinely needs a professional, we say so rather than guess.
- No fear-mongering. The penalties are real and we describe them accurately — but we don't inflate them to sell anything, because we're not selling anything.
How we're funded
This site is ad-supported. We may display advertising, including ads served by third-party networks such as Google. Advertising lets us keep the guides free and open to everyone. Ads never influence our explanations, and their presence is not an endorsement of any advertiser. You can read more in our Disclaimer and control ad-related cookies via our Cookie Policy.
A standing reminder
Nothing here is tax or legal advice, and reading this site doesn't create any professional relationship. For decisions about your own filing obligations — especially anything involving prior years or large balances — please consult a licensed CPA, enrolled agent, or tax attorney. Official guidance is always available at IRS.gov.
Questions, corrections, or feedback? We'd genuinely like to hear from you — reach us through the contact page.