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inheritance reported on form 3520 so how to complete form 8938

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
March 13, 2020
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I received a $200,000 inheritance from Canada last year so I will report it on form 3520. I also have to file form 8938 every year for my bank accounts I have in Australia (where I live, I am US citizen). The inheritance was deposited into my Australian checking account. Instructions for form 8938 say that you don't have to report any asset that is reported on form 3520. So does that mean I report the maximum balance of my checking account as if the inheritance was never deposited? Thanks.

Best answer by SusanY1

Generally, you don't have to duplicate an account on Form 8938 that was also reported on Form 3520. This would apply primarily when the form is used to report a foreign trust (another use of the form aside from reporting the foreign gift/inheritance).

Include the amount transferred to your Australian checking account on Form 8938. There is no tax associated with your balance so there will not be any negative consequence to including the amount.

Since high balances, not final balances, are used on foreign bank account reports it is fairly common that money is "double-counted" due to transfers between accounts owned by the same taxpayer. It is not uncommon that the form appears to overstate a taxpayer's financial position on these reports annually.

SusanY1Answer

Generally, you don't have to duplicate an account on Form 8938 that was also reported on Form 3520. This would apply primarily when the form is used to report a foreign trust (another use of the form aside from reporting the foreign gift/inheritance).

Include the amount transferred to your Australian checking account on Form 8938. There is no tax associated with your balance so there will not be any negative consequence to including the amount.

Since high balances, not final balances, are used on foreign bank account reports it is fairly common that money is "double-counted" due to transfers between accounts owned by the same taxpayer. It is not uncommon that the form appears to overstate a taxpayer's financial position on these reports annually.

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