Streamlined Filing Penalty Calculator
Compare your IRS penalty exposure for unfiled returns and unreported foreign accounts against the cost of the Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures.
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Estimated Results
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only. Actual penalties, interest, and tax liability will vary based on individual circumstances. Consult a qualified tax adviser before making any decisions.
Getting quietly back into IRS compliance
The Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures give non-willful taxpayers a structured route to correct years of unfiled returns and unreported foreign accounts. We assemble your amended returns, FBARs and non-willfulness certification into one clean submission, so the disclosure is complete, consistent and defensible from the outset.
- ›Amended returns and FBARs prepared together
- ›Non-willfulness certification drafted with care
- ›A single, coherent disclosure package
Specialist support for US filers living abroad
Americans and dual filers overseas often discover their reporting obligations long after moving, and the interaction of two tax systems makes the picture harder to read. Our dual-qualified team works across the US and UK rules so treaty positions, foreign credits and information forms line up correctly. We guide you through each stage and stay in the loop until your submission is accepted.
- ›Guidance tailored to expats and dual filers
- ›Treaty and foreign tax credit positions aligned
- ›Steady communication through to acceptance
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the IRS Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures.
The Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedure is an IRS amnesty programme designed for US taxpayers who non-willfully failed to report foreign financial assets and pay associated taxes. It requires filing 3 years of original or amended Form 1040 returns and 6 years of FBARs (FinCEN Form 114), along with a non-willfulness certification. Most penalties are waived.
SFOP (Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedure) is for taxpayers residing outside the US who meet the non-residency requirement (typically 330+ days abroad in one of the 3 years being submitted). It carries zero additional penalty beyond back tax and interest. SDOP (Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedure) is for US residents and imposes a 5% miscellaneous offshore penalty on the highest year-end aggregate balance of unreported foreign financial assets.
No. Interest on unpaid tax accrues from the original due date of the return at the federal short-term rate plus 3% (approximately 7–8% currently). Interest is not waived under either SFOP or SDOP. However, failure-to-file, failure-to-pay, and accuracy-related penalties are waived.
Non-willful conduct is defined as negligence, inadvertence, mistake, or conduct that is the result of a good-faith misunderstanding of the requirements of the law. If you genuinely did not know about the US filing requirement for foreign accounts and income, you very likely qualify. You must certify this in writing as part of the submission.
No. Streamlined is only available to taxpayers who have not been notified of a pending audit, examination, or criminal investigation by the IRS or Department of Justice. If you have received IRS correspondence about your foreign accounts, contact a tax adviser immediately to discuss alternative options.
You must file three years of original or amended Form 1040 returns (with all applicable international information forms such as Form 8938, Form 5471, etc.) and six years of FBARs (FinCEN Form 114). You also submit a signed non-willfulness certification (Form 14653 for SFOP or Form 14654 for SDOP) explaining why your failure was non-willful.
Willful FBAR penalties are assessed at the greater of $165,353 (2024, inflation-adjusted) or 50% of the account balance at the time of the violation, per account per year. Over a 6-year lookback period with multiple accounts, willful penalties can easily exceed the total account value. These penalties are not waived by the Streamlined Procedures.
Typically 3–9 months from initial engagement to IRS acceptance, depending on return complexity, IRS workload, and how quickly documentation can be gathered. Straightforward cases with complete records can sometimes be processed more quickly. We maintain communication with the IRS throughout the process.
Ready to become IRS compliant?
Our dual-qualified CPA and ACCA specialists have guided hundreds of Americans through the Streamlined Filing Procedures. Book a free, confidential consultation.
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