My daughter is a U.S. citizen who is married to a German and has lived in Germany over 14 years. She doesn't work, he is a banker. They were coming for a visit but she was denied her passport renewal because she was not in compliance with the FBAR, all U.S. citizens with more than $10,000 in a foreign bank account has to report income and pay taxes on it. She never heard of it until recently. They are very upset. He's a German citizen, she is not, and can't understand why she has to report her husband's earnings, which is quite high, and pay taxes on his earnings to the U.S. He already pays 40% of his income to Germany. Was she given correct information? She was told if she didn't have to renew her passport and had come here, she could have been arrested on the spot once she entered the U.S. and went through immigration checkpoint.

Your daughter has two requirements to meet:

1) The FBAR, which are for jointly-owned accounts and/or accounts just

In her name. The FBAR is information only; no taxes are due.

2) Her annual federal Income tax return, which may or may NOT be required.

If you email me her specifics, I can perform an analysis and recommend a course of action.

BTW, I doubt she would have been arrested.

If you email me, I can send you a phone number and we can discuss the situation.