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Report interest income in foriegn bank in spite of overall loss

I have a question about reporting interest income from deposits in foreign bank. I incurred losses by investing money in fixed deposits in India due to changes in currency rate though the banks deposited some interest. The percentage loss incurred due to change in conversion rate (last year to this year) is more than the interest gain percentage.

 

Do I pay taxes for the interest income deposited by Indian bank though overall my bank balance when converted into USD this year is lower than last year’s balance even after including the interest income (no other debits or credits on the account other than interest income deposited).

 

Taking some numbers for example below.

Say, my bank balance was say 5,00,000 INR = 7843 USD (using exchange rate for 2018 noted in https://fiscal.treasury.gov/reports-statements/treasury-repor[product key removed]nge/historical.htm...)
Interest rate for this fixed deposit amount = 5%
Current balance including interest income = 5,25,000 INR i.e. 7521 USD (using exchange rate for 2019 noted in https://fiscal.treasury.gov/reports-statements/treasury-repor[product key removed]nge/historical.htm...)

 

If I just look at interest deposited by the bank, I made interest income of 25,000 INR i.e 358 USD. Am I supposed to pay tax on this income though overall there is a loss (or) should I just report zero interest income (or) is there a way I can report the loss in this investment and reduce my tax liability from other investments/income I made in US.

 
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1 Best answer

Accepted Solutions
KurtL1
Expert Alumni

Report interest income in foriegn bank in spite of overall loss

You need report the Interest income on USD on your Form 1040. You cannot deduct the decrease in your bank account balance as a loss on your return.

 

Losses on investments can only be taken when you sell the investment.  A foreign exchange gain/loss occurs when a person sells goods and services in a foreign currency.

 

 

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1 Reply
KurtL1
Expert Alumni

Report interest income in foriegn bank in spite of overall loss

You need report the Interest income on USD on your Form 1040. You cannot deduct the decrease in your bank account balance as a loss on your return.

 

Losses on investments can only be taken when you sell the investment.  A foreign exchange gain/loss occurs when a person sells goods and services in a foreign currency.

 

 

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post
**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"

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