FBAR filing for foreign Home Mortgage

[feelthescintilla]

I am a non-resident alien and have a home loan in India, with debt more than $10,000. 

My tax agent told me that outstanding debt is also accounted for when considering financial assets for FBAR, is that understanding right ? 

Does outstanding debt also accounts for FBAR consideration?

[pk · Accepted solution]

it is a mortgage  i.e. a debt you are responsible for  -- it is not a financial asset or account, that can be liquidated or transferred/ sold.

FBAR requires reporting of fiancial accounts ( speciafically bank/ broker accounts etc. ) that you either own or have signatory powers over when the aggragate  US$ value equals or exceeds 10K at anytime during the year being reported on. Methinks your  tax person has it wrong.

Neither FBAR nor FATCA requires reporting of real-estate assets yet but if you are renting out property in India and you are being treated as a "resident alien" for tax purposes i.e. you are being taxed on world income by the USA, you will need to report that foreign rental income. -- but that us another story.