File in a Foreign bank in euro

[Hugo1]

Hi, 

I come back form a internship and I try to get ma tax back, 

At the end, I don't know which possibilities6is the best for me, I need to file in a foreign bank in euro, I should take the check ? Or can I do a transfer?

Thanks for your answer

[pk]

@Hugo1 assuming that you a US citizen/Resident ( GreenCard )  and that you were abroad, you file your return on form 1040 ( supported by TurboTax ).  The Refund from the taxing authorities ( IRS and / or State ), generally  is ONLY in US dollars.  They will not  direct deposit into a foreign bank ( abroad).  They can send you a check  but it will also be in US denomination   ( US$) -- perhaps  your  foreign bank will be willing to cash the check  for  local currency.  Else , many  US consulates and armed forces site have banking facilities.  I The general suggestion is that if you plan to come back soon, you should have a US bank account that is active so you can  direct deposit  and then transfer as you need to your foreign bank.

 Note also that a foreign bank account owned  or over which you have signature authority, may require  FBAR and possibly FATCA reporting.

Do you need more help ?

[Hugo1]

@pk  Thanks for your answer,

The thing is, i'm french, and i leave in France, i just was in internship, so i ask for a check and my bank will get it ?

[pk · Accepted solution]

@Hugo1 , sorry -- I got it backwards.  So what you are saying is that you , a French National/resident was in the USA  for an internship,  filed your return in the USA, expect a refund and  just wanting the best way to get your refund-- yes?

If you do not have an US bank account that is active ( and in your name ), the only option is to ask IRS to send you a check ( they will send it to your foreign address ).   Your local bank probably will not  honor this check  generally -- so you  will have to go to the  nearest US consulate or US armed services  ( nearest and a friend  ) or use a friend in the USA to cash this.  As I said earlier  most US consulate has a banking set-up where they will honor IRS  checks..  Unfortunately , unless   you have a  US bank account still active  or have an account in local branch of a US bank , or a helpful foreign exchange dealer such as American Express  it is difficult to cash US checks.

Those are my thoughts on this based on my past experience.

Would be very interested in learning how you solve  this -- may help many others in similar situation.

[Hugo1]

@pk Yes i will try this

Thank you so much for your help !

i will tell you how i do !