Is the total value of all foreign accounts based on the max value of each account at any time or only if the sum of all accounts exceeds the threshold on a specific day?

[tamjik]

Requirements for filing form 8938

[SusanY1]

For Form 8938 there are two separate threshold tests, and the numbers differ based on whether you held assets in foreign accounts while living in the US or while living abroad. 

If living in the US the form is required if you had $50,000 as a year end value or $75,000 on any day for an individual, and $100,000 year end, $150,000  any day for married couples filing joint returns. 

For taxpayers living abroad these numbers are $200,000 year end, $300,000 at anytime for individuals or $400,000 year end or  $600,000 at any time for married couples filing jointly.  

These values are in aggregate, not per account.  
 

[tamjik]

Thank you for the reply.  I understand that the values are in aggregate.  Trying to determine if the total of all accounts exceeds the threshold at a given point in time during the year, or if it applies when totaling the maximum balance for each account at any time for the year.  In other words, what if the total value of all accounts never exceeds the threshold at any given point during the tax year?

[DaveF1006]

If the total amounts never reach the thresholds amounts mentioned by SusanY1 during the year, these are not reported. 

@tamjik