Guide · checked 18 October 2026

US citizens: tax filing and bank-account reporting

What the IRS and FinCEN say about the US tax return, Form 8938 and the FBAR for a US citizen abroad, then what the BOE and the AEAT say about the Spain-US FATCA agreement, the Modelo 290 and the income tax convention, with what we could not confirm.

This page covers US citizens; green card holders and dual nationals may differ.

This guide reports what official US and Spanish pages and texts say about the US tax return and the reporting of foreign accounts for a US citizen who lives in Spain: the IRS on worldwide income and filing, on the foreign earned income exclusion and the foreign tax credit, and on Form 8938 and the FBAR; then the Spain-US FATCA agreement, the Spanish Modelo 290, and the Spain-US income tax convention with its Protocol. It does not say whether anyone files anything, what to report or by when. Quotes are in the language of the source, with a link, the date the source shows and the day we read it. The sentences after a quote are our own summary of it, not a translation to rely on. Where an official page prints a dollar figure without naming a tax year, we do not reproduce it. This page is not tax advice and names no firm.

What the IRS says about US citizens living abroad

The IRS page on US citizens and resident aliens abroad says:

“If you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien, the rules for filing income, estate, and gift tax returns and paying estimated tax are generally the same whether you are in the United States or abroad. You are subject to tax on worldwide income from all sources and must report all taxable income and pay taxes according to the Internal Revenue Code.” (IRS: U.S. citizens and resident aliens abroad)
Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 28-Sep-2026; accessed 18 October 2026

The same page adds:

“Many Americans living abroad qualify for special tax benefits, such as the foreign earned income exclusion and foreign tax credit , but they can only get these benefits by filing a relevant U.S. return.” (IRS: U.S. citizens and resident aliens abroad)
Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 28-Sep-2026; accessed 18 October 2026

The IRS page on filing requirements for citizens and residents abroad says:

“If you are a U.S. citizen or resident living or traveling outside the United States, you generally are required to file income tax returns, estate tax returns, and gift tax returns and pay estimated tax in the same way as those residing in the United States. Your income, filing status, and age generally determine whether you must file a return.” (IRS: U.S. citizens and residents abroad – Filing requirements)
Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 28-Sep-2026; accessed 18 October 2026

IRS Publication 54 (12/2025) says:

“If you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien, your worldwide income is generally subject to U.S. income tax, regardless of where you are living.” (IRS Publication 54 (12/2025))
Publication 54 (12/2025); Revised: December 2025; Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 30-Apr-2026; accessed 18 October 2026

These are the IRS's statements about US citizens and resident aliens in general. This page does not say who counts as a US person, and does not say what any particular person files.

The foreign earned income exclusion and the foreign tax credit

The IRS has a page on each. On the exclusion, it says:

“If you meet certain requirements, you may qualify for the foreign earned income exclusion, the foreign housing exclusion , and/or the foreign housing deduction .” (IRS: Foreign earned income exclusion)
Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 12-Jun-2026; accessed 18 October 2026

The IRS page on the exclusion says the amount is:

“… an amount that is adjusted annually for inflation …” (IRS: Foreign earned income exclusion)
Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 12-Jun-2026; accessed 18 October 2026

IRS Publication 54 (12/2025) no longer prints the annual amounts. It says:

“The annual inflation adjusted amounts for items such as standard deduction, foreign earned income exclusion, … have been removed throughout the publication.” (IRS Publication 54 (12/2025))
Publication 54 (12/2025); Revised: December 2025; Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 30-Apr-2026; accessed 18 October 2026

Two IRS revenue procedures give the amount, each for the tax year it names. The table shows the tax year next to each amount, the date each document gives for itself, and the day we read it.

Each revenue procedure says, in the words that follow:

“For taxable years beginning in 2025, the foreign earned income exclusion amount under § 911(b)(2)(D)(i) is $130,000.” (Rev. Proc. 2024-40, section 2, item .39)
Document's own date: “as in effect on October 22, 2024” (section 1); accessed 18 October 2026

“For taxable years beginning in 2026, the foreign earned income exclusion amount under § 911(b)(2)(D)(i) is $132,900.” (Rev. Proc. 2025-32, section 4, item .39)
Document's own date: “as in effect on October 9, 2025” (section 1); accessed 18 October 2026

Latest IRS revenue procedure with this amount that we found, checked 18 October 2026. The exclusion page of the IRS also lists amounts, but only for earlier tax years than these two, so it is not used for them. This page does not say whether either amount applies to anyone.

On the foreign tax credit, the IRS page says:

“If you paid or accrued foreign taxes to a foreign country or U.S. possession and are subject to U.S. tax on the same income, you may be able to take either a credit or an itemized deduction for those taxes.” (IRS: Foreign tax credit)
Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 09-Jul-2026; accessed 18 October 2026

This page does not say how either applies to a particular person, or how either fits with Spanish tax.

The automatic two-month extension

The IRS has a page on an automatic two-month extension for some taxpayers outside the United States and Puerto Rico. Its first sentence says:

“You are allowed an automatic 2-month extension to file your return and pay federal income tax if you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien, and on the regular due date of your return: You are living outside of the United States and Puerto Rico and your main place of business or post of duty is outside the United States and Puerto Rico, or You are in military or naval service on duty outside the United States and Puerto Rico.” (IRS: Automatic 2-month extension of time to file)
Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 07-Feb-2026; accessed 18 October 2026

The same page says about interest:

“Even if you are allowed an extension, you will have to pay interest on any tax not paid by the regular due date of your return.” (IRS: Automatic 2-month extension of time to file)
Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 07-Feb-2026; accessed 18 October 2026

We give no date for the extension: the IRS pages that print one name no tax year. The IRS page is linked in the quote above.

Form 8938 (FATCA, filed with the IRS)

The IRS's summary of FATCA reporting says:

“Under FATCA, certain U.S. taxpayers holding financial assets outside the United States must report those assets to the IRS on Form 8938, Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets.” (IRS: Summary of FATCA reporting for U.S taxpayers)
Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 19-Sep-2026; accessed 18 October 2026

On when it is filed:

“Form 8938 is due with your annual income tax return and filed with the applicable IRS service center.” (IRS: Summary of FATCA reporting for U.S taxpayers)
Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 19-Sep-2026; accessed 18 October 2026

and on an exception:

“There are some exceptions to the requirement that you file Form 8938. For example, if you do not have to file a U.S. income tax return for the year, then you do not have to file Form 8938, regardless of the value of your specified foreign financial assets.” (IRS: Summary of FATCA reporting for U.S taxpayers)
Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 19-Sep-2026; accessed 18 October 2026

The IRS's page About Form 8938 says:

“Use Form 8938 to report your specified foreign financial assets if the total value of all the specified foreign financial assets in which you have an interest is more than the appropriate reporting threshold.” (IRS: About Form 8938)
Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 03-Aug-2026; accessed 18 October 2026

On what follows when these assets are not reported, the summary page says:

“There are serious penalties for not reporting these financial assets (as described below).” (IRS: Summary of FATCA reporting for U.S taxpayers)
Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 19-Sep-2026; accessed 18 October 2026

The reporting threshold is a dollar figure that the IRS prints on its FATCA summary page and on its comparison page. We do not reproduce those figures, because neither page names a tax year and this site shows no US amount without one. The comparison page has a row labelled “Specified individuals living outside the US”, with its own figures; we do not copy the row. The pages are linked here: the IRS FATCA summary and the IRS comparison of Form 8938 and FBAR requirements.

The FBAR (FinCEN Form 114, filed with FinCEN)

The FATCA summary page of the IRS says the FBAR is separate from Form 8938:

“This FATCA requirement is in addition to the long-standing requirement to report foreign financial accounts on FinCEN Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) (formerly TD F 90-22.1).” (IRS: Summary of FATCA reporting for U.S taxpayers)
Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 19-Sep-2026; accessed 18 October 2026

The IRS comparison page adds:

“The Form 8938 filing requirement does not replace or otherwise affect a taxpayer’s obligation to file FinCEN Form 114 (Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts). Unlike Form 8938, the FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) is not filed with the IRS. It must be filed directly with the office of Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, separate from the IRS.” (IRS: Comparison of Form 8938 and FBAR requirements)
Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 19-Sep-2026; accessed 18 October 2026

The IRS page on the FBAR says:

“You report the accounts by filing a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) on Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Form 114.” (IRS: Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR))
Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 30-Jul-2026; accessed 18 October 2026

FinCEN's page on how to file says:

“The Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (114) must be filed electronically using the BSA E-Filing System.” (FinCEN: How Do I File the FBAR?)
Page shows no date; accessed 18 October 2026

The IRS page on the FBAR also says:

“You may be subject to civil monetary penalties and/or criminal penalties for FBAR reporting and/or recordkeeping violations.” (IRS: Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR))
Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 30-Jul-2026; accessed 18 October 2026

The due date comes from a FinCEN news release that is still on fincen.gov. Its date is shown under each quote, and FinCEN's own PDF listed on its FBAR page restates the rule. FinCEN's release says:

“The new annual due date for filing Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) for foreign financial accounts is April 15.” (FinCEN: New Due Date for FBARs (news release))
FinCEN news release, December 16, 2016 (still on fincen.gov; restated in FinCEN's PDF listed on its FBAR page as 'New Due Date for FBARs (03/06/2019)'); accessed 18 October 2026

“FinCEN will grant filers failing to meet the FBAR annual due date of April 15 an automatic extension to October 15 each year. Accordingly, specific requests for this extension are not required.” (FinCEN: New Due Date for FBARs (news release))
FinCEN news release, December 16, 2016 (still on fincen.gov; restated in FinCEN's PDF listed on its FBAR page as 'New Due Date for FBARs (03/06/2019)'); accessed 18 October 2026

The FinCEN PDF says, about a due date that falls on a weekend or holiday:

“The FBAR filing deadline will follow the Federal income tax due date guidance, which notes that when the Federal income tax due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the due date is delayed until the next business day.” (FinCEN: PDF 'New Due Date for FBARs (03/06/2019)')
FinCEN PDF listed on its FBAR page as 'New Due Date for FBARs (03/06/2019)'; the PDF's text shows no date; accessed 18 October 2026

As with Form 8938, we do not reproduce the dollar threshold for the FBAR: the pages that print it name no tax year. FinCEN's page Purpose of the FBAR and the IRS comparison page are the places to read it. This page does not say whether the FBAR applies to anyone's accounts.

The Spain-US FATCA agreement

Spain and the United States have an intergovernmental agreement on FATCA. The US Treasury's page of agreements lists the Spanish one as:

“Model 1” (US Treasury: Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (table of agreements, row for Spain))
Page shows no date; accessed 18 October 2026

The agreement is published in the BOE, in Spanish. The BOE's title and publication line:

“Acuerdo entre el Reino de España y los Estados Unidos de América para la mejora del cumplimiento fiscal internacional y la implementación de la Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act - FATCA (Ley de cumplimiento tributario de cuentas extranjeras), hecho en Madrid el 14 de mayo de 2013. Ver texto consolidado Publicado en: « BOE » núm. 159, de 1 de julio de 2014, páginas 50094 a 50122 (29 págs. )” (BOE-A-2014-6854: title and publication line)
BOE publication 01/07/2014 (BOE núm. 159); accessed 18 October 2026

The BOE's statement on when it entered into force:

“El presente Acuerdo entró en vigor el 9 de diciembre de 2013, fecha de la última de dichas notificaciones escritas comunicando el cumplimiento de los procedimientos internos, según se establece en su artículo 10.1.” (BOE-A-2014-6854: entrada en vigor)
BOE publication 01/07/2014 (BOE núm. 159); accessed 18 October 2026

“Fecha de disposición: 14/05/2013 Fecha de publicación: 01/07/2014 Fecha de entrada en vigor: 09/12/2013” (BOE-A-2014-6854: fechas)
BOE publication 01/07/2014 (BOE núm. 159); accessed 18 October 2026

A Treasury document on the same agreement gives its signing date:

“Annex II of the Agreement between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain to Improve International Tax Compliance and to Implement FATCA, signed on May 14, 2013,” (US Treasury: Related Agreement (Spain))
PDF text shows no date; accessed 18 October 2026

The US Treasury publishes English articles of the agreement. Article 1(1)(f)(2) defines the Competent Authority of Spain:

“(2) in the case of Spain, the Minister of Finance and Public Administrations or his authorized representative.” (Agreement, Article 1(1)(f)(2) (English text as published by the US Treasury))
PDF text shows no date; accessed 18 October 2026

Article 2(1) says:

“Subject to the provisions of Article 3, each Party shall obtain the information specified in paragraph 2 of this Article with respect to all Reportable Accounts and shall annually exchange this information with the other Party on an automatic basis pursuant to the provisions of Article 27 of the Convention.” (Agreement, Article 2(1) (English text as published by the US Treasury))
PDF text shows no date; accessed 18 October 2026

Article 4(1)(a) says:

“Each Reporting Spanish Financial Institution shall be treated as complying with, and not subject to withholding under, section 1471 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code if Spain complies with its obligations under Articles 2 and 3 with respect to such Reporting Spanish Financial Institution, and the Reporting Spanish Financial Institution: a) identifies U.S. Reportable Accounts and reports annually to the Spanish Competent Authority the information required to be reported in subparagraph 2(a) of Article 2 in the time and manner described in Article 3;” (Agreement, Article 4(1)(a) (English text as published by the US Treasury))
PDF text shows no date; accessed 18 October 2026

Article 10(1) says:

“The Parties shall notify each other in writing when their necessary internal procedures for entry into force have been completed. The Agreement shall enter into force on the date of the later of such written notifications, and shall continue in force until terminated.” (Agreement, Article 10(1) (English text as published by the US Treasury))
PDF text shows no date; accessed 18 October 2026

The BOE's Spanish text of the two articles that name the Spanish authority:

“f) La expresión «Autoridad competente» significa: (1) en el caso de Estados Unidos, el Ministro de Hacienda o su delegado; y (2) en el caso de España, el Ministro de Hacienda y Administraciones Públicas o su representante autorizado.” (BOE-A-2014-6854, art. 1.1 f) (texto del BOE))
BOE publication 01/07/2014 (BOE núm. 159); accessed 18 October 2026

“a) identifica las Cuentas estadounidenses sujetas a comunicación de información y comunica anualmente a la Autoridad competente española la información de obligada comunicación conforme al subapartado 2(a) del artículo 2 en el tiempo y forma prescritos en el artículo 3;” (BOE-A-2014-6854, art. 4.1 a) (texto del BOE))
BOE publication 01/07/2014 (BOE núm. 159); accessed 18 October 2026

In short, the agreement text has Spanish financial institutions reporting to the Spanish Competent Authority, and each government exchanging the information with the other automatically under Article 27 of the Convention. It does not say what a bank asks of any customer, and this page does not either.

Modelo 290

The Modelo 290 has its own order and its own AEAT pages, quoted here on their own. The order that approves it, on the BOE's consolidated-text page:

“Orden HAP/1136/2014, de 30 de junio, por la que se regulan determinadas cuestiones relacionadas con las obligaciones de información y diligencia debida establecidas en el acuerdo entre el Reino de España y los Estados Unidos de América para la mejora del cumplimiento fiscal internacional y la aplicación de la ley estadounidense de cumplimiento tributario de cuentas extranjeras y se aprueba la declaración informativa anual de cuentas financieras de determinadas personas estadounidenses, modelo 290.” (Orden HAP/1136/2014 (BOE-A-2014-6922), consolidated-text page)
BOE consolidated-text page: published 02/07/2014, in force 03/07/2014; accessed 18 October 2026

The AEAT's procedure sheet gives its purpose:

“Presentación de declaración informativa para cumplimiento de obligaciones de intercambio de información en ámbito de asistencia mutua.” (AEAT: Modelo 290, procedure sheet (Objeto))
Página actualizada: 08/septiembre/2026; accessed 18 October 2026

and names the rule applicable to Spanish financial institutions:

“La normativa aplicable a las instituciones financieras españolas es el Acuerdo entre el Reino de España y los Estados Unidos de América para la mejora del cumplimiento fiscal internacional y la implementación de la Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act-FATCA (Ley de cumplimiento tributario de cuentas extranjeras).” (AEAT: Modelo 290, procedure sheet)
Página actualizada: 08/septiembre/2026; accessed 18 October 2026

The AEAT's Modelo 290 page also links to a service and to an agreement between the competent authorities. The titles of the links read:

“Modelo 290. Consulta de envíos de información FATCA realizados por la AEAT al Internal Revenue Service de EE.UU.” (AEAT: Modelo 290, start page (link title))
Página actualizada: 13/octubre/2026; accessed 18 October 2026

“Acuerdo entre las autoridades competentes del Reino de España y de los Estados Unidos de América por el que se establecen los procedimientos a seguir para el intercambio automático de información descrito en el artículo 2 del Acuerdo FATCA y aquellos necesarios para el intercambio de información comunicada en virtud del artículo 4 (1) (b) del mismo acuerdo” (AEAT: Modelo 290, start page (link title))
Página actualizada: 13/octubre/2026; accessed 18 October 2026

The AEAT's sheet speaks of Spanish financial institutions. This page does not describe the Modelo 290 as something an individual files.

Modelos 720 and 721: a separate Spanish declaration

Separately from the Modelo 290, Spain asks residents to report some assets held abroad on two AEAT declarations, the Modelo 720 and the Modelo 721. They have their own legal texts and AEAT pages, quoted in our guide to the Modelo 720 and 721. This page does not say whether either applies to anyone, or how they relate to Form 8938 or the FBAR.

Spanish tax residence

Spanish income tax has its own test for who is habitually resident in Spain. These four quotes are the ones in our remote-work guide's data, shown here unchanged. This page does not say how the test applies to anyone, or how the convention treats residence.

“1. Se entenderá que el contribuyente tiene su residencia habitual en territorio español cuando se dé cualquiera de las siguientes circunstancias:” (Ley 35/2006 (LIRPF), art. 9.1)
Texto consolidado: «Última actualización, publicada el 07/10/2026»; accessed 18 October 2026

“a) Que permanezca más de 183 días, durante el año natural, en territorio español. Para determinar este período de permanencia en territorio español se computarán las ausencias esporádicas, salvo que el contribuyente acredite su residencia fiscal en otro país. En el supuesto de países o territorios considerados como paraíso fiscal, la Administración tributaria podrá exigir que se pruebe la permanencia en éste durante 183 días en el año natural.” (Ley 35/2006 (LIRPF), art. 9.1.a), first paragraph)
Texto consolidado: «Última actualización, publicada el 07/10/2026»; accessed 18 October 2026

“b) Que radique en España el núcleo principal o la base de sus actividades o intereses económicos, de forma directa o indirecta.” (Ley 35/2006 (LIRPF), art. 9.1.b))
Texto consolidado: «Última actualización, publicada el 07/10/2026»; accessed 18 October 2026

“Se presumirá, salvo prueba en contrario, que el contribuyente tiene su residencia habitual en territorio español cuando, de acuerdo con los criterios anteriores, resida habitualmente en España el cónyuge no separado legalmente y los hijos menores de edad que dependan de aquél.” (Ley 35/2006 (LIRPF), art. 9.1, last paragraph)
Texto consolidado: «Última actualización, publicada el 07/10/2026»; accessed 18 October 2026

The Spain-US income tax convention and its Protocol

The BOE publishes the convention of 1990 and the Protocol of 2013 in Spanish only. We did not find an English text on the BOE. The convention's title, publication and in-force line:

“Instrumento de Ratificación del Convenio entre el Reino de España y los Estados Unidos de América para evitar la doble imposición y prevenir la evasión fiscal respecto de los impuestos sobre la renta, hecho en Madrid el 22 de febrero de 1990. Publicado en: «BOE» núm. 306, de 22/12/1990. Entrada en vigor: 21/11/1990 Departamento: Jefatura del Estado Referencia: BOE-A-1990-30940” (BOE-A-1990-30940: Convenio, título y publicación)
BOE consolidated text: Última actualización, publicada el 23/10/2019, en vigor a partir del 27/11/2019; accessed 18 October 2026

The BOE's consolidated-text page carries this line:

“Última actualización, publicada el 23/10/2019, en vigor a partir del 27/11/2019.” (BOE-A-1990-30940: texto consolidado)
BOE consolidated text: Última actualización, publicada el 23/10/2019, en vigor a partir del 27/11/2019; accessed 18 October 2026

The Protocol's title and publication line, and its in-force statement:

“Protocolo y su Memorando de entendimiento, hechos en Madrid el 14 de enero de 2013, que modifican el Convenio entre el Reino de España y los Estados Unidos de América para evitar la doble imposición y prevenir la evasión fiscal respecto de los impuestos sobre la renta, y su Protocolo, firmado en Madrid el 22 de febrero de 1990. Publicado en: « BOE » núm. 255, de 23 de octubre de 2019, páginas 116121 a 116142 (22 págs. )” (BOE-A-2019-15166: Protocolo, título y publicación)
BOE publication 23/10/2019 (BOE núm. 255); accessed 18 October 2026

“El presente Protocolo y su Memorando de entendimiento entrarán en vigor el 27 de noviembre de 2019, transcurridos tres meses tras la fecha de la última de las Notas mediante las que ambos Estados se comunicaron el cumplimiento de los procedimientos internos necesarios, según se establece en su artículo XV.” (BOE-A-2019-15166: entrada en vigor)
BOE publication 23/10/2019 (BOE núm. 255); accessed 18 October 2026

“Fecha de disposición: 14/01/2013 Fecha de publicación: 23/10/2019 Fecha de entrada en vigor: 27/11/2019” (BOE-A-2019-15166: fechas)
BOE publication 23/10/2019 (BOE núm. 255); accessed 18 October 2026

Convenio, artículo 1, apartados 3 y 4 (texto del BOE)

“3. No obstante las disposiciones del Convenio, excepto las contenidas en el apartado 4, un Estado contratante puede someter a imposición a sus residentes [tal como se definen en el artículo 4 (residencia)], y por razón de ciudadanía puede someter a imposición a sus ciudadanos, como si el Convenio no hubiese entrado en vigor.” (Convenio, artículo 1, apartado 3 (texto del BOE))
BOE consolidated text: Última actualización, publicada el 23/10/2019, en vigor a partir del 27/11/2019; accessed 18 October 2026

“4. Las disposiciones del apartado 3 no afectarán: a) A los beneficios concedidos por un Estado contratante con arreglo al apartado 2 del artículo 9 (Empresas asociadas), con arreglo al apartado 4 del artículo 20 (pensiones, anualidades, pensiones alimenticias y ayudas por hijos), y con arreglo a los artículos 24 (deducción por doble imposición), 25 (no discriminación) y 26 (procedimiento amistoso); y b) A los beneficios concedidos por un Estado contratante con arreglo a los artículos 21 (funciones públicas), 22 (estudiantes y personas en prácticas) y 28 (agentes diplomáticos y funcionarios consulares), a personas que no sean nacionales ni tengan estatuto de inmigrante en ese Estado.” (Convenio, artículo 1, apartado 4 (texto del BOE))
BOE consolidated text: Última actualización, publicada el 23/10/2019, en vigor a partir del 27/11/2019; accessed 18 October 2026

This text is quoted as the BOE publishes it, not translated or interpreted; ask a cross-border tax professional how it applies to your situation.

Three other articles are named in the texts above. We show their headings only and quote none of their text. Article 2(1) of the FATCA agreement, quoted above, refers to Article 27. The pension article is quoted in our guide to Social Security, Medicare and pensions for US citizens.

• Artículo 20. Pensiones, anualidades, pensiones alimenticias y ayudas por hijos.
• Artículo 24. Deducciones por doble imposición.
• Artículo 27. Intercambio de información y asistencia administrativa.

Headings from the BOE consolidated-text page (BOE consolidated text: Última actualización, publicada el 23/10/2019, en vigor a partir del 27/11/2019); accessed 18 October 2026.

Form 8621

The IRS has a page on a form for shareholders of passive foreign investment companies. Its title reads:

“About Form 8621, Information Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign Investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund” (IRS: About Form 8621)
Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 30-Mar-2026; accessed 18 October 2026

We say nothing else about it.

Spanish bank accounts

Opening an account in Spain is covered in our bank account guide, including the right to a basic payment account. The people it lists as entitled to one, under Real Decreto-ley 19/2017, de cuentas de pago básicas, arts. 3, 4 and 5.2, include:

• people legally resident in the European Union, including those with no fixed address
• asylum seekers
• people without a residence permit whose expulsion is impossible for legal or practical reasons

This page does not say whether a particular person is entitled, and we did not research what a Spanish bank asks of a customer who is a US citizen.

Where to take questions

The IRS's international taxpayers page describes itself like this:

“Tax information for foreign persons with income in the U.S. or U.S. citizens and resident aliens with income outside the U.S.” (IRS: International taxpayers)
Page Last Reviewed or Updated: 22-May-2026; accessed 18 October 2026

The Taxpayer Advocate Service has an international page. Of itself it says:

“As an independent organization within the IRS, the Taxpayer Advocate Service helps taxpayers resolve problems and recommends changes that will prevent problems.” (Taxpayer Advocate Service: International)
Page shows no date; accessed 18 October 2026

Both are official signposts, not firms. This page names no firm and recommends none.

How current each source is

Where to go next

1. For the visa paperwork a US citizen may meet before moving, see our guide to the criminal-record certificate and apostille.
2. For the Spanish declarations of assets abroad, see our Modelo 720 and 721 guide.
3. For opening an account, see our bank account guide.
4. For Spanish tax on a Spanish rental property owned by a non-resident, see our rental tax guide; it covers Spanish tax only, not US reporting.
5. For the Spanish annual income tax return, see our guide to the Spanish income tax return; it covers Spanish tax only, and this page does not say how the Spanish return relates to a US return.
6. Our Beckham law calculator covers the Spanish special regime; this page does not say how it relates to a US return.
7. Social Security and Medicare for US citizens are in their own guide; this page does not cover retirement accounts.