Form 8938 for Canadian Landlords in Virginia

What Is Form 8938?

Form 8938, Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets, is a U.S. tax compliance requirement under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). If you're a U.S. person with specified foreign financial assets that exceed certain thresholds, you must file Form 8938 with your annual U.S. tax return.

The IRS requires this reporting to increase transparency around foreign financial holdings and prevent tax evasion. For Canadian landlords with U.S. rental property, this often means your Canadian bank accounts, investment accounts, and certain retirement accounts must be reported—even if they generate no U.S. tax liability.

How Form 8938 Applies to Canadian Landlords in Virginia

As a Canadian resident earning rental income from Virginia property, you occupy a unique tax position:

• You are a U.S. person if you hold a green card (permanent resident), are a U.S. citizen, or meet the substantial presence test (typically 183+ days in the U.S. over three years).
• You have specified foreign financial assets in Canada, including Canadian bank accounts, investment accounts, and potentially registered accounts like RRSPs and TFSAs (though these receive certain exemptions under IRS rules).
• You must report Virginia rental income on a U.S. tax return, typically Form 1040-NR (Non-Resident Alien Income Tax Return) or Form 1040 if you elect to treat rental income as effectively connected income (ECI).

The Canada-U.S. Tax Treaty provides relief in certain circumstances, but it does not exempt you from FATCA reporting requirements. Form 8938 applies alongside—not instead of—other reporting such as FinCEN Form 114 (FBAR), if your foreign accounts exceed $10,000 at any time during the year.

Virginia-Specific Context

Virginia imposes a state income tax of 5.75% on rental income. If you are a non-resident of Virginia, you must file Virginia Form 760-NR (Non-Resident Income Tax Return) to report rental income from Virginia property. This state-level requirement is separate from federal Form 8938 reporting, but both are essential for compliance.

Additionally, Virginia's average effective property tax rate of 0.82% means your Virginia rental property likely generates meaningful income and requires careful tax planning across both jurisdictions.

Who Must File Form 8938?

You must file Form 8938 if all of the following apply:

1. You are a U.S. person (as defined above).
2. You must file a U.S. income tax return (which you do, given Virginia rental income).
3. The total value of your specified foreign financial assets exceeds the reporting threshold:
   • $50,000 at the end of the tax year (or on the last day you were a U.S. resident), OR
   • $75,000 at any point during the tax year (for unmarried filers), OR
   • $100,000 at year-end or $150,000 during the year (for joint filers), OR
   • $200,000 at year-end or $300,000 during the year (if you're married filing jointly and both spouses are U.S. persons with specified foreign assets).

Critical note: If you file Form 1040-NR as a non-resident alien, the thresholds differ. Consult Publication 8 and Form 8938 instructions for non-resident-specific rules.

What Counts as a Specified Foreign Financial Asset?

• Depository accounts (savings, chequing accounts with Canadian banks)
• Investment accounts (brokerage accounts, mutual fund accounts)
• Financial instruments (stocks, bonds, options—even if held in Canadian accounts)
• Not typically included: RRSPs and TFSAs (though exceptions exist; seek professional guidance)
• Insurance and annuity contracts with cash value

Step-by-Step: Completing Form 8938

Part I: Individual Information

Provide your name, SSN (or ITIN if you have one), and filing status for the tax year.

Part II: Summary of Foreign Financial Assets

Report the maximum value of each category of specified foreign financial asset during the tax year, and the aggregate value as of the last day of the tax year (December 31).

Required categories include:

• Depository accounts
• Custodial accounts
• Investment accounts
• Financial instruments held outside accounts
• Insurance/annuity contracts with cash surrender value

Part III: Foreign Financial Assets by Country

List each foreign financial asset by country and report its maximum value during the year and December 31 value. For Canadian assets, clearly designate "Canada."

Part IV: Additional Information

Describe each asset, identify the financial institution, and provide account numbers (or sufficient identifying information if the account number is unavailable).

Virginia-Specific Considerations

Coordinating Federal and State Reporting

Virginia does not require a separate FATCA-style disclosure of foreign assets on Form 760-NR. However, you must report:

• Gross rental income from Virginia property on line 1 of Form 760-NR
• Deductible expenses (mortgage interest, property tax, maintenance)
• Virginia applies a 5.75% tax rate on net rental income; there is no separate Virginia form for foreign asset disclosure

Ensure your federal Form 1040-NR and Virginia Form 760-NR reconcile on rental income figures and deductions.

Foreign Tax Credits

If you pay Canadian income tax on Canadian-source income (e.g., if your Canadian bank account generates interest taxed by Canada), you may claim a foreign tax credit on Form 1118 (Foreign Tax Credit). This credit applies to U.S. tax owed and can offset U.S. liability. However, it does not eliminate Form 8938 reporting requirements.

Virginia Property Tax Deduction

Property taxes on your Virginia rental property (at approximately 0.82% of assessed value) are deductible on your U.S. return (Schedule E, Form 1040) and reduce Virginia taxable income on Form 760-NR. Confirm these deductions are not duplicated.

Common Mistakes Virginia Landlords Make

1. Forgetting the FBAR When Form 8938 Applies

Many assume Form 8938 replaces FinCEN Form 114 (FBAR). They do not. If your Canadian accounts exceed $10,000 at any point during the year, you must file both Form 8938 and FinCEN Form 114, each with separate deadlines (Form 8938 with your tax return on April 15; FinCEN Form 114 by April 15 at FinCEN.gov).

2. Misreporting Canadian Retirement Account Values

RRSPs and TFSAs have special treatment. Form 8938 instructions exclude most RRSP balances (as they're tax-deferred), but TFSAs may require inclusion. Always verify current IRS guidance; these rules shift occasionally.

3. Timing Mismatches Between Returns

Your Form 1040-NR (or Form 1040), Virginia Form 760-NR, and Form 8938 must all report the same income and asset values. Inconsistencies trigger audits.

4. Omitting Currency Conversion Dates

Convert Canadian account balances to U.S. dollars using the IRS exchange rate on December 31 of the tax year (or the year-end rate from an IRS-approved source). Using averaged or spot rates mid-year causes discrepancies.

5. Filing Form 8938 Without a Tax Return

Form 8938 is an attachment to your income tax return. If you owe no U.S. tax but still have Form 8938 reporting requirements, you must still file a return (even if it shows $0 tax liability). Failure to file the return means the Form 8938 is not filed.

Key Deadlines and Filing Notes

| Item | Deadline | Form | |------|----------|------| | Form 1040-NR or Form 1040 (with Form 8938 attached) | April 15, 2025 (for 2024 tax year) | Form 1040-NR / Form 1040 | | Virginia Form 760-NR | May 1, 2025 | Form 760-NR | | FinCEN Form 114 (FBAR) | April 15, 2025 (with automatic extension to October 15) | FinCEN Form 114 |

Extension: If you file a timely extension request (Form 4868 for federal; Virginia