IRS FORM 3520

If you are a U.S. person (other than an organization described in section 501(c) and exempt from tax under section 501(a)) who received large gifts or bequests from a foreign person, you may need to complete Part IV of Form 3520, Annual Return to Report Transactions with Foreign Trusts and Receipt of Certain Foreign Gifts. The form must be filed by the 15th day of the fourth month following the end of your income tax year (generally, April 15th for individuals). Moreover, the filling deadline is subject to any extension of time to file that may apply.  If you file Form 3520 late, or if the information provided is incomplete or incorrect, the IRS may determine or change the income tax consequences of the receipt of such foreign gift or bequest. Additionally, the IRS may assert penalties against you if you do not have reasonable cause.  For more information, see the instructions to Form 3520.

General Rule: Foreign Gifts and Bequests

In general, a foreign gift or bequest is any amount received from a person other than a U.S. person (a foreign person) that the recipient treats as a gift or bequest and excludes from gross income.  Furthermore, a foreign gift does not include amounts paid for qualified tuition or medical payments made on behalf of the U.S. person. 

The definition of a “foreign person” includes a nonresident alien individual or foreign corporation, partnership or estate, as well as a domestic trust that is treated as owned by a foreign person. Moreover, distributions from a foreign trust are reportable on Part III of Form 3520.  

IRS Form 3520 Reporting Requirements

You are required to report the receipt of foreign gifts or bequests only if the applicable thresholds apply.  For purposes of determining the reporting thresholds, you must aggregate gifts received from related parties.  See the instructions to Part IV of Form 3520 for more information; see also Section VI of Notice 97-34 PDF.

• For gifts or bequests from a nonresident alien or foreign estate, you are required to report the receipt of such gifts or bequests only if the aggregate amount received from that nonresident alien or foreign estate exceeds $100,000 during the taxable year.  If the gifts or bequests exceed $100,000, you must separately identify each gift in excess of $5,000. 
   
• For purported gifts from foreign corporations or foreign partnerships, you are required to report the receipt of such purported gifts only if the aggregate amount received from all entities exceeds $16,388 for 2019 (adjusted annually for inflation).  Additionally, you must separately identify each gift and the identity of the donor.  Also, note that the IRS may recharacterize purported gifts from foreign corporations or foreign partnerships.

File Form 3520 separately from your income tax return by following the directions in the Instructions to the Form 3520.  In general, the due date for a U.S. person to file a Form 3520 is the 15th day of the 4th month following the end of the U.S. person’s tax year.  If you are a U.S. citizen or resident who lives outside the Unites States and Puerto Rico or if you are in the military or naval service on duty outside the United States and Puerto Rico, then the due date to file a Form 3520 is the 15th day of the 6th month following the end of the U.S. person’s tax year.  If a U.S. person is granted an extension of time to file an income tax return, the due date for filing Form 3520 is also extended to the 15th day of the 10th month following the end of the U.S. person’s tax year.  See the Instructions for Form 3520 for additional information.

Filing tips to avoid penalties:

If an extension was filed with respect to your income tax return, be sure to check Form 3520, Box 1K, and enter the form number of the income tax return to avoid your Form 3520 being treated as filed late.

Special Rules Applicable to Gifts or Bequests from Covered Expatriates

U.S. citizens and residents who receive gifts or bequests from covered expatriates under IRC 877A may be subject to tax under IRC section 2801. This sections imposes a transfer tax on U.S. persons who receive gifts or bequests on or after June 17, 2008, from former U.S. citizens or former U.S. lawful permanent residents that are treated as covered expatriates under IRC 877A.  However, the imposition of the section 2801 tax is deferred pending the issuance of final regulations. 

Refer to the September 2015 proposed Guidance Regarding the Imposition of Tax on Certain Gifts and Bequests from Covered Expatriates PDF(link is external) for additional information.

Where to File IRS Form 3520

Mail Form 3520 to the following address:

Internal Revenue Service Center
P.O. Box 409101
Ogden, UT 84409

Penalties for Failure to File Part IV of Form 3520

If your Part IV of Form 3520 is late, or is incomplete or incorrect, the IRS may determine the income tax consequences of the receipt of the foreign gift or bequest.  In addition, you may be subject to a penalty equal to five percent of the value of the gift or bequest for each month in which the gift or bequest is not reported, not to exceed 25 percent of the gift, unless you have reasonable cause for the failure to timely or accurately file. See the Instructions for Form 3520 for more information.

Note: You may also be required to file FinCEN Form 114. See Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR)for more

If you have questions about whether you are required to file IRS form 3520, contact a tax attorney today. Furthermore, if you have not timely filed the form 3520, you may need to submit a streamlined disclosure. We can help guide you through your IRS filing requirements.