Do I report a foreign account my parents added me to as a joint holder?
Usually yes. If your name is on a foreign account as a joint holder or you have signature authority over it, it's reportable on your FBAR even if all the money is really your parents' and you never use it. The FBAR looks at ownership and control, not whose money it is, and you report the full maximum balance — not a fraction — because joint owners each report the entire account. This surprises many immigrants who were added to a parent's Indian account 'just in case' for emergencies or to help manage things from abroad. That single addition can push your aggregate over $10,000 and pull the whole account onto your FBAR, and possibly Form 8938. The fix isn't to hide it; it's to report it correctly, or to be removed from the account if you don't need access. Check every foreign account that bears your name.
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