1) Is this affiliated with FinCEN or the IRS?
No. This is an independent helper and does not replace your final filing on BSA E-Filing.
2) Why use this Excel template if the official online form exists?
Annual reuse: Each year, make a new copy and click Data → Refresh All to fetch the latest year-end rates from this site’s FBAR Rates CSV. Update the year and balances and you’re done in minutes.
3) Is “Refresh All” safe? Does it upload my data?
Refresh All is one-way only: it downloads the public FBAR rates CSV and never uploads any information.
4) Do I have to use the Chrome extension?
No. You can copy-paste from the template into the official site. If you have only a few accounts, manual paste is quick and perfectly fine.
5) Is the Chrome extension safe? What if I have many accounts but no license?
The extension runs only on the FinCEN BSA E-Filing site. After a one-time email/license check, it stops all server communication (before you choose a file) and runs locally in your browser, auto-filling the page from your local Excel. Your data stays between your computer and FinCEN. It closes automatically when finished.
It’s free for up to 5 accounts. Without a license, it will auto-fill the first 5; you can paste the rest manually on the official site.
6) Will this stay free? How is it funded?
Funding comes from licenses and occasional “Buy Me a Coffee” donations.
The core will remain free: the Excel template, the yearly CSV exchange rate update, and the Chrome extension for up to 5 accounts. As long as it is not opposed by Chrome or FinCEN, support will continue.
There is no tracking and no data sales. Saving time for users is itself valuable. Even without donations, I will keep maintaining it at a minimal update pace — letting it fade would be an even bigger waste of the effort already invested.
7) What counts as personal vs. commercial use?
Personal: your own filing only. Commercial: firms or anyone serving clients — please contact us for a license.
8) Which Excel versions are supported?
Microsoft Excel (desktop): Microsoft 365 and Excel 2019+ on Windows/macOS.
9) Does it work with Google Sheets or Apple Numbers?
No. Please use Microsoft Excel (desktop).
10) What information does this site store?
Only your email (for license delivery/verification) and optional donation messages. We do not collect or store any spreadsheet contents.
11) Can I work offline?
Yes. Only Refresh All needs the internet to download the rates CSV. If you don’t need to update rates (or you calculate rates yourself), you can work completely offline. If you compute your own rates, set the currency to USD.
12) When are new exchange rates published each year?
Usually early each year. Until new rates are published, the prior year’s rates remain.