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Form 8621: Information Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign Investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund
IRS Form 8621 is an Information Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign Investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund. It reports PFIC holdings and elections; a separate Form 8621 must be filed for each PFIC owned directly or indirectly.
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IRS Form 8621 - Information Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign Investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund
IRS Form 8621 is an Information Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign Investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund. It reports PFIC holdings and elections; a separate Form 8621 must be filed for each PFIC owned directly or indirectly.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1Missing the election deadline triggers penalties.
- 2Fail to file a separate Form 8621 for each PFIC in a chain of ownership.
- 3Omit Part I when the shareholder is required to complete it under section 1298(f).
- 4Do not check box B in Part II when making a mark‑to‑market election.
- 5Leave lines 8a through 9c of Part III blank for election B.
Plain English
Form 8621 tells the IRS about any shares you own in a foreign company that is a PFIC or a QEF. It also lets you claim special tax elections for those investments. You must send one form for each foreign company you own, even if you own it through another company.
Submission Date
- Filing date: 2026-01-13 15:10:47
- Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
- Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.
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What this form is for
- Use this form when a U.S. person is a direct or indirect shareholder of a PFIC and meets any of the five filing circumstances (receives distributions, recognizes gain, holds PFIC stock in trust, is a partnership/S corporation/trust shareholder, or other listed triggers).
- Do not use it when the filer is not a U.S. person shareholder of a PFIC.
- Check Form 8886 instead when a 10% shareholder of a QEF participates in a reportable transaction.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
Shareholder of a QEF who is a 10% owner and involved in a reportable transaction
Reportable transaction disclosure required
✓ Confirm QEF status and 10% ownership
PFIC shareholder needing a late election after the 3‑year period has expired
Late election must be filed on a separate form
✓ Verify the 3‑year period has indeed expired
U.S. partnership, S corporation, or trust that is a PFIC shareholder
Pass‑through entities must file this return
✓ Confirm entity type and PFIC ownership
Deadline or filing window
The filing requirement is triggered when a U.S. shareholder holds a PFIC and must file an annual report under section 1298(f). The return must be filed by the due date of the shareholder’s tax return for that year, including extensions. For elections, the deadline is the same due date (or an amended return may be filed within three years of that date).
Checklist
What you need before filling it out
Currency code line above 15a
Three‑letter ISO currency code · Form 8621 entry space
Line 15e(2) USD amount
U.S. dollar conversion of foreign amount · Form 8621 line 15e(2)
Box F in Part II (deemed dividend election)
Checked box indicating election · Form 8621 Part II
Attachment of termination date statement
Statement showing termination date and tax‑year dates · Attached to Form 8621 as required
Line 16 tax calculation
Computed tax and interest on excess distribution · Form 8621 line 16
Before you submit
- 1Verify the revision date reads December 2025 on the form.
- 2Enter the correct three‑letter currency code in the space above line 15a.
- 3Convert any foreign amount on line 15e(1) to U.S. dollars and enter it on line 15e(2).
- 4Apply consistent rounding (whole dollars or cents) to all monetary entries.
- 5Check box F in Part II if making a deemed dividend election.
- 6Check box G in Part II if making a deemed dividend election under section 1298(b).
- 7Enter gain or loss on line 15f when applicable.
- 8If excess distribution exceeds zero, complete line 16 to figure tax and interest.
- 9Attach the required termination‑date statement and any election statements.
- 10Sign the completed Form 8621.
- 11Attach Form 8621 to the appropriate tax return and mail to the IRS center by the due date.
How to file this form
- 1Gather PFIC statements and calculate earnings and gains, then retain copies for records.
- 2Complete Form 8621, entering the currency code, converting foreign amounts, and filling all required lines.
- 3Attach the termination‑date statement and any election documentation as instructed.
- 4File Form 8621 together with the appropriate tax return at the designated IRS Center and keep a filed copy.
- 5Mail the package and obtain a mailing receipt as proof of filing.
Known limitations
- 1A shareholder is exempt from completing Part I if it meets one of the exceptions described below.
- 2In those circumstances, a domestic grantor trust is not required to complete Part I with respect to the stock of the PFIC that is owned by the grantor.
- 3U.S. persons that are interest holders of pass‑through entities described in 3 above must file Form 8621 if the pass‑through entity fails to file such form or the U.S. person is required to recognize any income under section 1291.
- 4The election cannot be made for any earnings on shares disposed of during the tax year or for a tax year that any portion of the shareholder's pro rata share of the fund's earnings is included in income under section 951.
- 5If zero or less and you did not dispose of stock during the tax year, do not complete the rest of Part V.
Field map
Compact field-by-field guide
General Info
2 items
Full legal name and taxpayer identification number (SSN or EIN).
Current mailing address.
Details
2 items
Complete all applicable sections of this form according to the official IRS instructions.
Enter the relevant dollar amount if this form involves tax calculation.
Certification
1 items
Read and acknowledge any certifications required by this form.
Signatures
1 items
Sign and date. Unsigned forms cannot be processed.
Almost done reviewing the fields?
Fillable formOpen in Editor->The form is revised December 2025; the instructions point to IRS.gov/Form8621 for the latest information, and new Part V lines require a three‑letter currency code and USD conversion of line 15e amounts.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Edition date — confirm the revision reads December 2025
- Fee — Not stated in the official source
- Mailing address — Not stated in the official source
- Signature — Not stated in the official source
Quick Facts
Downloads
After you file
- 1Keep a signed copy of the filed Form 8621 with your tax records.
- 2Retain the form for at least three years after the filing year.
- 3Attach Form 8621 to the appropriate tax return and file both by the due date, including extensions, at the IRS Center where the return is required.
- 4If you need to correct a missed filing, attach Form 8621 to an amended return (Form 1040X) and demonstrate reasonable cause.
- 5Verify that any new Part V lines include a three‑letter currency code and U.S. dollar conversion as required.
- 6For a qualifying insurance corporation election, check the box on page 1 and provide only identifying information; no other parts are required.
Sources
- SRCInstructions p.1 — new Part V line above line 15a requires a three‑letter currency code.
- SRCInstructions p.1 — new line 15e(2) requires reporting the amount from line 15e(1) in U.S. dollars after conversion.
- SRCInstructions p.2 — attach Form 8621 to the shareholder’s tax return and file both by the due date, including extensions, at the IRS Center where the return is required.
- SRCInstructions p.4 — to elect qualifying insurance corporation status, check the box on page 1 and provide only identifying information; no other parts needed.
- SRCInstructions p.4 — a filer may attach Form 8621 to an amended return if reasonable cause for the original omission is shown.
- SRCInstructions p.1 — a U.S. person that is a direct or indirect shareholder of a PFIC must file Form 8621 under five circumstances, including receiving distributions or recognizing gain.
- SRCInstructions p.1 — interest holders of a foreign pass‑through entity that is a direct or indirect shareholder of a PFIC must file Form 8621, unless an exception applies.
- SRCInstructions p.4 — if filing Form 8621 together with Form 8938, check the box and include the form count on line 4 of Part IV of Form 8938.
- SRCInstructions p.4 — line references to Form 1120 and Form 1040 are to the 2025 versions.
- SRCInstructions p.2 — the filing deadline is the due date of the tax return, including extensions.
Common confusion points
Do I have to file Form 8621 if I only own PFIC stock through a trust?
The instructions list trusts as required filers, but trusts subject to sections 671‑679 have separate rules.
→ Confirm whether the trust is subject to sections 671‑679; if not, filing is required.
What currency should I use on the new line above 15a?
The form now asks for a three‑letter currency code, which many filers overlook.
→ Enter the appropriate ISO three‑letter code in the entry space above line 15a.
Do I need to convert foreign amounts on line 15e(1) to dollars?
Line 15e(2) specifically requires the amount in U.S. dollars, but some think the original currency is acceptable.
→ Convert the foreign amount to U.S. dollars and report it on line 15e(2).
Is checking the box on page 1 enough for a qualifying insurance corporation election?
The instructions say only identifying information is needed, yet some fill the entire form.
→ Check the box on page 1 and provide only the name, address, and identifying number of the foreign corporation.
Can I file Form 8621 after the tax‑return deadline?
The filing deadline ties to the return’s due date, including extensions, which many miss.
→ Ensure Form 8621 is attached and filed by the same due date (including extensions) as the tax return.
Do I need to attach Form 8621 to an amended return if I missed it originally?
The guidance permits attachment to an amended return only with reasonable cause.
→ Attach Form 8621 to Form 1040X and include a statement of reasonable cause for the original omission.
Workflow map
Related forms and next steps
Before
Current
After
Often used with
⚠ If something goes wrong
- Form 1040X – file an amended return to correct errors on Form 8621.
Questions about IRS Form 8621
What is IRS Form 8621 used for?
Form 8621 tells the IRS about any shares you own in a foreign company that is a PFIC or a QEF. It also lets you claim special tax elections for those investments. You must send one form for each foreign company you own, even if you own it through another company.
Who must file IRS Form 8621?
U.S. persons who are shareholders of a Passive Foreign Investment Company (PFIC) that must file under section 1298(f), including direct and indirect shareholders and certain grantors of domestic grantor trusts, must file Form 8621.
What information does IRS Form 8621 require?
The form collects the annual summary of the PFIC (Part I), any tax elections (Part II), and detailed information on dividends, gains, and other items in Parts III through VI.
When is IRS Form 8621 due?
It is due by the due date of the shareholder’s tax return for the year, including any extensions, or by filing an amended return within three years of that due date for certain elections.
How do I complete IRS Form 8621?
File a single Form 8621 for each PFIC. Complete Part I with the annual PFIC information. If making an election, check the appropriate box in Part II (B for mark‑to‑market, E for QEF) and fill the required lines (8a‑9c in Part III for election B; line 15e(2) and line 16 in Part V for election E). Attach any required statements, such as the calculation of post‑1986 earnings, and sign the form before mailing.
Do I have to file Form 8621 if I only own PFIC stock through a trust?
The instructions list trusts as required filers, but trusts subject to sections 671‑679 have separate rules. Confirm whether the trust is subject to sections 671‑679; if not, filing is required.
What currency should I use on the new line above 15a?
The form now asks for a three‑letter currency code, which many filers overlook. Enter the appropriate ISO three‑letter code in the entry space above line 15a.
Do I need to convert foreign amounts on line 15e(1) to dollars?
Line 15e(2) specifically requires the amount in U.S. dollars, but some think the original currency is acceptable. Convert the foreign amount to U.S. dollars and report it on line 15e(2).
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