Question 1

Account Holder  (Individual, Controlling Person)"

Accepted Answer

The term “Account Holder” means the person listed or identified as the holder of a Financial Account. A person, other than a Financial Institution, holding a Financial Account for the benefit of another person as an agent, a custodian, a nominee, a signatory, an investment advisor, an intermediary, or as a legal guardian, is not treated as the Account Holder. In these circumstances that other person is the Account Holder. For example in the case of a parent/child relationship where the parent is acting as a legal guardian, the child is regarded as the Account Holder. With respect to a jointly held account, each joint holder is treated as an Account Holder.

Question 2

Account Holder  (Entity)

Accepted Answer

The “Account Holder” is the person listed or identified as the holder of a Financial Account by the Financial Institution that maintains the account. This is regardless of whether such person is a flow-through Entity. Thus, for example, if a trust or an estate is listed as the holder or owner of a Financial Account, the trust or estate is the Account Holder, rather than the trustee or the trust’s owners or beneficiaries. Similarly, if a partnership is listed as the holder or owner of a Financial Account, the partnership is the Account Holder, rather than the partners in the partnership. A person, other than a Financial Institution, holding a Financial Account for the benefit or account of another person as agent, custodian, nominee, signatory, investment advisor, or intermediary, is not treated as holding the account, and such other person is treated as holding the account.

Question 3

Active NFE

Accepted Answer

An NFE is an Active NFE if it meets any of the criteria listed below. In summary, those criteria refer to: 
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Active NFEs by reason of income and assets; 
 • Publicly traded NFEs; 
 • Governmental Entities, International Organisations, Central Banks, or their wholly owned Entities; 
 • Holding NFEs that are members of a non-financial group; 
 • Start-up NFEs; 
 • NFEs that are liquidating or emerging from bankruptcy; 
 • Treasury centres that are members of a non-financial group; or 
 • Non-profit NFEs. 
 
An entity will be classified as Active NFE if it meets any of the following criteria: 
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a)  less than 50% of the NFE’s gross income for the preceding calendar year or other appropriate reporting period is passive income and less than 50% of the assets held by the NFE during the preceding calendar year or other appropriate reporting period are assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income; 
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b)  the stock of the NFE is regularly traded on an established securities market or the NFE is a Related Entity of an Entity the stock of which is regularly traded on an established securities market; 
 
c)  the NFE is a Governmental Entity, an International Organisation, a Central Bank, or an Entity wholly owned by one or more of the foregoing; 
 
d)  substantially all of the activities of the NFE consist of holding (in whole or in part) the outstanding stock of, or providing financing and services to, one or more subsidiaries that engage in trades or businesses other than the business of a Financial Institution, except that an Entity does not qualify for this status if the Entity functions (or holds itself out) as an investment fund, such as a private equity fund, venture capital fund, leveraged buyout fund, or any investment vehicle whose purpose is to acquire or fund companies and then hold interests in those companies as capital assets for investment purposes; 
 
e)  the NFE is not yet operating a business and has no prior operating history, (a “ start-up NFE”) but is investing capital into assets with the intent to operate a business other than that of a Financial Institution, provided that the NFE does not qualify for this exception after the date that is 24 months after the date of the initial organisation of the NFE; 
 
f)  the NFE was not a Financial Institution in the past five years, and is in the process of liquidating its assets or is reorganising with the intent to continue or recommence operations in a business other than that of a Financial Institution; 
 
g)  the NFE primarily engages in financing and hedging transactions with, or for, Related Entities that are not Financial Institutions, and does not provide financing or hedging services to any Entity that is not a Related Entity, provided that the group of any such Related Entities is primarily engaged in a business other than that of a Financial Institution; or 
 
h)  the NFE meets all of the following requirements (a “non-profit NFE”) : 
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i) it is established and operated in its jurisdiction of residence exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, artistic, cultural, athletic, or educational purposes; or it is established and operated in its jurisdiction of residence and it is a professional organisation, business league, chamber of commerce, labour organisation, agricultural or horticultural organisation, civic league or an organisation operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare; 
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ii) it is exempt from income tax in its jurisdiction of residence;
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iii) it has no shareholders or members who have a proprietary or beneficial interest in its income or assets; 
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iv) the applicable laws of the NFE’s jurisdiction of residence or the NFE’s formation documents do not permit any income or assets of the NFE to be distributed to, or applied for the benefit of, a private person or non-charitable Entity other than pursuant to the conduct of the NFE’s charitable activities, or as payment of reasonable compensation for services rendered, or as payment representing the fair market value of property which the NFE has purchased; and 
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v) the applicable laws of the NFE’s jurisdiction of residence or the NFE’s formation documents require that, upon the NFE’s liquidation or dissolution, all of its assets be distributed to a Governmental Entity or other non-profit organisation, or escheat to the government of the NFE’s jurisdiction of residence or any political subdivision. 
 
Note: Certain entities (such as U.S. Territory NFFEs) may qualify for Active NFFE status under FATCA but not Active NFE status under the CRS.

Question 4

Control

Accepted Answer

“Control” over an Entity is generally exercised by the natural person(s) who ultimately has a controlling ownership interest (typically on the basis of a certain percentage (e.g. 25%)) in the Entity. Where no natural person(s) exercises control through ownership interests, the Controlling Person(s) of the Entity will be the natural person(s) who exercises control of the Entity through other means. Where no natural person(s) is/are identified as exercising control of the Entity through ownership interests, then under the CRS the Reportable Person is deemed to be the natural person who hold the position of senior managing official.

Question 5

Controlling Person(s)

Accepted Answer

“Controlling Persons” are the natural person(s) who exercise control over an entity. Where that entity is treated as a Passive Non-Financial Entity (“Passive NFE”) then a Financial Institution is required to determine whether or not these Controlling Persons are Reportable Persons. This definition corresponds to the term “beneficial owner” described in Recommendation 10 and the Interpretative Note on Recommendation 10 of the Financial Action Task Force Recommendations (as adopted in February 2012). 
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In the case of a trust, the Controlling Person(s) are the settlor(s), the trustee(s), the protector(s) (if any), the beneficiary(ies) or class(es) of beneficiaries, or any other natural person(s) exercising ultimate effective control over the trust (including through a chain of control or ownership). Under the CRS the settlor(s), the trustee(s), the protector(s) (if any), and the beneficiary(ies) or class(es) of beneficiaries, are always treated as Controlling Persons of a trust, regardless of whether or not any of them exercises control over the activities of the trust. 
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Where the settlor(s) of a trust is an Entity then the CRS requires Financial Institutions to also identify the Controlling Persons of the settlor(s) and when required report them as Controlling Persons of the trust. 
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In the case of a legal arrangement other than a trust, “Controlling Person(s) means persons in equivalent or similar positions. 
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Question 6

Custodial Institution

Accepted Answer

The term “Custodial Institution” means any Entity that holds, as a substantial portion of its business, Financial Assets for the account of others. This is where the Entity’s gross income attributable to the holding of Financial Assets and related financial services equals or exceeds 20% of the Entity’s gross income during the shorter of: (i) the three-year period that ends on 31 December (or the final day of a non-calendar year accounting period) prior to the year in which the determination is being made; or (ii) the period during which the Entity has been in existence. 
"Depository Institution" 
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The term “Depository Institution” means any Entity that accepts deposits in the ordinary course of a banking or similar business.

Question 7

Entity

Accepted Answer

The term “Entity” means a legal person or a legal arrangement, such as a corporation, organisation, partnership, trust or foundation. This term covers any person other than an individual (i.e. a natural person).

Question 8

FATCA

Accepted Answer

FATCA stands for the U.S. provisions commonly known as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, which were enacted into U.S. law as part of the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act on March 18, 2010. FATCA creates a new information reporting and withholding regime for payments made to certain non-U.S. financial institutions and other non-U.S. entities.

Question 9

Financial Account

Accepted Answer

A Financial Account is an account maintained by a Financial Institution and includes: Depository Accounts; Custodial Accounts; Equity and debt interest in certain Investment Entities; Cash Value Insurance Contracts; and Annuity Contracts.

Question 10

Financial Institutions

Accepted Answer

The term “Financial Institution” means a “Custodial Institution”, a “Depository Institution”, an “Investment Entity”, or a “Specified Insurance Company”. Please see the relevant domestic guidance and the CRS for further classification definitions that apply to Financial Institutions.

Question 11

Investment Entity

Accepted Answer

The term “Investment Entity” includes two types of Entities: 
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(i) an Entity that primarily conducts as a business one or more of the following activities or operations for or on behalf of a customer: 
 • Trading in money market instruments (cheques, bills, certificates of deposit, derivatives, etc.); foreign exchange; exchange, interest rate and index instruments; transferable securities; or commodity futures trading; 
 • Individual and collective portfolio management; or 
 • Otherwise investing, administering, or managing Financial Assets or money on behalf of other persons. 
 
Such activities or operations do not include rendering non-binding investment advice to a customer. 
 
(ii) ”The second type of “Investment Entity” (“Investment Entity managed by another Financial Institution”) is any Entity the gross income of which is primarily attributable to investing, reinvesting, or trading in Financial Assets where the Entity is managed by another Entity that is a Depository Institution, a Custodial Institution, a Specified Insurance Company, or the first type of Investment Entity.

Question 12

Investment Entity located in a Non-Participating Jurisdiction and managed by another Financial Institution

Accepted Answer

The term “Investment Entity located in a Non-Participating Jurisdiction and managed by another Financial Institution” means any Entity the gross income of which is primarily attributable to investing, reinvesting, or trading in Financial Assets if the Entity is:
(i) managed by a Financial Institution and
(ii) not a Participating Jurisdiction Financial Institution.

Question 13

Investment Entity managed by another Financial Institution

Accepted Answer

”An Entity is “managed by” another Entity if the managing Entity performs, either directly or through another service provider on behalf of the managed Entity, any of the activities or operations described in clause (i) above in the definition of ‘Investment Entity’. 
 
An Entity only manages another Entity if it has discretionary authority to manage the other Entity’s assets (either in whole or part). Where an Entity is managed by a mix of Financial Institutions, NFEs or individuals, the Entity is considered to be managed by another Entity that is a Depository Institution, a Custodial Institution, a Specified Insurance Company, or the first type of Investment Entity, if any of the managing Entities is such another Entity.

Question 14

NFE

Accepted Answer

An “NFE” is any Entity that is not a Financial Institution.

Question 15

Non-Reporting Financial Institution

Accepted Answer

A Non-Reporting Financial Institution” means any Financial Institution that is: 
 • a Governmental Entity, International Organisation or Central Bank, other than with respect to a payment that is derived from an obligation held in connection with a commercial financial activity of a type engaged in by a Specified Insurance Company, Custodial Institution, or Depository Institution; 
 • a Broad Participation Retirement Fund; a Narrow Participation Retirement Fund; a Pension Fund of a Governmental Entity, International Organisation or Central Bank; or a Qualified Credit Card Issuer; 
 • an Exempt Collective Investment Vehicle; or 
 • a Trustee-Documented Trust: a trust where the trustee of the trust is a Reporting Financial Institution and reports 
 • all information required to be reported with respect to all Reportable Accounts of the trust;  
 • any other defined in a countries domestic law as a Non-Reporting Financial Institution.

Question 16

Participating Jurisdiction

Accepted Answer

A “Participating Jurisdiction” means a jurisdiction with which an agreement is in place pursuant to which it will provide the information required on the automatic exchange of financial account information set out in the Common Reporting Standard and that is identified in a published list.

Question 17

Participating Jurisdiction Financial Institution

Accepted Answer

The term “Participating Jurisdiction Financial Institution means (i) any Financial Institution that is tax resident in a Participating Jurisdiction, but excludes any branch of that Financial Institution that is located outside of that jurisdiction, and (ii) any branch of a Financial Institution that is not tax resident in a Participating Jurisdiction, if that branch is located in such Participating Jurisdiction.

Question 18

Passive NFE

Accepted Answer

Under the CRS a “Passive NFE” means any NFE that is not an Active NFE. An Investment Entity located in a Non-Participating Jurisdiction and managed by another Financial Institution is also treated as a Passive NFE for purposes of the CRS.

Question 19

Related Entity

Accepted Answer

An Entity is a “Related Entity” of another Entity if either Entity controls the other Entity, or the two Entities are under common control. For this purpose control includes direct or indirect ownership of more than 50% of the vote and value in an Entity.

Question 20

Reportable Account

Accepted Answer

The term “Reportable Account” means an account held by one or more Reportable Persons or by a Passive NFE with one or more Controlling Persons that is a Reportable Person.

Question 21

Reportable Jurisdiction

Accepted Answer

A Reportable Jurisdiction is a jurisdiction with which an obligation to provide financial account information is in place and that is identified in a published list.

Question 22

Reportable Person

Accepted Answer

A Reportable Person is an individual (or entity) that is tax resident in a Reportable Jurisdiction under the laws of that jurisdiction. The Account Holder will normally be the “Reportable Person”; however, in the case of an Account Holder that is a Passive NFE, a Reportable Person also includes any Controlling Persons who are tax resident in a Reportable Jurisdiction. Dual resident individuals may rely on the tiebreaker rules contained in tax conventions (if applicable) to solve cases of double residence for purposes of determining their residence for tax purposes.

Question 23

Resident for tax purposes

Accepted Answer

Each jurisdiction has its own rules for defining tax residence, and jurisdictions have provided information on how to determine whether an entity is tax resident in the jurisdiction on the OECD automatic exchange of information portal. Generally, an Entity will be resident for tax purposes in a jurisdiction if, under the laws of that jurisdiction (including tax conventions), it pays or should be paying tax therein by reason of his domicile, residence, place of management or incorporation, or any other criterion of a similar nature, and not only from sources in that jurisdiction. Dual resident Entities may rely on the tiebreaker rules contained in tax conventions (if applicable) to solve cases of double residence for determining their residence for tax purposes. An Entity such as a partnership, limited liability partnership or similar legal arrangement that has no residence for tax purposes shall be treated as resident in the jurisdiction in which its place of effective management is situated. For additional information on tax residence, please talk to your tax adviser or see the OECD automatic exchange of information portal.(http://www.oecd.org/tax/automatic-exchange/)

Question 24

Specified Insurance Company

Accepted Answer

The term “Specified Insurance Company” means any Entity that is an insurance company (or the holding company of an insurance company) that issues, or is obligated to make payments with respect to, a Cash Value Insurance Contract or an Annuity Contract.

Question 25

TIN (including “functional equivalent”)

Accepted Answer

The term “TIN” means Taxpayer Identification Number or a functional equivalent in the absence of a TIN. A TIN is a unique combination of letters or numbers assigned by a jurisdiction to an individual or an Entity and used to identify the individual or Entity for the purposes of administering the tax laws of such jurisdiction. Further details of acceptable TINs can be found at the OECD automatic exchange of information portal. 
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Some jurisdictions do not issue a TIN. However, these jurisdictions often utilise some other high integrity number with an equivalent level of identification (a “functional equivalent”). Examples of that type of number include, for Entities, a Business/company registration code/number. 
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Defined Terms Description

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