Knee-jerk reactions across the globe were “Impossible”! But over the last four years the US has worked hard to make FATCA possible notwithstanding that, before the process started, it was simply illegal in many countries to submit information of the nature requested to a foreign tax authority.
How did the USA achieve extra-territorial application of its legislation?
It didn’t. Yet we are all dancing to the FATCA tune and learning the appalling FATCA acronyms. How did it happen?
The first reaction from the international finance community was that compliance would not be permitted under local laws. The USA said “fine, but just to make sure we are closing the tax gap, we will withhold 30% of the proceeds (not profits) of any US investments that are redeemed to any foreign account”. Ouch. The international financial community, and its governments, had to talk. After all, almost all trade with the US does not involve tax evasion; and 30% punitive tax on proceeds even when an asset is sold at a loss, was untenable.
International co-operation was necessary, and the spores of the information exchange fungus were packaged into two models of Inter-Governmental Agreements, known as IGA’s, unimaginatively called Model 1 and Model 2. Under a Model 1 agreement, financial institutions report to their own governments which transmit the information to the IRS; under Model 2, the financial institutions report directly to the IRS. Both models overcome local legal barriers to FATCA so that financial institutions in those jurisdictions can comply with FATCA and not suffer a 30% withholding tax.
There are 45 IGAs signed and a further 56 IGAs “in effect” between the US and other jurisdictions. Not surprisingly, partner jurisdictions like to receive something in return from the US, and in many cases the agreements are reciprocal (Model 1A). Model 1B agreements are not reciprocal and are preferred by countries that do not tax the foreign assets or income of their taxpayers.
Once it became apparent to tax authorities around the world that FATCA-type legislation could work for them too, negotiations for similar intergovernmental co-operation were spawned. The UK got in early with its special intermediate toadstool for the UK Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories, known as UK CDOT. The process culminated in the Common Reporting Standard (CRS). Note that the CRS does not replace FATCA or UK CDOT, rather it is in addition to FATCA and UK CDOT.
What is the Common Reporting Standard (CRS)?
Countries that tax foreign gains of their taxpayers wanted to follow the US example. The OECD and G20 developed the framework by which greater international tax transparency could be achieved. This culminated in the Common Reporting Standard, a reporting model based upon FATCA and endorsed by all OECD and G20 countries on 29 October 2014, providing for automatic exchange of information among them. The CRS is a multilateral exchange of information, unlike FATCA IGA’s which are at best bilateral. The multilateral exchange is due to begin in September 2017, certainly among the Early Adopters Group . Others will follow in 2018.
Why was the CRS inevitable?
Tax evasion is recognised as a global problem which requires a global solution. FATCA was a US Treasury response to the simple evasive technique of some US citizens with foreign accounts, to use their foreign credit cards on those accounts whilst not paying taxes on funds in those accounts at point of entry. Treasury investigations revealed that the use of credit cards was only the tip of the iceberg, and a drastic measure was required. What seemed impossible has been achieved, and it is very difficult today for a US person to maintain a financial account outside of the USA without it being reported to the IRS. Penal taxes and criminal liability for tax evasion make an undeclared account a most undesirable prospect.
Secrecy in financial affairs was lost in the first round of the global response to terrorism which has brought about strict Due Diligence and Know Your Customer (KYC) obligations on all financial services providers and other designated businesses. As the information was dutifully collected and available, it was inevitable that tax authorities would want access to it. Once the US showed the way, requests for automatic exchange of information mushroomed.
How will CRS work?
Governments will enter into Competent Authority Agreements with one another, and will obtain information on accounts and their holders from financial institutions in their jurisdictions, and exchange it automatically on an annual basis. In principle it has been agreed that beneficial ownership of legal entities will be available and exchanged as well as financial account information. Like the obligations under FATCA and UK CDOT, the CRS requires financial institutions to report the financial information of accounts held by individuals and entities, including trusts and foundations, and by the controlling persons of passive non-financial entities.
When does reporting under CRS start?
In 2015 the implementation plans for automatic exchange of information are due to be submitted by participating jurisdictions. These will be reviewed by the Global Forum which will be responsible for compliance ratings of the jurisdictions. In 2016 reviews will begin, and in 2017 or 2018 the first exchanges of information will take place. The mushrooms will be ready for harvest.
