Form 8957 - Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) Registration

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Instructions for Form 8957

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service

(October 2015)

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) Registration
Section references are to the Internal Revenue
Code unless otherwise noted.

General Instructions

What's New

Purpose of Form

FFI in jurisdiction with agreed-in-substance IGA. Pursuant to Announcement
2014-38, an FFI resident in, or organized
under the laws of, or a branch located in, a
jurisdiction that is listed on the Treasury
website as having reached an agreement
in substance will be permitted to register
on the FATCA registration website
consistent with its treatment under the
relevant Model IGA. If a jurisdiction is
removed from this list, FFIs that have
registered for a status under the removed
IGA will no longer be entitled to that status
and will be required to update their status
on the FATCA registration website
accordingly.
Direct Reporting NFFE. A Direct
Reporting NFFE may register using Form
8957 (or on the FATCA registration
website) by following the instructions for
FIs, except as otherwise indicated.
Sponsoring Entity. A Sponsoring Entity
may register using Form 8957 (or on the
FATCA registration website). After its
registration is approved, the Sponsoring
Entity can add its Sponsored Entities
through the FATCA registration website.
Each approved Sponsored Entity will
receive a GIIN. Beginning on January 1,
2016, a Sponsored Entity will be required
to provide its own GIIN (rather than the
GIIN of its Sponsoring Entity) on
withholding certificates. Therefore,
Sponsored Entities that expect to receive
withholdable payments on or after January
1, 2016, should be registered by their
Sponsoring Entities by December 31,
2015.
New lines added. Form 8957 added new
lines 3b, 13a, and 13b. Line 3b requests
the FI’s country/jurisdiction tax ID.
Line 13a asks whether the FI is the
Common Parent Entity of the Expanded
Affiliated Group. If the FI is not the
Common Parent Entity of the Expanded
Affiliated Group, the FI should enter the
legal name and FATCA ID of the Common
Parent Entity on line 13b. For more
information, see the Specific Instructions,
later.

Future Developments

In the future, additional information about
the registration process may be posted at
www.irs.gov/fatca.

May 18, 2015

Form 8957 is used by an FI or a Direct
Reporting NFFE to register itself and its
branches, if any, as a participating foreign
financial institution (PFFI)(including a
Reporting FI under a Model 2 IGA), a
registered deemed-compliant foreign
financial institution (RDCFFI)(including a
Reporting FI under a Model 1 IGA), a
limited foreign financial institution (Limited
FFI), a limited branch (Limited Branch), or
a sponsoring entity (Sponsoring Entity), a
Direct Reporting NFFE, or a Trustee of a
Trustee-Documented Trust. It is also used
by an FI or Direct Reporting NFFE to
renew its Qualified Intermediary (QI),
Withholding Foreign Partnership (WP), or
Withholding Foreign Trust (WT)
Agreement, if applicable. In connection
with its FATCA registration, an FI (other
than a Limited FFI or Limited Branch), or a
U.S. financial institution (USFI) acting as a
Lead FI, Sponsoring Entity, and a Direct
Reporting NFFE will be issued a GIIN and
will be identified on the IRS FFI List. The
IRS FFI List is updated monthly to add or
remove approved entities or their
branches.

How To Register
Online registration. The FATCA
registration website is a secure
web-based system that enables FIs and
Direct Reporting NFFEs to register
electronically from anywhere in the world
without the need to print, complete, and
mail paper forms. FIs and Direct Reporting
NFFEs are encouraged to register online
at www.irs.gov/fatca.
Paper registration. FIs and Direct
Reporting NFFEs that choose to register
using the paper form must mail Form 8957
and all required attachments to:
Internal Revenue Service
FATCA, Stop 6099 AUSC
3651 South IH 35
Austin, Texas 78741
If an FI or a Direct Reporting NFFE
chooses to file a paper registration form,
the IRS will establish an online FATCA
account for the FI or Direct Reporting
NFFE and provide the FI or Direct
Reporting NFFE with information on how
to access the online FATCA account to
view, manage, and edit its FATCA
information. If the paper FATCA
Cat. No. 59561K

registration form is incomplete, the FI or
Direct Reporting NFFE will be contacted
by mail to provide additional information
necessary for the IRS to process the
registration form and establish the FI’s or
Direct Reporting NFFE online account.

Who Is Eligible
To Register

The following entities are eligible to
register (on behalf of themselves and their
branches) for the specific purposes
described below, as well as to obtain a
GIIN (unless the entity is a Limited FFI or
Limited Branch).
For an FFI, or foreign branch of an
FFI or USFI, that is treated as a
Reporting FI under a Model 1 IGA — To
authorize one or more points of contact to
receive information related to registration
on the FI’s behalf.
For an FFI, or foreign branch of an
FFI that is treated as a Reporting FI
under a Model 2 IGA:
— To authorize one or more points of
contact to receive information related
to registration on the FI's behalf, and
— To confirm that it will comply with
the terms of an FFI Agreement, as
modified by the applicable Model 2
IGA.
For an FFI, or branch of an FFI, other
than one covered by an IGA (other
than when registration is required
under the applicable IGA):
— To enter into an FFI Agreement to
be treated as a PFFI,
— To agree to meet the requirements
to be treated as an RDCFFI, or
— To confirm that it will comply with
the terms applicable to a Limited FFI
or a Limited Branch.
For an FI or Direct Reporting NFFE
seeking to act as a Sponsoring
Entity — To agree to perform the due
diligence, reporting and withholding
responsibilities on behalf of one or more
sponsored entities.
For an FFI, including a foreign
branch of a USFI, currently acting as a
QI, WP, or WT — To renew its QI, WP, or
WT Agreement.
A foreign branch of a USFI located
in a Model 2 IGA jurisdiction does not
need to register unless such foreign
branch needs to renew its QI, WP, or WT
Agreement.
For a USFI wishing to act as a Lead
FI for purposes of registering its
Member FIs — To identify itself as such.

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For a Direct Reporting NFFE:— To
agree to perform the due diligence and
reporting obligations required of its status
as a Direct Reporting NFFE.
For a Trustee of a
Trustee-Documented Trust:— To agree
to perform the due diligence and reporting
obligations on behalf of one or more
Trustee-Documented Trusts.
A Sponsored Entity should not
register for itself. A Sponsored
CAUTION
Entity should be registered by its
sponsor on the FATCA registration
website.

!

Before Completing
Form 8957

There are four parts to the FATCA
registration form. An FI or Direct Reporting
NFFE will need to complete only the
relevant parts of the form for the particular
type of registration requested.
Part 1 must be completed by all FIs and
Direct Reporting NFFEs to provide basic
identifying information.
Part 2 should be completed only by a
Lead FI and must be completed via the
FATCA registration website. A Lead FI will
identify in Part 2 each Member FI for
which it is acting as a Lead FI and that is
treated as a PFFI (including a Reporting FI
under a Model 2 IGA), RDCFFI (including
a Reporting FI under a Model 1 IGA), or
Limited FFI. Additionally, for purposes of
registration, a Member FI may include a
foreign branch of a USFI that is registering
to obtain a GIIN or to renew its QI
Agreement.
Part 3 should be completed only by an
FI, or a Direct Reporting NFFE including a
foreign branch of a USFI, currently acting
as a QI, WP, or WT that wishes to renew
its respective agreement. Part 3 must be
completed via the FATCA registration
website. An FI or a Direct Reporting NFFE
that would like to apply to become a
first-time QI, WP, or WT cannot do so
using the paper Form 8957 or the FATCA
registration website. Instead, the FI or
Direct Reporting NFFE must complete
Form 14345 in accordance with its
instructions. A prospective QI (other than
an NFFE that is not acting on behalf of its
shareholders) or a prospective WP or WT
that is an FFI (other than a retirement
fund), or an NFFE that is a Sponsoring
Entity, must also submit a FATCA
registration form through the FATCA
registration website within 90 days of
approval of its application for QI, WP, or
WT status. It is advisable, but not
required, for an FI or a Direct Reporting
NFFE applying for first-time QI, WP, or WT
status to do so before it submits its FATCA
registration form. For more information
about QI, WP, or WT Agreements, go to
www.irs.gov/fatca.

Part 4 must be completed by all FIs and
Direct Reporting NFFEs and requires an
FI or a Direct Reporting NFFE to certify
that the information provided in the
FATCA registration form is accurate and
complete and that the individual signing
the registration form is authorized to agree
that the FI or Direct Reporting NFFE
intends to comply with its FATCA
obligations, if applicable, in accordance
with the status or statuses for which it has
registered itself or any of its branches. An
FI, including a Reporting FI under a Model
1 or 2 IGA, that is registering to renew its
QI, WP, or WT Agreement will be agreeing
to the terms of such renewed 2014 Model
QI, WP, or WT Agreements.
Reporting FIs under a Model 1 or 2
IGA: Most Reporting FIs under a Model 1
IGA are registering only to obtain a GIIN
and to authorize one or more POCs to
receive information related to FATCA
registration on behalf of the FI. Most
Reporting FIs under a Model 2 IGA are
registering only to obtain a GIIN, authorize
one or more POCs to receive information
related to FATCA registration on behalf of
the FI, and to confirm that they will comply
with the terms of an FFI Agreement as
modified by the applicable Model 2 IGA.
A Reporting FI under a Model 1 or
Model 2 IGA that is operating one or more
branches not in an IGA jurisdiction is also
agreeing to the terms of an FFI Agreement
for any such branch, unless the branch is
treated as a Limited Branch. Additionally,
a Reporting FI under a Model 1 or Model 2
IGA requesting renewal of a QI, WP or WT
Agreement is agreeing to the terms
applicable to such renewed 2014 Model
QI, WP, or WT Agreements.

Registration Definitions

For detailed information about definitions
that apply for purposes of FATCA
generally (Internal Revenue Code
sections 1471-1474), see Treas. Reg.
§1.1471-1. A Reporting FI under a Model
1 or 2 IGA should also refer to definitions
that may apply under that agreement or
apply pursuant to any applicable domestic
law pertaining to its FATCA obligations.
Solely for purposes of FATCA
registration, the following definitions are
provided to help guide FIs through the
process.

Compliance FI
A Compliance FI means a PFFI, Reporting
FI under a Model 1 or 2 IGA, or USFI that
agrees to establish and maintain a
consolidated compliance program and to
perform a consolidated periodic review on
behalf of one or more Member FIs that are
part of its EAG (the compliance group). A
Compliance FI must meet the
requirements to register as a Lead FI, and
as part of that registration, it must identify
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each Member FI that is included in its
compliance group. A Compliance FI must
also have the authority to terminate the
FATCA status of each Member FI within
its compliance group.

Direct Reporting NFFE
A Direct Reporting NFFE is an NFFE that
has elected to report its substantial U.S.
owners to the IRS pursuant to Treas. Reg.
section 1.1472-1(c)(3).

Exempt Beneficial Owner
Exempt Beneficial Owner means an entity
described in Treas. Reg. §1.1471-6 as: (1)
a foreign government, a political
subdivision of a foreign government, or a
wholly owned agency or instrumentality of
any one or more of the foregoing; (2) an
international organization or a wholly
owned agency or instrumentality thereof;
(3) a foreign central bank of issue; (4) a
government of a U.S. Territory; (5) a
treaty-qualified retirement fund; (6) a
broad participation retirement fund; (7) a
narrow participation retirement fund; (8) a
fund formed pursuant to a plan similar to a
section 401(a) plan; (9) an investment
vehicle used exclusively for retirement
funds; (10) a pension fund of an exempt
beneficial owner; or (11) an entity wholly
owned by exempt beneficial owners. The
term “exempt beneficial owner” also
includes any entity treated as an exempt
beneficial owner pursuant to a Model 1 or
2 IGA.

Expanded Affiliated Group
(EAG)
An Expanded Affiliated Group (EAG)
means one or more chains of members
connected through ownership by a
common parent entity if the common
parent entity directly owns stock or other
equity interests meeting the requirements
of Treas. Reg. section 1.1471-5(i)(4) in at
least one of the other members.

FATCA ID
Each registering FI or Direct Reporting
NFFE will be provided with a FATCA ID
that will be used for purposes of
establishing and accessing the FI’s or
Direct Reporting NFFE's FATCA account.
For all FIs and Direct Reporting NFFEs,
other than Member FIs, the FATCA ID is a
randomly generated six-character
alphanumeric string. For Member FIs, the
FATCA ID will be comprised of 12
characters: the first six characters will be
the Lead FI’s FATCA ID, followed by a
period, and the last five characters will be
alphanumeric and assigned sequentially
to each Member. The FATCA ID is not the
same as the GIIN. The GIIN will be issued
to an FI (other than a Limited FFI or

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Limited Branch) or Direct Reporting NFFE,
after its FATCA registration is submitted
and approved.

Financial Institution (FI)
Financial Institution (FI) means an
institution that is a depository institution,
custodial institution, investment entity, or
insurance company (or holding company
of an insurance company) that issues
cash value insurance or annuity contracts.

Foreign Financial Institution (FFI)
A Foreign Financial Institution (FFI) means
a Financial Institution that is not located in
the United States and includes: (1) an FFI
treated as a Reporting FI under a Model 1
IGA, including foreign branches of a USFI
or U.S. Territory FI, (2) an FFI treated as a
Reporting FI under a Model 2 IGA and (3)
a foreign branch of a USFI or a U.S.
Territory FI that has in effect a QI
Agreement.

GIIN
GIIN means a global intermediary
identification number assigned to an
approved FI (other than a Limited FFI or
Limited Branch) or Direct Reporting NFFE.
A separate GIIN will be issued to an FI to
identify each jurisdiction, including the
jurisdiction of an FI's residence, in which
the FI maintains a branch not treated as a
Limited Branch. A Direct Reporting NFFE
will be issued only one GIIN, irrespective
of where it maintains branches.
The GIIN may be used by an FI or a
Direct Reporting NFFE to identify itself to
withholding agents and tax administrators
for FATCA reporting. GIINs are
alphanumeric, comprised of 19 characters
with the following format:
XXXXXX.XXXXX.XX.XXX. A detailed
breakdown that includes the information
on each set of characters in the GIIN can
be found in Appendix B – GIIN
Composition Table of the FATCA
Registration online user guide available at
www.irs.gov/fatca.

Lead FI
A Lead FI means a USFI, FFI or a
Compliance FI that will carry out FATCA
registration for each of its Member FIs that
is a PFFI, RDCFFI, or Limited FFI. A Lead
FI is not required to act as a Lead FI for all
Member FIs within an EAG. Thus, an EAG
may include more than one Lead FI that
will carry out FATCA registration for a
group of its Member FIs. A Lead FI will be
provided the rights to manage the online
account for its Member FIs. If a Lead FI
submits a paper Form 8957, the IRS will
create an online FATCA account for the
Lead FI and will provide the Lead FI with
information on how to access its FATCA

account, including a FATCA ID and
temporary access code. The Lead FI will
then need to carry out FATCA registration
for each of its Member FIs via the FATCA
registration website. Note: An FFI seeking
to act as a Lead FI cannot have Limited FI
status in its country of residence.

Limited Branch
A Limited Branch means a branch that,
under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it
is located, is unable to: (1) report, close, or
transfer its U.S. accounts to a USFI, to a
branch of the FFI that will report the U.S.
account, to a PFFI, or to a Reporting FI
under a Model 1 IGA, or (2) withhold,
block, or close an account held by a
recalcitrant account holder or
nonparticipating FFI or otherwise transfer
the account to a USFI, to a branch of the
FFI that will report the account to the IRS,
to a PFFI, or to a Reporting FI under a
Model 1 IGA. A Limited Branch also
includes a related branch under a Model 1
or 2 IGA that is treated as a
nonparticipating FFI branch because it
operates in a jurisdiction that prevents
such branch from fulfilling the
requirements of a PFFI or
deemed-compliant FFI.

Limited FFI
A Limited FFI means an FFI that, due to
local law restrictions, cannot comply with
the terms of an FFI Agreement, or
otherwise be treated as a PFFI or
RDCFFI, and that is agreeing to satisfy
certain obligations for its treatment as a
Limited FFI.

Member FI
A Member FI means an FFI or a Direct
Reporting NFFE that is registering as a
member of an EAG that is not acting as a
Lead FI and that is registering as a PFFI,
RDCFFI, Limited FI, or Direct Reporting
NFFE. For purposes of registration, a
Member FI may also include a foreign
branch of a USFI that is treated as a
Reporting FI under a Model 1 IGA, or that
is renewing its QI Agreement. A Member
FI will need to obtain its FATCA ID from its
Lead FI and provide the number on the
paper FATCA registration form. The
FATCA ID is used to identify the Member
FI for purposes of registration and is not
the same number as the GIIN. A GIIN is
issued to FIs, other than Limited FFIs or
Limited Branches, and Direct Reporting
NFFEs after the FATCA registration is
submitted and approved.

Model 1 IGA
A Model 1 IGA means an agreement
between the United States or the Treasury
Department and a foreign government or
one or more foreign agencies to
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implement FATCA through reporting by
financial institutions to such foreign
government or agency thereof, followed
by automatic exchange of the reported
information with the IRS. For a list of
jurisdictions treated as having an IGA in
effect, see “List of Jurisdictions” available
at www.irs.gov/fatca.

Model 2 IGA
A Model 2 IGA means an agreement or
arrangement between the United States or
the Treasury Department and a foreign
government or one or more foreign
agencies to implement FATCA through
reporting by financial institutions directly to
the IRS in accordance with the
requirements of an FFI Agreement,
supplemented by the exchange of
information between such foreign
government or agency thereof and the
IRS. For a list of jurisdictions treated as
having an IGA in effect, see “List of
Jurisdictions” available at www.irs.gov/
fatca.

Nonreporting FI
A Nonreporting FI means an entity that is
established in a jurisdiction that has in
effect a Model 1 or 2 IGA and that is
treated as a nonreporting FI in Annex II of
the applicable Model 1 or 2 IGA or that is
otherwise treated as a deemed-compliant
FFI or an exempt beneficial owner under
Treas. Reg. §1.1471-5 or §1.1471-6.

Participating FFI (PFFI)
A participating FFI (PFFI) means an FFI
that: (1) is registering to agree to enter into
an FFI Agreement, (2) is treated as a
Reporting FI under a Model 2 IGA and that
is certifying that it will comply with the
terms of an FFI Agreement, as modified by
the terms of the applicable Model 2 IGA,
or (3) is a foreign branch of a USFI that
has in effect a QI Agreement and that is
also agreeing to the terms of an FFI
Agreement, unless such branch is treated
as a Reporting FI under a Model 1 IGA
(see RDCFFI definition).

Point of Contact (POC)
A Point of Contact (POC) is an individual
authorized by the FI or Direct Reporting
NFFE (see Line 1 of Form 8957) to
receive FATCA-related information
regarding the FI or Direct Reporting NFFE
and to take other FATCA-related actions
on behalf of the FI or Direct Reporting
NFFE.

Private Arrangement
Intermediary (PAI)
A private arrangement intermediary (PAI)
contract is a contractual arrangement
between a QI and a PAI that is a RDCFFI

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or certified deemed-compliant FFI under
which the PAI generally agrees to perform
all of the obligations of the QI with respect
to the accounts maintained directly by the
PAI. For the requirements of a PAI
contract, see the 2014 Model QI
Agreement available at www.irs.gov/fatca.

Qualified Intermediary (QI)
A Qualified Intermediary (QI) means an
entity that has entered into a qualified
intermediary withholding agreement (QI
Agreement) with the IRS.

Registered Deemed
Compliant FFI (RDCFFI)
A Registered Deemed Compliant FFI
(RDCFFI) means: (1) an FFI that is
registering to confirm that it meets the
requirements to be treated as a local FFI,
nonreporting FI member of a PFFI group,
qualified collective investment vehicle,
restricted fund, qualified credit card issuer,
or sponsored investment entity or
controlled foreign corporation (see Treas.
Reg. §1.1471-5(f)(1)(i) for more
information about these categories); (2) a
Reporting FI under a Model 1 IGA and that
is registering to obtain a GIIN; or (3) an FFI
that is treated as a Nonreporting FI under
a Model 1 or 2 IGA and that is registering
pursuant to the applicable Model 1 or 2
IGA.

Reporting Under a Model 1 or
Model 2 IGA
A Reporting FI under a Model 1 or Model 2
IGA means an FI that is treated as a
Reporting FI under the terms of a Model 1
or Model 2 IGA that is in effect. The term
Reporting FI also includes a foreign
branch of a USFI that is treated as a
Reporting FI under the terms of a Model 1
IGA that is in effect. A foreign branch of a

USFI treated as a Reporting FI under the
terms of a Model 2 IGA is not required to
submit a FATCA registration form to
obtain a GIIN, unless it is renewing a QI
Agreement.

Single FI

reporting obligations of one or more
Sponsored Direct Reporting NFFEs.

Trustee-Documented Trust
A Trustee-Documented Trust is a trust
described as such in a Model 1 IGA or a
Model 2 IGA.

A Single FI means an FI that does not
have any Member FIs and that is
registering for PFFI or RDCFFI status for
itself or one or more of its branches. A
Single FI may also include a foreign
branch of a USFI treated as a Reporting FI
under a Model 1 IGA or that has in effect a
QI Agreement.

United States means the United States of
America, including the States thereof, but
does not include the U.S. Territories. Any
reference to a “State” of the United States
includes the District of Columbia.

Sponsored Direct Reporting NFFE

U.S. Financial Institutions (USFI)

A Sponsored Direct Reporting NFFE
means a Direct Reporting NFFE that has a
Sponsoring Entity that agrees to perform
the due diligence, reporting, and other
requirements on its behalf.

Sponsored Entity
A Sponsored Entity means a Sponsored
FFI or a Sponsored Direct Reporting
NFFE.

Sponsored FFI
A sponsored FFI means an investment
entity or an FFI that is a controlled foreign
corporation (CFC) having a Sponsoring
Entity that will perform the due diligence,
withholding, and reporting obligations on
its behalf.

United States

A U.S. Financial Institution (USFI) means
an FI that is a resident of the United
States.

U.S. Territory
U.S. Territory means American Samoa,
the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, Guam, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the U.S.
Virgin Islands.

Withholding Foreign
Partnership (WP)
A Withholding Foreign Partnership (WP)
means a foreign partnership that has
entered into a withholding foreign
partnership agreement (WP Agreement)
with the IRS.

Sponsoring Entity

Withholding Foreign Trust (WT)

A Sponsoring Entity means an entity that
will perform the due diligence, withholding,
and reporting obligations of one or more
sponsored investment entities or
controlled foreign corporations
(Sponsored FFIs) or the due diligence and

A Withholding Foreign Trust (WT) means
a foreign trust that has entered into a
withholding foreign trust agreement (WT
Agreement) with the IRS.

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Special Rules
Lead FI and Member FIs of an EAG. In
general, all FFIs, other than exempt
beneficial owners or certified
deemed-compliant FFIs, that are part of
the same EAG must be registered. For
purposes of registration, an EAG may
have more than one Lead FI and may
organize itself for purposes of registration
into subgroups under different Lead FIs.
For example, an EAG of 10 FFIs may
decide to select two different Lead FIs,
Lead FI 1 and Lead FI 2. Lead FI 1 can
carry out FATCA registration on behalf of
four of its Member FIs and Lead FI 2 can
carry out FACTA registration on behalf of
four of its other Member FIs. All 10 FFIs
within the same EAG will be registered,
even though they are registered under two
different Lead FIs.
Consolidated Compliance Program: If
an EAG has in place a consolidated
compliance program, as described in
Treas. Reg. §1.1471-4(f)(2)(ii), then
Member FIs that elect to participate in the
same consolidated compliance program
should be registered as Member FIs by
the Lead FI that is acting as the
Compliance FI for the compliance group.
Reporting FI under a Model 1 IGA. FIs
that are treated as Reporting FIs under a
Model 1 IGA (see the list of jurisdictions
treated as having an IGA in effect at
www.irs.gov/fatca) should register as
RDCFFIs.
Model 1 IGA. A disregarded entity in a
Model 1 IGA jurisdiction must register as
an entity separate from its owner in order
to be treated as a Reporting FI under a
Model 1 IGA, provided that the
disregarded entity is treated as a separate
entity for purposes of its reporting to the
applicable Model 1 jurisdiction. Select
either a “Single FI” or “Member FI” in Part
1, Line 1 (as appropriate). Select RDCFFI
in Part 1, Line 4.
Reporting FI under a Model 2 IGA. FIs
that are treated as Reporting FIs under a
Model 2 IGA (see the list of jurisdictions
treated as having an IGA in effect at
www.irs.gov/fatca) should register as
PFFIs.
FFIs and Direct Reporting NFFEs that
are also Sponsoring Entities. An FFI or
Direct Reporting NFFE that will also act as
a Sponsoring Entity for one or more
Sponsored Entities is required to submit a
second registration form to act as a
Sponsoring Entity. The Sponsoring Entity
will receive a separate GIIN and should
only use that GIIN when it is fulfilling its
obligations as a Sponsoring Entity.
Sponsored Entities. A Sponsored FFI
and Sponsored Direct Reporting NFFE
must be registered by its Sponsoring

Entity through the FATCA Registration
website by December 31, 2015. Separate
GIINs will be issued to each approved
Sponsored Entity and published on the
IRS FFI List. See What's New, earlier.
USFIs treated as Lead FIs. A USFI that
is registering as the Lead FI on behalf of
its Member FFIs will register as a Lead FI
and be issued a GIIN.
Branches. In general, a branch must be
registered as a branch of its owner and not
as a separate entity. However, see
Reporting FI under a Model 1 IGA, earlier,
for a special rule for branches that are
disregarded entities in Model 1 IGA
jurisdictions.

Specific Instructions
Part 1: Financial Institution
Registration
Line 1. Check the box applicable to your
FI status as described below. Only one
box may be checked.
A Single FI is an FI that has no
Member FIs, and that is registering for
PFFI or RDCFFI status for itself or one or
more of its branches. A Single FI may also
include a foreign branch of a USFI that is
treated as a Reporting FI under a Model 1
IGA or that is renewing a QI Agreement. A
Direct Reporting NFFE should select
“Single FI.”
Note. A Direct Reporting NFFE may
register by following the instructions
applicable to FIs, except where otherwise
indicated.
A Lead FI means a USFI, FFI, or
Compliance FI that will carry out FATCA
registration for each of its Member FIs that
is a PFFI, RDCFFI, or Limited FFI. A Lead
FI is not required to act as a Lead FI for all
Member FIs within an EAG. Thus, an EAG
may include more than one Lead FI that
will carry out FATCA registration for a
group of Member FIs. A Lead FI will be
provided the rights to manage the online
account for its Member FIs. If a Lead FI
submits a paper Form 8957, the IRS will
create an online FATCA account for the
Lead FI and provide the Lead FI with
information on how to access its FATCA
account, including a FATCA ID and
temporary access code. The Lead FI will
then need to carry out FATCA registration
for each of its Member FIs via the FATCA
registration website. Note: An FFI seeking
to act as a Lead FI cannot have Limited
FFI status in its country of residence.
A Member FI will need to obtain its
FATCA ID from its Lead FI and provide the
number on the registration form. The
FATCA ID is used to identify the Member
FI for purposes of registration and is not
the same number as the GIIN. A GIIN is
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issued to FIs, other than Limited FFIs or
Limited Branches, after the FATCA
registration is submitted and approved.
A Sponsoring Entity is an entity that
will perform the due diligence, withholding,
and reporting obligations of one or more
Sponsored or the due diligence and
reporting obligations of one or more
Sponsored Direct Reporting NFFEs. A
Trustee of a Trustee-Documented Trust
should select “Sponsoring Entity.”
Line 2. Enter the legal name of the FI.
The legal name is the name the FI uses in
official incorporation or organization
documents, or the name otherwise
recognized by the residence jurisdiction
government as the FI's official name.
Typically, the legal name is the name used
by the FI in legal documents.
Line 3a. Enter the FI’s jurisdiction of
residence for tax purposes. The
jurisdiction of residence means the
jurisdiction in which the FI is treated as a
resident for income tax purposes (for
example, the place of incorporation or
place of principal management and
control). If the FI is a dual resident, identify
one of the countries where it is a tax
resident in this line and identify the second
jurisdiction of tax residence in Line 9a by
treating the second tax residence
jurisdiction as a branch jurisdiction.
Partnerships and other flow-through
entities. For a partnership or other
flow-through entity, the FI’s jurisdiction of
residence means the jurisdiction under the
laws of which the entity is organized or
established or, if not organized or
established under the laws of any
jurisdiction, the jurisdiction where it
maintains its principal office.
Line 3b. Enter the FI's country/jurisdiction
tax ID. Some countries/jurisdictions may
use a Tax Identification Number ("TIN") to
identify taxpayers. If the FI is in a
jurisdiction that utilizes TINs and the FI
has been issued a TIN, enter the FI's TIN
on this line.
Line 4. Check the box applicable to your
FATCA classification in your jurisdiction of
tax residence. Only one box may be
checked.
A Sponsoring Entity, Direct Reporting
NFFE, Trustee of a Trustee-Documented
Trust, a USFI registering as Lead FI, a
U.S. Territory FI or a USFI with a foreign
branch that is renewing its QI Agreement
or that is treated as a Reporting FI under a
Model 1 IGA must select “None of the
Above.”
Note: FIs with branches in multiple jurisdictions. An FI (other than a
Sponsoring Entity, USFI, or foreign branch
of a USFI) that maintains branch
operations in multiple jurisdictions should
answer this question by treating the

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operations within its country of tax
residence as if it were a branch (home
office) and then classify whether such
home office is participating, registered
deemed compliant, or limited. In Line 9a of
the registration form, the FI should identify
the jurisdictions where it maintains
branches outside of its country of tax
residence and which, if any, of its
branches will be treated as Limited
Branches.
Example. Bank A, an FI, is a resident
of Country X. In addition to banking
activities that it conducts within Country X,
Bank A also conducts banking activities
through its branches in Countries Y and Z.
Under Country X laws, Bank A cannot
satisfy the obligations that would allow its
operations within Country X (home office)
to be effectively a PFFI or RDCFFI.
However, Bank A’s branches in Countries
Y and Z would be able to comply with the
obligations imposed on a PFFI or RDCFFI.
For purposes of registering itself and
obtaining a GIIN for its branch operations
in Countries Y and Z, Bank A should
select that it is classified as a Limited FFI
in its jurisdiction of tax residence.
Line 5. Enter the mailing address of the
FI. The address provided will be used to
send all mail correspondence related to
the FI's FATCA registration, FATCA
account, and any other related matters.
Line 6. Check the appropriate box to
indicate that the FI is a party to a QI, WP,
or WT Agreement with the IRS and
provide the EIN that was issued to the FI
for use in identifying itself when acting in
its capacity as a QI, WP, or WT.
Check “Not Applicable” if the FI is not a
party to a QI, WP, or WT Agreement with
the IRS.
Sponsoring Entities and Direct
Reporting NFFEs. A Sponsoring Entity
and Direct Reporting NFFE must check
“Not Applicable.”
Line 7. Check “Yes” if the FI maintains a
branch outside its jurisdiction of tax
residence. A branch is a unit, business, or
office of an FI that is treated as a branch
under the regulatory regime of a
jurisdiction or is otherwise regulated under
the laws of a jurisdiction as separate from
other offices, units, or branches of the FI.
FIs should treat all offices or business
units within any one jurisdiction as a single
branch.
Sponsoring Entities, Trustees of
Trustee-Documented Trusts, and
Direct Reporting NFFEs. If you are
applying as a Sponsoring Entity, Trustee
of a Trustee-Documented Trust, or Direct
Reporting NFFE, you do not need to
answer questions about your branches
and should check “No.”

Line 8. Check “Yes” if the FI is either a
U.S. resident or maintains a branch within
the United States, and provide the EIN of
the FI or U.S. branch, as appropriate.
Line 9a. Separately identify each
jurisdiction where the FI maintains a
branch outside of the United States,
including if the FI maintains a branch in a
U.S. Territory, and provide the information
requested in Lines 9b and 9c. Use
additional sheets to furnish the required
information for each separate jurisdiction
in which the FI maintains a branch.
When a disregarded entity is required
to register on its own behalf, discussed
earlier, its owner should not report the
disregarded entity as a branch on this
Line 9a.
Line 9b. Indicate whether each branch
listed is a Limited Branch.
Line 9c. Check “Yes” if the branch
operates under an attachment to the FI's
QI agreement and intends to renew its
status as such.
Check “No” if the branch operates
under an attachment to the FI's QI
agreement and does not intend to renew
its status as such.
Check “Not Applicable” if the branch is
not part of an FI that is a QI.
Note. On the FATCA registration form, a
QI can delete branches previously listed in
its QI Agreement that will no longer act as
a QI, but it cannot add branches. If the QI
wishes to add branches that were not
included in its prior QI Agreement, it must
complete Form 14345 in accordance with
the instructions therein.
Line 10. Provide the name, title, address
and contact information of the
Responsible Officer (RO) of the FI. For
purposes of line 10, RO means the person
authorized under applicable local law to
establish the statuses of the FI's home
office and branches as indicated on the
registration form. To have the authority to
“establish the statuses” for purposes of
this Line 10, an RO must have the
authority to act on behalf of the FI to
represent the FATCA status(es) of the FI
to the IRS as part of the registration
process. The RO for purposes of this line
must also have the authority under local
law to designate additional POCs. The
individual identified as the RO on this
line 10 will be the only individual who will
receive emails from the IRS related to the
FI's FATCA account.
With respect to a PFFI, an RO is an
officer of the FFI (or an officer of any
Member FI that is a PFFI, Reporting FI
under a Model 1 IGA, or Reporting FI
under a Model 2 IGA) with sufficient
authority to fulfill the duties of a

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Responsible Officer described in an FFI
Agreement.
With respect to a PFFI that elects to be
part of a consolidated compliance
program, an RO is an officer of the
Compliance FI with sufficient authority to
fulfill the duties of a Responsible Officer
described in the FFI Agreement on behalf
of each FFI in the compliance group
(regardless of whether the FFI is a Limited
FFI or treated as a Reporting FI under a
Model 1 IGA or Reporting FI under a
Model 2 IGA).
With respect to a RDCFFI, other than a
RDCFFI that is a Reporting FI under a
Model 1 IGA, an RO is an officer of the FI
(or an officer of any Member FFI that is a
PFFI, Reporting FI under a Model 1 IGA,
or Reporting FI under a Model 2 IGA) with
sufficient authority to ensure that the FFI
meets the applicable requirements to be
treated as a RDCFFI.
With respect to a Reporting FI under a
Model 1 IGA, an RO is any individual
specified under local law to register and
obtain a GIIN on behalf of the FFI. If,
however, the Reporting FI under a Model
1 IGA operates any branches outside of a
Model 1 IGA jurisdiction, then the RO
identified must be an individual who can
satisfy the requirements under the laws of
the Model 1 IGA jurisdiction and the
requirements relevant to the registration
type selected for each of its non-Model 1
IGA branches.
With respect to a Limited FFI, an RO is
an officer of the Limited FFI (or an officer
of any Member FI that is a PFFI, Reporting
FI under a Model 1 IGA, or Reporting FI
under a Model 2 IGA) with sufficient
authority to ensure that the FI meets the
applicable requirements to be treated as a
Limited FFI.
With respect to a USFI that is
registering as a Lead FI, an RO is any
officer of the FI (or an officer of any
Member FI) with sufficient authority to
register its Member FIs and to manage the
online FATCA accounts for such
members.
With respect to a Direct Reporting
NFFE, an RO is the individual who will be
responsible for ensuring that the Direct
Reporting NFFE meets its reporting
obligations as a Direct Reporting NFFE
and will act as a point of contact with the
IRS in connection with its status as a
Direct Reporting NFFE.
With respect to a Sponsoring Entity, an
RO is the individual who will be
responsible for ensuring that the
Sponsored Entity meets its obligations as
a Sponsoring Entity and who will act as a
point of contact with the IRS in connection
with its obligations as a Sponsoring Entity.
Note. If an FI is a Lead FI, the FI’s RO will
automatically be treated as a POC for the

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FI and any Member FI. As a result, the RO
for a Lead FI may receive correspondence
related to its Member FI’s FATCA
information.
The address provided should be the
business address of the RO. The business
address is defined as the address where
the RO maintains his or her principal
office.
Line 11a. Check “Yes” and complete
Line 11b, if the FI wants to appoint one or
more POCs, other than the RO identified
in Line 10. A POC is an individual
authorized to receive from the IRS
FATCA-related information regarding the
FI and to take other FATCA-related
actions on behalf of the FI. While the POC
must be an individual, the POC does not
need to be an employee of the FI.
Check “No” if the FI wants the IRS to
send correspondence only to the RO
identified in Line 10.
By listing one or more POCs in
Line 11b and checking the “Yes” box in
Line 11a, the individual identified in the
checkbox on Line 11b is providing the IRS
with written authorization to release the
FI’s FATCA information to the POC.
Line 11b. For purposes of Line 11b, the
term “RO” means an individual who is
authorized under local law to consent on
behalf of the FI (“an authorizing
individual”) to the disclosure of
FATCA-related tax information to third
parties. This individual may be the same
as the individual identified as the RO in
Line 10. By listing one or more POCs in
Line 11b and checking the “Yes” box in
Line 11a, the authorizing individual
identified at the end of line 11b (to the right
of the checkbox) is providing the IRS with
written authorization to release the FI’s
FATCA information to the POC. This
authorization specifically includes
authorization for the POC to complete the
FATCA registration (except for Part 4), to
take other FATCA-related actions, and to
obtain access to the FI's tax information. If
a third-party adviser that is an entity is
retained to help the FI complete its FATCA
registration process, the name of the
third-party individual adviser that will help
complete the FATCA registration process
should be entered as a POC in Line 11b,
and the “Business Title” field for that
individual POC should be completed by
inserting the name of the entity and the
POC’s affiliation with the entity. Once the
authorization is granted, it is effective until
revoked by either the POC or by an
authorizing individual of the FI.

Part 2: Information on
Member FIs of an EAG

This part need not be completed by an FI
that is a Member FI, Single FI, or
Sponsoring Entity.

Line 12. A Lead FI will be required to
provide identifying information about its
Member FIs via the FATCA registration
website. The grid in Part 2 is provided to
help the Lead FI collect Member FI
information that it will need to complete
the online version of Part 2 of the FATCA
registration form. Do not mail identifying
information for Member FIs to the IRS on
the paper FATCA registration form. If a
Lead FI submits a paper Form 8957, after
the form is processed by the IRS, the Lead
FI will receive a FATCA ID and temporary
access code to access its online account
and to complete Part 2 of the FATCA
registration form for each of its Member
FIs. In order to complete Part 2, the Lead
FI will need to know the Member FI’s legal
name, jurisdiction of tax residence, and
member type. A Lead FI that is registering
a Member FI that is a USFI with foreign
branches or a Member FI that is a Direct
Reporting NFFE should select “None of
the Above” for such entity.
If a Limited FFI is located in a
jurisdiction that prohibits it from registering
with the IRS as a Limited FFI, a member of
the Limited FFI’s Expanded Affiliated
Group that is a USFI, PFFI (including a
Reporting FI under a Model 2 IGA), or
Reporting FI under a Model 1 IGA should
register as a Lead FI and identify the
Limited FFI in the online version of Part 2
of the FATCA registration form. If the Lead
FI is prohibited from identifying the Limited
FFI by its legal name, the Lead FI may use
the term “Limited FFI” in place of its name
and indicate the FFI’s jurisdiction of
residence or organization. For more
information on registering a Limited FFI,
see Notice 2014-33, 2014-21 I.R.B. 1033,
and the online user guide available at
www.irs.gov/fatca.
For more information on how to
complete information for a Member FI via
the FATCA registration website, see the
online user guide available at
www.irs.gov/fatca.
Line 13a. If the FI is the Common Parent
Entity of the Expanded Affiliated Group,
check "Yes" and go to Line 14. Otherwise,
check "No" and complete line 13b. An
Expanded Affiliated Group is generally
defined in accordance with the principles
of section 1504(a) of the Code to mean
one or more chains of members
connected through ownership by a
Common Parent Entity if the Common
Parent Entity directly owns stock or other
equity interests meeting the requirements
of Treas. Reg. section 1.1471-5(i)(4) in at
least one of the other members (without
applying the constructive ownership rules
of section 318 of the Code). Generally,
only a corporation shall be treated as the
Common Parent Entity of an Expanded
Affiliated Group, unless the taxpayer

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elects to follow the approach described in
Treas. Reg. §1.1471-5(i)(10).
Line 13b. Enter the Legal Name of the
Expanded Affiliated Group's Common
Parent Entity. Also enter the FATCA ID (if
known). If you do not know the FATCA ID
of the Common Parent Entity, leave this
blank.

Part 3: Renewal of
Existing Agreements
for QIs, WPs, or WTs

Part 3 should only be completed by a
Single FI, Lead FI or Member FI that has in
effect a QI, WP, or WT Agreement and
that wishes to renew its agreement. Part 3
can generally only be completed via the
FATCA registration website. A QI that is
an NFFE that is not acting as a QI on
behalf of its shareholders and is not a
Sponsoring Entity, a WP or WT that is a
retirement fund or that is an NFFE (other
than with respect to its capacity as a
Sponsoring Entity) must renew its QI, WP,
or WT agreement by submitting a request
for renewal to the Foreign Payments
Program, 290 Broadway 12th Floor, New
York, NY 10007-1867, Attn: QI/WP/WT
Applications. FIs that want to apply to
become a first-time QI, WP, or WT should
visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov/fatca
for more information on how to apply.
Line 14. Check “Yes” if the QI/WP/WT
has changed its legal name since the date
of its most recent QI/WP/WT Agreement.
If “Yes,” also provide the new legal
business name of the QI/WP/WT and the
reason for the name change (i.e., merger,
liquidation, or rebranding).
Check “No” if the QI/WP/WT has not
changed its legal name since the date of
its most recent QI/WP/WT Agreement.
Line 15. Enter the name, business title,
and contact information for the QI's, WP's,
or WT's Responsible party as identified in
the QI's, WP's, or WT's most recent
QI/WP/WT Agreement. A Responsible
party means the individual responsible for
the performance of the QI, WP, or WT with
respect to the terms of a QI, WP, or WT
Agreement.
Check “Yes” if the Responsible party is
the same individual listed as the QI's,
WP's, or WT's RO in Line 10.
Check “No” if the Responsible party
differs from the individual listed as the
QI's, WP's, or WT's RO in Line 10.
Line 16. Enter the legal name and
address of the PAI. The legal name is the
name the PAI uses in official incorporation
or organization documents, or the name
otherwise recognized by the government
as the entity's official name.

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The address of the PAI is the address
where the PAI maintains its principal
office.
Leave this line blank if there are no PAI
contracts.

Part 4: Signature

The individual signing the registration form
on behalf of the FI should check the box,
enter his or her name in the space
provided, and then sign on the signature
line at the bottom. The form will not be
processed if the name of the individual or
the signature is missing.
For purposes of Part 4, the term “RO”
means the individual with authority under
local law to submit the information
provided on behalf of the FI. In the case of
FIs or FI branches not governed by a
Model 1 IGA, this individual must also
have authority under local law to certify
that the FI meets the requirements
applicable to the FI status or statuses
identified on the registration form. The
individual must be able to certify, to the
best of his or her knowledge, that the
information provided in the FI's registration
is accurate and complete. The RO
identified in Part 4 need not be the same
individual identified as the RO in Line 10
or Line 11b.
In the case of an FI, the individual must
be able to certify that the FI meets the
requirements applicable to the status(es)
identified in the FI's registration. However,
a reporting FI under a Model 1 IGA that
has branches (as identified in Part 1,
Line 9) that are located outside of a Model
1 IGA jurisdiction will also agree to the
terms applicable to the statuses of such

branches. Additionally, an FI (including a
reporting FI in a Model 1 IGA jurisdiction)
that is also registering to renew its QI, WP,
or WT Agreement will agree to the terms
of such renewed QI, WP, or WT
Agreements by making the declaration
that the FI meets the requirements
applicable to the status(es) identified in
the FI’s registration.
In the case of a Direct Reporting NFFE,
the individual must be able to certify that
the Direct Reporting NFFE meets the
requirements of a Direct Reporting NFFE
under Treas. Reg. §1.1472-1(c)(3).
An RO (as defined for purposes of Part
4) can delegate authorization to complete
Part 4 by signing a Form 2848 “Power of
Attorney Form and Declaration of
Representative” or other similar form or
document (including an applicable form or
document under local law giving the agent
the authorization to provide the
information required for the FATCA
Registration).
By signing the registration form, the
individual certifies that, to the best of his or
her knowledge, the information submitted
above is accurate and complete and that
the individual is authorized to agree that
the FI or Direct Reporting NFFE intends to
comply with its FATCA obligations.
Paperwork Reduction Act Notice We
ask for the information on this form to carry
out the Internal Revenue laws of the
United States. You are required to give us
the information. We need it to ensure that
you are complying with these laws and to
allow us to figure and collect the right
amount of tax.

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You are not required to provide the
information requested on a form that is
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act
unless the form displays a valid OMB
control number. Books or records relating
to a form or its instructions must be
retained as long as their contents may
become material in the administration of
any Internal Revenue law. Generally, tax
returns and return information are
confidential, as required by section 6103.
The time needed to complete and file
this form will vary depending on individual
circumstances. The estimated average
time is:
Recordkeeping . . . . . . .

7 hr, 24 min.

Learning about the law
or the form . . . . . . . . . .

18 min.

Preparing and sending
the form to the IRS . . . .

25 min.

If you have comments concerning the
accuracy of these time estimates or
suggestions for making this form simpler,
we would be happy to hear from you. You
can send us comments from www.irs.gov/
formspubs. Click on “More Information”
and then on “Give us feedback.” Or you
can write to Internal Revenue Service, Tax
Forms and Publications, 1111 Constitution
Ave. NW, IR-6526, Washington, DC
20224. Do not send the registration form
to this office. Instead, see How To
Register, earlier.