Date

What's new
23 February 2023IRAS FATCA FAQs (PDF, 484KB) document updated: FAQ B.7 updated
23 February 2022Paragraph 7.3 of the IRAS Supplementary XML User Guide for Preparing the FATCA Reporting Data File ("Supplementary Guide"). (PDF, 266KB) updated
1 December 2021

Increased Penalties for FATCA Filing Offences

With effect from 16 November 2021, the penalties for FATCA non-filing offences have been increased to $5,000 upon conviction, and a further fine of $100 per day for a continuing offence.

More than 90% of Reporting SGFIs have filed their annual returns on time. We strongly encourage Reporting SGFIs to put in place the necessary controls to ensure their returns are filed on time. Please refer to the FATCA Compliance section for more information. 

12 May 2021
Simplified FATCA Filing Requirements for Qualifying Personal Investment Companies (PICs)

A Qualifying PIC that is liable to fulfil FATCA reporting obligations may qualify for simplified FATCA registration and reporting requirements and file its FATCA return annually using the simplified AEOI registration and reporting form.

Please refer to FATCA Filing Requirements section for more information.
13 April 2021IRAS FATCA FAQs (PDF, 479KB) document updated: FAQ B.5 updated
13 April 2021Paragraph 7.4 of the IRAS Supplementary XML Schema User Guide for Preparing the FATCA Reporting Data File ("Supplementary Guide") (PDF, 268KB) has been updated
13 April 2021

FATCA Return Filing for Reporting Year 2020

FATCA Return Filing for the Reporting Year 2020 will commence on 19 April 2021. All Reporting SGFIs must submit their FATCA return(s) to IRAS, setting out the required information in relation to every US Reportable Account that was maintained in Calendar Year 2020, by 31 May 2021.

We strongly encourage Reporting SGFIs to submit their FATCA return(s) by 15 May 2021 to allow sufficient time to resolve any unexpected issues. Enforcement actions will be taken against Reporting SGFIs that do not submit their FATCA returns on time.

Please refer to the FATCA Filing Requirements section for more information.

13 April 2021From 11 April 2021, you will be required to log in to government digital services for businesses (G2B) using Singpass instead of Corppass. For more information, visit Corppass Website.
1 April 2021 

Part C of the IRAS Supplementary XML Schema User Guide for Preparing the FATCA Reporting Data File (“Supplementary Guide”) (PDF, 259KB) has been updated. 

1 April 2021

IRAS FATCA FAQs (PDF, 225KB) document updated: FAQ B.5 updated; FAQ B.6 added

21 September 2020

Part C of the IRAS Supplementary XML Schema User Guide for Preparing the FATCA Reporting Data File (“Supplementary Guide”) (PDF, 255KB) has been updated. 

21 September 2020IRAS FATCA FAQs document updated: FAQ B.5 added
21 September 2020FAQ – FATCA Filing Process via myTax Portal (PDF, 291KB) document updated: FAQ A.6 added
28 August 2020Entry into force of the Singapore-US reciprocal FATCA Model 1 IGA on 1 January 2021
28 August 2020Enactment of the Income Tax (International Tax Compliance Agreements) (United States of America) Regulations 2020 ("FATCA Regulations 2020") which will come into operation on 1 January 2021
12 August 2020Updated FATCA Fillable PDF Form

Part IV, Section B of the FATCA Fillable PDF Form has been updated to include Entity Account Holder Type: Owner-Documented FFI with Specified U.S. Owner(s) (ODFFI).

15 May 2020Consistent with the announcement by the United States Internal Revenue Service and in light of the COVID-19 situation, IRAS is automatically extending the FATCA filing deadline for Reporting Year 2019 to 31 Aug 2020. We encourage Reporting SGFIs to submit their FATCA return(s) by 15 Aug 2020 to allow sufficient time to resolve any unexpected issues.

Reporting SGFIs that can file their FATCA return(s) earlier by 31 May 2020 should continue to do so.

6 May 2020
Updated FATCA Fillable PDF Form

The updated FATCA Fillable PDF Form has been updated. Reporting SGFIs that intend to file their FATCA return via the Fillable PDF Form are strongly encouraged to use the updated FATCA Fillable PDF Form (PDF, 425KB) to ensure a smoother filing experience.

24 April 2020
Update: IRAS will release the updated FATCA Fillable PDF Form on 6 May 2020 instead of 29 April 2020. Reporting SGFIs are reminded to prepare the relevant information required to be provided to IRAS as early as possible. This is to avoid unexpected delays due to submission errors.
20 April 2020
New IRAS FAQs on FATCA Filing Process (PDF, 296KB) via myTax Portal are available
20 April 2020
New and updated IRAS FAQs on provision of FATCA Registration Information to IRAS: FAQ Q2 updated; FAQs Q6 and Q7 added
20 April 2020IRAS will release an updated FATCA Fillable PDF Form on 29 April 2020. Reporting SGFIs that intend to file their FATCA return via the PDF Fillable Form are strongly encouraged to use the updated version. Reporting SGFIs are reminded to prepare the relevant information required to be provided to IRAS as early as possible. This is to avoid unexpected delays due to submission errors.
13 April 2020

FATCA e-Tax Guide (PDF, 1,172KB) has been updated.

 1 April 2020

FATCA Return Filing for Reporting Year 2019

 

FATCA Return Filing for the Reporting Year 2019 will commence on 20 April 2020. All Reporting SGFIs must submit FATCA return(s) to IRAS, setting out the required information in relation to every US Reportable Account that was maintained in Calendar Year 2019, by 31 May 2020.

We encourage Reporting SGFIs to submit their FATCA return(s) by 15 May 2020 to allow sufficient time to resolve any unexpected issues.

Please refer to the FATCA Reporting Requirements section for more information.

24 March 2020

New IRAS Public Key for preparing a FATCA reporting packet for submission via IDES between 25 March 2020 to 31 March 2020

Reporting SGFIs submitting a FATCA reporting packet via IDES between 25 March 2020 to 31 March 2020 must encrypt the FATCA reporting packet using the new IRAS Public Key. Please refer to Step 3 in Overview of FATCA Reporting through IDES section for a copy of the new IRAS Public Key.

Reporting SGFIs are reminded that with effect from 1 April 2020, Reporting SGFIs must submit all FATCA returns, including nil returns (if applicable), electronically to IRAS via the “Submit CRS or FATCA Return” e-Service at IRAS’ myTax Portal. 

24 March 2020

Reminder: Changes to FATCA reporting requirements with effect from 1 April 2020

With effect from 1 April 2020, Reporting SGFIs must submit all FATCA returns, including nil returns (if applicable), electronically to IRAS via the “Submit CRS or FATCA Return” e-Service at IRAS’ myTax Portal.

Reporting SGFIs must provide their FATCA Registration Information to IRAS in order to submit their FATCA returns to IRAS from 1 April 2020. Reporting SGFIs that have yet to do so should provide the information via the “ Apply for CRS Registration” e-Service. A CRS-registered SGFI should submit only the FATCA Registration Information of the entity under the e-Service.

24 March 2020With effect from 1 April 2020, Reporting SGFIs will no longer be able to log in to the IDES and should download any reports that they may need from the IDES before 1 April 2020.
30 September 2019

The IRAS Supplementary XML Schema User Guide for Preparing the FATCA Reporting Data File (“Supplementary Guide”) to be read in conjunction with the FATCA Regulations, FATCA guidance materials and the FATCA XML Schema V2.0 User Guide (US IRS’ Publication 5124). The materials are available at FATCA Filing webpage

The Supplementary Guide provides additional guidance on how the information for certain data elements must be presented for the purpose of FATCA reporting to IRAS via myTax Portal with effect from 1 April 2020
30 September 2019

In order to submit FATCA returns via the “Submit CRS or FATCA Return” e-Service from 1 April 2020, Reporting SGFIs must provide their FATCA Registration Information to IRAS.

Reporting SGFIs that have yet to do so should provide the information via the “Apply for CRS Registration” e-Service.

For more information, please refer to FATCA Registration webpage.
30 September 2019

List of Approved Certificate Authorities

The list of US IRS-approved Certificate Authorities has been updated.

If the Reporting SGFI has a valid certificate from an approved certificate authority, based on the prior version of the list (available in  FAQs - FATCA Filing Process (PDF, 323KB)), the Reporting SGFI may continue to use it until it expires. 

Please note that with effect from 1 April 2020, Reporting SGFIs do not need to have a valid certificate as there is no need to digitally sign, encrypt or compress the FATCA XML file for submission via myTax Portal.

10 July 2019

Changes to FATCA reporting requirements with effect from 1 April 2020

With effect from 1 April 2020, Reporting SGFIs must submit all FATCA returns, including nil returns (if applicable), electronically to IRAS via the “Submit CRS or FATCA Return” e-Service at IRAS’ myTax Portal. Correspondingly, IRAS will no longer accept FATCA returns submitted via the International Data Exchange System (“IDES”). The requirement is applicable to all submissions of new, nil, amended, corrected or void FATCA returns, including returns relating to Reporting Years 2018 and earlier. These changes will streamline Reporting SGFIs’ FATCA reporting process.  

More information on the FATCA reporting requirements via the “Submit CRS or FATCA Return” e-Service will be released by end-September 2019.
15 April 2019FATCA Return Filing for Reporting Year 2018

The FATCA Paper Nil Return for Reporting Year 2018 is now available for download.

Please refer to the FATCA Reporting Requirements section for more information and download of the Paper Nil Return.
1 March 2019FATCA Return Filing for Reporting Year 2018

FATCA Return Filing for the Reporting Year 2018 will commence on 15 April 2019. All Reporting SGFIs must submit a FATCA Return to IRAS, setting out the required information in relation to every US Reportable Account that was maintained in Calendar Year 2018, by 31 May 2019.  

We strongly encourage Reporting SGFIs to submit their FATCA Return by 15 May 2019 to allow sufficient time to resolve any unexpected issues. Enforcement actions will be taken against Reporting SGFIs that do not submit their FATCA returns on time.

Reporting SGFIs that did not maintain any US Reportable Accounts may continue to submit a Paper Nil Return for Reporting Year 2018. The Paper Nil Return for Reporting Year 2018 will be made available for download from 12 April 2019.

Please refer to the FATCA Reporting Requirements section for more information.
 1 March 2019

Changes to FATCA Registration: FI classification

Reporting SGFIs can register or update their FATCA classification at the FATCA Registration Portal under the FI classification "Reporting Financial institution under a Model 1 IGA".

Please refer to the FATCA Registration section for more information.

16 November 2018

Singapore-US FATCA Model 1A IGA

Singapore and the US signed a FATCA Model 1A IGA on 13 November 2018.

The text of the IGA is available here.
16 April 2018

FATCA Return Filing for Reporting Year 2017 
The FATCA Paper Nil Return for Reporting Year 2017 is now available for download.

Please refer to the FATCA Reporting Requirements section for more information and to download the Paper Nil Return.  
5 March 2018 

FATCA Return Filing for Reporting Year 2017
FATCA Return Filing for the Reporting Year 2017 will commence on16 April 2018. All Reporting SGFIs must submit a FATCA Return to IRAS, setting out the required information in relation to every US Reportable Account that is maintained in Calendar Year 2017, by 31 May 2018.

We strongly encourage Reporting SGFIs to submit their FATCA Return by 15 May 2018 to allow sufficient time to resolve any unexpected issues. Enforcement actions will be taken against Reporting SGFIs that did not submit their FATCA returns on time or did not submit their FATCA returns.

Reporting SGFIs that did not maintain any US Reportable Accounts may continue to submit a Paper Nil Return for Reporting Year 2017. The Paper Nil Return for Reporting Year 2017 will be made available for download from 13 April 2018.

Please refer to the FATCA Reporting Requirements section for more information. 
5 February 2018 

New IRAS Public Key for preparing a FATCA reporting packet

With effect from 1 March 2018, all FATCA reporting packets that are uploaded to the IDES for transmission to IRAS must be encrypted using the new IRAS Public Key.

Please refer to Step 3 in Overview of FATCA Reporting through IDES section for a copy of the new IRAS Public Key. 
5 January 2018 

Instructions for reporting the Taxpayer Identification Number (“TIN”) data of pre-existing accounts that are US Reportable Accounts and the US TIN Of the US Person is not available for Reporting Years 2017, 2018 and 2019
The Revised Guidance Related to Obtaining and Reporting Taxpayer Identification Numbers and Dates of Birth by Financial Institutions (“ Notice 2017-46” (PDF, 58KB)), issued by the US Internal Revenue Service on 25 September 2017, provides procedures for Reporting SGFIs to follow if they fail to obtain and report the required US TIN of US Persons of pre-existing accounts that are US Reportable Accounts for Reporting Years 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Where Reporting SGFIs maintain pre-existing accounts that are US Reportable Accounts without the required US TIN of the US Persons, and the Reporting SGFIs fulfil the 3 conditions stated in Section III(B) of Notice 2017-46, they should insert a string of 9 consecutive “A”s (i.e. “AAAAAAAAA”) in the TIN field for each US Account Holder or Controlling Person whose required US TIN is not available when they report such accounts to IRAS for the 3 reporting years.

Please refer to FAQ No. B.4 of the  FAQs – General(PDF, 242KB) document for more information.   
27 July 2017 

List of Approved Certificate Authorities
The list of US IRS-approved Certificate Authorities has been updated and will take effect from 31 July 2017.

If the Reporting SGFI has a valid certificate from an approved certificate authority, based on the prior version of the list (available in  FAQs - FATCA Filing Process (PDF, 323KB)), the Reporting SGFI may continue to use it until it expires.  
27 July 2017 

REMINDER: FATCA Return Filing for Reporting Year 2016
FATCA Return filing for Reporting Year 2016 has ended on 31 May 2017. Reporting SGFIs that have not submitted their FATCA Return must do so immediately.

Enforcement action will be taken against Reporting SGFIs that did not submit their FATCA returns on time.  
3 April 2017 FATCA Return Filing for Reporting Year 2016
The FATCA Paper Nil Return for Reporting Year 2016 is now available for download.

Please refer to the FATCA Reporting Requirements section for more information and download of the Paper Nil Return.    
3 March 2017 FATCA Return Filing for Reporting Year 2016
FATCA Return Filing for the Reporting Year 2016 will commence on 15 April 2017. All reporting SGFIs are required to submit a FATCA Return to IRAS, setting out the required information in relation to (1) every US Reportable Account that is maintained in Calendar Year 2016 and (2) all payments made to each nonparticipating financial institution (“nonparticipating FFI”) in Calendar Year 2016, by 31 May 2017.

Reporting SGFIs that did not (i) maintain any US Reportable Accounts and (ii) make any payments to any nonparticipating FFI in Calendar Year 2016 may continue to submit a Paper Nil Return for Reporting Year 2016. The Paper Nil Return for Reporting Year 2016 will be made available for download from 3 April 2017. Please subscribe to the IRAS eAlerts if you wish to be informed of updates to the IRAS FATCA webpage.

Please refer to the FATCA Reporting Requirement section for more information 
5 January 2017 

Amendments to the Income Tax (International Tax Compliance Agreements) (United States of America) Regulations 2015 ("FATCA Regulations")

Regulation 14 of the FATCA Regulations has been amended to align the description of the CPF accounts/investments with the recent amendments to the Central Provident Fund (“CPF”) Act which came into effect on 1 Jan 2017.

The amendments to the FATCA Regulations do not change the types of CPF accounts/investments that are excluded for FATCA reporting purposes.

Please refer to the amendments to the FATCA Regulations for more information.  

21 December 2016

FATCA XML Schema Version 2.0 (Effective from 17 January 2017)

With effect from 17 January 2017, all new, nil, amended, corrected or void FATCA Returns, including returns relating to Reporting Years 2014 and 2015, that are submitted to IRAS through the IDES must be formatted using FATCA XML Schema Version 2.0.

To facilitate the transition to the new Schema, the IDES will be closed from 14 January 2017 to 16 January 2017. Please note that the last day and time for Reporting SGFIs to submit their FATCA reporting packets, that are prepared using FATCA XML Schema Version 1.1, to IRAS is 12 January 2017, 5:00 PM. This is to allow IRAS sufficient time to review and follow up on the reported packets. Any reporting packet submitted after 12 January 2017, 5:00 PM may not be approved for onward transmission to the IRS.

11 October 2016

Adoption of FATCA XML Schema Version 2.0 for FATCA Return submission

IRAS has adopted FATCA XML Schema v2.0 for Reporting SGFIs’ use. The date of transition, which is expected to be in January 2017, will be announced in due course. Following the transition date, all new, nil, amended, corrected or void FATCA Returns, including returns relating to Reporting Years 2014 and 2015, that are submitted to IRAS through the IDES must be formatted using FATCA XML Schema Version 2.0.

Please refer to FATCA Data Format section for a copy of the FATCA XML Schema v2.0.

15 July 2016


FATCA XML Schema v2.0 (Draft version)

For Reporting Year 2016 (i.e. submission commencing April 2017), the FATCA XML Schema v2.0 will replace v1.1. All International Data Exchange Service (IDES) users, including Reporting SGFIs, will be required to submit FATCA Reports using version 2.0 as version 1.1 will no longer be supported.

A draft version of the FATCA XML Schema v2.0 is available on the FATCA XML Schemas and Business Rules for Form 8966 web page. The draft schema is subject to change and not intended for use in current production.

IRAS will make an announcement and published the FATCA XML Schema v2.0 on this webpage when it is finalised and adopted for Reporting SGFIs’ use.

15 July 2016


REMINDER: FATCA Return Filing for Reporting Year 2015

FATCA Return filing for Reporting Year 2015 has ended on 31 May 2016. Reporting SGFIs that have not submitted their FATCA Return must do so immediately.

25 May 2016

REMINDER: FATCA Return Filing for Reporting Year 2015

All Reporting SGFIs are reminded to submit their FATCA Return for Reporting Year 2015 by 31 May 2016.

25 May 2016


Change of FATCA IDES File Encryption Mode (Effective date: 9 July 2016)

With effect from 9 July 2016*, IDES will no longer accept data packets encrypted with ECB cipher mode and Reporting SGFIs are required to transmit FATCA reporting packet using CBC cipher mode. CBC is a stronger algorithm for encrypting data and its adoption will improve the current secure data packaging process.

The sample codes for developing an utility to prepare a FATCA reporting packet, using CBC cipher mode, have been updated. Please refer to the updated sample codes.

More information on CBC encryption is available in Section 9 of the IDES User Guide (PDF, 5,111KB). 

* Please note that CBC Encryption Mode will only be implemented from 9 July 2016, and all FATCA reporting packets submitted prior to 9 July 2019 must be encrypted using the current ECB cipher mode.

4 Apr 2016 

FATCA Return Filing for Reporting Year 2015

FATCA Return Filing for the Reporting Year 2015 will commence on 15 April 2016. All Reporting SGFIs are required to submit a FATCA Return to IRAS, setting out the required information in relation to every US Reportable Account maintained in Calendar Year 2015, by 31 May 2016.

Please refer to the FATCA Reporting section for more information.  

11 February 2016 

REMINDER: New Accounts opened prior to the entry into force of the Singapore-US IGA and under the Alternative Procedures

The one year period for applying the alternative due diligence procedures (“the Alternative Procedures”) provided under Paragraph G.2 of Section VI of Annex I of the Singapore-US IGA (“the IGA”), for New Accounts opened prior to the entry into force of the IGA will end on 17 March 2016.

Reporting SGFIs that have applied the Alternative Procedures on New Accounts opened between 1 July 2014 and 17 March 2015, are reminded to collect the required self-certification or other documentation for any of such accounts by 17 March 2016. Reporting SGFIs that are unable to obtain the required documentation on such accounts by 17 March 2016 must

  1. close the accounts;

  2. perform the applicable due diligence procedures on such closed accounts; and

report any closed account that is identified as a US Reportable Account or as an account held by a Nonparticipating Financial Institution, as the case may be, to IRAS by 31 May 2016 

11 February 2016 

FIs no longer need to provide contact information to IRAS for FATCA

Reporting SGFIs need not provide their contact information to IRAS as such information can be obtained when a FATCA reporting packet is submitted to IRAS via the IDES.

Please subscribe to IRAS eAlerts if you wish to be informed of updates to the IRAS FATCA webpage. 

18 November 2015 

Clarification Note on Sole-Proprietorships

This note seeks to clarify the treatment of accounts held by sole-proprietorships for FATCA purposes. A consequential update is made in the FATCA e-Tax Guide. 

18 November 2015 

FAQs for Account Holders

The FAQs address the common questions that IRAS receives on FATCA and self-certifications required by financial institutions. 

4 September 2015 

Reminder on FATCA Return submission for Reporting Year 2014

FATCA Return submission for Reporting Year 2014 has ended on 31 July 2015. Reporting SGFIs that have requested for an extension are reminded to submit their return by the extended due date. Reporting SGFIs that have not submitted their FATCA Return must do so immediately and contact IRAS (by emailing to [email protected]) to explain why they have failed to submit the return on time to avoid follow up action from IRAS.