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Treasury Regulations · 26 CFR

§ 1.1471-1. Scope of chapter 4 and definitions.

In effect eCFR current as of October 15, 2026

Regulation text, no changes From the eCFR, current as of October 15, 2026. The eCFR is an authoritative but unofficial editorial compilation of the Code of Federal Regulations; the official text is the annual CFR on govinfo. Compare it with this section on ecfr.gov (external site) or the official annual CFR on govinfo (external site).

Regulation under 26 U.S.C. § 1471

Cite as 26 CFR § 1.1471-1

At a glance

Read from the text and its source citation. Not part of the regulation.

Status
In the current eCFR
Issued
January 28, 2013 by T.D. 9610
Last amended
January 2, 2020 by T.D. 9890
Issued under
26 U.S.C. § 1471
Length
7,755 words · about 34 min to read
Defines
168 terms
Cross-references
cites 11 Code sections and 19 regulations; cited by 21
(a) Scope of chapter 4 of the Internal Revenue Code. Sections 1.1471-1 through 1.1474-7 provide rules for withholding when a withholding agent makes a payment to an FFI or NFFE and prescribe the requirements for and definitions relevant to FFIs and NFFEs to which withholding will not apply. Section 1.1471-1 provides definitions for terms used in chapter 4 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) and the regulations thereunder. Section 1.1471-2 provides rules for withholding under section 1471(a) on payments to FFIs, including the exception from withholding for payments made with respect to certain grandfathered obligations. Section 1.1471-3 provides rules for determining the payee of a payment and the documentation requirements to establish a payee's chapter 4 status. Section 1.1471-4 describes the requirements of an FFI agreement under section 1471(b) and the application of sections 1471(b) and (c) to an expanded affiliated group of FFIs. Section 1.1471-5 defines terms relevant to section 1471 and the FFI agreement and defines categories of FFIs that will be deemed to have met the requirements of section 1471(b) pursuant to section 1471(b)(2). Section 1.1471-6 defines classes of beneficial owners of payments that are exempt from withholding under chapter 4. Section 1.1472-1 provides rules for withholding when a withholding agent makes a payment to an NFFE, and defines categories of NFFEs that are not subject to withholding. Section 1.1473-1 provides definitions of the statutory terms in section 1473. Section 1.1474-1 provides rules relating to a withholding agent's liability for withheld tax, filing of income tax and information returns, and depositing of tax withheld. Section 1.1474-2 provides rules relating to adjustments for overwithholding and underwithholding of tax. Section 1.1474-3 provides the circumstances in which a credit is allowed to a beneficial owner for a withheld tax. Section 1.1474-4 provides that a chapter 4 withholding obligation need only be collected once. Section 1.1474-5 contains rules relating to credits and refunds of tax withheld. Section 1.1474-6 provides rules coordinating withholding under sections 1471 and 1472 with withholding provisions under other sections of the Code. Section 1.1474-7 provides the confidentiality requirement for information obtained to comply with the requirements of chapter 4. Any reference in the provisions of sections 1471 through 1474 to an amount that is stated in U.S. dollars includes the foreign currency equivalent of that amount. Except as otherwise provided, the provisions of sections 1471 through 1474 and the regulations thereunder apply only for purposes of chapter 4. See § 301.1474-1 of this chapter for the requirements for reporting on magnetic media that apply to financial institutions making payments or otherwise reporting accounts pursuant to chapter 4.
(b) Definitions. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (b) or under the terms of an applicable Model 2 IGA, the following definitions apply for purposes of sections 1471 through 1474 and the regulations under those sections.
(1) Account. The term account means a financial account as defined in § 1.1471-5(b).
(2) Account holder. The term account holder means the person who holds an account, as determined under § 1.1471-5(a)(3).
(3) Active NFFE. The term active NFFE has the meaning set forth in § 1.1472-1(c)(1)(iv).
(4) AML due diligence. The term AML due diligence means the customer due diligence procedures of a financial institution pursuant to the anti-money laundering or similar requirements to which the financial institution, or branch thereof, is subject. This includes identifying the customer (including the owners of the customer), understanding the nature and purpose of the account, and ongoing monitoring.
(5) Annuity contract. The term annuity contract means a contract under which the issuer agrees to make payments for a period of time determined in whole or in part by reference to the life expectancy of one or more individuals. The term also includes a contract that is considered to be an annuity contract in accordance with the law, regulation, or practice of the jurisdiction in which the contract was issued, and under which the issuer agrees to make payments for a term of years. For purposes of the preceding sentence, it is immaterial whether a contract satisfies any of the substantive U.S. tax rules (for example, sections 72(s), 72(u), 817(h), and the investor control prohibition) applicable to the taxation of a contract holder or issuer.
(6) Assumes primary withholding responsibility. The term assumes primary withholding responsibility refers to when a QI, territory financial institution, or U.S. branch assumes responsibility for withholding on a payment for purposes of chapters 3 and 4 as if it were a U.S. person. A QI may only assume primary withholding responsibility if it does not make an election to be withheld upon with respect to the payment.
(7) Backup withholding. The term backup withholding means the withholding required under section 3406.
(8) Beneficial owner. Except as provided in § 1.1472-1(d), § 1.1471-6(d)(4), and § 1.1471-6(f), the term beneficial owner has the meaning set forth in § 1.1441-1(c)(6).
(9) Blocked account. The term blocked account has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-4(e)(2)(iii)(B).
(10) Branch. With respect to a financial institution, the term branch means a unit, business, or office of a financial institution that is treated as a branch under the regulatory regime of a country or that is otherwise regulated under the laws of a country as separate from other offices, units, or branches of the financial institution and also includes an entity that is disregarded as an entity separate from the financial institution (including branches maintained by such disregarded entity). A branch includes a unit, business, or office of a financial institution located in a country in which it is resident, and a unit, business, or office of a financial institution located in the country in which the financial institution is created or organized. All units, businesses, and offices of a participating FFI located in a single country, and all entities disregarded as entities separate from a participating FFI and located in a single country, shall be treated as a single branch and may use the same GIIN. An account will be treated as maintained by a branch or disregarded entity if the rights and obligations of the account holder and the participating FFI with regard to such account (including any assets held in the account) are governed by the laws of the country of the branch or disregarded entity.
(11) Broker. The term broker means any person, U.S. or foreign, that, in the ordinary course of a trade or business during the calendar year, stands ready to effect sales to be made by others. Examples of a broker include an obligor that regularly issues and retires its own debt obligations, a corporation that regularly redeems its own stock, and a clearing organization that effects sales of securities for its members. A broker does not include an international organization described in § 1.1471-6(c) that redeems or retires an obligation of which it is the issuer, a stock transfer agent that records transfers of stock for a corporation if the nature of the activities of the agent is such that the agent ordinarily would not know the gross proceeds from sales, an escrow agent that effects no sales other than transactions incidental to the purpose of the escrow (such as sales to collect on collateral), or a corporation that issues and retires long-term debt on an irregular basis.
(12) Cash value. The term cash value has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-5(b)(3)(vii)(B).
(13) Cash value insurance contract. The term cash value insurance contract has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-5(b)(3)(vii).
(14) Certified deemed-compliant FFI. The term certified deemed-compliant FFI means an FFI described in § 1.1471-5(f)(2).
(15) Change in circumstances. The term change in circumstances has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-3(c)(6)(ii)(E) for withholding agents and, in the case of a participating FFI, has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-4(c)(2)(iii).
(16) Chapter 3. For purposes of chapter 4, the term chapter 3 means sections 1441 through 1464 and the regulations thereunder, but does not include sections 1445 and 1446 and the regulations thereunder, unless the context indicates otherwise.
(17) Chapter 4. The term chapter 4 means sections 1471 through 1474 and the regulations thereunder.
(18) Chapter 4 reportable amount. The term chapter 4 reportable amount has the meaning set forth in § 1.1474-1(d)(2)(i).
(19) Chapter 4 status. The term chapter 4 status means a person's status as a U.S. person, a specified U.S. person, an individual that is a foreign person, a participating FFI, a deemed-compliant FFI, a restricted distributor, an exempt beneficial owner, a nonparticipating FFI, a territory financial institution, an excepted NFFE, or a passive NFFE.
(20) Chapter 4 withholding rate pool. The term chapter 4 withholding rate pool means a pool of payees that are nonparticipating FFIs provided on a chapter 4 withholding statement (as described in § 1.1471-3(c)(3)(iii)(B)(3)) to which a withholdable payment is allocated. The term chapter 4 withholding rate pool also means a pool provided on an FFI withholding statement (as described in § 1.1471-3(c)(3)(iii)(B)(2)) to which a withholdable payment is allocated to—
(i) A pool of payees consisting of each class of recalcitrant account holders described in § 1.1471-4(d)(6) (or with respect to an FFI that is a QI, a single pool of recalcitrant account holders without the need to subdivide into each class of recalcitrant account holders described in § 1.1471-4(d)(6)), including a separate pool of account holders to which the escrow procedures for dormant accounts apply; or
(ii) A pool of payees that are U.S. persons as described in § 1.1471-3(c)(3)(iii)(B)(2).
(21) Clearing organization. The term clearing organization means an entity that is in the business of holding securities for its member organizations or clearing trades of securities and transferring, or instructing the transfer of, securities by credit or debit to the account of a member without the necessity of physical delivery of the securities.
(22) Complex trust. A complex trust is a trust that is not a simple trust or a grantor trust.
(23) Consolidated obligations. The term consolidated obligations means multiple obligations that a withholding agent (including a withholding agent that is an FFI) has chosen to treat as a single obligation in order to treat the obligations as preexisting obligations pursuant to paragraph (b)(104)(ii) of this section or in order to share documentation between the obligations pursuant to § 1.1471-3(c)(8). A withholding agent that has opted to treat multiple obligations as consolidated obligations pursuant to the previous sentence must also treat the obligations as a single obligation for purposes of satisfying the standards of knowledge requirements set forth in §§ 1.1471-3(e) and 1.1471-4(c)(2)(ii), and for purposes of determining the balance or value of any of the obligations when applying any of the account thresholds applicable to due diligence or reporting as set forth in §§ 1.1471-3(c)(6)(ii), 1.1471-3(d), 1.1471-4(c), 1.1471-5(a)(4), and 1.1471-5(b)(3)(vii). For example, with respect to consolidated obligations, if a withholding agent has reason to know that the chapter 4 status assigned to the account holder or payee of one of the consolidated obligations is inaccurate, then it has reason to know that the chapter 4 status assigned for all other consolidated obligations of the account holder or payee is inaccurate. Similarly, to the extent that an account balance or value is relevant for purposes of applying any account threshold to one or more of the consolidated obligations, the withholding agent must aggregate the balance or value of all such consolidated obligations.
(24) Custodial account. The term custodial account has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-5(b)(3)(ii).
(25) Custodial institution. The term custodial institution has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-5(e)(1)(ii).
(26) Customer master file. A customer master file includes the primary files of a withholding agent, participating FFI, or deemed-compliant FFI for maintaining account holder information, such as information used for contacting account holders and for satisfying AML due diligence.
(27) Deemed-compliant FFI. The term deemed-compliant FFI means an FFI that is treated, pursuant to section 1471(b)(2) and § 1.1471-5(f), as meeting the requirements of section 1471(b). The term deemed-compliant FFI also includes a QI branch of a U.S. financial institution that is a reporting Model 1 FFI.
(28) Deferred annuity contract. The term deferred annuity contract means an annuity contract other than an immediate annuity contract.
(29) Depository account. The term depository account has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-5(b)(3)(i).
(30) Depository institution. The term depository institution has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-5(e)(1)(i).
(31) Direct reporting NFFE. The term direct reporting NFFE has the meaning set forth in § 1.1472-1(c)(3).
(32) Documentary evidence. The term documentary evidence means documents, other than a withholding certificate or written statement, that a withholding agent is permitted to rely upon to determine the chapter 4 status of a person in accordance with § 1.1471-3(c)(5).
(33) Documentation. The term documentation means withholding certificates, written statements, documentary evidence, and other documents that may be relevant in determining a person's chapter 4 status, including any document containing a determination of the account holder's citizenship or residency for tax or AML due diligence purposes or an account holder's claim of citizenship or residency for tax or AML due diligence purposes.
(34) Dormant account. The term dormant account has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-4(d)(6)(ii).
(35) Effective date of the FFI agreement. The term effective date of the FFI agreement with respect to an FFI or a branch of an FFI that is a participating FFI means the date on which the IRS issues a GIIN to the FFI or branch. For participating FFIs that receive a GIIN prior to June 30, 2014, the effective date of the FFI agreement is June 30, 2014.
(36) EIN. The term EIN means an employer identification number (also known as a federal tax identification number) described in § 301.6109-1(a)(1)(i) of this chapter.
(37) Election to be withheld upon. The term election to be withheld upon has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-2(a)(2)(iii).
(38) Electronically searchable information. The term electronically searchable information means information that a withholding agent or FFI maintains in its tax reporting files, customer master files, or similar files, and that is stored in the form of an electronic database against which standard queries in programming languages, such as Structured Query Language, may be used. Information, data, or files are not electronically searchable merely because they are stored in an image retrieval system (such as portable document format (.pdf) or scanned documents).
(39) Entity. The term entity means any person other than an individual.
(40) Entity account. The term entity account means an account held by one or more entities.
(41) Excepted NFFE. The term excepted NFFE means a NFFE that is described in § 1.1472-1(c)(1).
(42) Exempt beneficial owner. The term exempt beneficial owner means any person described in § 1.1471-6(b) through (g) or that is otherwise treated as an exempt beneficial owner pursuant to a Model 1 IGA or Model 2 IGA.
(43) Exempt recipient. The term exempt recipient means a person described in § 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii) (for interest, dividends, and royalties), a person described in § 1.6045-2(b)(2)(i) (for broker proceeds), and a person described in § 1.6041-3(q) (for rents, amounts paid on notional principal contracts, and other fixed or determinable income).
(44) Expanded affiliated group. The term expanded affiliated group has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-5(i)(2).
(45) FATF. The term FATF means the Financial Action Task Force, an inter-governmental body that develops and promotes international policies to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.
(46) FATF-compliant jurisdiction. The term FATF-compliant jurisdiction means a jurisdiction that—
(i) Is not subject to a FATF call on its members and other jurisdictions to apply counter-measures to protect the international financial system from the on-going and substantial money laundering and terrorist financing risks emanating from the jurisdiction;
(ii) Is not a jurisdiction with strategic AML/CFT (anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism) deficiencies that has not made sufficient progress in addressing the deficiencies or has not committed to an action plan developed with the FATF to address the deficiencies; and
(iii) Is not a jurisdiction with strategic AML/CFT deficiencies that the FATF has identified as not making sufficient progress on its action plan agreed upon with the FATF.
(47) FFI. The term FFI or foreign financial institution has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-5(d).
(48) FFI agreement. The term FFI agreement means an agreement that is described in § 1.1471-4(a). An FFI agreement includes a QI agreement, a WP agreement, and a WT agreement that is entered into by an FFI (other than an FFI that is a registered deemed-compliant FFI, including a reporting Model 1 FFI) and that has an effective date or renewal date on or after June 30, 2014. The term FFI agreement also includes a QI agreement that is entered into by a foreign branch of a U.S. financial institution (other than a branch that is a reporting Model 1 FFI) and that has an effective date or renewal date on or after June 30, 2014.
(49) Financial account. The term financial account has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-5(b).
(50) Financial institution. The term financial institution has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-5(e) and includes a financial institution as defined in an applicable Model 1 or Model 2 IGA.
(51) Flow-through entity. The term flow-through entity means a partnership, simple trust, or grantor trust, as determined under U.S. tax principles.
(52) Flow-through withholding certificate. The term flow-through withholding certificate means a Form W-8IMY submitted by a foreign partnership, foreign simple trust, or foreign grantor trust.
(53) Foreign entity. The term foreign entity has the meaning set forth in § 1.1473-1(e).
(54) Foreign passthru payment. The term foreign passthru payment has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-5(h)(2).
(55) Foreign payee. The term foreign payee means any payee other than a U.S. payee.
(56) Foreign person. The term foreign person means any person other than a U.S. person and includes a QI branch of a U.S. financial institution.
(57) GIIN. The term GIIN or Global Intermediary Identification Number means the identification number that is assigned to a participating FFI or registered deemed-compliant FFI. The term GIIN or Global Intermediary Identification Number also includes the identification number assigned to a reporting Model 1 FFI for purposes of identifying such entity to withholding agents. All GIINs will appear on the IRS FFI list.
(58) Grandfathered obligation. The term grandfathered obligation has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-2(b).
(59) Grantor trust. A grantor trust is a trust with respect to which one or more persons are treated as owners of all or a portion of the trust under sections 671 through 679. If only a portion of the trust is treated as owned by a person, that portion is a grantor trust with respect to that person.
(60) Gross proceeds. The term gross proceeds has the meaning set forth in § 1.1473-1(a)(3).
(61) Group annuity contract. The term group annuity contract means an annuity contract under which the obligees are individuals who are affiliated through an employer, trade association, labor union, or other association or group.
(62) Group insurance contract. The term group insurance contract means an insurance contract that—
(i) Provides coverage on individuals who are affiliated through an employer, trade association, labor union, or other association or group; and
(ii) Charges a premium for each member of the group (or member of a class within the group) that is determined without regard to the individual health characteristics other than age, gender, and smoking habits of the member (or class of members) of the group.
(63) Immediate annuity. The term immediate annuity means an annuity contract that—
(i) Is purchased with a single premium or annuity consideration; and
(ii) No later than one year from the purchase date of the contract commences to pay annually or more frequently substantially equal periodic payments.
(64) Individual account. The term individual account means an account held by one or more individuals.
(65) Insurance company. The term insurance company means an entity or arrangement—
(i) That is regulated as an insurance business under the laws, regulations, or practices of any jurisdiction in which the company does business;
(ii) The gross income of which (for example, gross premiums and gross investment income) arising from insurance, reinsurance, and annuity contracts for the immediately preceding calendar year exceeds 50 percent of total gross income for such year; or
(iii) The aggregate value of the assets of which associated with insurance, reinsurance, and annuity contracts at any time during the immediately preceding calendar year exceeds 50 percent of total assets at any time during such year.
(66) Insurance contract. The term insurance contract means a contract (other than an annuity contract) under which the issuer in exchange for consideration agrees to pay an amount upon the occurrence of a specified contingency involving mortality, morbidity, accident, liability, or property risk.
(67) Intergovernmental agreement (IGA). The term intergovernmental agreement or IGA means any applicable Model 1 or Model 2 IGA.
(68) Intermediary. The term intermediary has the meaning set forth in § 1.1441-1(c)(13).
(69) Intermediary withholding certificate. The term intermediary withholding certificate means a Form W-8IMY submitted by an intermediary.
(70) Investment entity. The term investment entity has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-5(e)(1)(iii).
(71) Investment-linked annuity contract. The term investment-linked annuity contract means an annuity contract under which benefits or premiums are adjusted to reflect the investment return or market value of assets associated with the contract.
(72) Investment-linked insurance contract. The term investment-linked insurance contract means an insurance contract under which benefits, premiums, or the period of coverage are adjusted to reflect the investment return or market value of assets associated with the contract.
(73) IRS FFI list. The term IRS FFI list means the list published by the IRS that contains the names and GIINs for all participating FFIs, registered deemed-compliant FFIs, and reporting Model 1 FFIs.
(74) Life annuity contract. The term life annuity contract means an annuity contract that provides for payments over the life or lives of one or more individuals.
(75) Life insurance contract. The term life insurance contract means an insurance contract under which the issuer, in exchange for consideration, agrees to pay an amount upon the death of one or more individuals. That a contract provides one or more payments (for example, for endowment benefits or disability benefits) in addition to a death benefit will not cause the contract to be other than a life insurance contract. For purposes of the preceding sentence, it is immaterial whether a contract satisfies any of the substantive U.S. tax rules (for example, sections 101(f), 817(h), 7702, or investor control prohibition) applicable to the taxation of the contract holder or issuer.
(76) Limited branch. The term limited branch has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-4(e)(2)(iii). With respect to a reporting Model 2 FFI, a limited branch is a branch of the reporting Model 2 FFI that operates in a jurisdiction that prevents such branch from fulfilling the requirements of a participating FFI or deemed-compliant FFI, or that cannot fulfill the requirements of a participating FFI or deemed-compliant FFI due to the expiration of the transitional rule for limited branches under § 1.1471-4(e)(2)(v), and for which the reporting Model 2 FFI meets the terms of the applicable Model 2 IGA with respect to the branch.
(77) Limited FFI. The term limited FFI has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-4(e)(3)(ii). With respect to a reporting Model 2 FFI, a limited FFI is a related entity that operates in a jurisdiction that prevents the entity from fulfilling the requirements of a participating FFI or deemed-compliant FFI or that cannot fulfill the requirements of a participating FFI or deemed-compliant FFI due to the expiration of the transitional rule for limited FFIs under § 1.1471-4(e)(3)(iv), and for which the reporting Model 2 FFI meets the requirements of the applicable Model 2 IGA with respect to the entity.
(78) Model 1 IGA. The term Model 1 IGA means an agreement or arrangement between the United States or the Treasury Department and a foreign government or one or more agencies thereof to 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. The IRS will publish a list identifying all countries that are treated as having in effect a Model 1 IGA.
(79) Model 2 IGA. The term Model 2 IGA means an agreement or arrangement between the United States or the Treasury Department and a foreign government or one or more agencies thereof to facilitate the implementation of 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. The IRS will publish a list identifying all countries that are treated as having in effect a Model 2 IGA.
(80) NFFE. The term NFFE or non-financial foreign entity means a foreign entity that is not a financial institution (including a territory NFFE). The term also means a foreign entity treated as an NFFE pursuant to a Model 1 IGA or Model 2 IGA.
(81) Non-exempt recipient. The term non-exempt recipient means a person that is not an exempt recipient.
(82) Nonparticipating FFI. The term nonparticipating FFI means an FFI other than a participating FFI, a deemed-compliant FFI, or an exempt beneficial owner.
(83) Nonreporting IGA FFI. The term nonreporting IGA FFI means an FFI that is a resident of, or located or established in, a Model 1 or Model 2 IGA jurisdiction, as the context requires, and that meets the requirements of one of the following—
(i) A nonreporting financial institution described in Annex II of the Model 1 IGA;
(ii) A nonreporting financial institution described in Annex II of the Model 2 IGA;
(iii) A registered deemed-compliant FFI described in § 1.1471-5(f)(1)(i)(A) through (F);
(iv) A certified deemed-compliant FFI described in § 1.1471-5(f)(2)(i) through (v); or
(v) An exempt beneficial owner described in § 1.1471-6.
(84) Non-U.S. account. The term non-U.S. account means an account that is not a U.S. account and that does not have an account holder that is a nonparticipating FFI or recalcitrant account holder.
(85) NQI. The term NQI or nonqualified intermediary has the meaning set forth in § 1.1441-1(c)(14).
(86) NWP. The term NWP or nonwithholding foreign partnership means a foreign partnership that is not a withholding foreign partnership.
(87) NWT. The term NWT or nonwithholding foreign trust means a foreign trust as defined in section 7701(a)(31)(B) that is a simple trust or grantor trust and is not a withholding foreign trust.
(88) Offshore obligation. The term offshore obligation means an offshore obligation defined in § 1.6049-5(c)(1) (by substituting the terms withholding agent or financial institution for the term payor).
(89) Owner. The term owner means a person described in § 1.1473-1(b)(1), without regard to whether such person is a U.S. person and without regard to whether such person owns a ten percent interest in the entity. The term also includes a person that owns a discretionary interest in a trust and receives a distribution during the calendar year.
(90) Owner-documented FFI. The term owner-documented FFI means an FFI described in § 1.1471-5(f)(3).
(91) Participating FFI. The term participating FFI means an FFI that has agreed to comply with the requirements of an FFI agreement with respect to all branches of the FFI, other than a branch that is a reporting Model 1 FFI or a U.S. branch. The term participating FFI also includes an FFI described in a Model 2 IGA that has agreed to comply with the requirements of an FFI agreement with respect to a branch (a reporting Model 2 FFI), and a QI branch of a U.S. financial institution, unless such branch is a reporting Model 1 FFI.
(92) Participating FFI group. The term participating FFI group means an expanded affiliated group that includes one or more participating FFIs and meets the requirements of § 1.1471-4(e)(1). The term participating FFI group also means an expanded affiliated group in which one or more members of the group is a reporting Model 1 FFI and each member of the group that is an FFI is a registered deemed-compliant FFI, nonreporting IGA FFI, limited FFI, or retirement fund described in § 1.1471-6(f).
(93) Partnership. The term partnership has the meaning set forth in § 301.7701-2(c)(1) of this chapter.
(94) Passive NFFE. The term passive NFFE means an NFFE other than an excepted NFFE.
(95) Passthru payment. The term passthru payment has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-5(h).
(96) Payee. The term payee has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-3(a).
(97) Payment with respect to an offshore obligation. The term payment with respect to an offshore obligation means a payment made outside of the United States, within the meaning of § 1.6049-5(e), with respect to an offshore obligation.
(98) Payor. The term payor has the meaning set forth in §§ 31.3406(a)-2 and 1.6049-4(a)(2) and generally includes a withholding agent.
(99) Permanent residence address. The term permanent residence address has the meaning set forth in § 1.1441-1(c)(38).
(100) Person. The term person has the meaning set forth in section 7701(a)(1) and the regulations thereunder and includes an entity or arrangement that is an insurance company. The term person also includes, with respect to a withholdable payment, a QI branch of a U.S. financial institution.
(101) Preexisting account. The term preexisting account means a financial account that is a preexisting obligation.
(102) Preexisting entity account. The term preexisting entity account means a preexisting account held by one or more entities.
(103) Preexisting individual account. The term preexisting individual account means a preexisting account held by one or more individuals.
(104) Preexisting obligation—
(i) The term preexisting obligation means any account, instrument, contract, debt, or equity interest maintained, executed, or issued by the withholding agent that is outstanding on June 30, 2014. With respect to a participating FFI, the term preexisting obligation means any account, instrument, or contract (including any debt or equity interest) maintained, executed, or issued by the FFI that is outstanding on the effective date of the FFI agreement. With respect to a registered deemed-compliant FFI, a preexisting obligation means any account, instrument, or contract (including any debt or equity interest) that is maintained, executed, or issued by the FFI prior to the later of the date that the FFI registers as a deemed-compliant FFI pursuant to § 1.1471-5(f)(1) and receives a GIIN or the date the FFI is required to implement its account opening procedures under § 1.1471-5(f). Notwithstanding the previous provisions of this paragraph (b)(104)(i), a preexisting obligation includes an obligation held by an entity that is issued, opened, or executed on or after July 1, 2014, and before January 1, 2015, by or with a withholding agent or FFI that treats the obligation as a preexisting obligation. See §§ 1.1471-2(a)(4)(ii), 1.1472-1(b)(2), and 1.1471-4(c)(3) for the due diligence requirements applicable to preexisting obligations for withholding agents and participating FFIs.
(ii) The term preexisting obligation also includes any obligation (referring to an account, instrument, contract, debt, or equity interest) of an account holder or payee, regardless of the date such obligation was entered into, if—
(A) The account holder or payee also holds with the withholding agent (or a member of the withholding agent's expanded affiliated group or sponsored FFI group) an account, instrument, contract, or equity interest that is a preexisting obligation under paragraph (b)(104)(i) of this section;
(B) The withholding agent (and, as applicable, the member of the withholding agent's expanded affiliated group or sponsored FFI group) treats both of the aforementioned obligations, and any other obligations of the payee or account holder that are treated as preexisting obligations under this paragraph (b)(104)(ii), as consolidated obligations; and
(C) With respect to an obligation that is subject to AML due diligence, the withholding agent is permitted to satisfy such AML due diligence for the obligation by relying upon the AML due diligence performed for the preexisting obligation described in paragraph (b)(104)(i) of this section.
(105) Pre-FATCA Form W-8. The term pre-FATCA Form W-8 means a version of a Form W-8 that was issued by the IRS prior to 2013 (including an acceptable substitute form based on such version) and that does not contain chapter 4 statuses but otherwise meets the requirements of § 1.1441-1(e)(1)(ii) applicable to such certificate (or substitute form) and has not expired, or a Form W-8 that was issued prior to 2013 and furnished by an individual to establish such individual's foreign status but otherwise meets the requirements of § 1.1441-1(e)(1)(ii) applicable to such certificate and has not expired.
(106) Prima facie FFI. The term prima facie FFI means an entity described in § 1.1471-2(a)(4)(ii)(B).
(107) QI. The term QI or qualified intermediary has the meaning set forth in § 1.1441-1(e)(5)(ii).
(108) QI agreement. The term QI agreement means the agreement described in § 1.1441-1(e)(5)(iii).
(109) QI branch of a U.S. financial institution. The term QI branch of a U.S. financial institution means a foreign branch of a U.S. financial institution for which a QI agreement is in effect.
(110) Recalcitrant account holder. The term recalcitrant account holder has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-5(g).
(111) Registered deemed-compliant FFI. The term registered deemed-compliant FFI means an FFI described in § 1.1471-5(f)(1). The term registered deemed-compliant FFI also includes a QI branch of a U.S. financial institution that is a reporting Model 1 FFI.
(112) Relationship manager. A relationship manager is an officer or other employee of an FFI who is assigned responsibility for specific account holders on an on-going basis (including as an officer or employee that is a member of an FFI's private banking department), advises account holders regarding their banking, investment, trust, fiduciary, estate planning, or philanthropic needs, and recommends, makes referrals to, or arranges for the provision of financial products, services, or other assistance by internal or external providers to meet those needs. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, a person is only a relationship manager with respect to an account that has a balance or value of more than $1,000,000, taking into account the aggregation rules described in § 1.1471-5(b)(4)(iii)(A) and (B).
(113) Reportable payment. The term reportable payment means a payment of interest or dividends (as defined in section 3406(b)(2)) and other reportable payments (as defined in section 3406(b)(3)).
(114) Reporting Model 1 FFI. The term reporting Model 1 FFI means an FFI with respect to which a foreign government or agency thereof agrees to obtain and exchange information pursuant to a Model 1 IGA, other than an FFI that is treated as a nonparticipating FFI under the Model 1 IGA.
(115) Reporting Model 2 FFI. The term reporting Model 2 FFI means a participating FFI that is described in § 1.1471-1(b)(91).
(116) Responsible officer. The term responsible officer means, with respect to a participating FFI, an officer of any participating FFI or reporting Model 1 FFI in the participating FFI's expanded affiliated group with sufficient authority to fulfill the duties of a responsible officer described in § 1.1471-4, which include the requirement to periodically certify to the IRS regarding the FFI's compliance with its FFI agreement. The term responsible officer means, in the case of a registered deemed-compliant FFI, an officer of any deemed-compliant FFI or participating FFI in the deemed-compliant FFI's expanded affiliated group with sufficient authority to ensure that the FFI meets the applicable requirements of § 1.1471-5(f). The term responsible officer means, with respect to a sponsoring entity, an officer of the sponsoring entity or an officer of an entity that establishes and maintains policies and procedures for, and has general oversight over, the sponsoring entity, provided such officer has sufficient authority to fulfill the duties of a responsible officer described in § 1.1471-5(j) or § 1.1472-1(f) (as applicable). If a participating FFI elects to be part of a consolidated compliance program, the term responsible officer means an officer of the compliance FI (as described in § 1.1471-4(f)) with sufficient authority to fulfill the duties of a responsible officer described in § 1.1471-4(f)(2) and (3) on behalf of each FFI in the compliance group. In the case of an FI or sponsoring entity that is an investment entity, for purposes of this paragraph (b)(116), the responsible officer may be, in lieu of an officer of the investment entity, an individual who is a director, managing member, or general partner of the investment entity or, if the general partner or managing member of the investment entity is itself an entity, an individual who is an officer, director, managing member, or general partner of such other entity.
(117) Restricted distributor. The term restricted distributor means an entity described in § 1.1471-5(f)(4).
(118) Simple trust. The term simple trust means a trust that meets the requirements of section 651(a)(1) and (2).
(119) Specified insurance company. The term specified insurance company has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-5(e)(1)(iv).
(120) Specified U.S. person. The term specified U.S. person or specified United States person has the meaning set forth in § 1.1473-1(c).
(121) Sponsored FFI. The term sponsored FFI means any entity described in § 1.1471-5(f)(1)(i)(F) (describing sponsored investment entities and sponsored controlled foreign corporations) or § 1.1471-5(f)(2)(iii) (describing sponsored, closely held investment vehicles). The term sponsored FFI also means a sponsored investment entity, a sponsored controlled foreign corporation, or a sponsored, closely held investment vehicle treated as deemed-compliant under an applicable Model 2 IGA.
(122) Sponsored FFI group. The term sponsored FFI group means a group of sponsored FFIs that share the same sponsoring entity.
(123) Sponsored direct reporting NFFE. The term sponsored direct reporting NFFE has the meaning set forth in § 1.1472-1(c)(5).
(124) Sponsoring entity. The term sponsoring entity means (i) an entity that registers with the IRS and agrees to perform the due diligence, withholding, and reporting obligations of one or more FFIs pursuant to § 1.1471-5(f)(1)(i)(F) or (f)(2)(iii); or (ii) an entity that registers with the IRS and agrees to perform the due diligence and reporting obligations of one or more direct reporting NFFEs pursuant to § 1.1472-1(c)(5).
(125) Standardized industry coding system. The term standardized industry coding system means a coding system used by the withholding agent or FFI to classify account holders by business type for purposes other than U.S. tax purposes and that was implemented by the withholding agent by the later of January 1, 2012, or six months after the date the withholding agent was formed or organized.
(126) Standing instructions to pay amounts. The term standing instructions to pay amounts means current payment instructions provided by the account holder, or an agent of the account holder, that will repeat without further instructions being provided by the account holder. Therefore, for example, a payment instruction to make an isolated payment is not a standing instruction to pay amounts, even if the instructions are given one year in advance. However, an instruction to make payments indefinitely is a standing instruction to pay amounts for the period during which such instructions are in effect, even if such instructions are amended after a single payment.
(127) Subject to withholding. The term subject to withholding, with respect to an amount, means an amount for which withholding is required under chapter 4 or an amount for which chapter 4 withholding was otherwise applied.
(128) Substantial U.S. owner. The term substantial U.S. owner or substantial United States owner has the meaning set forth in § 1.1473-1(b). In the case of a reporting Model 2 FFI, in applying this section with respect to a passive NFFE the term substantial U.S. owner means a controlling person as defined in the applicable Model 2 IGA.
(129) Territory entity. The term territory entity means any entity that is incorporated or organized under the laws of any U.S. territory.
(130) Territory financial institution. The term territory financial institution means a financial institution that is incorporated or organized under the laws of any U.S. territory, not including a territory entity that is an investment entity but that is not a depository institution, custodial institution, or specified insurance company.
(131) Territory financial institution treated as a U.S. person. The term territory financial institution treated as a U.S. person means a territory financial institution that is treated as a U.S. person under § 1.1471-3(a)(3)(iv).
(132) Territory NFFE. The term territory NFFE means a territory entity that is not a financial institution, including a territory entity that is an investment entity but is not a depository institution, custodial institution, or specified insurance company.
(133) TIN. The term TIN means the tax identifying number assigned to a person under section 6109.
(134) U.S. account. The term U.S. account or United States account has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-5(a).
(135) U.S. branch treated as a U.S. person. The term U.S. branch treated as a U.S. person means a U.S. branch that agrees to be treated as a U.S. person as described in § 1.1441-1(b)(2)(iv)(A). For the due diligence, withholding, and reporting requirements of a U.S. branch of an FFI treated as a U.S. person for purposes of chapter 4, see § 1.1471-4(b)(7), (c)(2)(v), (d)(2)(iii)(B), § 1.1472-1(a), and § 1.1474-1(i)(1) and (2).
(136) U.S. financial institution. The term U.S. financial institution means a financial institution that is a U.S. person, including a U.S. branch treated as a U.S. person.
(137) U.S. indicia. The term U.S. indicia has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-4(c)(5)(iv)(B) when applied to an individual and as set forth in § 1.1471-3(e)(4)(v)(A) when applied to an entity.
(138) U.S. owned foreign entity. The term U.S. owned foreign entity or United States owned foreign entity has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-5(c).
(139) U.S. payee. The term U.S. payee means any payee that is a U.S. person.
(140) U.S. payor. The term U.S. payor means a U.S. payor or U.S. middleman as defined in § 1.6049-5(c)(5).
(141) U.S. person—
(i) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b)(141)(ii) of this section, the term U.S. person or United States person means a person described in section 7701(a)(30), the United States government (including an agency or instrumentality thereof), a State (including an agency or instrumentality thereof), or the District of Columbia (including an agency or instrumentality thereof). The term U.S. person or United States person also means a foreign insurance company that has made an election under section 953(d), provided that either the foreign insurance company is not a specified insurance company (as described in § 1.1471-5(e)(1)(iv)), or the foreign insurance company is a specified insurance company and is licensed to do business in any State.
(ii) The term U.S. person or United States person does not include a foreign insurance company that has made an election under section 953(d) if it is a specified insurance company and is not licensed to do business in any State. An individual will not be treated as a U.S. person for a taxable year or any portion of a taxable year that the individual is a dual resident taxpayer (within the meaning of § 301.7701(b)-7(a)(1) of this chapter) who is treated as a nonresident alien pursuant to § 301.7701(b)-7 of this chapter for purposes of computing the individual's U.S. tax liability. A U.S. person does not include an alien individual who has made an election under section 6013(g) or (h) to be treated as a resident of the United States.
(142) U.S. source FDAP income. The term U.S. source FDAP income has the meaning set forth in § 1.1473-1(a)(2).
(143) U.S. territory. The term U.S. territory or possession of the United States means American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
(144) U.S. withholding agent. The term U.S. withholding agent means a withholding agent that is either a U.S. person or a U.S. branch of a foreign person.
(145) Withholdable payment. The term withholdable payment has the meaning set forth in § 1.1473-1(a).
(146) Withholding. The term withholding means the deduction and withholding of tax at the applicable rate from a payment.
(147) Withholding agent. The term withholding agent has the meaning set forth in § 1.1473-1(d).
(148) Withholding certificate. The term withholding certificate means a Form W-8, Form W-9, or any other certificate that under the Code or regulations certifies or establishes the chapter 4 status of a payee or beneficial owner.
(149) WP. The term WP or withholding foreign partnership means a foreign partnership that has executed the agreement described in § 1.1441-5(c)(2)(ii).
(150) Written statement. The term written statement has the meaning set forth in § 1.1471-3(c)(4).
(151) WT. The term WT or withholding foreign trust means a foreign grantor trust or foreign simple trust that has executed the agreement described in § 1.1441-5(e)(5)(v).
(c) Applicability date. This section generally applies beginning on January 6, 2017, except for paragraphs (b)(116) and (121) of this section, which apply beginning on March 25, 2019. However, taxpayers may apply these provisions as of January 28, 2013. (For the rules that otherwise apply beginning on January 6, 2017, and before March 25, 2019, see this section as in effect and contained in 26 CFR part 1 revised April 1, 2018. For rules that otherwise apply beginning on January 28, 2013, and before January 6, 2017, see this section as in effect and contained in 26 CFR part 1 revised April 1, 2016.)

[T.D. 9610, 78 FR 5906, Jan. 28, 2013; 78 FR 55203, Sept. 10, 2013, as amended by T.D. 9657, 79 FR 12825, Mar. 6, 2014; T.D. 9809, 82 FR 2148, Jan. 6, 2017; T.D. 9852, 84 FR 10980, Mar. 25, 2019; T.D. 9890, 85 FR 204, Jan. 2, 2020]

Terms defined here

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Other regulations under § 1471

Cross-references

Computed from the citations in the text of 26 CFR.

Code sections it cites

Regulations it cites

Cited by 21 other regulations

Amendment history

From the source citation at the end of the section, newest first. T.D. is a Treasury decision; FR is the Federal Register.

  1. Amended by T.D. 9890 (85 FR 204)
  2. Amended by T.D. 9852 (84 FR 10980)
  3. Amended by T.D. 9809 (82 FR 2148)
  4. Amended by T.D. 9657 (79 FR 12825)
  5. Amended (78 FR 55203)
  6. Issued by T.D. 9610 (78 FR 5906)

Where it sits in 26 CFR

  1. Subchapter A Income tax
  2. Part 1 Income taxes
  3. Information Reporting by Foreign Financial Institutions

Nearby sections