On 18th March 2010 the United States (US) Government enacted The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) to combat tax evasion by US persons holding investments in offshore accounts. FATCA requires Foreign Financial Institutions (FFIs) to provide the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) with information on certain US persons invested in accounts outside of the US and for certain non-US entities to provide information about any US owners. The East Caribbean Financial Holding Company (ECFH) and subsidiaries are considered FFIs and therefore required to comply.
The ECFH Group and all subsidiaries are committed to upholding customer confidence and to keeping customer and client information confidential and secure. Our actions as they relate to FATCA will be in strict compliance with the local regulations and legal framework of the countries in which we operate.
Steps Required for FFIs to be compliant with FATCA regulations:
Signing of formal agreement with the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) confirming FATCA Compliance.
Signing of formal agreement with the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) confirming FATCA Compliance.
Updating information of current customers.
Annual reporting to the IRS on qualifying ‘U.S. Persons’
If one of the accountholders qualifies as a U.S person, and the account balance is above the reporting threshold- FATCA requirements are that the account should be reported. Customers are also advised to seek further advice from a tax professional.
Your financial institution can only provide general FATCA information, however customers are advised to see tax advice from a relevant tax professional.
Financial institutions across the globe in many jurisdictions have signed agreements to comply and many more intend to sign. There are exceptions however, with some financial institutions opting to adopt a different approach to FATCA.
Once the financial institution operates in a country that has signed an inter-governmental agreement (IGA) with the US, the laws will be amended to facilitate FATCA reporting by financial institutions. The ECCU is currently negotiating IGAs for member countries; and working on uniform legislation to facilitate FATCA compliance.
Yes. For further information on FATCA, please visit: https://www.irs.gov/FATCA
# 1 Bridge Street,
P O Box 1860,
Castries,
Saint Lucia