CRS overview
Retail Banking and Wealth Management - Canada
Governments around the world are introducing a new information-gathering and reporting requirement for financial institutions to help fight against tax evasion and protect the integrity of tax systems. This is known as the Common Reporting Standard (“the CRS”), as coordinated by the Organisation for Economic Development (OECD). Draft legislation to support the implementation of the CRS in Canada was announced on April 15th, 2016.
Canada will implement the CRS starting July 1, 2017.
What it means to you
Under the CRS, we need you to self-certify where you are “tax resident”. Even if you have previously provided us with information relating to Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), we need you to provide it again for CRS purposes – the CRS is governed by different provisions of Canadian law.
If you are tax resident outside Canada or the U.S., then we may be required to provide details, to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), along with other information relating to your account(s). The CRA may then share this information with the tax authority of the country (or countries) where you are tax resident.
What do you need to do?
To confirm your status under the CRS, we may ask you to complete the appropriate self-certification form and return it to your branch or relationship manager. If you have multiple relationships with us, you may receive more than one request for information.
There are two types of self-certification forms for the CRS.
- Individual Tax Residency Self-Certification Form (69.4KB, PDF): This form is an HSBC document for individuals to certify their Tax Residency and U.S. Person status.
- Declaration of Tax Residence for Entities Form (388KB, PDF): This form is a CRA document. Please use this form to confirm your entity status under the CRS (except Sole Traders who should use the self-certification form above).
Questions?
If you have any specific questions regarding tax residency or the CRS, please contact a professional tax advisor as we are unable to provide tax advice. You may also visit the CRA website for more information Canada Revenue Agency.
Page last updated October 2021