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ARTICLE · 29 SEPTEMBER 2026

Cayman Islands Investment Funds - Summer 2026 Update

Carey Olsen
Carey Olsen
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Carey Olsen

Carey Olsen

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The Cayman Islands investment funds sector continues to evolve with significant regulatory updates affecting reporting requirements and the introduction of a new framework for tokenised funds. Key changes include modifications to Common Reporting Standards and Economic Substance filing procedures, alongside the implementation of legislation enabling digital token representation of fund interests.

Cayman IslandsFinance and Banking
Solita Turner
Solita Turner
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Common Reporting Standards and Economic Substance updates

The Department for International Tax Cooperation ("DITC") has issued an Industry Advisory outlining important updates to the Common Reporting Standards ("CRS") and Economic Substance ("ES") reporting requirements. The key updates are:

  • For 2025 reporting period, the deadline for CRS Return is 31 July 2026 and the CRS Compliance Form is 15 September 2026.
  • DITC is putting in place an updated XML Schema version 3.0 ("CRS XML v3.0") and as a result the DITC portal will be closed for submissions from early August for the transition to CRS XML v3.0 and will not reopen until early 2027. For the avoidance of doubt, this does not represent an extension of the 31 July 2026 filing deadline and Financial Institutions ("FIs") are reminded to ensure their CRS Reportable Accounts for the 2025 reporting period are submitted by the 31 July 2026 deadline.

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