FATCA Is Now in Effect - All Foreign Trusts Must Take Action

Against widespread speculation that the IRS might provide an additional delay to the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act's (FATCA) withholding provisions by extending FATCA deadlines, FATCA withholding is confirmed to go into effect on July 1. Broadly, FATCA requires foreign entities to identify, document and report their U.S. account holders to the IRS or else face a 30 percent withholding tax applicable to certain U.S.-source payments made to the foreign entity. Under FATCA, each foreign entity is classified as either a Foreign Financial Institution (FFI) or a Nonfinancial Foreign Entity (NFFE). The classification determines the foreign entity's reporting, due diligence and withholding obligations with respect to its U.S. account holders.