9911796707
TMI BlogAgreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the United States of America for the Exchange of Information with respect to taxesX X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... efore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 90 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961), the Central Government hereby notifies that all the provisions of the said Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the United States of America for the exchange of information with respect to taxes, as set out in the said Agreement, shall be given effect to in the Union of India with effect from the 31 st August, 2015, that is, the date of entry into force of the said Agreement. [F. No. 500/137/2011-FTD-I] (Akhilesh Ranjan) Joint Secretary Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the United States of America to Improve International Tax Compliance and to Implement FATCA Whereas, the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the United States of America (each, a Party, and together, the Parties ) desire to conclude an agreement to improve international tax compliance through mutual assistance in tax matters based on an effective infrastructure for the automatic exchange of information; Whereas, Article 28 of the Convention between the Government of the ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ica, including the States thereof, and, when used in a geographical sense, means the territory of the United States of America, including inland waters, the air space, the territorial sea thereof and any maritime area beyond the territorial sea within which the United States may exercise sovereign rights or jurisdiction in accordance with international law; the term, however, does not include the U.S. Territories. Any reference to a State of the United States includes the District of Columbia. b) The term U.S. Territory means American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. c) The term IRS means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. d) The term India means the Republic of India, and when used in a geographical sense, means the territory of India and includes the territorial sea and airspace above it, as well as any other maritime zone in which India has sovereign rights, other rights and jurisdiction, according to the Indian law and in accordance with international law, including the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. e) The term Partner Jurisdiction means a jurisdiction that ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... espect to, a Cash Value Insurance Contract or an Annuity Contract. l) The term Indian Financial Institution means (i) any Financial Institution resident in India, but excluding any branch of such Financial Institution that is located outside India, and (ii) any branch of a Financial Institution not resident in India, if such branch is located in India. m) The term Partner Jurisdiction Financial Institution means (i) any Financial Institution established in a Partner Jurisdiction, but excluding any branch of such Financial Institution that is located outside the Partner Jurisdiction, and (ii) any branch of a Financial Institution not established in the Partner Jurisdiction, if such branch is located in the Partner Jurisdiction. n) The term Reporting Financial Institution means a Reporting Indian Financial Institution or a Reporting U.S. Financial Institution, as the context requires. o) The term Reporting Indian Financial Institution means any Indian Financial Institution that is not a Non-Reporting Indian Financial Institution. p) The term Reporting U.S. Financial Institution means (i) any Financial Institution that is resident in the United States, but exc ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... life annuity that is issued to an individual and monetizes a pension or disability benefit provided under an account that is excluded from the definition of Financial Account in Annex II. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term Financial Account does not include any account that is excluded from the definition of Financial Account in Annex II. For purposes of this Agreement, interests are regularly traded if there is a meaningful volume of trading with respect to the interests on an ongoing basis, and an established securities market means an exchange that is officially recognized and supervised by a governmental authority in which the market is located and that has a meaningful annual value of shares traded on the exchange. For purposes of this subparagraph 1(s), an interest in a Financial Institution is not regularly traded and shall be treated as a Financial Account if the holder of the interest (other than a Financial Institution acting as an intermediary) is registered on the books of such Financial Institution. The preceding sentence will not apply to interests first registered on the books of such Financial Institution prior to July 1, 2014, and with respect to inte ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ole 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. y) The term Cash Value Insurance Contract means an Insurance Contract (other than an indemnity reinsurance contract between two insurance companies) that has a Cash Value greater than $50,000. z) The term Cash Value means the greater of (i) the amount that the policyholder is entitled to receive upon surrender or termination of the contract (determined without reduction for any surrender charge or policy loan), and (ii) the amount the policyholder can borrow under or with regard to the contract. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term Cash Value does not include an amount payable under an Insurance Contract as: (1) a personal injury or sickness benefit or other benefit providing indemnification of an economic loss incurred upon the occurrence of the event insured against; (2) a refund to the policyholder of a previously paid premium u ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ce Contract or an Annuity Contract, the Account Holder is any person entitled to access the Cash Value or change the beneficiary of the contract. If no person can access the Cash Value or change the beneficiary, the Account Holder is any person named as the owner in the contract and any person with a vested entitlement to payment under the terms of the contract. Upon the maturity of a Cash Value Insurance Contract or an Annuity Contract, each person entitled to receive a payment under the contract is treated as an Account Holder. ee) The term U.S. Person means a U.S. citizen or resident individual, a partnership or corporation organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States or any State thereof, a trust if (i) a court within the United States would have authority under applicable law to render orders or judgments concerning substantially all issues regarding administration of the trust, and (ii) one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or an estate of a decedent that is a citizen or resident of the United States. This subparagraph 1(ee) shall be interpreted in accordance with the U.S. Internal Revenue ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ts, and income, if such payment is from sources within the United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a U.S. Source Withholdable Payment does not include any payment that is not treated as a withholdable payment in relevant U.S. Treasury Regulations. jj) An Entity is a Related Entity of another Entity if either Entity controls the other Entity, or the two Entities are under common control. For this purpose control includes direct or indirect ownership of more than 50 percent of the vote or value in an Entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, India may treat an Entity as not a Related Entity of another Entity if the two Entities are not members of the same expanded affiliated group as defined in section 1471(e)(2) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. kk) The term U.S. TIN means a U.S. federal taxpayer identifying number. ll) The term Indian TIN means an Indian taxpayer identifying number. mm) The term Controlling Persons means the natural persons who exercise control over an Entity. In the case of a trust, such term means the settlor, the trustees, the protector (if any), the beneficiaries or class of beneficiaries, and any other natural person exercising ultimate ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... assets held in the account, in each case paid or credited to the account (or with respect to the account) during the calendar year or other appropriate reporting period; and (B) the total gross proceeds from the sale or redemption of property paid or credited to the account during the calendar year or other appropriate reporting period with respect to which the Reporting Indian Financial Institution acted as a custodian, broker, nominee, or otherwise as an agent for the Account Holder; (6) in the case of any Depository Account, the total gross amount of interest paid or credited to the account during the calendar year or other appropriate reporting period; and (7) in the case of any account not described in subparagraph 2(a)(5) or 2(a)(6) of this Article, the total gross amount paid or credited to the Account Holder with respect to the account during the calendar year or other appropriate reporting period with respect to which the Reporting Indian Financial Institution is the obligor or debtor, including the aggregate amount of any redemption payments made to the Account Holder during the calendar year or other appropriate reporting period. b) In the case of the United ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... quent years is all of the information identified in subparagraph 2(b) of Article 2 of this Agreement. 4. Notwithstanding paragraph 3 of this Article, with respect to each Reportable Account that is maintained by a Reporting Financial Institution as of June 30, 2014, and subject to paragraph 4 of Article 6 of this Agreement, the Parties are not required to obtain and include in the exchanged information the Indian TIN or the U.S. TIN, as applicable, of any relevant person if such taxpayer identifying number is not in the records of the Reporting Financial Institution. In such a case, the Parties shall obtain and include in the exchanged information the date of birth of the relevant person, if the Reporting Financial Institution has such date of birth in its records. 5. Subject to paragraphs 3 and 4 of this Article, the information described in Article 2 of this Agreement shall be exchanged within nine months after the end of the calendar year to which the information relates. 6. The Competent Authorities of India and the United States shall enter into an agreement or arrangement under the mutual agreement procedure provided for in Article 27 of the Convention, which shall: ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... s U.S. Reportable Accounts and reports annually to the Indian Competent Authority the information required to be reported in subparagraph 2(a) of Article 2 of this Agreement in the time and manner described in Article 3 of this Agreement; b) for each of 2015 and 2016, reports annually to the Indian Competent Authority the name of each Nonparticipating Financial Institution to which it has made payments and the aggregate amount of such payments; c) complies with the applicable registration requirements on the IRS FATCA registration website; d) to the extent that a Reporting Indian Financial Institution is (i) acting as a qualified intermediary (for purposes of section 1441 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code) that has elected to assume primary withholding responsibility under chapter 3 of subtitle A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, (ii) a foreign partnership that has elected to act as a withholding foreign partnership (for purposes of both sections 1441 and 1471 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code), or (iii) a foreign trust that has elected to act as a withholding foreign trust (for purposes of both sections 1441 and 1471 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code), withholds 30 perce ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... cial Institution as a deemed-compliant FFI or as an exempt beneficial owner, as appropriate, for purposes of section 1471 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. 5. Special Rules Regarding Related Entities and Branches That Are Nonparticipating Financial Institutions. If an Indian Financial Institution, that otherwise meets the requirements described in paragraph 1 of this Article or is described in paragraph 3 or 4 of this Article, has a Related Entity or branch that operates in a jurisdiction that prevents such Related Entity or branch from fulfilling the requirements of a participating FFI or deemed-compliant FFI for purposes of section 1471 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code or has a Related Entity or branch that is treated as a Nonparticipating Financial Institution solely due to the expiration of the transitional rule for limited FFIs and limited branches under relevant U.S. Treasury Regulations, such Indian Financial Institution shall continue to be in compliance with the terms of this Agreement and shall continue to be treated as a deemed-compliant FFI or exempt beneficial owner, as appropriate, for purposes of section 1471 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, provided that: ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... y use, and may permit Indian Financial Institutions to use, a definition in relevant U.S. Treasury Regulations in lieu of a corresponding definition in this Agreement, provided that such application would not frustrate the purposes of this Agreement. Article 5 Collaboration on Compliance and Enforcement 1. Minor and Administrative Errors. A Competent Authority shall notify the Competent Authority of the other Party when the first-mentioned Competent Authority has reason to believe that administrative errors or other minor errors may have led to incorrect or incomplete information reporting or resulted in other infringements of this Agreement. The Competent Authority of such other Party shall apply its domestic law (including applicable penalties) to obtain corrected and/or complete information or to resolve other infringements of this Agreement. 2. Significant Non-Compliance. a) A Competent Authority shall notify the Competent Authority of the other Party when the firstmentioned Competent Authority has determined that there is significant non-compliance with the obligations under this Agreement with respect to a Reporting Financial Institution in the other ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... e development of reporting and due diligence standards for financial institutions. 4. Documentation of Accounts Maintained as of June 30, 2014. With respect to Reportable Accounts maintained by a Reporting Financial Institution as of June 30, 2014: a) The United States commits to establish, by January 1, 2017, for reporting with respect to 2017 and subsequent years, rules requiring Reporting U.S. Financial Institutions to obtain and report the Indian TIN of each Account Holder of an Indian Reportable Account as required pursuant to subparagraph 2(b)(1) of Article 2 of this Agreement; and b) India commits to establish, by January 1, 2017, for reporting with respect to 2017 and subsequent years, rules requiring Reporting Indian Financial Institutions to obtain the U.S. TIN of each Specified U.S. Person as required pursuant to subparagraph 2(a)(1) of Article 2 of this Agreement. Article 7 Consistency in the Application of FATCA to Partner Jurisdictions 1. India shall be granted the benefit of any more favorable terms under Article 4 or Annex I of this Agreement relating to the application of FATCA to Indian Financial Institutions afforded to another Partner J ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Shaktikanta Das Revenue Secretary Richard R Verma Ambassador ANNEX I DUE DILIGENCE OBLIGATIONS FOR IDENTIFYING AND REPORTING ON U.S. REPORTABLE ACCOUNTS AND ON PAYMENTS TO CERTAIN NONPARTICIPATING FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS I. General. A. India shall require that Reporting Indian Financial Institutions apply the due diligence procedures contained in this Annex I to identify U.S. Reportable Accounts and accounts held by Nonparticipating Financial Institutions. B. For purposes of the Agreement, 1. All dollar amounts are in U.S. dollars and shall be read to include the equivalent in other currencies. 2. Except as otherwise provided herein, the balance or value of an account shall be determined as of the last day of the calendar year or other appropriate reporting period. 3. Where a balance or value threshold is to be determined as of June 30, 2014 under this Annex I, the relevant balance or value shall be determined as of that day or the last day of the reporting ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... th a Balance or Value as of June 30, 2014, that Exceeds $50,000 ($250,000 for a Cash Value Insurance Contract or Annuity Contract), But Does Not Exceed $1,000,000 ( Lower Value Accounts ). 1. Electronic Record Search. The Reporting Indian Financial Institution must review electronically searchable data maintained by the Reporting Indian Financial Institution for any of the following U.S. indicia: a) Identification of the Account Holder as a U.S. citizen or resident; b) Unambiguous indication of a U.S. place of birth; c) Current U.S. mailing or residence address (including a U.S. post office box); d) Current U.S. telephone number; e) Standing instructions to transfer funds to an account maintained in the United States; f) Currently effective power of attorney or signatory authority granted to a person with a U.S. address; or g) An in-care-of or hold mail address that is the sole address the Reporting Indian Financial Institution has on file for the Account Holder. In the case of a Preexisting Individual Account that is a Lower Value Account, an in-care-of address outside the United States or hold mail address shall not be treated as U.S. indicia. 2 ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... mentary evidence, as defined in paragraph D of section VI of this Annex I, establishing the Account Holder s non-U.S. status. c) Where the Account Holder information contains standing instructions to transfer funds to an account maintained in the United States, the Reporting Indian Financial Institution obtains, or has previously reviewed and maintains a record of: (1) A self-certification that the Account Holder is neither a U.S. citizen nor a U.S. resident for tax purposes (which may be on an IRS Form W-8 or other similar agreed form); and (2) Documentary evidence, as defined in paragraph D of section VI of this Annex I, establishing the Account Holder s non-U.S. status. d) Where the Account Holder information contains a currently effective power of attorney or signatory authority granted to a person with a U.S. address, has an in-care-of address or hold mail address that is the sole address identified for the Account Holder, or has one or more U.S. telephone numbers (if a non-U.S. telephone number is also associated with the account), the Reporting Indian Financial Institution obtains, or has previously reviewed and maintains a record of: (1) A self-certificat ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... for any of the U.S. indicia described in subparagraph B(1) of this section: a) The most recent documentary evidence collected with respect to the account; b) The most recent account opening contract or documentation; c) The most recent documentation obtained by the Reporting Indian Financial Institution pursuant to AML/KYC Procedures or for other regulatory purposes; d) Any power of attorney or signature authority forms currently in effect; and e) Any standing instructions to transfer funds currently in effect. 3. Exception Where Databases Contain Sufficient Information. A Reporting Indian Financial Institution is not required to perform the paper record search described in subparagraph D(2) of this section if the Reporting Indian Financial Institution s electronically searchable information includes the following: a) The Account Holder s nationality or residence status; b) The Account Holder s residence address and mailing address currently on file with the Reporting Indian Financial Institution; c) The Account Holder s telephone number(s) currently on file, if any, with the Reporting Indian Financial Institution; d) Whether there are standing instr ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... this section with respect to such account by June 30, 2015. If based on this review such account is identified as a U.S. Reportable Account on or before December 31, 2014, the Reporting Indian Financial Institution must report the required information about such account with respect to 2014 in the first report on the account and on an annual basis thereafter. In the case of an account identified as a U.S. Reportable Account after December 31, 2014 and on or before June 30, 2015, the Reporting Indian Financial Institution is not required to report information about such account with respect to 2014, but must report information about the account on an annual basis thereafter. 2. If a Preexisting Individual Account is not a High Value Account as of June 30, 2014, but becomes a High Value Account as of the last day of 2015 or any subsequent calendar year, the Reporting Indian Financial Institution must complete the enhanced review procedures described in paragraph D of this section with respect to such account within six months after the last day of the calendar year in which the account becomes a High Value Account. If based on this review such account is identified as a U.S. Repo ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... Value Accounts. III. New Individual Accounts. The following rules and procedures apply for purposes of identifying U.S. Reportable Accounts among Financial Accounts held by individuals and opened on or after July 1, 2014 ( New Individual Accounts ). A. Accounts Not Required to Be Reviewed, Identified, or Reported. Unless the Reporting Indian Financial Institution elects otherwise, either with respect to all New Individual Accounts or, separately, with respect to any clearly identified group of such accounts, where the implementing rules in India provide for such an election, the following New Individual Accounts are not required to be reviewed, identified, or reported as U.S. Reportable Accounts: 1. A Depository Account unless the account balance exceeds $50,000 at the end of any calendar year or other appropriate reporting period. 2. A Cash Value Insurance Contract unless the Cash Value exceeds $50,000 at the end of any calendar year or other appropriate reporting period. B. Other New Individual Accounts. With respect to New Individual Accounts not described in paragraph A of this section, upon account opening (or within 90 days after the end of the calendar y ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... h an election, a Preexisting Entity Account with an account balance or value that does not exceed $250,000 as of June 30, 2014, is not required to be reviewed, identified, or reported as a U.S. Reportable Account until the account balance or value exceeds $1,000,000. B. Entity Accounts Subject to Review. A Preexisting Entity Account that has an account balance or value that exceeds $250,000 as of June 30, 2014, and a Preexisting Entity Account that does not exceed $250,000 as of June 30, 2014 but the account balance or value of which exceeds $1,000,000 as of the last day of 2015 or any subsequent calendar year, must be reviewed in accordance with the procedures set forth in paragraph D of this section. C. Entity Accounts With Respect to Which Reporting is Required. With respect to Preexisting Entity Accounts described in paragraph B of this section, only accounts that are held by one or more Entities that are Specified U.S. Persons, or by Passive NFFEs with one or more Controlling Persons who are U.S. citizens or residents, shall be treated as U.S. Reportable Accounts. In addition, accounts held by Nonparticipating Financial Institutions shall be treated as accounts for w ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... Reporting Indian Financial Institution may determine that the Account Holder is an Indian Financial Institution or other Partner Jurisdiction Financial Institution if the Reporting Indian Financial Institution reasonably determines that the Account Holder has such status on the basis of the Account Holder s Global Intermediary Identification Number on the published IRS FFI list or other information that is publicly available or in the possession of the Reporting Indian Financial Institution, as applicable. In such case, no further review, identification, or reporting is required with respect to the account. b) If the Account Holder is an Indian Financial Institution or other Partner Jurisdiction Financial Institution treated by the IRS as a Nonparticipating Financial Institution, then the account is not a U.S. Reportable Account, but payments to the Account Holder must be reported as contemplated in subparagraph 1(b) of Article 4 of the Agreement. c) If the Account Holder is not an Indian Financial Institution or other Partner Jurisdiction Financial Institution, then the Reporting Indian Financial Institution must treat the Account Holder as a Nonparticipating Financial Inst ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... on a similar agreed form) from the Account Holder or such Controlling Person in the case of a Preexisting Entity Account held by one or more NFFEs with an account balance or value that exceeds $1,000,000. d) If any Controlling Person of a Passive NFFE is a U.S. citizen or resident, the account shall be treated as a U.S. Reportable Account. E. Timing of Review and Additional Procedures Applicable to Preexisting Entity Accounts. 1. Review of Preexisting Entity Accounts with an account balance or value that exceeds $250,000 as of June 30, 2014 must be completed by June 30, 2016. 2. Review of Preexisting Entity Accounts with an account balance or value that does not exceed $250,000 as of June 30, 2014, but exceeds $1,000,000 as of December 31 of 2015 or any subsequent year, must be completed within six months after the last day of the calendar year in which the account balance or value exceeds $1,000,000. 3. If there is a change of circumstances with respect to a Preexisting Entity Account that causes the Reporting Indian Financial Institution to know, or have reason to know, that the self-certification or other documentation associated with an account is incorrect o ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ount is not a U.S. Reportable Account, but payments to the Account Holder must be reported as contemplated in subparagraph 1(b) of Article 4 of the Agreement. 3. In all other cases, a Reporting Indian Financial Institution must obtain a self-certification from the Account Holder to establish the Account Holder s status. Based on the self-certification, the following rules apply: a) If the Account Holder is a Specified U.S. Person, the Reporting Indian Financial Institution must treat the account as a U.S. Reportable Account. b) If the Account Holder is a Passive NFFE, the Reporting Indian Financial Institution must identify the Controlling Persons as determined under AML/KYC Procedures, and must determine whether any such person is a U.S. citizen or resident on the basis of a self-certification from the Account Holder or such person. If any such person is a U.S. citizen or resident, the Reporting Indian Financial Institution must treat the account as a U.S. Reportable Account. c) If the Account Holder is: (i) a U.S. Person that is not a Specified U.S. Person; (ii) subject to subparagraph B(3)(d) of this section, an Indian Financial Institution or other Partner Jurisdict ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... passive income and less than 50 percent of the assets held by the NFFE during the preceding calendar year or other appropriate reporting period are assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income; b) The stock of the NFFE is regularly traded on an established securities market or the NFFE is a Related Entity of an Entity the stock of which is regularly traded on an established securities market; c) The NFFE is organized in a U.S. Territory and all of the owners of the payee are bona fide residents of that U.S. Territory; d) The NFFE is a government (other than the U.S. government), a political subdivision of such government (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes a state, province, county, or municipality), or a public body performing a function of such government or a political subdivision thereof, a government of a U.S. Territory, an international organization, a non-U.S. central bank of issue, or an Entity wholly owned by one or more of the foregoing; e) Substantially all of the activities of the NFFE consist of holding (in whole or in part) the outstanding stock of, or providing financing and services to, one or more subsidiaries that enga ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... nefit of, a private person or non-charitable Entity other than pursuant to the conduct of the NFFE s charitable activities, or as payment of reasonable compensation for services rendered, or as payment representing the fair market value of property which the NFFE has purchased; and v. The applicable laws of the NFFE s jurisdiction of residence or the NFFE s formation documents require that, upon the NFFE s liquidation or dissolution, all of its assets be distributed to a governmental entity or other non-profit organization, or escheat to the government of the NFFE s jurisdiction of residence or any political subdivision thereof. 5. Preexisting Account. A Preexisting Account means a Financial Account maintained by a Reporting Financial Institution as of June 30, 2014. C. Account Balance Aggregation and Currency Translation Rules. 1. Aggregation of Individual Accounts. For purposes of determining the aggregate balance or value of Financial Accounts held by an individual, a Reporting Indian Financial Institution is required to aggregate all Financial Accounts maintained by the Reporting Indian Financial Institution, or by a Related Entity, but only to the ext ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... resident. 2. With respect to an individual, any valid identification issued by an authorized government body (for example, a government or agency thereof, or a municipality), that includes the individual s name and is typically used for identification purposes. 3. With respect to an Entity, any official documentation issued by an authorized government body (for example, a government or agency thereof, or a municipality) that includes the name of the Entity and either the address of its principal office in the jurisdiction (or U.S. Territory) in which it claims to be a resident or the jurisdiction (or U.S. Territory) in which the Entity was incorporated or organized. 4. With respect to a Financial Account maintained in a jurisdiction with anti-money laundering rules that have been approved by the IRS in connection with a QI agreement (as described in relevant U.S. Treasury Regulations), any of the documents, other than a Form W-8 or W-9, referenced in the jurisdiction s attachment to the QI agreement for identifying individuals or Entities. 5. Any financial statement, third-party credit report, bankruptcy filing, or U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission report. E. ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... Accounts or New Entity Accounts, as applicable, opened prior to the earlier of: (i) the date India has the ability to compel Reporting Indian Financial Institutions to comply with the due diligence procedures described in section III or section V of this Annex I, as applicable, which date India shall inform the United States of in writing by the date of entry into force of this Agreement, or (ii) the date of entry into force of this Agreement. If the alternative procedures for New Entity Accounts opened on or after July 1, 2014, and before January 1, 2015, described in paragraph H of this section are applied with respect to all New Entity Accounts or a clearly identified group of such accounts, the alternative procedures described in this paragraph G may not be applied with respect to such New Entity Accounts. For all other New Accounts, Reporting Indian Financial Institutions must apply the due diligence procedures described in section III or section V of this Annex I, as applicable, to determine if the account is a U.S. Reportable Account or an account held by a Nonparticipating Financial Institution. 2. Alternative Procedures. a) Within one year after the date of entry ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ect to such closed accounts that prior to such closure were New Entity Accounts, perform the due diligence procedures specified in section IV of this Annex I. d) India must report on any closed account that is identified pursuant to subparagraph G(2)(c) of this section as a U.S. Reportable Account or as an account held by a Nonparticipating Financial Institution, as applicable, by the date that is the later of: (i) September 30 next following the date that the account is identified as a U.S. Reportable Account or as an account held by a Nonparticipating Financial Institution, as applicable, or (ii) 90 days after the account is identified as a U.S. Reportable Account or as an account held by a Nonparticipating Financial Institution, as applicable. The information required to be reported for such a closed account is any information that would have been reportable under this Agreement if the account had been identified as a U.S. Reportable Account or as an account held by a Nonparticipating Financial Institution, as applicable, as of the date the account was opened. H. Alternative Procedures for New Entity Accounts Opened on or after July 1, 2014, and before January 1, 2015 . ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... a state, province, county, or municipality), or any wholly owned agency or instrumentality of India, board, corporation, authority or any other body established or constituted under an act of the Government of India or of its political subdivisions or any one or more of the foregoing (each, an Indian Governmental Entity ). This category is comprised of the integral parts, controlled entities, and political subdivisions of India. 1. An integral part of India means any person, organization, agency, bureau, fund, instrumentality, or other body, however designated, that constitutes a governing authority of India. The net earnings of the governing authority must be credited to its own account or to other accounts of India, with no portion inuring to the benefit of any private person. An integral part does not include any individual who is a sovereign, official, or administrator acting in a private or personal capacity. 2. A controlled entity means an Entity that is separate in form from India or that otherwise constitutes a separate juridical entity, provided that: a) The Entity is wholly owned and controlled by one or more Indian Governmental Entities directly or through one ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... n or retirement benefits. B. Broad Participation Retirement Fund. A fund established in India to provide retirement, disability, or death benefits, or any combination thereof, to beneficiaries that are current or former employees (or persons designated by such employees) of one or more employers in consideration for services rendered, provided that the fund: 1. Does not have a single beneficiary with a right to more than five percent of the fund s assets; 2. Is subject to government regulation and provides annual information reporting about its beneficiaries to the relevant tax authorities in India; and 3. Satisfies at least one of the following requirements: a) The fund is generally exempt from tax in India on investment income under the laws of India due to its status as a retirement or pension plan; b) The fund receives at least 50 percent of its total contributions (other than transfers of assets from other plans described in paragraphs A through D of this section or from retirement and pension accounts described in subparagraph A(1) of section V of this Annex II) from the sponsoring employers; c) Distributions or withdrawals from the fund are allowed o ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... n Investment Entity, provided that each direct holder of an Equity Interest in the Entity is an exempt beneficial owner, and each direct holder of a debt interest in such Entity is either a Depository Institution (with respect to a loan made to such Entity) or an exempt beneficial owner. F. Regimental Fund or Non-public Fund of the Armed Forces. A fund established in India as a regimental fund or non-public fund by the armed forces of the Union of India for the welfare of the current and former members of the armed forces and whose income is exempt from tax under section 10(23AA) of the Indian Income-tax Act of 1961. G. Employees State Insurance Fund. A fund established in India as an Employees State Insurance Fund under the provisions of the Employees State Insurance Act of 1948, to provide medical expenses of low income factory workers in India. H. Gratuity Funds. A fund established in India under the Payment of Gratuity Act of 1972, to provide for the payment of a gratuity to certain types of employees (e.g., factory and mining workers) of an Indian employer specified in the Payment of Gratuity Act of 1972. I. Provident Fund. A fund established in ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... d or aired in other countries, provided that the advertisement does not specifically indicate that the Financial Institution provides Financial Accounts or services to nonresidents, and does not otherwise target or solicit U.S. customers or Account Holders; 4. The Financial Institution must be required under the laws of India to identify resident Account Holders for purposes of either information reporting or withholding of tax with respect to Financial Accounts held by residents or for purposes of satisfying India s AML due diligence requirements; 5. At least 98 percent of the Financial Accounts by value maintained by the Financial Institution must be held by residents (including residents that are Entities) of India; 6. Beginning on or before July 1, 2014, the Financial Institution must have policies and procedures, consistent with those set forth in Annex I, to prevent the Financial Institution from providing a Financial Account to any Nonparticipating Financial Institution and to monitor whether the Financial Institution opens or maintains a Financial Account for any Specified U.S. Person who is not a resident of India (including a U.S. Person that was a resident of In ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ank, unrelated retail customers and, with respect to a credit union or similar cooperative credit organization, members, provided that no member has a greater than five percent interest in such credit union or cooperative credit organization; 3. The Financial Institution satisfies the requirements set forth in subparagraphs A(2) and A(3) of this section, provided that, in addition to the limitations on the website described in subparagraph A(3) of this section, the website does not permit the opening of a Financial Account; 4. The Financial Institution does not have more than $175 million in assets on its balance sheet, and the Financial Institution and any Related Entities, taken together, do not have more than $500 million in total assets on their consolidated or combined balance sheets; and 5. Any Related Entity must be incorporated or organized in India, and any Related Entity that is a Financial Institution, with the exception of any Related Entity that is a retirement fund described in paragraphs A through D of section II of this Annex II or a Financial Institution with only low-value accounts described in paragraph C of this section, must satisfy the requirements se ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... o all U.S. Reportable Accounts of the trust. B. Sponsored Investment Entity and Controlled Foreign Corporation. A Financial Institution described in subparagraph B(1) or B(2) of this section having a sponsoring entity that complies with the requirements of subparagraph B(3) of this section. 1. A Financial Institution is a sponsored investment entity if (a) it is an Investment Entity established in India that is not a qualified intermediary, withholding foreign partnership, or withholding foreign trust pursuant to relevant U.S. Treasury Regulations; and (b) an Entity has agreed with the Financial Institution to act as a sponsoring entity for the Financial Institution. 2. A Financial Institution is a sponsored controlled foreign corporation if (a) the Financial Institution is a controlled foreign corporation (A controlled foreign corporation means any foreign corporation if more than 50 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of such corporation entitled to vote, or the total value of the stock of such corporation, is owned, or is considered as owned, by United States shareholders on any day during the taxable year of such foreign corporat ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... tion (obtained by following applicable registration requirements on the IRS FATCA registration website) in all reporting completed on the Financial Institution s behalf; and f) The sponsoring entity has not had its status as a sponsor revoked. C. Sponsored, Closely Held Investment Vehicle. An Indian Financial Institution satisfying the following requirements: 1. The Financial Institution is a Financial Institution solely because it is an Investment Entity and is not a qualified intermediary, withholding foreign partnership, or withholding foreign trust pursuant to relevant U.S. Treasury Regulations; 2. The sponsoring entity is a Reporting U.S. Financial Institution, Reporting Model 1 FFI, or Participating FFI, is authorized to act on behalf of the Financial Institution (such as a professional manager, trustee, or managing partner), and agrees to perform, on behalf of the Financial Institution, all due diligence, withholding, reporting, and other requirements that the Financial Institution would have been required to perform if it were a Reporting Indian Financial Institution; 3. The Financial Institution does not hold itself out as an investment vehicle for unrel ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... nt Entity that is a collective investment vehicle described in paragraph E of this section, the reporting obligations of any Investment Entity (other than a Financial Institution through which interests in the collective investment vehicle are held) shall be deemed fulfilled. 2. With respect to interests in: a) An Investment Entity established in a Partner Jurisdiction that is regulated as a collective investment vehicle, all of the interests in which (including debt interests in excess of $50,000) are held by or through one or more exempt beneficial owners, Active NFFEs described in subparagraph B(4) of section VI of Annex I, U.S. Persons that are not Specified U.S. Persons, or Financial Institutions that are not Nonparticipating Financial Institutions; or b) An Investment Entity that is a qualified collective investment vehicle under relevant U.S. Treasury Regulations; the reporting obligations of any Investment Entity that is an Indian Financial Institution (other than a Financial Institution through which interests in the collective investment vehicle are held) shall be deemed fulfilled. 3. With respect to interests in an Investment Entity established in India th ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... m the gross income of the account holder or taxed at a reduced rate, or taxation of investment income from the account is deferred or taxed at a reduced rate); iii. Withdrawals are conditioned on meeting specific criteria related to the purpose of the savings account (for example, the provision of educational or medical benefits), or penalties apply to withdrawals made before such criteria are met; and iv. Annual contributions are limited to $50,000 or less, applying the rules set forth in Annex I for account aggregation and currency translation. b) An account established in India under the Senior Citizens Saving Scheme of 2004 to provide Indian senior citizens saving schemes and savings and deposits account. B. Certain Term Life Insurance Contracts. A life insurance contract maintained in India with a coverage period that will end before the insured individual attains age 90, provided that the contract satisfies the following requirements: 1. Periodic premiums, which do not decrease over time, are payable at least annually during the period the contract is in existence or until the insured attains age 90, whichever is shorter; 2. The contract has no contract ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... facilitate the payment of taxes at a later time. E. Partner Jurisdiction Accounts. An account maintained in India and excluded from the definition of Financial Account under an agreement between the United States and another Partner Jurisdiction to facilitate the implementation of FATCA, provided that such account is subject to the same requirements and oversight under the laws of such other Partner Jurisdiction as if such account were established in that Partner Jurisdiction and maintained by a Partner Jurisdiction Financial Institution in that Partner Jurisdiction. VI. Definitions. The following additional definitions shall apply to the descriptions above: A. Reporting Model 1 FFI. The term Reporting Model 1 FFI means a Financial Institution with respect to which a non-U.S. government or agency thereof agrees to obtain and exchange information pursuant to a Model 1 IGA, other than a Financial Institution treated as a Nonparticipating Financial Institution under the Model 1 IGA. For purposes of this definition, the term Model 1 IGA means an arrangement between the United States or the Treasury Department and a non-U.S. government or one or more agencies there ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... continue to treat each Indian Financial Institution, as that term is defined in the Agreement, as complying with, and not subject to withholding under section 1471 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code during such time as India is pursuing the necessary internal procedures for entry into force of the Agreement. The United States further understands that India s Ministry of Finance intends to contact the United States Department of the Treasury as soon as it is aware that there might be a delay such that India would not be able to provide its notification under paragraph 1 of Article 10 of the Agreement prior to September 30, 2015. In reference to subparagraphs 1(y) and 1(z) of the Agreement (definitions of Cash Value and Cash Value Insurance Contract) , it is understood that a single premium life insurance contract that does not permit an amount to be paid on surrender or termination of the contract and that does not allow amounts to be borrowed under or with regard to the contract, does not constitute a Cash Value Insurance Contract, as such term is used in the Agreement. In reference to I.C of Annex II of the Agreement (Central Bank) , it is understood that the Reserve Bank o ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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