AEOI draft guidance

From July 2017 financial institutions will need to begin meeting obligations under the OECD’s Common Reporting Standard for the Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information in Tax Matters.

Legislation enabling the implementation of this international initiative in New Zealand is expected to be passed by March 2017. In anticipation of this, Inland Revenue has developed advanced draft guidance to help financial institutions prepare for their obligations as early as possible.

“Financial institutions” for the purposes of this initiative has a wide meaning, including some fund managers, investment advisers, insurance companies, and trusts as well as banks.

The draft guidance outlines how these various entities are affected and their responsibilities under the Common Reporting Standard.

The draft guidance also sets out the obligations that account holders (and other persons connected with accounts) will have to provide information to such financial institutions to assist those institutions comply with their responsibilities under the Common Reporting Standard.

For more information see implementing automatic exchange of information (AEOI).

Feedback and any queries about the draft guidance should be sent to [email protected] by 28 February 2017.