GIIN
Global Intermediary Identification Number
A unique identifier assigned to financial institutions for FATCA compliance and tax reporting.
GIINs were introduced by the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as part of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) implementation. Financial institutions worldwide must obtain a GIIN to comply with FATCA reporting requirements when dealing with US tax-liable accounts. The identifier helps the IRS track foreign financial accounts held by US persons and ensures proper tax reporting. GIINs are also used for Common Reporting Standard (CRS) compliance in many jurisdictions. The system covers banks, investment funds, insurance companies, and other financial intermediaries. Institutions without proper GIINs may face withholding taxes on US-source payments.
Example
ABC123.12345.SL.840 — jurisdiction + institution + branch identifier