FATCA Declaration for NPS - How to Declare FATCA in NPS Account

Introduction

If you are a subscriber to India’s National Pension System (NPS), you might come across the requirement to submit a “FATCA/CRS self-certification” or “FATCA declaration”. This is a compliance requirement under an inter-governmental agreement (IGA) between India and the United States (US) (and similarly under CRS/other tax treaties) to ensure transparency of financial accounts and assets held by taxpayers abroad. In simple words: if you hold an NPS account (under the clearance of Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) via its designated Central Record-keeping Agency (CRA)) you need to declare your tax residency status, citizenship, and other relevant details, so your account remains valid and can operate normally. Failure to do so may block contributions or withdrawals from your NPS/PRAN (Permanent Retirement Account Number) account.

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What is FATCA (and CRS) – The Background of the Requirement

• The full name of FATCA is the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. It is a US law introduced in 2010 to reduce tax evasion by US citizens who hold foreign financial accounts or assets.
• India signed an inter-governmental agreement (IGA) with the US in 2015, under which Indian financial institutions (including NPS account administrators) must collect and report details of eligible US persons and their foreign assets to Indian authorities, which then share with the US.
• In addition, international standards such as the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) require many jurisdictions to collect tax-residency information of account holders. For NPS purposes, you often complete a combined “FATCA/CRS Self-Certification Form”.
• Why is this relevant to you as an NPS subscriber? Because the CRA (Central Record-keeping Agency) for NPS, via NSDL e‑Governance Infrastructure Limited or other designated agencies, needs your self-declaration to determine whether your account is “reportable” under FATCA/CRS. Failure to provide it may result in restrictions.

Why NPS Subscribers Must Submit a FATCA Declaration – Significance & Consequences

• According to the CRA guidelines, NPS subscribers whose accounts were opened on or after 1 July 2014 must submit the FATCA/CRS declaration to remain compliant.
• If the declaration is not provided, the NPS system may restrict your account: you might not be able to make further contributions, or process withdrawals or transfers.
• In the past, non-compliant accounts risked being blocked (frozen) by the CRA/NSDL until the form was submitted.
• So from a practical perspective: if you value using your NPS account smoothly (making contributions, withdrawals, transfers) it is in your interest to complete the FATCA declaration promptly.

Who Must Submit – Eligibility / Scope of the Requirement

You may need to submit the FATCA/CRS self-certification if:

• You are an NPS subscriber (with PRAN number) whose account is maintained by NSDL/CRA after 1 July 2014.
• You are a resident Indian, NRI or foreign-resident investing in NPS—especially if you have a tax-residency outside India or you are a US citizen or US tax resident.
• If you are not a US person and tax resident only in India, you still have to submit the self-certification (basic parts) as required by CRA. If you are unsure whether you need to submit, it is safest to go ahead and complete it. There is minimal downside, but potentially major inconvenience if you don’t.

What Information Is Required in the FATCA/CRS Self-Certification – Form Details Explained

The FATCA/CRS declaration form (online or offline) will require some of the following details:

• Your personal identification: name, date of birth, PAN (Permanent Account Number), PRAN (if NPS subscriber) etc.
• Country of birth, citizenship, country of tax residence (current), country of residence for tax purposes, whether you are a US citizen/US person.
• If you are tax-resident in a country other than India (or US), you may need to provide a Tax Identification Number (TIN) of that country.
• Declaration & authorization: A tick-box or signature (online or offline) to certify that the information is correct and you authorize the financial institution/CRA to act accordingly.
• In cases where TIN is unavailable or you are a US person without TIN, there may be additional self-certification parts (Part IV of the form) and you may have to submit supporting documents like passport, driving licence etc.

Step-by-Step: How to Submit FATCA Declaration for Your NPS Account Online

Here is the detailed, plain-language process to complete it online:

Step 1: Log into the CRA/NSDL portal

Go to the CRA website for NPS, e.g., cra-nsdl.com and click on the “Subscriber Login” or “FATCA Self-Certification” link.

Step 2: Access “FATCA / CRS Self Certification” form

Once logged in, look for a menu option such as “Transaction” → “FATCA Self-Certification” (or “Check FATCA Compliance”).

Step 3: Fill in the required details

• Enter your PRAN or NPS subscriber number.
• Select your personal details (citizenship, country of birth, tax residency).
• If you are tax-resident only in India, select India; if other countries, specify the country and TIN.
• Answer whether you are a US person or US citizen.
• Upload or provide any required supporting details if needed.

Step 4: Declaration and OTP verification

• Read and tick the “Declaration & Authorisation” box.
• An OTP will be sent to your registered mobile number. Enter it to authenticate your submission.

Step 5: Acknowledgement of submission

• On successful submission, you will receive an acknowledgement/reference number on screen. Save this number (and print or take a screenshot) for your records.

Step 6: Check compliance status

• You can revisit the portal and check whether your FATCA status shows as “Compliant” or similar. Some guides show you can verify with your PRAN whether the declaration is accepted.

Offline Submission: When and How to Submit the FATCA Form Physically

If your citizenship, country of birth or tax-residence is outside India (or you are a US person) you may need to submit a physical FATCA self-certification form to the CRA/Nodal Office.

Process:

• Download the FATCA Self-Certification Form from the CRA/NSDL website.
• Fill the form manually with the required details (same as online).
• Attach supporting documents (passport, ID, proof of residence, TIN certificate) if required.
• Submit the form to the CRA address (for example: Protean eGov Technologies Ltd., 10th Floor, Times Tower, Kamala Mills Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai – 400 013) or to your NPS nodal office.
• After submission, wait for CRA to process; you may receive acknowledgement by email/SMS.

Key Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid in FATCA Declaration for NPS

• Ensure your mobile number and email are up-to-date, as OTPs and acknowledgements rely on this.
• Accurately state your tax-residency country and TIN (if any). Many mistakes come from selecting the wrong country or leaving TIN blank without reason.
• If you are a US citizen or US tax resident, don’t skip the details. US persons have specific disclosure obligations.
• Even if you believe you’re just an Indian resident and no foreign tax residency, you still need to complete the self-certification, don’t assume you are exempt.
• Save/record the acknowledgement number. It is proof you submitted the form and may help in future correspondence.
• Check your status later to ensure your account shows as compliant. If it remains “Non-Compliant”, contact CRA/customer support.
• Avoid delay: While accounts may not yet be blocked en masse, future functionality may be impacted (contributions/withdrawals).

Summary

Completing the FATCA/CRS self-certification for your NPS account is a small but crucial compliance step. Without it, your account may face restrictions that block your contributions or withdrawals, which defeats the purpose of building your retirement savings. While the form is relatively simple, accuracy and timeliness matter. Whether you complete it online (recommended) or offline (in special cases), doing it promptly will keep your NPS account fully operational and compliant with cross-border tax regulations.