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The Department for International Tax Cooperation (DITC) advises industry of the Tax Information Authority (the “Authority”) CRS updates and ES communication change.
CRS Update
31 July 2026 Filing Deadline
Industry is reminded that the deadline for submissions of 2025 CRS XMLs and/or 2025 CRS Filing Declarations is 31 July 2026.
Closure of the DITC Portal for the Submission of CRS XMLs
The DITC would like to inform Portal users that as a result of the change to CRS XML Schema version 3.0 (XML v3.0) the DITC Portal will be closed for the submission of CRS XMLs and Filing Declarations in early August 2026. All other Portal functionalities will remain operational.
Following the closure of the Portal, the submission of any new CRS XML files or amendments to previously submitted files will not be possible until the relevant functionality is reinstated on the DITC Portal, which is anticipated to be early 2027. For the avoidance of doubt, this does not represent an extension of the 31 July 2026 filing deadline. It is critical that Financial Institutions (FIs) ensure that their CRS Reportable Accounts related to the 2025 Reporting Year be submitted by the 31 July 2026 deadline.
Impacts on the Common Reporting Standard 2026 Reporting Year (30 June 2027 Filing Deadline)
Transition to CRS XML Schema Version 3.0
Following the re-opening of the DITC Portal for the submission of CRS XMLs, FIs will be required to submit any new Reportable Accounts, corrections, or deletions using XML Schema v3.0. The updated OECD CRS XML Schema User Guide (v 4.0) and XML Schema v3.0 XSD files can be found on the OECD Tax Transparency Resource Centre.
For a summary of the new reporting fields please see the Amended CRS Quick Guide.
Guidance can be found in the OECD CRS XML Schema User Guide (v 4.0) on the transitional measures applicable, where an FI submits corrections using XML Schema v3.0 and as a result there are new fields that were not included in the filing submitted using XML Schema v2.0.
CRS XML Generator Tool
Please note that with the transition to CRS XML Schema v3.0 the DITC will no longer be providing an XML generator tool.
Updated CRS Self-Certification Forms effective 1 January 2026
To align with the Tax Information Authority (International Tax Compliance) (Common Reporting Standard) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 (the “Amendment Regulations”) the DITC published an updated Individual Self-Certification Form and Entity Self-Certification Form on the DITC website.
The self-certification forms have been updated to highlight which fields are applicable as per Regulation 7 of the Tax Information Authority (International Tax Compliance) (Common Reporting Standard) Regulations (2021 Revision) as amended by Regulation 3 of the Amendment Regulations.
Please refer to the Guidance for FIs included in the forms which note that each form should not be seen as a mandatory template. Each FI is free to use its own form, but as a minimum, a Cayman FI should collect the mandatory data detailed in the Principal Regulations as amended by the Amendment Regulations in accordance with local rules and guidance.
Updated CRS Administration Forms
The DITC is currently working on updating the administration forms on the DITC Portal to align with the Amended Regulations. The DITC anticipates that these forms should be available in Q3 2026. The DITC will be issuing further communication and updated guidance on the forms when they become available.
Updated CRS Guidelines
The DITC recognises the importance of providing industry with clear and timely guidance to support implementation planning for the Amended CRS requirements. The guidance materials are being developed alongside the DITC’s ongoing implementation work to ensure they are practical, accurate, and aligned with the final approach. The DITC expects to issue further CRS industry guidance in Q3 2026.
DITC Portal Security Enhancement
To improve the security of user information on the DITC Portal, the two-factor authentication currently in place for account activation will be required for all access to the DITC Portal. The DITC will be issuing further communication and updated guidance closer to the implementation, which is anticipated in Q3 2026.
Economic Substance Communication Change
The DITC has historically issued courtesy reminders via email to Responsible Persons (RPs) in advance of the ES filing deadline, in addition to providing a reminder via the DITC Portal messaging banner. The ES Act came into force in the Cayman Islands on 1 January 2019 outlining filing requirements and reporting deadlines for entities, we trust that the deadlines and reporting requirements are now familiar.
Accordingly, please note that the DITC will no longer send courtesy reminder emails to RPs for ESN Year 2025 and onward. Entities are responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable reporting obligations and deadlines relating to ES. Reminders relating to ES will only be provided via the messaging banner on the DITC Portal.
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