Compliance
Self-certification
Also known as tax residency self-certification
A self-certification is the declaration a financial institution requires at account opening in which the customer states every jurisdiction in which they are tax resident and gives a tax identification number for each, and which the institution must test for reasonableness against the other information it holds.
In plain terms: The form where you say which countries tax you. It is the start of the whole reporting chain.
Why it matters
The institution cannot simply record what you wrote. It must check the declaration against your address, telephone numbers, standing instructions and any power of attorney, and resolve any conflict — usually by asking you for a certificate of tax residence.
Common misunderstanding
Treating it as a one-time formality. A self-certification becomes invalid on a change of circumstances, and most account terms require you to notify the institution within thirty days of moving. A stale declaration is what creates the mismatch that generates a query.
Read the full guideWhat your bank reports about you