FATCA IDES resources and support information

IDES process in six steps 

1. Obtain digital certificate from IRS approved certificate authority.
2. Create account. Use the enrollment tool to create a user profile.
3. Validate authorization. Validate your approved GIIN and enter your digital certificate. IDES will validate your authorization.
4. Receive enrollment approval to access IDES via email with instructions or secure file transfer protocol (SFTP) link.
5. Prepare & upload files. You must first compress and then encrypt FATCA data files.
6. Send package to IRS. After you transmit the data package, IDES will send a confirmation message.

IDES resources and support

Compression tools

A list of compatible compression tools.

Customer support (updated August 10, 2015)

Overview of IDES customer support services and operations. 

Data preparation (updated February 14, 2017)

Overview and sample files for of the file preparation process. 

Data preparation user tips PDF (updated December 6, 2016)

A list of common data prep errors and recommended solutions. 

Digital certificates

A list of IRS-approved certificate authorities and certificate types.

Digital signatures (updated December 15, 2016)

Overview and sample files to illustrate an XML digital signature. 

FATCA Identification Number (FIN)

Overview of the IDES enrollment process for a U.S. withholding agent (USWA), territory financial institution (TFI), third party preparer or commercial software vendor.

FATCA XML schema best practices

Overview of FATCA reporting schema best practices, character restrictions and other topics

FATCA XML schema best practices - Correct, Amend and Void Records (updated December 15, 2016)

Overview of FATCA reporting schema best practices and sample files to correct, amend and void records. 

FATCA XML schema best practices - DocRefId (updated August 10, 2015)

An overview of FATCA reporting schema business rules for the DocRefId data element. 

FATCA XML schema files (updated January 10, 2017)

A list of FATCA reporting schema files, samples and user guides. 

HCTA FATCA Entity ID and user name

Overview of the Host Country Tax Authority (HCTA) Entity Sender ID composition and user name

IDES Testing Schedule (updated July 19, 2023)

An overview of the IDES testing schedule. 

Supported browsers

A list of compatible web browsers.