International tax reporting standards – what you need to know
When dealing with International tax reporting standards, a set of rules that require financial institutions to collect and exchange taxpayer information across borders. Also known as ITRS, they aim to curb tax evasion and improve transparency. International tax reporting standards are driven by global bodies like the OECD Common Reporting Standard, which provides the data model and filing schedule, and the FATF Recommendations, which set the anti‑money‑laundering framework that underpins reporting obligations. In practice, the standards dictate that banks, crypto exchanges, and other custodians must verify client identity, capture account balances, and file periodic reports to the tax authority of the account holder's residence.
How the standards affect crypto and traditional finance
The ripple effect of ITRS reaches every corner of the financial world. For crypto platforms, compliance means integrating KYC checks, mapping wallet addresses to real‑world identities, and generating filings that match the format of the OECD CRS. This often involves using on‑chain analytics tools to attribute transactions to individuals, then producing a CSV that can be uploaded to the local tax authority. Traditional banks face similar duties but rely on existing client records; however, they must now expand their scope to include digital asset holdings, which many legacy systems were not built to capture. The standards also interact with AML/KYC programs, because accurate reporting reduces the risk of illicit flows and satisfies the FATF’s “risk‑based approach” requirement.
Because the rules are country‑specific in their implementation, the practical steps differ. In the United States, the IRS Form 8938 and the FATCA filing complement the global CRS, while the EU’s DAC6 adds a layer of mandatory disclosure for cross‑border arrangements. Meanwhile, emerging markets are aligning with the OECD’s timeline, meaning new reporting windows open each year around March‑June. For investors, the key takeaway is to stay ahead of the filing deadlines, keep detailed transaction logs, and verify that the exchange you use publishes a clear compliance roadmap. Below you’ll find a curated set of articles that break down each component – from the technical details of wallet attribution to the legal nuances of filing in different jurisdictions – so you can confidently navigate the increasingly regulated crypto landscape.