Unified for New Opportunities - U.S.A - New tax forms for Clearstream Banking AG clients - Update
Note: This announcement originally published on 18 July 2025, has been updated to clarify the period when securities can be accepted in CBF accounts. Changes have been highlighted.
Clearstream Banking AG1 (CBF) informs clients that in relation to the initiative Unified for New Opportunities, the United States of America (“U.S.A.” or “U.S.”) is part of the market activation wave planned in May 2026.
Effective
1 January 2026
CBF accounts will be available for U.S. settlement with no interaction with the existing Clearstream Banking AG 6-series (CBF-i) accounts.
Between the U.S.A. market activation wave (date to be announced separately) and end of 2026 (final market activation wave), CBF clients holding 6-series accounts (CBF-i clients) will then gradually be able to move their securities to CBF or Clearstream Banking S.A. (CBL) accounts.
For the U.S. market, CBF will offer the same level of tax service as CBL. Therefore, to allow clients to already prepare the required certification for their CBF accounts, clients are requested to refer to the following:
- Market Taxation Guide - U.S.A. - For the procedures and full certification requirements.
- Tax Forms to use - U.S.A. - CBF - Available on the website to certify CBF accounts for the purpose of obtaining relief at source.
Impact on clients
Clients migrating their assets from CBF-i to CBF accounts or settling new U.S. taxable securities in their CBF accounts as of 1 January 2026, must submit U.S. tax certification as follows in order to document their CBF account for tax purposes:
- CBF-i account not certified: Submit the CBF tax forms as per the documentation requirements described in the Market Taxation Guide - U.S.A.; or
- CBF-i account already certified: Submit a request for duplication of tax certification from their existing CBF-i account to their new CBF account, as per duplication process published in Announcement D25021.
Clients can start the certification process as of 1 December 2025 to allow a smooth treatment by the tax operational team and avoid the risk of not being certified if onboarding new securities and must ensure to provide their certificates/duplication requests if possible by the date of the activation or no later than the deadline applicable for relief at source of the first income payment to which it applies.
For the usual certification deadlines, please refer to the Market Taxation Guide - U.S.A..
Further information
For further information, clients may contact the Clearstream Banking Tax Help Desk or Clearstream Banking Client Services or their Relationship Manager.
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1. This Announcement is published by Clearstream Banking AG (CBF), registered office at Mergenthalerallee 61, 65760 Eschborn, Germany, registered with the Commercial Register of the District Court in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, under number HRB 7500.