Skip to content
BOL Conferences
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Thread Options
#2074831 - 04/20/16 03:40 PM Resident and Non-Resident Aliens
TheLoanRanger Offline
New Poster
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 5
It is my understanding that if an individual does not qualify as a resident alien, that individual is a non-resident alien.

Since the government is so helpful, the IRS and USCIS have slightly different definitions as far as who qualifies as a resident alien.

The USCIS states a resident alien is a lawful permanent resident (essentially a "green card" holder), OR a conditional permanent resident ("green card" valid for two years), OR a returning lawful permanent resident who's been out of the U.S. for greater than 180 days.

The IRS states an individual is a resident alien if they are a lawful permanent resident (the "green card" test), OR satisfy the substantial presence test (according to their formula for days present in the U.S. in the last 3 years).

The IRS also states that their definitions are only to be used for tax treatment purposes.

So basically the USCIS says if you have a green card, you're a resident alien, if not, you're a non-resident alien. The IRS says even if you don't have a green card, you're a resident alien as long as you live here.

It would seem to me that the conservative approach would be to abide by the USCIS' definition/test. However, in completing the W8-BEN (required for NRAs) it is my understanding that the address listed should not be a U.S. address. This is a problem as we have accounts wherein the individual has no legal status to reside in the U.S., but does anyways. The USCIS says these individuals are NRA, the IRS says they are resident aliens.

Anyone have advice on which definition for resident alien to go with? Or have any enlightening experience with examiners on this issue? Or, if I'm mistaken in any of my assumptions please let me know.

It's a key distinction as an institution's numbers of NRAs (and the associated compliance/BSA concerns) can vary significantly depending on which definition the institution chooses to go with.

Return to Top
BSA/AML/CIP/OFAC Forum
#2074840 - 04/20/16 04:16 PM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens TheLoanRanger
TheLoanRanger Offline
New Poster
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 5
I think I've figured out my own question.

If the individual doesn't have a green card, they are a non resident alien and should be treated as such BUT if they satisfy the substantial presence test then that individual would not need to fill out a W8-BEN. So that individual is simultaneously a non resident alien and a resident alien, depending on who you ask.

Is this what other institutions are doing? In scanning the forums it seems like people are all over the map on this subject, so any experiences you've had...I'd love to hear about them.

My guess is a lot of institutions are drastically underreporting NRAs on their MLR and pointing to the substantial presence test to justify individuals as resident aliens instead of NRAs.

Return to Top
#2074857 - 04/20/16 04:54 PM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens TheLoanRanger
RockChucker, CAMS Offline
Diamond Poster
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,700
The Country
Welcome to Bankers Online TheLoanRanger!
_________________________
A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.
-David Brinkley

Return to Top
#2074914 - 04/20/16 08:05 PM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens RockChucker, CAMS
TheLoanRanger Offline
New Poster
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 5
Thanks RockChucker. I've been a long time lurker, but figured it's as good a time as any to jump in and get involved with the conversations.

Any helpful comments on the subject at hand? I can definitely imagine that some institutions are going only with the IRS definitions for NRA vs. RA and will do so until an examiner gives them grief. It's a decent argument and lowers the number of NRAs they'd have to report/monitor.

Return to Top
#2074935 - 04/20/16 09:23 PM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens TheLoanRanger
Complycated Online
100 Club
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 168
For what it's worth, we have been told by more than one examiner that we should just take whatever our customer says they are and go with it, even if the identification they provide doesn't necessarily seem logical for their alleged situation. We have been told banks are not supposed to care if their customers are legally in the country or not and we should continue to open the accounts.

Return to Top
#2074940 - 04/20/16 09:36 PM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens TheLoanRanger
RockChucker, CAMS Offline
Diamond Poster
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,700
The Country
We ask the customer if they are resident and document the identification provided by the customer. We haven't been criticized in this arena because we are consistent and have the documentation to prove it. But as with all things banking, if the wind blows the other direction tomorrow we might have to adjust course.
_________________________
A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.
-David Brinkley

Return to Top
#2074961 - 04/21/16 11:48 AM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens TheLoanRanger
rlcarey Online
10K Club
rlcarey
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 83,226
Galveston, TX
If they don't have a green card, they are a non-resident - period end of story.

What IRS form they complete W-9 or W-8BEN is totally up to them (as it is their decision to figure out, not the banks) as that is an IRS regulation and had nothing to do with immigration status.
_________________________
The opinions expressed here should not be construed to be those of my employer: PPDocs.com

Return to Top
#2075315 - 04/22/16 09:26 PM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens rlcarey
TheLoanRanger Offline
New Poster
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 5
rlcarey, I must, respectfully, disagree with you.

The FFIEC BSA/AML Examination Manual states the following:

"For definitional purposes, an NRA is a non-U.S. citizen who: (i) is not a lawful permanent resident of the United States during the calendar year and who does not meet the substantial presence test, or (ii) has not been issued an alien registration receipt card, also known as a green card."

Since (ii) is the same as stating the individual is not a lawful permanent resident and (i) indicates that if you’re not a lawful permanent resident, you aren’t an NRA if you meet the substantial presence test, the manual (in my opinion) is stating that an individual who meets the substantial presence test is a resident alien, regardless of whether they hold a green card or not.

It's written poorly, as the use of "or" makes it seem like if you don't have a green card, you're an NRA, but the intention of this statement (in my opinion) is to indicate that meeting the substantial presence test makes you a resident alien as far as the BSA is concerned. Why even have the condition regarding the substantial presence test in (i) if (ii) is simply (i) without the substantial presence test condition?

Being able to prove an individual meets the substantial presence test is a separate issue, but it seems to me that if an individual provides an ITIN and a US Address as their permanent residence, I can consider them a resident alien because it can be reasonably assumed they meet the substantial presence test.

Return to Top
#2075338 - 04/23/16 03:30 AM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens TheLoanRanger
rlcarey Online
10K Club
rlcarey
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 83,226
Galveston, TX
How do you plan to prove they are here legally or illegally? If you want to go that far - knock yourself out. If they are here illegally you want to treat them as a US person for monitoring purposes because they might an IRS requirement? I prefer to keep things simple regardless of what the exam manual might say. Try teaching this to every new account representative.
_________________________
The opinions expressed here should not be construed to be those of my employer: PPDocs.com

Return to Top
#2075344 - 04/23/16 11:42 AM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens TheLoanRanger
Elwood P. Dowd Offline
10K Club
Elwood P. Dowd
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 21,939
Next to Harvey
rlcarey is right. The FFIEC BSA/AML Examination Manual is wrong or, at a minimum, grossly misleading.

The IRS (more accurately the Internal Revenue Code) simply does not have the power to change a person's residency status in the U.S. They do have the right to extract a pound of flesh because that person failed to go home in a timely manner. Flunking the "substantial presence test" makes you a resident alien for income tax purposes only; i.e. it makes you a U.S. taxpayer in dire need of an ITIN.

Resident aliens have a green card and an SSN. All other foreign born persons are non resident aliens for the purposes of being "customers subject to expanded examination overview" as described in the manual mentioned above. I do not know how the OCC defines "non resident alien" in the MLR, but do know that only those regulated by the OCC care.
_________________________
In this world you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant.

Return to Top
#2076387 - 04/29/16 04:12 PM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens Elwood P. Dowd
TheLoanRanger Offline
New Poster
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 5
I agree with both of you in terms of what you are saying regarding an individual's legal status. Yes, if you don't have a green card, USCIS says you're a non resident alien and if I was being examined by the USCIS then that's the test I would use.

Legal status isn't the issue here though. The issue is how resident aliens and non-resident aliens are defined for BSA/AML monitoring purposes. The manual says if an individual meets the substantial presence test, then that individual is a resident alien. The substantial presence test is basically just asking "Is your permanent address in the U.S.?" As far as training, that's all you would have to go over. If they give you a U.S. address and it matches the address on the documentation they provide in accordance with your CIP Policy...you're done. That's not exceedingly difficult.

I'm not denying that this makes illegal aliens/immigrants resident aliens (as long as they live here), but I prefer not to increase a customer's risk rating if I don't have to. Why would you want to have to treat every ITIN depositor (99% of them at least) as potentially elevated risk if you don't have to? I also do care about the MLR, but I can appreciate not everyone has to.

I agree 100% with you guys on the legal status issue. I'm not saying I'd give an ITIN holder a 30 year mortgage, but that has nothing to do with their "customer risk rating".

And Ken I have to disagree with you because the manual states if you meet the substantial presence test then you're a resident alien. If the manual wanted the test to be the green card test, the manual would simply define a non resident alien as an individual that doesn't hold a valid green card. It doesn't. It defines a non resident alien as an individual that doesn't hold a valid green card...and doesn't meet the substantial presence test.

I'm not trying to argue for the sake of arguing, but I think generally institutions prefer not to increase a customer's, or group of customer's in this case, risk rating. The manual allows me to consider an ITIN holder with a U.S. address as a resident alien, which is less significant of a risk factor relative to a non resident alien.

It's less monitoring overall any way you cut it. Why would you not take advantage of a definition, directly from the exam manual, that decreases your institution's monitoring burden?

Return to Top
#2076388 - 04/29/16 04:15 PM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens TheLoanRanger
Elwood P. Dowd Offline
10K Club
Elwood P. Dowd
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 21,939
Next to Harvey
Rely on it if you want to, but it's wrong either way. The "manual" is neither law nor regulation and it is readily outweighed by either.

I acknowledge that you are taking a very small risk as rlcarey is the only reviewer out there that I know of who would be smart enough to understand that you are wrong.
_________________________
In this world you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant.

Return to Top
#2076457 - 04/29/16 06:33 PM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens Elwood P. Dowd
RockChucker, CAMS Offline
Diamond Poster
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,700
The Country
Originally Posted By Ken_Pegasus
The "manual" is neither law nor regulation and it is readily outweighed by either.


Amen to that statement, if you read the first couple pages of the manual it says that it contains best practices etc...
_________________________
A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.
-David Brinkley

Return to Top
#2091891 - 08/05/16 04:19 PM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens TheLoanRanger
*W*W* Offline
Platinum Poster
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 835
I have a related question. If we determine an applicant's SSN was issued in the last 12 years, would we apply our CIP requirements for permanent residents and request additional ID (DHS photo ID, US Citizenship and Immigration Services photo ID, etc.)? That seems reasonable, but I'm second guessing myself.
_________________________
Live Like No One Else!
CRCM

Opinions expressed are my own and do not reflect the views of my employer.

Return to Top
#2091902 - 08/05/16 04:40 PM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens TheLoanRanger
rlcarey Online
10K Club
rlcarey
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 83,226
Galveston, TX
Not sure what the issuance date of a SSN has anything to do with what ID documents you require??
_________________________
The opinions expressed here should not be construed to be those of my employer: PPDocs.com

Return to Top
#2091921 - 08/05/16 05:00 PM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens *W*W*
Elwood P. Dowd Offline
10K Club
Elwood P. Dowd
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 21,939
Next to Harvey
I'm curious too, but it's a moot point. SSA started randomizing the issuance of the numbers a few years ago. Since then, their structure no longer indicates their year of issuance.
_________________________
In this world you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant.

Return to Top
#2091930 - 08/05/16 05:21 PM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens rlcarey
Jessesgirl Offline
Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 54
There's No Place Like Texas!
I agree with Mr.Carey! If you follow your CIP policy at account opening and any ongoing due diligence requirements you set forth in it you should be good regardless of when the SSN was issued.

I have another related question....

I recently learned that the IRS has decided to start invalidating ITINs this year if they haven't been used on a U.S. tax form in the last 5 consecutive years. We do not open interest bearing accounts for foreign individuals and so we have not asked for ITINs in the past, but unfortunately we inherited some interest bearing accounts (with ITINs) with an acquisition a year or so back. Now I have the potential problem that all of these ITINs on my core may or may not be valid. Thank you to the IRS for complicating the subject of non-resident aliens even more.....

So anyways here goes with the questions!! We are leaning toward just removing all ITINs from our core so that we aren't dealing with potentially invalid ITINs going forward. If I'm understanding everything I've read correctly, the 1042-S form does not require an identifying number?? However, this all makes me question the purpose of an ITIN if it's not required on the 1042-S? Also, I'm curious what other institutions are doing in this situation?

Secondly, I would love to talk to someone who has a generally good comprehension of chapter 3 and chapter 4 reporting?? Anyone who wants to be my hero and offer some knowledge can PM me and I would love you forever!!
_________________________
GO MAVS !!!!

Return to Top
#2091933 - 08/05/16 05:24 PM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens Jessesgirl
Elwood P. Dowd Offline
10K Club
Elwood P. Dowd
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 21,939
Next to Harvey
Unused ITINs Expire That's true, but any reaction to that by a bank is an overreaction. It is simply not your problem...
_________________________
In this world you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant.

Return to Top
#2091935 - 08/05/16 05:31 PM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens Elwood P. Dowd
Jessesgirl Offline
Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 54
There's No Place Like Texas!
I like that answer Ken!! So if I don't need to worry about the expired ITINs then I shouldn't worry about whether or not I have an ITIN on an interest bearing account right?

So I guess I can safely assume you're not going to touch the chapter 3 & 4 reporting questions....LOL!!
_________________________
GO MAVS !!!!

Return to Top
#2091938 - 08/05/16 05:38 PM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens Jessesgirl
Elwood P. Dowd Offline
10K Club
Elwood P. Dowd
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 21,939
Next to Harvey
Noting that this is the BSA Forum, Chapters 3 and 4 of what?
_________________________
In this world you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant.

Return to Top
#2091939 - 08/05/16 05:40 PM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens TheLoanRanger
rlcarey Online
10K Club
rlcarey
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 83,226
Galveston, TX
unfortunately we inherited some interest bearing accounts (with ITINs) with an acquisition a year or so back.

Convert them all to non-interest bearing accounts and it solves your problems next year and beyond.
_________________________
The opinions expressed here should not be construed to be those of my employer: PPDocs.com

Return to Top
#2091940 - 08/05/16 05:40 PM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens Elwood P. Dowd
Jessesgirl Offline
Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 54
There's No Place Like Texas!
I'm actually learning that too...I'm helping out our operations department in trying to determine chapter filing codes for non-resident alien 1042-S reporting.
_________________________
GO MAVS !!!!

Return to Top
#2091942 - 08/05/16 05:44 PM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens rlcarey
Jessesgirl Offline
Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 54
There's No Place Like Texas!
That's been discussed in the past and I'm a fan of that solution as well!!
_________________________
GO MAVS !!!!

Return to Top
#2091974 - 08/05/16 06:44 PM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens TheLoanRanger
*W*W* Offline
Platinum Poster
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 835
In regards to SSN issuance - If I have a 30 year old applicant with a SSN issued 9 years ago, I'm guessing he's not a naturalized citizen. Should I then request the additional documents our CIP requires?
_________________________
Live Like No One Else!
CRCM

Opinions expressed are my own and do not reflect the views of my employer.

Return to Top
#2091980 - 08/05/16 06:48 PM Re: Resident and Non-Resident Aliens TheLoanRanger
rlcarey Online
10K Club
rlcarey
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 83,226
Galveston, TX
Should I then request the additional documents our CIP requires?

Since we don't know what your CIP requires, I'm not sure that we can answer this question?

If an individual is a citizen of the US, what difference does it make when he got his SSN??? Maybe he didn't need one until he was 21 years old. Again, how do you know when it was issued?? It could have been yesterday.
_________________________
The opinions expressed here should not be construed to be those of my employer: PPDocs.com

Return to Top
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderator:  Andy_Z