RC519, Declaration of Tax Residence for Entities, is the CRA self-certification form a Canadian financial institution asks a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity to complete when it opens or keeps a financial account. It records where the entity is resident for tax, its taxpayer identification numbers, how it's classified and, for some entities, its controlling persons. You give it to the financial institution, not the CRA.
This guide follows the RC519 E (25) version of the form and the CRA RC519 page, as of October 2026. The title refers to Part XVIII and Part XIX of the Income Tax Act, the parts the form is collected under.
Why your bank is asking for it
Canadian financial institutions have to collect this information to open and maintain a financial account. Accounts held by certain non-resident entities, and by entities controlled by non-resident individuals or US persons, have to be reported to the CRA. The CRA then shares the account information with the foreign jurisdiction where the entity or a controlling person is resident, when Canada has an information exchange agreement with it, and with the IRS where a US person is involved.
You can ask your financial institution whether it reported your account and what it sent. To find out if information was shared with another country, you contact the CRA.
Entity or individual?
For this form an entity means a person other than a natural person, or a legal arrangement, such as a corporation, partnership, trust, association, fund, joint venture, organization, syndicate or foundation. A sole proprietorship isn't an entity here, and fills in Form RC518, the version for individuals.
Section 1: who holds the account
Section 1 asks for the entity's legal name, the jurisdiction where it was incorporated or organized, the policy or account numbers and its permanent and mailing addresses. The account holder is whoever the financial institution lists as holding the account. When an agent, custodian, nominee or adviser holds it for someone else, that someone else is the account holder. A trust or estate is the holder, not its trustee or liquidator, and a partnership is the holder, not its partners.
Section 2: tax residence and TINs
You tick every jurisdiction where the entity is resident for tax and give the date. A Canadian resident gives its 9 digit business number with a CRA program account, or a trust its 8 digit trust account number. For other jurisdictions you give the taxpayer identification number, or a reason if there isn't one.
- Reason 1: the entity has applied, or will apply, but hasn't received it yet.
- Reason 2: its jurisdiction doesn't issue TINs to residents.
- Reason 3: another reason, which you have to explain, such as not being eligible for one.
For this form, a partnership is resident where its place of management is, a trust where its central management and control takes place, and a US person is resident in the United States. If you need a CRA business number for the Canadian line, that comes first.
The TIN deadlines and penalties
| Situation | Rule, as of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| US resident entity with no US TIN | 90 days to apply, then 15 days after receiving it to give it to the institution; a $100 penalty for failing to provide it |
| Resident elsewhere with no TIN | 90 days to apply and 15 days after receiving it, unless the jurisdiction doesn't issue or require TINs |
| Eligible for a TIN but doesn't provide it | May be liable to a $500 penalty |
Section 3: classifying the entity
Section 3 is a decision path, and you tick one option in each part:
- 3.1: is the entity a financial institution? If yes, give its global intermediary identification number, or GIIN, or the reason it doesn't have one.
- 3.2: for a financial institution, is it resident in a non-participating jurisdiction, with at least 50% of its gross income from investing or trading in financial assets, and managed by another financial institution? If so, list its controlling persons.
- 3.3: is it a specified US person? If yes, give its US TIN.
- 3.4: is it a strata or condominium corporation that meets certain conditions?
- 3.5: pick the description that fits, from a listed corporation or a government body to an active or passive non-financial entity.
The active test is about income and assets: an entity in an active trade or business has less than 50% of its gross income as passive income and less than 50% of its assets producing passive income. A passive non-financial entity has to list its controlling persons in the Annex.
The Annex: controlling persons
The Annex identifies each controlling person, with their name, date of birth, social insurance number, type of controlling person, addresses and tax residence, including a US TIN for a US citizen or resident. There's room for two, and you can attach a list or a separate RC518 for each person. RC519 isn't the same as the IRS form W-8BEN-E, which a non-US entity gives to a US payer, so a Canadian entity with US income may be asked for both.
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Section 4: signing, and keeping it current
An authorized signing officer certifies the form. By signing, they agree to give the financial institution a new form within 30 days of any change in circumstances that makes the information inaccurate or incomplete.
The verdict
RC519 isn't a return and doesn't go to the CRA. It's the entity's answer to its bank about where it's resident and who controls it. Fill in every section that applies, give a TIN or a reason for each jurisdiction, and send a fresh form within 30 days whenever something changes.
For a different form, see our e-file authorization form explainer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the RC519 form?
It's the CRA Declaration of Tax Residence for Entities that Canadian financial institutions use to collect an entity's tax residence, TINs and classification.
Who do I send RC519 to?
To the financial institution that maintains the entity's account, not to the CRA.
Does a sole proprietor use RC519?
No. A sole proprietorship fills in Form RC518, the declaration for individuals.
What's the penalty for not giving a TIN on RC519?
As of October 2026 the form says a US resident entity that fails to provide its US TIN is liable to a $100 penalty, and an entity eligible for a TIN that fails to provide it may be liable to $500.
When do I update RC519?
Within 30 days of any change in circumstances that makes the information on it inaccurate or incomplete.
