What this area covers: FATCA / CRS in Estonia
FATCA / CRS is one of 6 parts of our “Compliance & AML” practice. It covers the full cycle from initial scoping to operational launch, run by a single named partner from our Estonia practice.
What it is in Estonia: reporting and classification.
How we handle FATCA / CRS
The “FATCA / CRS” project in Estonia is structured as a 4-stage process run by a single named partner.
Regulatory program drafting, MLRO services, and examination preparation across FINTRAC, FCA, MAS, FIU, and CBUAE frameworks.
The same desk that runs FATCA / CRS handles your banking, bookkeeping, compliance and — where needed — your wind-down.INNOVA · Operating model
Why Estonia
Estonia is a digital state with one of the most convenient corporate systems in the EU: e-Residency for remote management, deferred corporate tax (payable only on distributed profit), and an EU passport for your structures. One of our priority hubs for crypto projects and European operating companies.
A reliable regulatory environment
Banking ecosystem
Corporate tax 22% on distribution (the 22/78 mechanism, from 01.01.2025; 0% on retained profit)
INNOVA represented on the ground
Why INNOVA
Operational differences that hold up on the 2nd, 5th and 10th project — not just at first impression.
One partner — the whole cycle
Registration, banking, tax, compliance, immigration — run by one team from start to finish.
14 years of practice
Working since 2012 through several regulatory cycles — including FATCA/CRS, the tightening of banking, and the introduction of UAE CT.
Regulator-grade documentation
Every output document is ready for audit and investor scrutiny — whatever the size of the deal.
Multi-jurisdiction within the group
Cross-border work is handled inside the group — no chain of external subcontractors.
How the work is structured
A 4-stage process led by a single named partner — from the intro call to the operational hand-over.
Risk assessment
Risk assessment across products, clients and geography
Program development
Manuals, training and control mechanisms
Regulator submission
Submission of the documentation to the regulator
Monitoring
Reviews, audits and keeping the program current
What we need from you · what you get from us
What we need from you to begin — and what you walk away with. We won't pester you with needless questions: we already have most of the answers.
- Activity / sector descriptionstructured
- Customer-base profiledocumented
- Geographic exposuremapped
- Existing controls (if any)stated
- AML/CFT risk assessmentregulator-ready
- Compliance manual + proceduresoperational
- MLRO appointednamed officer
- Training programme (annual)delivered
- Customer DD templatesready to use
- Sanctions/PEP screening liveautomated
Four ways to work together
We don't quote a fixed price without understanding your situation — cost depends on the complexity of your case. Start with an initial call, then we pick the right format.
Intro call
A 30-minute online consultation. We discuss your situation, define the project scope, and propose a structure and timeline.
Written analysis
A written consultation with a full review of the business — tax positioning, structure options, jurisdiction comparison, banking path. Turnaround: 5 business days.
Operating roadmap
For complex situations — multi-jurisdiction structures, regulated activity, founder relocation. A full plan with stages, dependencies, deliverables and timing.
Direct execution
You know what you need — we execute. No advisory mark-up and no discovery phase.
Fill in the questionnaire
Complete the online questionnaire: it creates your account on the portal, where your structure, renewal reminders and documents will live.
Fill in the questionnaire
4 steps · creates an INNOVA portal account · 24h review.
Once you submit the questionnaire we create a portal account. Inside: your live structure, a renewals calendar (annual returns, register updates, tax filings), a document vault (certificates, share register, bank letters), a partner chat and project status. A single place for your entire operational life.
From a client
A review from a client who went through a comparable project. Verified, the engagement is ongoing.
Frequently asked questions
The questions we're asked most often. If yours isn't here, an intro call is the fastest way to get an answer.
Most “FATCA / CRS” projects in Estonia run 4–5 weeks start to finish. The fastest stage is document filing; the longest is post-registration onboarding (banking, tax registration). A single named partner runs the project throughout.
From US$ 6,500 · program development. The lower bound is for clean, standard profiles; the upper bound is for complex ownership structures, multi-jurisdiction projects or regulated activity. A fixed quote follows a 30-minute scoping call.
In most cases, no. The entire process runs remotely under a notarised power of attorney. A handful of jurisdictions require an in-person visit (typically biometrics for a residence permit) — we plan those as efficiently as possible.
Every Estonian company falls under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act. The baseline set: a written AML risk assessment, a customer due diligence (CDD) policy, an appointed compliance officer (mandatory for obliged entities), and transaction records kept for at least 5 years. Financial services, virtual-currency operations, and company formation agents are obliged entities with enhanced requirements.
The FIU (Rahapesu Andmebüroo) requires obliged entities to file suspicious transaction reports (STRs), submit annual compliance reports, register in the FIU's information system, and undergo on-site inspections. Since 2022, enforcement has sharpened hard: licence revocations, fines up to €400,000 per violation. Crypto firms draw the closest AML scrutiny — and since 2025 they licence as CASPs with the FSA under MiCA (minimum capital €50,000–€150,000 by class), with legacy FIU VASP licences valid only to 1 July 2026.
Every OÜ must enter its ultimate beneficial owners — anyone owning or controlling more than 25% — in the e-Business Register, and that data is public. Keeping it current is mandatory; late updates draw fines. For complex structures with trusts or nominees, a declaration of indirect UBO is required. We check UBO compliance as part of the annual compliance review.
FATCA / CRS in other countries
The same service — in every jurisdiction we run. One desk, one standard.
