Hey bunqers 🌈,
In agreement with other countries to prevent fraud and tax evasion, the Dutch government shares citizens' tax information based on the Common Reporting Standard (CRS).
Why should I provide my Tax Identification Number (TIN)?
A Tax Identification Number (TIN) is a unique number assigned to individuals and entities for tax purposes. Banks, including bunq, are legally obligated to collect TINs from users to ensure compliance with international tax regulations. This applies to bunqers worldwide.
If you are a Dutch resident, providing your TIN (your BSN number) is also crucial for ensuring that your bank accounts are properly registered with Dutch tax authorities or Toeslagen. This step helps facilitate your Dutch Tax Return process.
💡 Tax residency isn’t always based on where you live. You can be considered a tax resident in more than one country. For example, if you are a U.S. citizen, you are required to report income tax to the IRS, regardless of where you live.
Important note: If you were born in the US, keep in mind that our relevant team will ask you to also provide your SSN number. This is due to the same legal reasons we ask you for your TIN 🙌
How do we determine which country you need a TIN for?
Your tax residency is determined based on multiple factors, including:
✔️ The country where you permanently reside or have your main home
✔️ The country where you earn income or conduct business
✔️ The country where you're legally obligated to pay taxes
✔️ Your nationality (e.g., U.S. citizens must report taxes to the IRS even when living abroad)
If you're unsure about your tax residency status, you can check with the local tax authorities in the country where you live or have financial interests.
You can find detailed information on where to locate your TIN based on your country here.
Should I also provide my Social Security Number (SSN)?
Yes, due to these special regulations, we are required to ask all U.S. people to provide us with either their Social Security Number (SSN), National ID, and State of residence or a Certificate of Loss of Nationality (CLN). You’ll have 90 days upon the signup date to provide it by contacting us through our Support Center. More details on the topic of Security Number (SSN) and Certificate of Loss of Nationality (CLN) can be found here.
When should I provide my TIN?
You have 90 days after signup to provide this. If you fail to meet the deadline, your account will be temporarily limited until we receive the required document showing your Tax Identification Number from you.
Are you experiencing difficulties submitting your TIN? You can also submit it by reaching out to our Support Team via the in-app chat.
Where can I find my TIN?
Take a look here 🚀
What if I don’t have a TIN for the country I’m living in?
Your bunq account is always linked to the country where you’re a tax resident. When signing up — simply use the address and the TIN from the country where you pay taxes, even if you’re temporarily living somewhere else.
Here’s an easy example: you’re a Polish citizen temporarily residing in the Netherlands, but your tax residency is still in Poland. When creating a bunq account, use your Polish address and Polish TIN. This is because we’ll ask you for a Dutch TIN if you sign up with your Dutch address. Using your Polish details ensures your account is set up correctly from the start.
If the address you used for sign up is different to the country of your tax residency — no worries! You’ll simply need to update your address in the bunq App to match the country where you’re a tax resident. You can do so by following these steps:
Go to your Home Tab
Tap on Your Profile
Select your name under Your Account
Update your address here
Why does my TIN need to be from an EEA country?
To use bunq, you must reside in one of our supported European Economic Area (EEA) countries. Your bunq account is linked to your country of tax residency. As such, you'll need to provide a (TIN) from an EEA country.
If your country of tax residency falls outside of the EEA, we won’t be able to open a bunq account for you at this moment. Your eligibility is based on having tax residency within the EEA, not just a residential address. This means that we’re unfortunately unable to offer our services to:
Tourists traveling within Europe
Individuals whose tax residency is outside of the EEA (like in the United States, Russia, or the UK)
How can I provide my TIN?
Tap on your Profile in the top left corner
Tap on the TIN event under Awaiting events
Provide us with the relevant proof of your TIN If no Awaiting event is visible, you should provide it through the Support Center.
How do I update my TIN?
To provide us with your new or additional Tax Identification Number (TIN), please open a ticket via our Support Center. Make sure to attach the necessary proof of your updated TIN.
What if I don’t have a TIN?
If you don't have a tax identification number (TIN) or aren't required to have one, you can submit a TIN exemption request. We review each request individually to make sure we support your specific situation.
You can apply for a TIN exemption if:
Your profession exempts you from paying taxes in your country of residence (for example, if you’re a member of the clergy, or work for an international organizations or academic institutions)
You're a student in a country that doesn't issue tax numbers at birth, and you haven't started working yet
You're a resident but not a citizen in a country that doesn't issue tax numbers to non-citizens who aren’t working
You're not liable for taxes in your country of residence
You’re living in France and you’d like to request a temporary exemption from providing your TIN until the next upcoming tax year.
💡 If you recently arrived in a new country and are still waiting to get your TIN, there’s no need to request a formal exemption. You have up to 90 days to get everything sorted and submit your TIN. Just make sure to add it in your bunq App once you receive it — easy as that!
What documents will I need when applying for a TIN exemption?
The documents you'll need to support your TIN exemption request depend on your situation. Here’s a quick rundown:
Students: Your proof of enrollment from your university.
Non-citizen residents: Your TIN from your home country and a brief explanation of why you're not currently working.
Other exemptions: Any official documents that clearly explain and support your situation.
How can I submit my TIN exemption request?
Just get in touch with our Support team via your secure in-app chat, and provide them with:
A clear explanation of why you don't have a TIN.
Your supporting documents.
An alternative TIN from your home country (if you have one).
We'll look over your request and get back to you with an update as soon as possible.
What if I don’t provide my TIN in time?
If you weren’t able to add your TIN in the first 90 days, your account access will be temporarily restricted. This means that when you open your bunq App, you’ll see a dedicated screen to help you fill in your TIN. Think of it as a quick pit-stop before you can get back on the road.
No worries though, getting full app access back is quick and easy. Here’s how:
Submit your TIN and you can get right back to easy banking with your bunq App straight away.
Upload a document supporting your tax exemption status.
If you upload a supporting document, here’s what you can expect to happen next:
Review: We’ll review your submission by the end of the same day. While you won’t be able to access your account just yet, the app will open straight to the Support chat so you have a direct line to our Support Team.
Approved: You’re all set – we accepted your documents! You can get right back to easy banking with your bunq App.
Action needed: If your document submission doesn’t quite meet our acceptance policy, you’ll be able to re-submit your eligible documents through the same in-app flow.