Starter Package: QI (Qualified Intermediary) — Setup & Readiness

Decide whether QI is right for you, complete the QI Agreement application, and stand up your QI Portal account with the Responsible Officer (RO) and key contacts. Country-specific pricing is listed on the Countries pages.

QI participation is optional (business decision). This Starter Package gets you from scoping to a live QI account and a baseline documentation framework that prepares you for Chapter 3 withholding and year-end forms (1042-S / 1042).

Who this is for

  • Banks, brokers, custodians, asset managers, and trust companies considering QI to streamline US withholding and documentation.
  • Firms that want to reduce dependency on upstream withholding agents, improve client experience, and control 1042-S reporting quality.
  • Groups planning for future obligations (annual 1042-S/1042 and the 3-year QI Periodic Review/RO certification) and seeking a clean kickoff.

Outcomes

  • Decision-grade assessment of whether QI makes sense for your business flows, products, and clients.
  • Live QI setup: QI Portal account, RO/POC configuration, and executed QI Agreement application.
  • Baseline documentation framework for W-8/W-9 intake, pools, and rate determination — ready to expand in later phases.

What you get (Deliverables)

1) QI Scoping & Go/No-Go

  • Mapping of withholdable payments and client segments; benefits vs. operating commitments.
  • High-level product/use-case review (e.g., custody, agency lending, funds, trusts); QDD screening for derivatives/871(m) if relevant.
  • Recommendation memo with assumptions, risks, and next steps.
Subtopic: QDD (Qualified Derivatives Dealer)
If derivatives/871(m) exposure is in scope, add our fixed-fee QDD scoping to determine whether QDD status is required and how it impacts your documentation, pooling and withholding.

2) QI Portal & Agreement Application

  • QI Portal account setup; Responsible Officer (RO) and Points of Contact onboarding.
  • Completion of the QI Agreement application and required attestations.
  • Confirmation pack for counterparties (status letter and contact details).

3) Starter Documentation Framework

  • Baseline W-8/W-9 intake and validation approach; initial pooling logic and rate-determination overview.
  • Starter procedures for exceptions and renewals (expiring forms, undocumented accounts).
  • Interfaces checklist (front/KYC, custody/ops, tax reporting) for your Build phase.

4) Readiness Brief & Roadmap

  • Concise runbook for day-one operations as a QI.
  • Roadmap to the next phases: Build (governance, detailed pooling/rates, data model) and Run (1042-S/1042 cycle).

Scope & Boundaries

  • Included: QI scoping/go-no-go; QI Portal setup; RO/POC configuration; QI application; starter documentation framework; readiness brief.
  • Not included: Full governance & data model (Build), live year-end forms & withholding operations (Run), or the 3-year Periodic Review (Assurance).

How it works

  1. Kickoff & data request (entity tree, products/flows, current W-forms practice, counterparties).
  2. Scoping & decision (benefits analysis, obligations overview, QDD screening as needed).
  3. Portal & application (QI Portal, RO/POC setup, submit QI Agreement application).
  4. Handover (starter runbook, counterparty pack, plan for Build/Run).

Indicative Timeline

Starter is designed as a short engagement, dependent on signatory availability and internal approvals. Country-specific SLAs and pricing are provided on the Countries pages.

Prerequisites

  • Executive sponsor and designated Responsible Officer.
  • Access to product/flow owners and KYC/ops stakeholders.
  • Basic organizational documentation and contact details for QI Portal registration.

Helpful resources

Next steps

Confirm your jurisdiction on the Countries pages for pricing and local specifics. When you’re ready to expand beyond setup, add the QI Build and Run packages.