Why is this the case with U.K. banks?

[Green215]

How come when applying for a bank account in the UK, they almost always ask if you are a US resident or pay US taxes? What’s so special about the US that they specifically ask about that country instead of including it in the generic “do you have another citizenship” or “do you pay taxes in another country”?

Do they? US citizens resident abroad must still file a federal tax return. Probably to do with that?

Because the US requires its citizens and residents to report their worldwide income and in some cases pay taxes on income earned abroad (depending on how much you earn) so there's a requirement for banks to provide reports of accounts owned by US citizens and residents to the US government/IRS as part of a law called FACTA.

"UK banks must ask all customers whether they’re U.S. citizens or U.S. tax residents.

If you say “yes,” the bank will collect extra details like your U.S. Tax Identification Number (TIN).

They’ll then share account information with HMRC (UK tax authority), which forwards it to the IRS."

"Do you have another citizenship?" doesn't cover whether you pay taxes in the US. If you marry a US citizen then you have to file taxes in the US.

You know that Google exists, right?