Compliance Instrument Tracking System Service (CITSS) Registration and Guidance

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What is CITSS?

The Compliance Instrument Tracking System Service (CITSS) is a market tracking system that supports the implementation of greenhouse gas (GHG) cap-and-trade programs for California and other jurisdictions. CITSS provides accounts for market participants to hold and retire compliance instruments and to participate in transactions of compliance instruments with other account holders.

CITSS is used to:

  • register entities participating in the California Cap-and-Trade Program;
  • track the ownership of compliance instruments;
  • enable and record compliance instrument transfers;
  • facilitate emissions compliance; and
  • support market oversight.

To obtain compliance instrument accounts in CITSS, an individual must first complete user registration to receive a CITSS User ID (STEP 1: Register for a CITSS User ID). Following approval, the user may then apply for an entity account (STEP 2A: Create a New CITSS Entity Account) or be designated to represent an existing entity account (STEP 2B: Represent or View an Existing CITSS Entity Account).

How Do I Register for a CITSS User ID, Create a New CITSS Entity Account, or Represent an Existing CITSS Entity Account?

STEP 1: Register for a CITSS User ID (User Registration)

Individuals must register for a CITSS User ID to be designated to represent an entity account. An entity account must have at least two representatives: the Primary Account Representative (PAR) and an Alternate Account Representative (AAR). Individual account holders are allowed to act as both the PAR and AAR on their account. All account representatives must be registered users in CITSS.

To register in CITSS:

  • Select on "User Registration" on the left side menu.
  • Print the three forms generated after submission of the electronic user registration. Complete, sign, and date forms #2 and #3.
  • Gather the required proof of identity documentation.
  • Submit completed forms and supporting documentation to the California Registrar.

Know-Your-Customer (KYC) Documentation Options for Representatives and Agents of a Covered Entity or Opt-in Entity

Covered entities or opt-in covered entities (covered entity), as defined in section 95802 of the Cap-and-Trade Regulation, have two (2) options for submitting required KYC documentation for employees registering in CITSS. The Know-Your-Customer Documentation Options for Individuals Registering in CITSS describes the 2 options available and provides links to required forms.

STEP 2A: Create a New CITSS Entity Account (Account Application)

An individual with an approved, active CITSS User ID (i.e. completed STEP 1: Register for a CITSS User ID), can apply for a CITSS entity account for themselves or on behalf of an entity that has authorized them to do so.

To create a new CITSS entity account:

  • Login to CITSS.
  • Click on "Account Registration" on the left side menu.
  • Print the form generated after submission of the electronic entity account application. Complete, sign, and date the entity Account Application with Attestation Form.
    • This form requires signed attestations from account representatives and a director/officer. The director/officer that signs the form must be an individual provided in the disclosures of the list of the Entity's Directors and Officers pursuant to title 17, article 5, sections 95800 et seq., or as submitted in the Corporate Associations and Structure Disclosure Form #3 (August 2020).
  • Complete, sign, and date the Corporate Associations and Structure Disclosure Form #3 (August 2020).
    • This form requires a signed attestation from one account representative of the entity submitting the account application.
  • Submit completed forms and supporting documentation to the California Registrar.

Corporate Associations and Account Consolidation:

Per the Cap-and-Trade Regulation, CARB can create a Consolidated Entity Account (CEA) for entities that have multiple facilities participating in the California Cap-and-Trade Program that have a direct corporate association. Entities with multiple facilities that will be managed under a CEA can provide the information for all facilities during the account application process. If an entity with a direct corporate association chooses to not be part of a CEA, each such entity must formally request to opt-out of the consolidated accounts and separately apply for their own CITSS accounts.

STEP 2B: Represent or View an Existing CITSS Entity Account (Account Management)

An individual with an approved, active CITSS User ID (i.e. completed STEP 1: Register for a CITSS User ID) can be designated as an account representative or account viewing agent (AVA) for an existing CITSS entity account. An active PAR or AAR of an existing CITSS entity account may propose to add this individual to the entity account. This individual must provide to the PAR or AAR their 12-character CITSS User Reference Code. 

To add AARs or AVAs, an active representative takes the following steps:

  • Login to CITSS.
  • Under "My Accounts" select the CITSS entity account to which they wish to add this individual as a representative.
  • Click on the "Representative" tab or the "Account Viewing Agent" tab.
  • In the "Add Alternate Account Representative" or "Add Account Viewing Agent" section input this individual's 12-character CITSS User Reference Code.
  • Click "Add."
  • Complete, sign, and date the Request to Change Account Representatives/Viewing Agents Form.
    • This form requires director/officer verification and signed attestations from a current representative and any new representative(s). The director/officer that signs the form must be an individual provided in the most recent disclosures of the list of the Entity's Directors and Officers pursuant to title 17, article 5, sections 95800 et seq., or as submitted in the Corporate Associations and Structure Disclosure Form #3 (August 2020).
  • Submit completed forms and supporting documentation to the California Registrar.

When Do I Need to Register?

An entity must establish an entity account in CITSS before it can hold compliance instruments or apply to participate in a GHG allowance auction or reserve sale. Once an entity account is established, compliance instrument accounts are assigned to the entity account in CITSS to hold compliance instruments. For entities or individuals that intend to participate in an auction that do not have approved CITSS accounts, CARB recommends that CITSS user registration and the CITSS account application be completed as quickly as possible.

When applying for a new CITSS account for a voluntarily associated entity, there is no guaranteed timeline for when the new account will be operational. CARB recommends that an entity not commit through contractual or other arrangements to taking physical delivery of allowances or offset credits until it has an operational CITSS account. Pursuant to section 95830(c)(8) of the Cap-and-Trade Regulation, CARB has authority to deny account registration for a variety of reasons, including based on the information provided by the applicant, if an applicant has provided false or misleading information, or if an applicant has withheld information material to the registration. Refer to CARB’s 2023 VAE Guidance for more information.

CITSS User Guides

CARB developed CITSS User Guides to support individuals and entity representatives that are participating in California's Cap-and-Trade Program as they complete activities in CITSS. CITSS User Guides have been organized into three (3) separate "Volumes" specific to the types of activities that users may conduct in CITSS.

CARB anticipates updating the CITSS User Guides in 2019 to reflect all CITSS functionality. Until CARB updates the User Guides, User Reference documents that accompany new releases of the CITSS application are provided as a supplement to the current User Guides. The CITSS User Guides may contain information that has been superseded by the User Reference documents listed below. 

CITSS User Guides

  1. Volume I: User Registration and Profile Management 
  2. Volume II: Account Application and Account Management 
  3. Volume III: Conducting Transfers in CITSS 

CITSS User Reference Materials

    1. User Reference CITSS Version 3.0
    2. User Reference CITSS Version 4.0
    3. User Reference CITSS Version 5.0
    4. User References CITSS Version 6.0 
    5. User References CITSS Version 7.0. There are no CITSS 7.0 User References as all updates were related to jurisdiction operations.
    6. User Reference CITSS Version 8.0
    7. User References CITSS Version 9.0. There are no CITSS 9.0 User References as all updates were related to software upgrades.
    8. User References CITSS Version 10.0
    9. Change Jurisdiction of Registration User Preference (coming soon)

    Compliance Training

    The 2021-2023 Full Compliance Period Compliance Obligation deadline is November 1, 2024, 5:00 PM Pacific Time. CITSS will process obligations at that time. See Preparing for the Full Compliance Period Compliance Obligation for the Fourth Compliance Period (updated August 2024) for guidance on using CITSS to prepare for the obligation deadline.

    Help Desk

    CARB Help Desk Services are available from 8:00 AM–5:00 PM Pacific Time at (916) 324-7659 or CACITSSHelpdesk@arb.ca.gov

    Security of Personal Information and Program Data

    CARB has developed a policy statement, Protecting the Security of Confidential and Personal Information, to respond to questions regarding the protection of personal information submitted in the course of CITSS User Registration and CITSS Account Application. In addition, all CARB programs including the Cap-and-Trade Program adhere to the California Air Resources Board Information System Privacy Policy established for CARB.

    CARB has developed a notice, Cap-and-Trade Program Data Security and Control, to describe the responsibility of entities and users participating in the Cap-and-Trade Program to protect program data and credentials.

    Forms for Review

    Following the online data entry completed for both CITSS User Registration and Account Application, CITSS will generate various forms. Most need to be completed, signed, dated, notarized where applicable, and submitted to the California Registrar. Effective October 2017, Section 95803 of the Cap-and-Trade Regulation allows for information to be submitted electronically with electronic signatures. Below are blank and sample copies of forms, as well as guidance, for your reference to help you gather the required documentation during CITSS User Registration and Account Application.

    User Registration Forms:

    1. User Registration Checklist (updated 2/2020)
    2. User Registration Form (updated 9/2020)
    3. Proof of Identity Form (updated 10/2021)

    Covered and Opt-in Entity Representatives Optional Know Your Customer Documentation (Option 2):

    1. Know-Your-Customer Compliance Documentation with Covered Entity Attestation Form
    2. Know-Your-Customer Compliance Documentation with Individual Attestation Form

    Account Application Forms:

    1. Account Application Checklist 
    2. Account Application with Attestation Form (updated 8/2020)
    3. Corporate Associations and Structure Disclosure Form #3 (August 2020)
      Guidance, including updated requirements for the Corporate Associations and Structure Form, is available at Corporate Disclosures Guidance (updated 2/2015)
    4. Supplemental Request for Information (June 2023)

    Account Management Forms:

    Facility Management Forms: