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Form W-8BEN: Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding (Individuals) - Page 1
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Form W-8BEN: Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding (Individuals)

Non-U.S. individuals give Form W-8BEN to a U.S. client, platform or bank to certify they are not U.S. persons and, where available, to claim a reduced tax treaty rate. It goes to the payer, not to the IRS.

Rev. October 2021
Source: Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
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Instructions for filling out Form W-8BEN: Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding (Individuals)

This template is used for official filing and documentation. Below are detailed instructions for completing, requirement details, and submission rules.

Who needs to fill out this document?

This form is designed for use by legal entities, individuals, or authorized representatives in the following cases:

  • Foreign freelancers and contractors paid by U.S. companies or platforms.
  • Non-U.S. individuals receiving U.S. dividends, interest or royalties.
  • Foreign account holders at U.S. banks and brokers.

What you will need before starting

Before filling out the interactive form, prepare the following details and documents:

1. Name and country of citizenshipExactly as in your passport.
2. Permanent residence addressA street address in your country of residence; a P.O. box or in-care-of address is not accepted.
3. Foreign tax IDTax identification number from your country of residence, unless an exception applies.
4. Treaty details (optional)Treaty country, article and rate if you claim reduced withholding.

Step-by-step filling process

  1. Part I: Identify yourself: Enter name, citizenship, residence and mailing address, and your foreign TIN or U.S. TIN if you have one.
  2. Part II: Claim treaty benefits: If your country has a tax treaty with the U.S., enter the country, article, rate and income type.
  3. Part III: Certify: Sign and date, confirming you are the beneficial owner and not a U.S. person.
  4. Give it to the payer: Send it to the company, platform or bank that requested it. Don't mail it to the IRS.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How long is W-8BEN valid?

Generally until the end of the third calendar year after you sign it, unless your circumstances change.

Will tax be withheld from my freelance payments?

Pay for services you perform outside the U.S. is generally not U.S.-source income, so usually no U.S. tax is withheld.

I'm a company, not an individual. Which form do I use?

Foreign entities use Form W-8BEN-E. U.S. persons use Form W-9.

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