For the complete documentation index, see llms.txt
For the complete documentation index, see llms.txt
What is IRS Form W-8BEN?
IRS Form W-8BEN, officially the Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding and Reporting, is used by non-U.S. individuals to certify their foreign status and claim any tax treaty benefits that reduce U.S. withholding tax. If your business has a foreign individual as an owner, or pays a foreign individual nonbusiness income from the U.S., such as rent, dividends, or interest, you'd collect a completed W-8BEN from that person.
Without one, foreign individuals are generally subject to a 30% withholding tax on that kind of U.S.-source income; a valid W-8BEN can reduce that rate when a tax treaty applies.