Get IRS Instruction W-8BEN 2017

The purpose of the W8-BEN is to: Establish that someone is a foreign person (certificate of foreign status). It is used at audit time to support a 30% tax rate. Claim that an NRA is the beneficial owner of the income for which Form W-8BEN is being provided.

Who Must Provide Form W-8BEN. You must give Form W-8BEN to the withholding agent or payer if you are a nonresident alien who is the beneficial owner of an amount subject to withholding, or if you are an account holder of an FFI documenting yourself as a nonresident alien.

The W-8BEN is one of the most commonly used. It certifies foreign status, regarding tax withholding on income. Tax-free income, as specified by this form, includes interest, dividends, rents, royalties and annuities. The form allows foreigners to claim tax treaty benefits.

Form W-8BEN-E serves four main purposes, as follows: Establish non-U.S. status; Claim beneficial owner status; Claim exemption from, or reduction in, U.S. withholding tax under Chapter 3 (the original foreign tax withholding laws); and.

Chapter 3 withholding applies only to payments made to a payee that is a foreign person. ... Chapter 4 withholding applies to withholdable payments made to an entity payee that is an FFI unless the withholding agent is able to treat the FFI as a participating FFI, deemed-compliant FFI, or exempt beneficial owner.

For example, suppose a US company requires graphic design services and retains a designer based in Vietnam. ... For most active Canadian companies, the W8-BEN-E form will be used to determine that no withholding taxes should apply on the money paid to you due to the Canada US tax treaty.

How Long Is Form W-8BEN Valid? A W-8BEN (Individual) completed without a US taxpayer identification number, is in effect beginning on the date signed until the last day of the third succeeding calendar year, in general three years.

Expiration of Form W-8BEN. Generally, a Form W-8BEN will remain in effect for purposes of establishing foreign status for a period starting on the date the form is signed and ending on the last day of the third succeeding calendar year, unless a change in circumstances makes any information on the form incorrect.

Form W8-BEN, Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for U.S. Tax Withholding, is used by a foreign person to establish both foreign status and beneficial ownership, and to claim income tax treaty benefits with respect to income other than compensation for personal services.

Essentially, it serves an opposite function to the W-8BEN-E. Whereas the W-8BEN-E form exempts a foreign entity from the 30% tax rate based on a country's treaty status, the W-8BEN form documents a business as owing the full 30% rate, and ensures that the tax is filed as payable.

Instead, foreign individuals must complete a form in the Form W-8BEN series, such as Form W-8BEN. US taxpayers use Form W-9 to file theirs. Form W-8BEN is also considered if Form 8833 must be filed. The payor of the earned income is informed of the filing status of the individual when they have a W-8BEN on file.

Form W-8 is filled out by foreign entities (citizens and corporations) in order to claim exempt status from certain tax withholdings. The form is used to declare an entity's status as non-resident alien or foreign national who works outside of the United States.

Form W8-BEN, Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for U.S. Tax Withholding, is used by a foreign person to establish both foreign status and beneficial ownership, and to claim income tax treaty benefits with respect to income other than compensation for personal services.

Who Must Provide Form W-8BEN. You must give Form W-8BEN to the withholding agent or payer if you are a nonresident alien who is the beneficial owner of an amount subject to withholding, or if you are an account holder of an FFI documenting yourself as a nonresident alien.

Businesses use IRS Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification, to get information from vendors they hire as independent contractors (also called freelancers). ... Businesses do not send Form W-9 to the IRS.