Form W-8BEN, Certificate of Foreign Status (Individuals)
Form W-8BEN is the foreign individual’s counterpart to the W-9: it certifies you are not a US person and lets you claim a reduced treaty rate on US-source income.
This is the genuine IRS PDF, unmodified. Source: IRS official page.
What is W-8BEN?
Form W-8BEN certifies to a US payer, a client, broker, bank, or platform, that you are a nonresident alien, so payments to you are handled under the nonresident withholding rules instead of backup withholding. Part II claims an income tax treaty rate between the US and your country of residence, which can cut the default 30% withholding on dividends, royalties, and similar income substantially.
It goes to the withholding agent, never to the IRS, and generally remains valid through the end of the third calendar year after signing unless your circumstances change.
Who files W-8BEN?
- Non-US freelancers and creators paid by US companies or platforms
- Foreign investors receiving US dividends, interest, or royalties
- Nonresident individuals asked by a US bank or broker to document status
- Individuals only: foreign companies use Form W-8BEN-E
How to fill out W-8BEN
- Enter your name, country of citizenship, and permanent residence address in Part I.
- Add your foreign tax identifying number, or a US ITIN if you have one where required.
- Claim treaty benefits in Part II by naming your residence country and, where needed, the article and rate.
- Download, sign and date Part III, and give the form to the payer or platform requesting it.
Quick fill W-8BEN on this page
Prefer to see the form itself while you type? Open W-8BEN in the editor to fill it on the actual pages, add a signature, and download.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a US taxpayer number to file it?
Usually your foreign tax identification number is enough for treaty claims on investment and royalty income; an ITIN is needed only for certain claim types.
What happens without a W-8BEN on file?
The payer must presume you are undocumented and withhold at the full default rates, and platforms will often block payouts entirely until the form is in.