What is a W8 form for business?
The W8 Form: A Requirement for Non-US Companies Selling Services to US Entities. If you are a non-US SMB that is selling services to US entities, these US entities will most likely ask you to fill out a W8 form.
Who should fill out a W8 form?
Who Can File W-8 Forms? W-8 forms are filled out by foreign individuals or entities that lack U.S. citizenship or residency, but have worked in the U.S. or earned income in the U.S. A U.S. resident or resident alien will never have to complete a W-8 form.
What is the W8 used for?
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.
What is a W8 form UK?
A W-8BEN form means we can claim a US tax reduction for you on your dividends and interest from US shares. Withholding tax rates can be reduced from 30% to 15%, or to 0% if your shares are held in a SIPP. All clients who want to trade US shares need to submit a W-8BEN.
Why is a W8 form required?
In a nutshell, a W 8 form is used by foreign businesses and non-resident aliens earning income from U.S. sources. Its purpose is mainly to let brokers and mutual fund companies know that the person or company in question is not subject to the usual tax withholding from investment income.
Why do I need to fill out a W-8BEN form?
Why Does the IRS Require Form W-8BEN? The Internal Revenue Service requires W-8BEN because foreign individuals are normally subject to a 30% tax withholding, but they may qualify for a reduced rate of taxation. W-8BEN helps to establish this eligibility, although other factors also play a role, such as type of income.
Why is a w8 form required?
Is an insurance company an FFI?
Insurance companies that write “cash value insurance contracts” or annuities are considered FFIs.
What do you need to know about the W-8 form?
Form W-8BEN is submitted by foreign individuals that receive income in the U.S. The form establishes that the person is a foreign individual and owner of said business. The W-8BEN is called the certificate of foreign status. Who Needs to Fill Out Form W-8BEN?
When to submit Form W-8 Ben, Certificate of foreign status?
Give Form W-8 BEN to the withholding agent or payer if you are a foreign person and you are the beneficial owner of an amount subject to withholding. Submit Form W-8 BEN when requested by the withholding agent or payer whether or not you are claiming a reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding.
Who is the withholding agent on form W-8BEN?
The withholding agent may be an individual, corporation, partnership, trust, association, or any other entity, including (but not limited to) any foreign intermediary, foreign partnership, or U.S. branch of certain foreign banks and insurance companies.
Who is Erika Rasure and what are W-8 forms?
Erika Rasure, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Business and Finance at Maryville University. She has spent the past six years teaching and has included FinTech in personal finance courses and curriculum since 2017, including cryptocurrencies and blockchain. What Are W-8 Forms? Who Can File W-8 Forms? What Is a W-8BEN?