How to fill the W8-BEN

Learn how to fill a W8BEN form.

If you are not a U.S. resident, you must complete the W-8BEN form.

Line by Line Guide

Full Name

Complete your full name.

Country of Citizenship

Provide your country of citizenship. If you have dual citizenship, use the country where you currently reside.

Address

In the first address line, enter your street address, apartment or suite number, or rural route. On the next line, list the city or town, followed by the state or province, and the postal code. Next to this, indicate the country.

Mailing Address

For the mailing address, enter the address where you physically receive mail (not your email). If your mailing address is the same as your residence address, leave this section blank.

U.S. Taxpayer ID (SSN/ITIN)

If you have a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN) or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), enter it. If not, leave this section blank.

Foreign Tax Identifying Number (FTIN)

This field is for your local taxpayer identification number, which is assigned by your country of residence. Examples include:

• Argentina: CUIT (Clave Única de Identificación Tributaria)
• Brazil: CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas)
• United Kingdom: UTR (Unique Taxpayer Reference)
• Germany: Steuer-ID (Tax Identification Number)

If your country does not require an FTIN, mark the checkbox in 6b.

Reference Numbers

Leave it blank.

Date of Birth

Remember to fill your birth date using the American date format: month/day/year.

Tax Treaty

If your country has income tax treaties, write the country name. If not, leave it blank. To check if your country has income tax treaties, visit the IRS website.

Signature

Add your signature here — it has to be a handmade signature. Mark the box to certify it's your sign. Use the next line to clarify your signature by writing the name of the signer. Write the date using month/day/year format.