Hostgator asking for W8-BEN form

It's for the US to say that your a foreign person , earning money. Here's a post about it on Wikiepedia

"The Form W-8BEN, Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding, is used by foreign persons (including corporations) to certify their non-American status. The form establishes that one is a non-resident alien or foreign corporation, to avoid or reduce tax withholding from U.S. source income, such as rents from U.S. property, interest on U.S. bank deposits or dividends paid by U.S. corporations. The Form W-8BEN form should be given to the withholding agent such as a property manager, bank or stock broker, and not the IRS. The form is not used for U.S. wages and salaries earned by non-resident aliens (in which case Form W-4 is used), or for U.S. freelance (dependent personal services) income (in which case Form 8233 is used). The form requires the foreign person to provide a U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number unless the U.S. income is dividends or interest from actively traded or similar investments."

Link: IRS tax forms - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Will it put me into the US tax system? " - No, the W-8 BEN form tells the IRS (US) that you're NOT an American citizen/resident that they can tax and that any tax issues will be handled by your country of residence.

It's just an online form too, unlike other affiliate programs where you need to fax/copy/scan your form...

You must fill up the W8BEN with any US-based company, etrade, google, etc... it's standard stuff...

BTW, be careful as well, phishing scammers are around that targets foreigners submitting W8BEN forms - I wrote a post in the past here on WF

Here's a video on how to fill up a W8BEN form

HTH Sally.

NP, for Hostgator, it's even easier, you don't have to deal with the PDF as in the video, just click a couple of fields and type in your address/name and stuff and done in 2mins.

It's not a huge worry, just fill in the form as it lets HG know if you live outside of the US, and makes sure that you are responsible for any tax in your country.

Check that mail from Hostgator. There are 2 forms.

One is W8 for non-US citizens and W9 for US.

You will fill the W8 as non-US citizen but I don't
think it is a big deal

my cpa network sent me W8 form with company name included in the form but i don't have company what should i do (n/a) or what? plz help!

Thanks for the answers here. I signed up for hosting on hostgator then was asked to fill that form. I'm usually leery of filling anything official sounding on the internet so I cancelled my hosting and asked for a refund. Guess I might consider going back now I understand things a little more.

Hi all

I know this is a bit of an old thread but it seems relevant to me right now and had some useful info.

I am based in New Zealand and occasionally promote Hostgator in my reports etc.

When I login to their affiliate area, I now need to fill in a W8-BEN before they will release commissions.

The part I am confused with is Part III - where it says

"I have provided or will provide a statement that identifies those notional principal contracts from which the income is not effectively
connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States. I agree to update this statement as required."

Assuming I am just an affiliate for Hostgator (they are one of two places I currently need to get this form to), do I check this box and if so what statement am I supposed to provide and who do I provide it to?

Also - does this form remain on file at Hostgator or does it get submitted to the IRS?

I've never filled on in in the past and been paid previously. I was under the impression that it was only if you earned over $600USD a year anyhow? (Maybe I was misinformed... quite possible!)

Anyone know the answers?

Thanks in advance!

Aaron

Hi guys

I know there are several threads on this subject but all seem to conflict each other.

Just in case anyone else was having issues working out whether they needed to file a W8-BEN, I found this useful Post of Josh Anderson's.

http://www.warriorforum.com/ad-netwo...ml#post2519995

Having said that, I still have some companies who insist on me completing a W8-BEN before they release commissions.

If Josh is indeed correct here in the post below then I have no idea why I would want to do that and lose 30% in taxes unnecessarily.

http://www.warriorforum.com/ad-netwo...ml#post6943414

Does anyone have any further insight / advice?

Aaron