Fill and sign Form W-8BEN-E online
Lets a foreign company or other entity certify its foreign status, FATCA status and any tax treaty benefits to a US payer.
Form W-8BEN-E at a glance
- Official name
- Certificate of Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding and Reporting (Entities)
- Issued by
- IRS
- Country
- United States
- Category
- Tax
- Language
- English
- Who uses it
- Foreign companies and other non-US entities receiving US-source payments or holding accounts with financial institutions.
- Signature
E-signature accepted
A withholding agent may accept a Form W-8BEN-E with an electronic signature if it shows that the authorized person signed it electronically, for example with a time and date stamp and a statement that it was signed electronically. A typed name alone is not enough. Ask the requester whether they accept an e-signed PDF.
- Instructions
- Official IRS page
Form W-8BEN-E is how a foreign entity tells a US payer or financial institution that it is not a US person, states its FATCA status and claims any reduced treaty rate. Individuals use Form W-8BEN instead. Open the official form from irs.gov in BunnyDoc's free Sign PDF tool straight from this page, type into its fillable fields, add your signature and date, and download it. Everything runs in your browser, so the PDF never leaves your device.
How to fill in and sign Form W-8BEN-E
Open the current form
Use the button on this page to open fw8bene.pdf from irs.gov in Sign PDF, and keep the W-8BEN-E instructions open.
Part I: identify the entity (lines 1 to 10)
Enter the name, country of organization, entity type on line 4 and chapter 4 (FATCA) status on line 5, the permanent address and any mailing address. Add a US TIN on line 8 if required, a GIIN on line 9a if you have one, and your foreign TIN on line 9b.
Part II: only for a branch or disregarded entity
Complete Part II only if a disregarded entity with its own GIIN, or a branch in another country, receives the payment.
Part III: claim treaty benefits
If you qualify for a reduced rate, give your treaty country on line 14a and the limitation on benefits provision on line 14b, and complete line 15 for any special rate.
Complete the one certification part for your status
Fill in only the part from Parts IV to XXVIII that matches the box you ticked on line 5. Many entities, such as active NFFEs, complete one short part.
Sign Part XXX and give it to the requester
An authorized person signs, prints their name and dates Part XXX. Send it to the payer or institution that asked for it, not to the IRS.
What you need before you start
- The entity's legal name, country of organization and registered address.
- Its classification for US tax purposes and its FATCA status.
- Its foreign tax identification number, and a GIIN or US EIN if it has one.
- The treaty article and rate, if claiming treaty benefits.
- The W-8BEN-E instructions.
Can I sign a W-8BEN-E electronically?
Often, yes. The IRS instructions for the requester of Forms W-8 say a withholding agent may accept a Form W-8 with an electronic signature if it reasonably shows the form was signed electronically by the person authorized to sign, for example with their name, a time and date stamp and a statement that it was signed electronically. A typed name in the signature line on its own is not treated as valid. Requesters may also rely on a form sent by fax or as a scan by email.
So ask the requester how they want it. See what an electronic signature is.
Common mistakes
- Using W-8BEN-E for an individual, who needs W-8BEN.
- Ticking a FATCA status on line 5 and completing the wrong certification part.
- Claiming treaty benefits without a foreign TIN or the limitation on benefits box.
- Sending the form to the IRS instead of the requester.
Form W-8BEN-E: frequently asked questions
Who needs to fill out Form W-8BEN-E?
A foreign entity that receives US-source payments or holds an account with a financial institution that asks for it. Non-US individuals use Form W-8BEN, and US entities use Form W-9.
Do I send Form W-8BEN-E to the IRS?
No. Give it to the withholding agent, payer or financial institution that requested it.
How long is a W-8BEN-E valid?
Generally from the date signed until the last day of the third calendar year after that, unless something changes that makes it incorrect. You must tell the requester within 30 days of such a change.
Can I sign Form W-8BEN-E electronically?
Withholding agents may accept electronic signatures that meet IRS conditions, but a typed name alone is not enough. Check with the requester first.
What is a GIIN?
A Global Intermediary Identification Number, issued to entities registered with the IRS for FATCA. It goes on line 9a, and many non-financial entities do not need one.
Is BunnyDoc connected to the IRS?
No. BunnyDoc is not affiliated with the IRS. We link to the official form on irs.gov and give you a free tool to fill and sign it in your browser.
BunnyDoc is not affiliated with IRS. Check that the recipient accepts electronic signatures.
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