Sign your W-8BEN if you're not a US person
Freelancers, creators and contractors outside the US are often sent a W-9 by mistake. If you're not a US citizen or resident, the form you sign is the W-8BEN. Here's how to tell which one is yours, what goes on each line, and how to sign it on this device.
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Signing a W-8BEN
Use the form your client sent, or download the current W-8BEN from irs.gov.
- 1
Open the form
Choose the PDF — it stays on this device.
- 2
Fill in Part I
Name, citizenship, home address, tax ID and date of birth.
- 3
Sign Part III
Tick the capacity box, sign, date it and add your printed name.
Mistakes that get W-8BENs sent back
A P.O. box as your home address
Line 3 needs your permanent residence address — not a P.O. box or an address used only for mail.
Date in the wrong order
The form asks for dates as MM-DD-YYYY. 04-09-2026 means April 9, not 4 September.
Unticked capacity box
Part III has a checkbox confirming you can sign for the person on line 1. Tick it before you sign.
W-9 or W-8BEN: which one do you sign?
The W-9 is for US persons: US citizens, green card holders and others who are US residents for tax purposes. Everyone else who is an individual signs a W-8BEN. Businesses outside the US use the W-8BEN-E instead, and income connected with a trade or business in the US calls for the W-8ECI.
If a client sends you a W-9 and you're not a US person, don't sign it — signing certifies that you are one. Reply that you'll send a W-8BEN instead; most payers and platforms expect that.
Part I — who you are
Line 1: your name as the beneficial owner of the income. Line 2: your country of citizenship. Line 3: your permanent residence address, including the country. Line 4: a mailing address, only if it's different.
Line 5 is for a US taxpayer identification number (SSN or ITIN) if you have one. Line 6a is your tax ID from your home country; if your country doesn't require you to have one, tick 6b instead. Line 7 is optional — a reference such as your account or vendor number. Line 8 is your date of birth as MM-DD-YYYY.
Part II — tax treaty claims
Part II claims a reduced rate of US withholding under a tax treaty between the US and your country of residence — for example on royalties or dividends. Line 9 names your country; line 10 covers special rates and conditions, such as the treaty article and rate.
Payments for work you do while you're outside the US are generally not US-source income, so many freelancers leave Part II blank. If you're unsure whether a treaty applies to your income, ask the payer or a tax adviser before you fill it in.
Part III — certification and signature
By signing you certify, under penalties of perjury, that you're the beneficial owner of the income, that you're not a US person, and that the information on the form is correct. Tick the box confirming you have the capacity to sign, then sign, add the date and print your name.
Many payers accept a signed PDF by email or upload. If your payer has its own portal or e-signature process, use that instead.
How long a W-8BEN stays valid
Generally until the last day of the third calendar year after the year you sign it — a form signed in 2026 is good until December 31, 2029. If something on it changes before then, such as your address or residence, you have 30 days to tell the payer and give them a new form.
W-8BEN questions
Do I send the W-8BEN to the IRS?+
No. It goes to the person or platform paying you, who keeps it on file.
My client sent me a W-9 but I live abroad. What do I do?+
If you're not a US citizen or resident, tell them you'll provide a W-8BEN instead and sign that one.
Is this tax advice?+
No. This page explains the form in plain English. For your own situation, ask the payer or a tax adviser.
What does it cost?+
Free to try. Downloading your signed PDF costs €2.99 a month or €24.99 a year, and you can cancel anytime.
Fill and sign your W-8BEN
Open the form above — your details never leave this device.
Choose the W-8BEN