W-8BEN Form Guide
Reduce US dividend withholding from 30% to as low as 0% with proper tax treaty claims
Understanding Form W-8BEN
Reduce Withholding
Claim treaty benefits
Form Validity
Renew before expiry
Income Covered
Dividends, interest, royalties
Required Form
All US brokerages need it
Why W-8BEN Matters for Your Portfolio
Without W-8BEN
- 30% automatic withholding on dividends
- 30% on interest income
- 30% on royalties
- No treaty benefits applied
With W-8BEN
- Reduced rates: 0-15% (varies by country)
- Treaty benefits claimed automatically
- Valid for 3 years
- Required by all US brokers
Tax Treaty Withholding Rates by Country
Dividend withholding rates for portfolio investors (less than 10% ownership). These are the rates you claim on Line 10.
| Country | Dividend | Interest | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 15% | 10% | Active |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | 15% | 0% | Active |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | 15% | 0% | Active |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | 15% | 15% | Active |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 15% | 0% | Active |
| 🇨🇳 China | 10% | 10% | Active |
| 🇫🇷 France | 15% | 0% | Active |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 15% | 0% | Active |
| ðŸ‡ðŸ‡° Hong Kong | 30% | 30% | No Treaty |
| 🇮🇳 India | 25% | 15% | Active |
| 🇮🇱 Israel | 25% | 10% | Active |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | 15% | 10% | Active |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 10% | 10% | Active |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | 15% | 10% | Active |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | 10% | 10% | Active |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 15% | 0% | Active |
| 🇷🇺 Russia | 10% | 0% | Active* |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | 30% | 30% | No Treaty |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 15% | 10% | Active |
| 🇨🇠Switzerland | 15% | 0% | Active |
| 🇹🇼 Taiwan | 30% | 30% | No Treaty |
| 🇦🇪 UAE | 30% | 30% | No Treaty |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 15% | 0% | Active |
Part I: Identification of Beneficial Owner
Line 1: Name
Enter legal name exactly as on passport. No nicknames.
Line 2: Country of Citizenship
Your citizenship country (not residence). For dual citizens, use the country whose treaty you claim.
Line 3: Permanent Residence Address
Physical street address in your home country. No US address, PO Box, or c/o.
Line 4: Mailing Address
Only if different from Line 3. Otherwise leave blank.
Line 5: US Tax ID (SSN/ITIN)
Leave blank if you don't have one. Most foreign investors don't need a US TIN.
Line 6: Foreign Tax ID
Your home country tax ID (e.g., UK NI Number, German Steuer-ID). Required for FATCA.
Line 8: Date of Birth
Use US format: MM-DD-YYYY (not DD-MM-YYYY).
Part II: Claim of Tax Treaty Benefits
Line 9: Treaty Country
Check the box and enter your country of tax residence. Only check if your country has a treaty.
Line 10: Special Rates
Enter: treaty article (e.g., "Article 10"), withholding rate (e.g., "15%"), and income type ("Dividends").
Part III: Certification
Sign and date the form. By signing, you certify under penalty of perjury that:
You Certify
- Information provided is correct
- You are the beneficial owner of the income
- You are not a US person
- Income is not connected with US trade or business
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Form Rejection Causes
- Using a US address
- Wrong date format (DD-MM vs MM-DD)
- Forgetting to sign
- Using W-8BEN-E for individuals
Withholding Issues
- Claiming wrong treaty rate
- Not renewing before expiry
- Omitting foreign TIN
- Inconsistent information
What Income Does W-8BEN Cover?
Covered (FDAP Income)
- Dividends from US corporations
- Corporate bond interest
- Royalties from US sources
- Rents (not ECI)
- Substitute payments (securities lending)
NOT Covered
- Capital gains from stock sales
- Most US bank deposit interest
- Income connected with US business