The W-8 form is used to identify the correct rate of withholding on applicable payments made to you, if withholding is applicable on future payments.
The Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") requires Google to refresh its non-US partners and vendors tax forms at the earlier of:
- every 3 years or
- If there has been a change in circumstances that would impact the validity of the form.
- A Form W-9 will be required from US persons, companies, partnerships, and so on.
- Generally, a Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E is required from individuals and entities (respectively) outside of the US who are the beneficial owner of the income received. It may be used to claim a treaty benefit (in other words, a reduced rate of withholding).
- A Form W-8ECI is used by persons claiming income received and is effectively connected with a US trade or business. A US TIN will be required for all payees that provide a Form W-8ECI.
- A Form W-8IMY is required for certain intermediaries, partnerships and flow-through entities outside of the US. If this form is provided, Google may ask for additional documentation (for example, an allocation statement).
- A Form W-8EXP is used by entities to establish non-US beneficial owner status and eligibility for a reduced rate of tax withholding as a non-US government central bank, international organization,
non-US tax exempt organization, non-US foreign private foundation or government of a US possession.
- Do not use a PO Box or “In Care Of Address” as a permanent residence address: We found that some individuals and businesses provide a post office box or “in care of” address as their permanent residence address. If your permanent residence address is at a PO Box, in-care-of address, or a corporate services provider (such as a law firm or trust company), you may need to upload a copy of your articles of incorporation or other appropriate document showing that the address is your registered legal address.
- Identity Verification: You may be required to verify your identity if one of the following situations applies:
- Missing TIN or TIN not 9-digit numeric
- TIN entered is not currently issued
- TIN and Name combination does not match IRS records
- Invalid TIN matching request
- US addresses require extra support: If you claim non-US person residency status and have a permanent or mailing address located in the United States, you need to supply additional information to support the fact that you're not a US person.
- Limitations on benefits (entities only): Entities that claim treaty benefits must certify that they satisfy the limitation on benefits clause of the relevant tax treaty. To determine whether you qualify for tax treaty benefits, consult your applicable tax treaty or a professional tax adviser.
Legal name
Put in your legal name exactly as it appears on your legal documents.
- If you’re earning income as an Individual: Provide your legal name in the name field. You may have to provide a translated name as reflected in your legal documents (for example, your passport).
- If you have a business that you want to associate with the form, please include that in the DBA field. If your payment profile is under a business name, please include that name in the DBA field.
- If you’re earning income as an entity: The name of your entity needs to be in the name field. If your payment profile is under an individual name, please include that name in the DBA field.
You may be asked to provide additional documentation to verify your legal name.
DBA name
A doing-business-as (DBA) name is a company name different from the owner’s name. Depending on the type of form you provide, you may also provide a person’s legal name.
Disregarded entity
A disregarded entity is a business entity that has a single owner, isn't a corporation under US tax law, and isn’t considered an entity separate from its owner for US federal income tax purposes. Learn more about disregarded entities from the IRS (the US tax authority).
A taxpayer identification number (TIN) is a tax processing number required by the IRS (the US tax authority) for all US tax forms. Non-US citizens may need an individual TIN (ITIN). If you are claiming a tax treaty benefit, you are required to provide either a Foreign TIN or a US TIN. Learn more about TINs from the IRS.
Note that pages on the IRS website aren’t maintained or reviewed by Google and Google can't confirm the accuracy of the information presented. If you have further questions, you may want to seek professional tax advice.
To determine acceptable Tax Identification Numbers, please reference your local tax authority or seek professional tax advice. Google can't provide tax advice.
Examples of Foreign TINs from around the globe may include (this list isn't exhaustive):
- India: Permanent Account Number (PAN).
- Indonesia: Nomor Pokok Wajib Pajak (NPWP).
- Japan: Individual Number (nicknamed "My Number").
- Korea: Business Registration Number must be used in order to claim a US treaty benefit. Due to local regulation, Google can't accept any other foreign personal identification (such as Korean resident registration number).
- Russia: Taxpayer Personal Identification Number known as INN.
- United Kingdom: Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), National Insurance Number (NINO).
A US or non-US tax identification number (TIN) is generally required on eligible payments made to non-US payees who claim treaty benefits under an income tax treaty between the payee’s country or region of residence and the United States.
A US TIN is required from all US payees completing a Form W-9.
If your country and the United States have an income tax treaty in place, then the MarkIT tool will identify the details of that during tax form submission.
Want to know if your country has a tax treaty with the United States? Refer to this IRS website. This is an IRS website and isn't maintained or reviewed by Google and Google can't confirm the accuracy of the information presented. If you have further questions, you may want to seek professional tax advice.
Even if you're not claiming any treaty benefits, to comply with IRS rules and requirements, Google must collect proof that you're a non-US person. Not completing this form may result in Chapter 3 or backup withholding being deducted from your future earnings.
Google can’t advise you on tax matters. Contact your tax adviser for more details.
Payments made in relation to Google products can sometimes fall into multiple categories. Suppliers should select all income types for which they’re eligible to claim treaty benefits to ensure they receive appropriate withholding tax rates. Google withholds at the appropriate rate based on the income type being paid and corresponding treaty claim. Google won’t use additional treaty claims unless such income type is paid. To help you decide which payment types relate to your partnership with Google, use the following:
- Other Copyright Royalties (such as Play and YouTube Partner Program)
- Motion Picture & TV Royalties (such as certain YouTube Movies and Shows and Play partners)
- Services (such as professional services)
An affidavit of unchanged circumstances can be provided with a valid W-8. It allows Google to apply the newly provided form to a prior period in which a creator has been paid. This means that Google may treat any payments made during the prior period to which the affidavit relates as having the same tax status as presently determined by the new tax form.
This can be used to help Google provide a withholding tax refund, provided the form entitles the supplier to a lower withholding rate and they have made a claim for a refund within the legal timeline for providing refunds (December 31 of the year in which withholding occurs).
- In review: Your submitted tax info is being reviewed. This may take up to 7 business days. If additional documents are required to validate your tax information or verify your identity, we notify you in the Google payments center and by email.
- Approved: Your tax information is accepted as you submitted it.
- Declined: Your tax information may be declined for a few reasons:
- The tax identification number (TIN) you entered couldn't be found in IRS records. This may be because the IRS system didn’t update or you recently created a TIN.
- The TIN and name combination you entered doesn't match IRS records.
- Your tax information can’t be validated with the documents you provided.
If your form has been declined, we will notify you by email. Submit a new form or contact your tax adviser. Please also ensure that your legal information you supplied during registration matches exactly the information on your tax form before you submit.
Some common cases that will result in a review include:
For W9 Forms:
- The "legal name" provided in the MarkIT tool does not match the name on your payments profile.
- The "disregarded entity" name provided in the MarkIT tool does not match the name on your payments profile.
- The Social Security Number (SSN) provided in the MarkIT tool is invalid or belongs to a person whose name does not match the name on the account. This may take longer to review.
For W8 Forms:
- The "legal name" provided in the MarkIT tool does not match the name on your payments profile
- The "disregarded entity" name provided in the MarkIT tool does not match the name on your payments profile.
- The "residence address" or "mailing address" provided in the MarkIT tool is in the United States or does not match the country where you are claiming treaty benefits.
- An "in care of" or "P.O. Box" address is provided in the MarkIT tool.
- The form field "capacity" is populated in the MarkIT tool.
Note that all W8-IMY Forms submitted will be put under review.
You may be required to verify your identity if one of the following situations applies:
- Missing TIN or TIN not 9-digit numeric
- TIN entered is not currently issued
- TIN and Name combination does not match IRS records
- Invalid TIN matching request