A W-8BEN form is a required tax document used to certify that your country of residence for tax purposes is outside of the United States. It is required to be filed with withholding agents, payers, and FFIs by non-resident alien individuals who may be subject to withholding of U.S. taxes at a 30% tax rate on payment amounts received from U.S. sources, regardless of their ability to claim a withholding exemption.


A completed W-8BEN form confirms that:


  • You are NOT a resident of the U.S.
  • You are the owner of the income for which the form relates to.
  • You are claiming a reduced withholding tax rate because you're a resident of a foreign country (which is the Philippines) with which the U.S. has an income tax treaty.


Please download the latest tax form from here.


Why Does the IRS Require Form W-8BEN?  


The Internal Revenue Service requires W-8BEN because foreign individuals are normally subject to a 30% tax withholding, but they may qualify for a reduced rate of taxation. W-8BEN helps to establish this eligibility, although other factors also play a role, such as type of income.


What's in it for me?


By doing properly filling out and sending us back the W-8BEN form, you insure that you are non-US resident and is not subject to any US income withholding tax.



Some notes with the form:


Complete the form freehand (NOT DIGITAL) and send the form via email (converted to PDF file) as prescribed on the original email instruction. Should the tax form be rejected for the violation on the method in which it was accomplished, Virtual Coworker shall not be at fault and Contractor shall be sanctioned to whatever fees that shall be collectible by the Federal States.


Scan this QR code to watch the video on how to fill-up the tax form.


Alternatively you can click this link to watch video


 



Please see below properly filled out W-8BEN for submission to Virtual Coworker:    



Additional reminders:


6a. You must provide on line 6a the foreign tax identifying number (FTIN) issued to you by your jurisdiction of tax residence identified on line 3. Meaning if you have your TIN or Tax Identification Number issued by the BIR - Bureau of Internal Revenue of the Republic of the Philippines, that's what is being asked (if you don't, then leave it blank).


For those downloading the newer Tax Form W-8BEN (Rev.10-2021). Please do not forget to put a check mark on the box that appears before the declaration 'I certify that I have the capacity to sign for the person identified on line 1 of this form'. This certify with your signature under penalties of perjury that everything on the form is true and correct.