{"id":5073,"date":"2025-06-07T12:19:21","date_gmt":"2025-06-07T10:19:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/?p=5073"},"modified":"2026-01-08T10:14:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T09:14:40","slug":"do-i-need-a-w-9-for-international-contractors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/do-i-need-a-w-9-for-international-contractors\/","title":{"rendered":"Do I need a W-9 for international contractors?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_79_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/do-i-need-a-w-9-for-international-contractors\/#Simple_answer_You_dont_need_W-9_for_international_contractors\" >Simple answer: You don\u2019t need W-9 for international contractors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/do-i-need-a-w-9-for-international-contractors\/#Understanding_form_W-9\" >Understanding form W-9<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/do-i-need-a-w-9-for-international-contractors\/#W-8_forms_for_international_non-employees\" >W-8 forms for international non-employees<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/do-i-need-a-w-9-for-international-contractors\/#W-9_vs_W-8_forms_comparison\" >W-9 vs. W-8 forms comparison<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understanding the difference between the W-9 and the W-8 series forms is key to staying compliant and avoiding penalties. In this article, we\u2019ll walk you through what the W-9 form is, who needs to fill it out, and how it differs from the various W-8 forms that apply to foreign contractors and entities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll also learn when and how to use these forms to report payments correctly and meet your tax obligations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Simple_answer_You_dont_need_W-9_for_international_contractors\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simple answer: You don\u2019t need W-9 for international contractors<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The W-9 form is not for international contractors. It is only for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/advantages-of-independent-contractor\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">independent contractors<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, freelancers, and other service providers who are U.S. citizens, resident aliens, or U.S.-based business entities. <\/span><b>Businesses use it to collect taxpayer information like a taxpayer identification number (TIN) or social security number (SSN).<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For international contractors, platforms like Useme offer a streamlined <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/is-outsourcing-good-or-bad\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">outsourcing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and payment solution. The platform ensures compliance for both parties, even if the contractor is based outside the U.S. Check Useme\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/contractors\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">freelancer base<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and reach out to your new contractor!<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"hs-cta-embed hs-cta-simple-placeholder hs-cta-embed-292412339416\" style=\"max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%; width: 2112px; height: 658.6666870117188px;\" data-hubspot-wrapper-cta-id=\"292412339416\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cta-eu1.hubspot.com\/web-interactives\/public\/v1\/track\/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLLqEHmpvtziF4yoeMd10%2BKHCRPosL0In1mZ9egb%2BS7ZRxGxRxG9pNY80QIo6ykr%2BNmj1fggeFnb9XMhaJHVGfYw8KqKb0%2Bt0AZVbb2FQcg4Bo5afBgAvIc92Eo%2BaduttVrHJNE7SZMJhLnIO7uFStCgsd0IJyV%2FFO5tj%2FOpReXTmmJhsJl4bxHZ215kXA%3D%3D&amp;webInteractiveContentId=292412339416&amp;portalId=27198211\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"height: 100%; width: 100%; object-fit: fill;\" src=\"https:\/\/hubspot-no-cache-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/cta\/default\/27198211\/interactive-292412339416.png\" alt=\"Useme_baner CTA_blog \u2013 kopia (3)\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Understanding_form_W-9\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understanding form W-9<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The W-9 form is essential for ensuring proper tax reporting and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/forms-pubs\/about-form-w-9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">compliance with IRS regulations<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It helps businesses <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/how-to-manage-contractors\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">manage contractors<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2019 payments and information accurately and allows contractors to meet their own tax obligations. <\/span><b>By collecting the correct information up front, you can avoid issues with tax withholding, backup withholding, and IRS audits.<\/b><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Who needs to fill out form W-9<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You have to be aware of the form W-9 if you <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/how-to-hire-an-independent-contractor\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hire independent contractors<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or freelancers or work with other non-employee service providers who are U.S. persons. This includes U.S. citizens, resident aliens, and business entities operating within the United States. <\/span><b>If you pay any of these contractors $600 or more in a tax year, you\u2019re required to collect a completed W-9 form from them.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is the form W-9 the same as the form 1099? No, W-9 information is necessary to prepare form 1099-NEC, which reports payments made to independent contractors.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"><em>After 40 years running both a law firm and CPA practice, I&#8217;ve dealt with W-9s countless times. A W-9 is an IRS form used to collect a U.S. taxpayer&#8217;s name, address, and Tax Identification Number (TIN) so you can report payments made to them. <strong>Here&#8217;s the key thing: You don&#8217;t need W-9s for international contractors.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>W-9s are only for U.S. persons&#8211;citizens, residents, and U.S. entities. For international contractors, you need Form W-8BEN (for individuals) or W-8BEN-E (for entities). These forms establish their foreign status and help you determine if you need to withhold taxes under IRS rules.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>In my CPA practice, I&#8217;ve seen small business owners mess this up by either collecting the wrong form or skipping it entirely. If you pay a foreign contractor over $600 and don&#8217;t have the proper W-8 on file, the IRS requires you to withhold 30% of their payment. I had one client who paid $50,000 to a Canadian developer without getting a W-8BEN&#8211;they were on the hook for $15,000 in withholding they never collected.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Always get the W-8 form before you make the first payment. Most international contractors are familiar with these forms, and it protects both of you. Keep it in your records because the IRS can audit you years later and ask for documentation.<\/p>\n<p><\/em>&#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/david-fritch-63674a270\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">David Fritch<\/a>, Attorney at Fritch Law Office<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When to collect form W-9<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Businesses should collect form W-9 before making the first payment to a contractor and whenever a contractor\u2019s information (such as name, address, TIN) changes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Collecting the form at the start of the relationship helps avoid issues with payments and IRS reporting later. Contractors should submit the completed form to the business that will pay them \u2013 not to the IRS \u2013 so the business can use it to prepare the 1099-NEC.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What information is collected<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The W-9 form gathers essential taxpayer information to help businesses <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/instructions\/iw9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stay compliant with IRS reporting rules<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It ensures payments can be properly reported on the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/1099-nec-form\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1099-NEC form<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contractors provide their:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Full name (as shown on the contractor\u2019s tax return);<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Business name (if different from the name above);<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Federal tax classification (sole proprietor, LLC, partnership, corporation, etc.);<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taxpayer identification number (TIN) \u2013 either Social Security Number (SSN) for individuals or Employer Identification Number (EIN) for businesses;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Address (including street, city, state, and ZIP code).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Does form W-9 expire?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Form W-9 itself does not have a set expiration date. Once you collect a W-9 from a contractor, <\/span><b>you can keep it on file indefinitely, unless the contractor\u2019s information changes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This helps ensure that the 1099-NEC you file with the IRS contains accurate information.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although the form doesn\u2019t expire automatically, always make sure you\u2019re using the latest version from the IRS website.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Legal and compliance requirements<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The W-9 form plays a key role in tax compliance for businesses. The IRS requires businesses to collect a W-9 form from any U.S.-based independent contractor before issuing payments of $600 or more in a tax year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The business uses the information from the W-9 to complete Form 1099-NEC, which reports the contractor\u2019s income to both the contractor and the IRS. Failure to collect and properly maintain W-9 forms can expose businesses to IRS penalties and complicate tax reporting.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Penalties for non-compliance<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Failing to collect a correct and complete W-9 form can result in significant penalties for both businesses and contractors. If a contractor provides incorrect information or fails to provide their TIN, the IRS may require the business to withhold backup withholding on<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/a-complete-guide-to-paying-freelancers\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> payments made to that contractor<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The current backup withholding rate can be found on the IRS website at irs.gov, as rates may change annually.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, businesses that do not file required 1099-NEC forms because they lacked the correct W-9 can face penalties that vary based on how late the filing is and the size of the business. Civil and even criminal penalties may apply for willful violations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>To avoid these risks, collect W-9 forms from contractors before issuing payments and verify that the forms are filled out accurately and completely.<\/b><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\ud83d\udca1 Before you hire your next freelancer, see the clear financial and operational advantages waiting in the European market \u2014 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/business-report\"><b>2025\/2026 Business Report<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that your competitors are already reading &#8211; <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/business-report\"><b>click here<\/b><\/a><b> to download the report.<\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"W-8_forms_for_international_non-employees\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">W-8 forms for international non-employees<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/top-benefits-of-global-expansion\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">working with international contractors<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you should not use form W-9. Instead, you must request the correct W-8 form. The W-8 series is designed for non-U.S. individuals or entities that work with U.S.-based companies. These forms help establish the contractor\u2019s foreign status and determine the appropriate United States tax withholding rate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You must collect a completed W-8 form before the first payment to a foreign contractor \u2013 so the same as with W-9 form. Failing to do so can result in a mandatory withholding tax on payments to the contractor. By collecting the right form, you ensure compliance with IRS regulations and avoid unnecessary penalties.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\ud83d\udca1 Check out our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/independent-contractor-guide-taxes-compliance-definitions\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">independent contractor guide<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: taxes, compliance, and important definitions<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">W-8 series tax forms<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While there is only one W-9 form, the W-8 series includes five separate forms:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">W-8BEN,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">W-8BEN-E,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">W-8 ECI,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">W-8 IMY,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">W-8 EXP.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each one serves a specific purpose depending on the type of foreign contractor and their tax situation, including tax-exempt organizations that may qualify for different withholding treatment. This distinction is crucial because asking the wrong form can lead to incorrect tax withholding and reporting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In most cases, businesses handle the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/forms-pubs\/about-form-w-8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">W-8BEN and W-8BEN-E<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> more frequently than other W-8 forms.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">W-8BEN<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The W-8BEN form (Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding and Reporting) is for <\/span><b>individual foreign contractors<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This form is used to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">certify the contractor\u2019s foreign status;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">claim any applicable tax treaty benefits that might reduce the default withholding tax;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">provide the contractor\u2019s foreign tax identification number (if required).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The form is valid for the year it\u2019s signed plus the next three calendar years, unless information changes. Contractors must sign and date the form to validate it.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">W-8BEN-E<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The W-8BEN-E form is for <\/span><b>foreign business entities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, such as corporations or partnerships. It helps:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">certify the entity\u2019s foreign status;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">establish tax classification and potential tax treaty benefits;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">meet Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) reporting requirements.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This form is also valid for the year signed plus three additional years unless information changes.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"W-9_vs_W-8_forms_comparison\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">W-9 vs. W-8 forms comparison<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you need a brief comparison of W-9 vs. W-8, check this table:<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsive-table-wrapper\">\n<table class=\"responsive-table\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><b>Form W-9<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Form W-8 series<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Who fills it<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Independent contractors, freelancers, and business entities who are U.S. citizens or resident aliens<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Non-U.S. companies, entities, independent contractors, organizations, and individuals<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Used by<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">U.S.-based companies hiring contractors for remote work or on-site services within the United States<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">U.S.-based companies working with foreign independent contractors and companies<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Purpose<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Collect taxpayer identification number (TIN) or social security number (SSN) to help U.S.-based companies issue the correct 1099-NEC form and report non-employee compensation to the IRS<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Certify foreign status, claim treaty benefits under a tax treaty, and establish correct tax withholding and reporting for foreign contractors<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Key information collected<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Name, business name, taxpayer ID number (TIN), federal tax classification, address, contractor\u2019s information<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beneficial owner status, country of residence, foreign tax identification number (if applicable), foreign person&#8217;s claim to treaty benefits<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Legal compliance<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Businesses must ensure they collect information correctly and use accurate forms for tax purposes; failure can lead to IRS penalties<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Businesses must collect information and select the correct forms to avoid tax withholding errors and comply with IRS regulations<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>When to collect<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before the first payment in the tax year, to ensure tax compliance and avoid penalties; renewed if the contractor\u2019s information changes<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before the first payment to foreign independent contractors or foreign entities; renewed every three years or if the contractor\u2019s foreign status changes<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Validity period<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No expiration, but updates are required if the contractor\u2019s information changes<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Valid for the year signed plus three additional years; must be updated if contractor\u2019s foreign status or information changes<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Role in payments<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Helps businesses report contractor payments and comply with tax obligations under IRS regulations<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Helps calculate correct tax withholding and apply treaty benefits to reduce taxes for foreign individuals and other foreign organizations<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">W-8BEN vs. W-9 summary<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Form W-9 is for U.S. contractors and businesses to report payments and collect a taxpayer identification number. In contrast, form W-8BEN is for foreign individuals to confirm their foreign status, claim treaty benefits, and reduce tax withholding. Use the correct form based on the contractor\u2019s residency status to ensure tax compliance.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"hs-cta-embed hs-cta-simple-placeholder hs-cta-embed-284489252089\" style=\"max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%; width: 2112px; height: 658.6666870117188px;\" data-hubspot-wrapper-cta-id=\"284489252089\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cta-eu1.hubspot.com\/web-interactives\/public\/v1\/track\/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLKgaumaEvv3C1I4ND80mQELuqhkhxv4g8OVqrFcplpsMvox2KbHJ2ZreiNXD9shkNfprsvUDMzJmLQadfkPkSXqvLfiHCY%2FRWlTIA0iKBAhuIyRYKj9x9Yj5u03vy7M2HT8rEtZfVWnlcgJGCaNirOrE7wDxLOOJQhjT0wQGqnAYRmiEw%3D%3D&amp;webInteractiveContentId=284489252089&amp;portalId=27198211\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"height: 100%; width: 100%; object-fit: fill;\" src=\"https:\/\/hubspot-no-cache-eu1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\/cta\/default\/27198211\/interactive-284489252089.png\" alt=\"Useme_baner CTA_blog \u2013 kopia (1)-2\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As a business in the USA, you must stay up to date with different tax forms that help you meet IRS regulations. If you hire contractors from outside the United States, you might be wondering: Do I need the form W-9 for international contractors? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5074,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","content-type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5073","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-for-employers"],"modified_by":"\u017baneta","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5073","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5073"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5073\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5869,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5073\/revisions\/5869"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5074"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5073"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5073"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/useme.com\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5073"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}