justanswer.com and USA IRS taxation

[AdminAdmin is verified member.]

So I've been contacted by justanswer.com (who I have heard of and used once as a customer), they want to implement their system into one of my sites. Just signed up for an affiliate account with them. Now they want us to fill out an IRS form W8 BEN and apparently 30% of any earnings will be taxed from us by the IRS, how can that even be possible. As a non us citizen what the hell have they go to do with my taxation? This doesnt seem right..

 

[Adam HAdam H is verified member.]

A program ive just signed up with want either :

TIN for Europe based affiliates : https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_custo...cooperation/tax-identification-numbers-tin_en

Or by scanned government issued ID or company ownership documents.

Not sure if its relevant

 

[EdwinEdwin is verified member.]

So I've been contacted by justanswer.com (who I have heard of and used once as a customer), they want to implement their system into one of my sites. Just signed up for an affiliate account with them. Now they want us to fill out an IRS form W8 BEN and apparently 30% of any earnings will be taxed from us by the IRS, how can that even be possible. As a non us citizen what the hell have they go to do with my taxation? This doesnt seem right..

They're right, and it's a pain. But with a completed W8BEN the 30% shouldn't be withheld any more. But you might need a US tax ID in order to apply for W8BEN status (they've tightened the rules several times recently - it used to be a simple form, but it's a lot more complicated now).

Added: the W8BEN form for individuals still looks moderately straightforward. The W8BEN-E for companies is a monster.

 

[AdminAdmin is verified member.]

Bit more clarification...

https://www.affilorama.com/forum/affiliate-programs-f30/what-is-a-form-w-8ben-t14151.html

 

[EdwinEdwin is verified member.]

Bit more clarification...

https://www.affilorama.com/forum/affiliate-programs-f30/what-is-a-form-w-8ben-t14151.html

Yes, although since that's a five year old thread I believe the form they're talking about was a bit simpler. It's definitely gained fields recently. But the broad strokes are valid.

 

[AdminAdmin is verified member.]

Just thought I'd come back to this to report that we followed it through (painless) and got up and running with justanswer. It's 1 day in and we've had a conversion, this is going to work - additional income and no downside I can see yet.