Music streaming earnings as a foreign national and non-resident alien.

Hello all,

I come from a country where there is no tax treaty with the US. I reside in my country of birth and has been earning income from Distrokid, an online distributor for music streaming.

Distrokid has been withholding 30% of my income as legally obligated to, and has given me a W8Ben form. I want to know how I can get the 30% back if it is possible? Do I just file taxes with Turbotax? Please note that I do not have any US status and do not reside in the US; I just merely used an online distributor that happens to be based in the US without knowing beforehand that I would be paying US taxes since the streaming isn't coming from the US anyway.

Thank you for your help!

17265

Level 15

Oct 31, 2024 6:00:56 AM

You cannot use TurboTax.

NON RESIDENT ALIEN

If you are a non-resident alien, your return must be filed on Form 1040NR, which cannot be prepared using TurboTax. You can use TT’s partner, sprintax:

https://www.sprintax.com/non-resident-alien-tax-1040nr-turbotax.html

Why sign in to the Community?

Music streaming earnings as a foreign national and non-resident alien.