topic Re: Help with Form W-8BEN in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Help with Form W-8BEN

AlexSagrat — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 23:18:19 GMT

My wife has received a request to complete Form W-8BEN from a foreign bank in her origin country (non-US). She has a bank account there which is being used solely for small transactions to support family members. There is a certain amount of money deposited on that foreign account - not exceeding any limits.

- I'm H1B holder, she is under H4 and meets substantial presence test. She has ITIN number.
- We are filing 'married filing jointly' return
- My wife doesn't have ANY income in the US or in the origin foreign country
- My wife didn't make ANY money transaction ever between US bank and that foreign bank

1) Why she is receiving this form? Why foreign bank is requesting it? What are the possible reasons?
2) Should she even complete this form?

Foreign bank said that nothing to be worried about. Kind of just "for our own records". But it's really weird.

Re: Help with Form W-8BEN

KrisD15 — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 23:38:19 GMT

Banks are required to have certain documentation on file concerning their customers.

Yes, she should complete the form if the bank is asking

W-8BEN is just for the bank's records. It would not be worrisome to fill it out. It does not get forwarded to the IRS or anywhere outside of the bank.

Form W08BEN lets the bank know how much, (if any), tax they need to withhold on your income, (if you have any income), such as interest earned.

The bank will probably not need to withhold tax, but they are required to have some sort of documentation on file that they inquired about your tax status. If they were to withhold tax, that would all be reconciled on your tax return.

Since you file Form 1040 as a resident for tax filing purposes, Form W-9 might be more appropriate (in my eyes) but regardless, either form does the same thing. Since it's a foreign bank, they might not have Form W-9 and only use Form W-8BEN.

Re: Help with Form W-8BEN

AlexSagrat — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 20:10:46 GMT

Thanks for the clarification!