Form W-8BEN

[Alex3]

Why banks send a form W-8BEN if the person is a Foreign citizen who is not a US resident, does not hold a US resident card or green card, lives outside US, works outside US and does not have a SSN, but have a US bank account as a convenience to pay property taxes he/she owns in the US?

For this previous purposes, funds are wire transferred to the US account and sometimes, but very rarely, deposited directly when visiting the US. 

[Rainman12]

Rentals and Bank Accounts provide income.

"If you receive certain types of income, you must provide Form W-8BEN to:

• Establish that you are not a U.S. person;

• Claim that you are the beneficial owner of the income for which Form W-8BEN is being provided or a foreign partner in a partnership subject to section 1446; and

• If applicable, claim a reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding as a resident of a foreign country with which the United States has an income tax treaty and who is eligible for treaty benefits."

https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iw8ben