Publication 515

Cat. No. 15019L

Department
of the
Treasury
Internal
Revenue
Service

Withholding
of Tax on
Nonresident
Aliens and
Foreign
Entities

Contents
Whats New . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Withholding of Tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Withholding Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Withholding and Reporting
Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Persons Subject to NRA

Withholding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Identifying the Payee . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Foreign Persons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Beneficial Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Foreign Intermediaries and
Foreign Flow-Through
Entities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Standards of Knowledge . . . . . . . . . . 11
Presumption Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

For use in

2012

Income Subject to NRA

Withholding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Source of Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Fixed or Determinable Annual or
Periodical Income . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Withholding on Specific Income . . . . . . 16
Effectively Connected Income . . . . . . 16
Income Not Effectively
Connected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Pay for Personal Services
Performed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Artists and Athletes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Other Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Foreign Governments and Certain
Other Foreign Organizations . . . . . . 28
U.S. Taxpayer Identification
Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Depositing Withheld Taxes . . . . . . . . . . 29
Returns Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Partnership Withholding on
Effectively Connected Income . . . . . 32
U.S. Real Property Interest . . . . . . . . . . 34
Tax Treaty Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Table 1. Withholding Tax Rates
on Income Other Than
Personal Service
Income For Withholding in
2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

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IRS.gov

Table 2. Compensation for

Personal Services Performed
in the United States Exempt
from Withholding and U.S.
Income Tax Under Income
Tax Treaties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Table 3. List of Tax Treaties . . . . . . . . 59
How To Get Tax Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Mar 30, 2012

Whats New
Changes to withholding rate table. Table 1,
Withholding Tax Rates on Income Other Than
Personal Services Income, is revised. Columns
have been deleted or renamed and footnotes
have been added, deleted, or revised for clarity.
U.S. real property interest. In most cases,
the treatment of a regulated investment company (RIC) as a qualified investment entity (QIE)
changes in 2012. The special rules that apply to
distributions from a QIE attributable to the gain
from the sale or exchange of a U.S. real property
interest will continue to apply to certain distributions from a RIC that are directly or indirectly
attributable to distributions received by the RIC
from a real estate investment trust. See Qualified investment entities under U.S. Real Property Interest.
Interest-related dividends and short-term
capital gain dividends received from mutual
funds. Beginning January 1, 2012, the exemption from withholding on certain interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain
dividends paid by a mutual fund or other regulated investment company expires.
Portfolio interest. The rules determining
whether interest is considered portfolio interest
change for obligations issued after March 18,
2012. Generally, interest paid on nonregistered
(bearer) bonds will not be treated as portfolio
interest. See Portfolio interest.
New codes for payments to artists or athletes. Use Income Code 42 for payments to an
artist or athlete who has not signed a central
withholding agreement. Use Income Code 43 for
payments to an artist or athlete who has signed
a central withholding agreement.
More requests for extensions must be filed
electronically. Requests on Form 8809 for an
extension of time to file Form 1042-S must be
made electronically if the request is for more
than one payer. See Extension to file Form
1042-S with the IRS.
Future developments. The IRS has created
a page on IRS.gov for information about Publication 515 at www.irs.gov/pub515. Information
about any future developments affecting Publication 515 (such as legislation enacted after we
release it) will be posted on that page.

Reminders
Exemption from requirement to withhold for
certain payments to qualified securities
lenders. If you made U.S.-source substitute
dividend payments to qualified securities lenders, and these payments are part of a chain of
substitute dividend payments, you may be exempt from withholding tax on the payments. See
Amounts paid to qualified securities lenders.
Electronic deposits. You must make all deposits of taxes electronically.
Page 2

Substitute forms. Any substitute forms you

use must comply with the requirements in Publication 1179, General Rules and Specifications
for Substitute Forms 1096, 1098, 1099, 5498,
and Certain Other Information Returns. If they
do not, the forms may be rejected as incorrect
and the IRS may impose penalties. See Penalties.
Filing electronically. If you file Form 1042-S
electronically, you will use the Filing Information
Returns Electronically (FIRE) system. You get to
the system through the Internet at fire.irs.gov.
For files submitted on the FIRE system, it is
the responsibility of the filer to verify the results
of the transmission within 5 business days. The
IRS will not mail error reports for files that are
bad.
Qualified intermediaries. A branch of a financial institution may not act as a qualified
intermediary in a country that does not have
approved know-your-customer rules. See Qualified intermediary under Foreign Intermediaries.
Photographs of missing children. The Internal Revenue Service is a proud partner with the
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Photographs of missing children selected
by the Center may appear in this publication on
pages that would otherwise be blank. You can
help bring these children home by looking at the
photographs and calling 1-800-THE-LOST
(1-800-843-5678) if you recognize a child.

Introduction
This publication is for withholding agents who
pay income to foreign persons, including nonresident aliens, foreign corporations, foreign
partnerships, foreign trusts, foreign estates, foreign governments, and international organizations. Specifically, it describes the persons
responsible for withholding (withholding
agents), the types of income subject to withholding, and the information return and tax return
filing obligations of withholding agents. In addition to discussing the rules that apply generally
to payments of U.S. source income to foreign
persons, it also contains sections on the withholding that applies to the disposition of U.S.
real property interests and the withholding by
partnerships on income effectively connected
with the active conduct of a U.S. trade or business.
Comments and suggestions. We welcome
your comments about this publication and your
suggestions for future editions.
You can write to us at the following address:
Internal Revenue Service
Individual Forms and Publications Branch
SE:W:CAR:MP:T:I
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We respond to many letters by telephone.
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we revise our tax products.
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address below and receive a response within 10
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Tax questions. If you have a tax question,
check the information available on IRS.gov or
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questions sent to either of the above addresses.

Useful Items

You may want to see:

Publication
15

(Circular E), Employers Tax Guide

15-A Employers Supplemental Tax

Guide
15-B Employers Tax Guide to Fringe
Benefits
51

(Circular A), Agricultural Employers

Tax Guide

519

U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens

901

U.S. Tax Treaties

Form (and Instructions)

SS-4 Application for Employer
Identification Number
W-2 Wage and Tax Statement
W-4 Employees Withholding Allowance
Certificate
W-4P Withholding Certificate for Pension
or Annuity Payments
W-7 Application for IRS Individual
Taxpayer Identification Number
W-8BEN Certificate of Foreign Status of
Beneficial Owner for United States
Tax Withholding
W-8ECI Certificate of Foreign Persons
Claim That Income Is Effectively
Connected With the Conduct of a
Trade or Business in the United
States
W-8EXP Certificate of Foreign
Government or Other Foreign
Organization for United States Tax
Withholding
W-8IMY Certificate of Foreign
Intermediary, Foreign Flow-Through
Entity, or Certain U.S. Branches for
United States Tax Withholding
941

Employers QUARTERLY Federal

Tax Return

1042 Annual Withholding Tax Return for

U.S. Source Income of Foreign
Persons
Publication 515 (2012)

 1042-S Foreign Persons U.S. Source

Income Subject to Withholding
1042-T Annual Summary and Transmittal
of Forms 1042-S
See How To Get Tax Help at the end of this
publication, for information about getting publications and forms.

Withholding of Tax
In most cases, a foreign person is subject to
U.S. tax on its U.S. source income. Most types
of U.S. source income received by a foreign
person are subject to U.S. tax of 30%. A reduced
rate, including exemption, may apply if there is a
tax treaty between the foreign persons country
of residence and the United States. The tax is
generally withheld (NRA withholding) from the
payment made to the foreign person.
The term NRA withholding is used in this
publication descriptively to refer to withholding
required under sections 1441, 1442, and 1443
of the Internal Revenue Code. In most cases,
NRA withholding describes the withholding regime that requires withholding on a payment of
U.S. source income. Payments to foreign persons, including nonresident alien individuals,
foreign entities, and governments, may be subject to NRA withholding.
NRA withholding does not include withholding under section 1445 of the Code
CAUTION
(see U.S. Real Property Interest, later)
or under section 1446 of the Code (see Partnership Withholding on Effectively Connected Income, later).
A withholding agent (defined next) is the person responsible for withholding on payments
made to a foreign person. However, a withholding agent that can reliably associate the payment with documentation (discussed later) from
a U.S. person is not required to withhold. In
addition, a withholding agent may apply a reduced rate of withholding (including an exemption from withholding) if it can reliably associate
the payment with documentation from a beneficial owner that is a foreign person entitled to a
reduced rate of withholding.

Withholding Agent
You are a withholding agent if you are a U.S. or
foreign person that has control, receipt, custody,
disposal, or payment of any item of income of a
foreign person that is subject to withholding. A
withholding agent may be an individual, corporation, partnership, trust, association, nominee
(under section 1446 of the Code), or any other
entity, including any foreign intermediary, foreign partnership, or U.S. branch of certain foreign banks and insurance companies. You may
be a withholding agent even if there is no requirement to withhold from a payment or even if
another person has withheld the required
amount from the payment.
Although several persons may be withholding agents for a single payment, the full tax is
required to be withheld only once. In most
cases, the U.S. person who pays an amount
subject to NRA withholding is the person responsible for withholding. However, other persons may be required to withhold. For example,
Publication 515 (2012)

a payment made by a flow-through entity or

nonqualified intermediary that knows, or has
reason to know, that the full amount of NRA
withholding was not done by the person from
which it receives a payment is required to do the
appropriate withholding since it also falls within
the definition of a withholding agent. In addition,
withholding must be done by any qualified intermediary, withholding foreign partnership, or
withholding foreign trust in accordance with the
terms of its withholding agreement, discussed
later.
Liability for tax. As a withholding agent, you
are personally liable for any tax required to be
withheld. This liability is independent of the tax
liability of the foreign person to whom the payment is made. If you fail to withhold and the
foreign payee fails to satisfy its U.S. tax liability,
then both you and the foreign person are liable
for tax, as well as interest and any applicable
penalties.
The applicable tax will be collected only
once. If the foreign person satisfies its U.S. tax
liability, you are not liable for the tax but remain
liable for any interest and penalties for failure to
withhold.
Determination of amount to withhold. You
must withhold on the gross amount subject to
NRA withholding. You cannot reduce the gross
amount by any deductions. However, see Scholarships and Fellowship Grants and Pay for Personal Services Performed, later, for when a
deduction for a personal exemption may be allowed.
If the determination of the source of the income or the amount subject to tax depends on
facts that are not known at the time of payment,
you must withhold an amount sufficient to ensure that at least 30% of the amount subsequently determined to be subject to withholding
is withheld. In no case, however, should you
withhold more than 30% of the total amount
paid. Or, you may make a reasonable estimate
of the amount from U.S. sources and put a
corresponding part of the amount due in escrow
until the amount from U.S. sources can be determined, at which time withholding becomes due.
When to withhold. Withholding is required at
the time you make a payment of an amount
subject to withholding. A payment is made to a
person if that person realizes income, whether
or not there is an actual transfer of cash or other
property. A payment is considered made to a
person if it is paid for that persons benefit. For
example, a payment made to a creditor of a
person in satisfaction of that persons debt to the
creditor is considered made to the person. A
payment also is considered made to a person if
it is made to that persons agent.
A U.S. partnership should withhold when any
distributions that include amounts subject to
withholding are made. However, if a foreign
partners distributive share of income subject to
withholding is not actually distributed, the U.S.
partnership must withhold on the foreign partners distributive share of the income on the
earlier of the date that a Schedule K-1 (Form
1065) is provided or mailed to the partner or the
due date for furnishing that schedule. If the distributable amount consists of effectively connected income, see Partnership Withholding on
Effectively Connected Income, later.

A U.S. trust is required to withhold on the

amount includible in the gross income of a foreign beneficiary to the extent the trusts distributable net income consists of an amount subject to
withholding. To the extent a U.S. trust is required
to distribute an amount subject to withholding
but does not actually distribute the amount, it
must withhold on the foreign beneficiarys allocable share at the time the income is required to
be reported on Form 1042-S.

Withholding and
Reporting Obligations
You are required to report payments subject to
NRA withholding on Form 1042-S and to file a
tax return on Form 1042. (See Returns Required, later.) An exception from reporting may
apply to individuals who are not required to withhold from a payment and who do not make the
payment in the course of their trade or business.
Form 1099 reporting and backup withholding. You also may be responsible as a payer
for reporting on Form 1099 payments made to a
U.S. person. You must withhold 28% (backup
withholding rate) from a reportable payment
made to a U.S. person that is subject to Form
1099 reporting if any of the following apply.

The U.S. person has not provided its taxpayer identification number (TIN) in the
manner required.

The IRS notifies you that the TIN furnished

by the payee is incorrect.

There has been a notified payee underreporting.

There has been a payee certification failure.

In most cases, a TIN must be provided by a U.S.

non-exempt recipient on Form W-9, Request for
Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification. A payer files a tax return on Form 945,
Annual Return of Withheld Federal Income Tax,
for backup withholding.
You may be required to file Form 1099 and, if
appropriate, backup withhold, even if you do not
make the payments directly to that U.S. person.
For example, you are required to report income
paid to a foreign intermediary or flow-through
entity that collects for a U.S. person subject to
Form 1099 reporting. See Identifying the Payee,
later, for more information. Also see Section S.
Special Rules for Reporting Payments Made
Through Foreign Intermediaries and Foreign
Flow-Through Entities on Form 1099 in the General Instructions for Certain Information Returns.
Foreign persons who provide Form
W-8BEN, Form W-8ECI, or Form
W-8EXP (or applicable documentary
evidence) are exempt from backup withholding
and Form 1099 reporting.
Wages paid to employees. If you are the
employer of a nonresident alien, you generally
must withhold taxes at graduated rates. See Pay
for Personal Services Performed, later.

TIP

Effectively connected income by partnerships. A withholding agent that is a partnership (whether U.S. or foreign) is also
responsible for withholding on its income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business
Page 3

that is allocable to foreign partners. See Partnership Withholding on Effectively Connected Income, later, for more information.

or you have actual knowledge or reason to know

that the foreign entity is a disregarded entity.

U.S. real property interest. A withholding

agent also may be responsible for withholding if
a foreign person transfers a U.S. real property
interest to the agent, or if it is a corporation,
partnership, trust, or estate that distributes a
U.S. real property interest to a shareholder, partner, or beneficiary that is a foreign person. See
U.S. Real Property Interest, later.

Flow-Through Entities

Persons Subject to
NRA Withholding
NRA withholding applies only to payments made
to a payee that is a foreign person. It does not
apply to payments made to U.S. persons.
Usually, you determine the payees status as
a U.S. or foreign person based on the documentation that person provides. See Documentation, later. However, if you have received no
documentation or you cannot reliably associate
all or a part of a payment with documentation,
then you must apply certain presumption rules,
discussed later.

Identifying the Payee

In most cases, the payee is the person to whom
you make the payment, regardless of whether
that person is the beneficial owner of the income. However, there are situations in which
the payee is a person other than the one to
whom you actually make a payment.
U.S. agent of foreign person. If you make a
payment to a U.S. person and you have actual
knowledge that the U.S. person is receiving the
payment as an agent of a foreign person, you
must treat the payment as made to the foreign
person. However, if the U.S. person is a financial
institution, you may treat the institution as the
payee provided you have no reason to believe
that the institution will not comply with its own
obligation to withhold.
If the payment is not subject to NRA withholding (for example, gross proceeds from the
sales of securities), you must treat the payment
as made to a U.S. person and not as a payment
to a foreign person. You may be required to
report the payment on Form 1099 and, if applicable, backup withhold.
Disregarded entities. A business entity that
is not a corporation and that has a single owner
may be disregarded as an entity separate from
its owner (a disregarded entity) for federal tax
purposes. The payee of a payment made to a
disregarded entity is the owner of the entity.
If the owner of the entity is a foreign person,
you must apply NRA withholding unless you can
treat the foreign owner as a beneficial owner
entitled to a reduced rate of withholding.
If the owner is a U.S. person, you do not
apply NRA withholding. However, you may be
required to report the payment on Form 1099
and, if applicable, backup withhold. You may
assume that a foreign entity is not a disregarded
entity unless you can reliably associate the payment with documentation provided by the owner
Page 4

The payees of payments (other than income

effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business) made to a foreign flow-through entity are
the owners or beneficiaries of the flow-through
entity. This rule applies for purposes of NRA
withholding and for Form 1099 reporting and
backup withholding. Income that is, or is
deemed to be, effectively connected with the
conduct of a U.S. trade or business of a
flow-through entity is treated as paid to the entity.
All of the following are flow-through entities.

A foreign partnership (other than a withholding foreign partnership).

A foreign simple or foreign grantor trust

(other than a withholding foreign trust).

A fiscally transparent entity receiving in-

come for which treaty benefits are

claimed. See Fiscally transparent entity,
later.

In most cases, you treat a payee as a

flow-through entity if it provides you with a Form
W-8IMY (see Documentation, later) on which it
claims such status. You also may be required to
treat the entity as a flow-through entity under the
presumption rules, discussed later.
You must determine whether the owners or
beneficiaries of a flow-through entity are U.S. or
foreign persons, how much of the payment relates to each owner or beneficiary, and, if the
owner or beneficiary is foreign, whether a reduced rate of NRA withholding applies. You
make these determinations based on the documentation and other information (contained in a
withholding statement) that is associated with
the flow-through entitys Form W-8IMY. If you do
not have all of the information that is required to
reliably associate a payment with a specific
payee, you must apply the presumption rules.
See Documentation and Presumption Rules,
later.
Withholding foreign partnerships and withholding foreign trusts are not flow-through entities.
Foreign partnerships. A foreign partnership
is any partnership that is not organized under
the laws of any state of the United States or the
District of Columbia or any partnership that is
treated as foreign under the income tax regulations. If a foreign partnership is not a withholding
foreign partnership, the payees of income are
the partners of the partnership, provided the
partners are not themselves a flow-through entity or a foreign intermediary. However, the
payee is the partnership itself if the partnership
is claiming treaty benefits on the basis that it is
not fiscally transparent and that it meets all the
other requirements for claiming treaty benefits. If
a partner is a foreign flow-through entity or a
foreign intermediary, you apply the payee determination rules to that partner to determine the
payees.
Example 1. A nonwithholding foreign partnership has three partners: a nonresident alien

individual; a foreign corporation; and a U.S. citizen. You make a payment of U.S. source interest to the partnership. It gives you a Form
W-8IMY with which it associates Forms
W-8BEN from the nonresident alien and the
foreign corporation and a Form W-9 from the
U.S. citizen. The partnership also gives you a
complete withholding statement that enables
you to associate a part of the interest payment to
each partner.
You must treat all three partners as the payees of the interest payment as if the payment
were made directly to them. Report the payment
to the nonresident alien and the foreign corporation on Forms 1042-S. Report the payment to
the U.S. citizen on Form 1099-INT.
Example 2. A nonwithholding foreign partnership has two partners: a foreign corporation
and a nonwithholding foreign partnership. The
second partnership has two partners, both nonresident alien individuals. You make a payment
of U.S. source interest to the first partnership. It
gives you a valid Form W-8IMY with which it
associates a Form W-8BEN from the foreign
corporation and a Form W-8IMY from the second partnership. In addition, Forms W-8BEN
from the partners are associated with the Form
W-8IMY from the second partnership. The
Forms W-8IMY from the partnerships have complete withholding statements associated with
them. Because you can reliably associate a part
of the interest payment with the Forms W-8BEN
provided by the foreign corporation and the nonresident alien individual partners as a result of
the withholding statements, you must treat them
as the payees of the interest.
Example 3. You make a payment of U.S.
source dividends to a withholding foreign partnership. The partnership has two partners, both
foreign corporations. You can reliably associate
the payment with a valid Form W-8IMY from the
partnership on which it represents that it is a
withholding foreign partnership. You must treat
the partnership as the payee of the dividends.
Foreign simple and grantor trust. A trust is
foreign unless it meets both of the following
tests.

A court within the United States is able to

exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust.

One or more U.S. persons have the au-

thority to control all substantial decisions

of the trust.

In most cases, a foreign simple trust is a

foreign trust that is required to distribute all of its
income annually. A foreign grantor trust is a
foreign trust that is treated as a grantor trust
under sections 671 through 679 of the Code.
The payees of a payment made to a foreign
simple trust are the beneficiaries of the trust.
The payees of a payment made to a foreign
grantor trust are the owners of the trust. However, the payee is the foreign simple or grantor
trust itself if the trust is claiming treaty benefits
on the basis that it is not fiscally transparent and
that it meets all the other requirements for claiming treaty benefits. If the beneficiaries or owners
are themselves flow-through entities or foreign
Publication 515 (2012)

intermediaries, you apply the payee determination rules to that beneficiary or owner to determine the payees.
Example. A foreign simple trust has three
beneficiaries: a nonresident alien individual, a
foreign corporation, and a U.S. citizen. You
make a payment of interest to the foreign trust. It
gives you a Form W-8IMY with which it associates Forms W-8BEN from the nonresident alien
and the foreign corporation and a Form W-9
from the U.S. citizen. The trust also gives you a
complete withholding statement that enables
you to associate a part of the interest payment
with the forms provided by each beneficiary.
You must treat all three beneficiaries as the
payees of the interest payment as if the payment
were made directly to them. Report the payment
to the nonresident alien and the foreign corporation on Forms 1042-S. Report the payment to
the U.S. citizen on Form 1099-INT.
Fiscally transparent entity. If a reduced rate
of withholding under an income tax treaty is
claimed, a flow-through entity includes any entity in which the interest holder must treat the
entity as fiscally transparent. The determination
of whether an entity is fiscally transparent is
made on an item of income basis (that is, the
determination is made separately for interest,
dividends, royalties, etc.). The interest holder in
an entity makes the determination by applying
the laws of the jurisdiction where the interest
holder is organized, incorporated, or otherwise
considered a resident. An entity is considered to
be fiscally transparent for the income to the
extent the laws of that jurisdiction require the
interest holder to separately take into account
on a current basis the interest holders share of
the income, whether or not distributed to the
interest holder, and the character and source of
the income to the interest holder are determined
as if the income was realized directly from the
source that paid it to the entity. Subject to the
standards of knowledge rules discussed later,
you generally make the determination that an
entity is fiscally transparent based on a Form
W-8IMY provided by the entity.
The payees of a payment made to a fiscally
transparent entity are the interest holders of the
entity.
Example. Entity A is a business organization organized under the laws of country X that
has an income tax treaty in force with the United
States. A has two interest holders, B and C. B is
a corporation organized under the laws of country Y. C is a corporation organized under the
laws of country Z. Both countries Y and Z have
an income tax treaty in force with the United
States.
A receives royalty income from U.S. sources
that is not effectively connected with the conduct
of a trade or business in the United States. For
U.S. income tax purposes, A is treated as a
partnership. Country X treats A as a partnership
and requires the interest holders in A to separately take into account on a current basis their
respective shares of the income paid to A even if
the income is not distributed. The laws of country X provide that the character and source of the
income to As interest holders are determined as
if the income was realized directly from the
source that paid it to A. Accordingly, A is fiscally
transparent in its jurisdiction, country X.
Publication 515 (2012)

B and C are not fiscally transparent under the

laws of their respective countries of incorporation. Country Y requires B to separately take into
account on a current basis Bs share of the
income paid to A, and the character and source
of the income to B is determined as if the income
was realized directly from the source that paid it
to A. Accordingly, A is fiscally transparent for
that income under the laws of country Y, and B is
treated as deriving its share of the U.S. source
royalty income for purposes of the U.S.-Y income tax treaty. Country Z, on the other hand,
treats A as a corporation and does not require C
to take into account its share of As income on a
current basis whether or not distributed. Therefore, A is not treated as fiscally transparent
under the laws of country Z. Accordingly, C is
not treated as deriving its share of the U.S.
source royalty income for purposes of the U.S.-Z
income tax treaty.

Foreign Intermediaries
In most cases, if you make payments to a foreign intermediary, the payees are the persons
for whom the foreign intermediary collects the
payment, such as account holders or customers, not the intermediary itself. This rule applies
for purposes of NRA withholding and for Form
1099 reporting and backup withholding. You
may, however, treat a qualified intermediary that
has assumed primary withholding responsibility
for a payment as the payee, and you are not
required to withhold.
An intermediary is a custodian, broker, nominee, or any other person that acts as an agent
for another person. A foreign intermediary is
either a qualified intermediary or a nonqualified
intermediary. In most cases, you determine
whether an entity is a qualified intermediary or a
nonqualified intermediary based on the representations the intermediary makes on Form
W-8IMY.
You must determine whether the customers
or account holders of a foreign intermediary are
U.S. or foreign persons and, if the account
holder or customer is foreign, whether a reduced
rate of NRA withholding applies. You make
these determinations based on the foreign intermediarys Form W-8IMY and associated information and documentation. If you do not have all
of the information or documentation that is required to reliably associate a payment with a
payee, you must apply the presumption rules.
See Documentation and Presumption Rules,
later.
Nonqualified intermediary. A nonqualified
intermediary (NQI) is any intermediary that is a
foreign person and that is not a qualified intermediary. The payees of a payment made to an
NQI are the customers or account holders on
whose behalf the NQI is acting.
Example. You make a payment of interest
to a foreign bank that is a nonqualified intermediary. The bank gives you a Form W-8IMY and the
Forms W-8BEN of two foreign persons, and a
Form W-9 from a U.S. person for whom the bank
is collecting the payments. The bank also associates with its Form W-8IMY a withholding statement on which it allocates the interest payment
to each account holder and provides all other
information required to be on the withholding

statement. The account holders are the payees

of the interest payment. You should report the
part of the interest paid to the two foreign persons on Forms 1042-S and the part paid to the
U.S. person on Form 1099-INT.
Qualified intermediary. A qualified intermediary (QI) is any foreign intermediary (or foreign
branch of a U.S. intermediary) that has entered
into a qualified intermediary withholding agreement (discussed later) with the IRS. You may
treat a QI as a payee to the extent the QI assumes primary withholding responsibility or primary Form 1099 reporting and backup
withholding responsibility for a payment. In this
situation, the QI is required to withhold the tax.
You can determine whether a QI has assumed
responsibility from the Form W-8IMY provided
by the QI.
A payment to a QI to the extent it does not
assume primary NRA withholding responsibility
is considered made to the person on whose
behalf the QI acts. If a QI does not assume Form
1099 reporting and backup withholding responsibility, you must report on Form 1099 and, if
applicable, backup withhold as if you were making the payment directly to the U.S. person.
Branches of financial institutions.
Branches of financial institutions are not permitted to operate as QIs if they are located outside
of
countries
having
approved
know-your-customer (KYC) rules. The countries with approved KYC rules are listed on
IRS.gov.
QI withholding agreement. Foreign financial institutions and foreign branches of U.S.
financial institutions can enter into an agreement
with the IRS to be a qualified intermediary.
A QI is entitled to certain simplified withholding and reporting rules. In general, there are
three major areas whereby intermediaries with
QI status are afforded such simplified treatment.
The QI withholding agreement and procedures necessary to complete the QI application
are set forth in Revenue Procedure 2000-12,
which is on page 387 of Internal Revenue Bulletin 2000-4 at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-irbs/irb00-04.
pdf. Also see the following items.

Notice 2001-4, which is on page 267 of

Internal Revenue Bulletin 2001-2 at www.

irs.gov/pub/irs-irbs/irb01-02.pdf.

Revenue Procedure 2003-64, Appendix 3,

which is on page 306 of Internal Revenue
Bulletin 2003-32 at www.irs.gov/pub/
irs-irbs/irb03-32.pdf.

Revenue Procedure 2004-21, 2004-14

I.R.B. 702, available at www.irs.gov/irb/

2004-14_IRB/ar10.html.

Revenue Procedure 2005-77, 2005-51

I.R.B.1176, available at www.irs.gov/irb/

2005-51_IRB/ar13.html.

Documentation. A QI is not required to forward documentation obtained from foreign account holders to the U.S. withholding agent from
whom the QI receives a payment of U.S. source
income. The QI maintains such documentation
at its location and provides the U.S. withholding
agent with withholding rate pools. A withholding
rate pool is a payment of a single type of income
that is subject to a single rate of withholding.
Page 5

A QI is required to provide the U.S. withholding agent with information regarding U.S. persons subject to Form 1099 information reporting
unless the QI assumes the primary obligation to
do Form 1099 reporting and backup withholding.
If a QI obtains documentary evidence under
the know-your-customer rules that apply to the
QI under local law, and the documentary evidence is of a type specified in an attachment to
the QI agreement, the documentary evidence
remains valid until there is a change in circumstances or the QI knows the information is incorrect. This indefinite validity period rule does not
apply to Forms W-8 or to documentary evidence
that is not of the type specified in the attachment
to the agreement.
Form 1042-S reporting. A QI is permitted
to report payments made to its direct foreign
account holders on a pooled basis rather than
reporting payments to each direct account
holder specifically. Pooled basis reporting is not
available for payments to certain account holders, such as a nonqualified intermediary or a
flow-through entity (discussed earlier).
Collective refund procedures. A QI may
seek a refund on behalf of its direct account
holders. The direct account holders, therefore,
are not required to file returns with the IRS to
obtain refunds, but rather may obtain them from
the QI.
U.S. branches of foreign banks and foreign
insurance companies. Special rules apply to
a U.S. branch of a foreign bank subject to Federal Reserve Board supervision or a foreign insurance company subject to state regulatory
supervision. If you agree to treat the branch as a
U.S. person, you may treat the branch as a U.S.
payee for a payment subject to NRA withholding
provided you receive a Form W-8IMY from the
U.S. branch on which the agreement is evidenced. If you treat the branch as a U.S. payee,
you are not required to withhold. Even though
you agree to treat the branch as a U.S. person,
you must report the payment on Form 1042-S.
A financial institution organized in a U.S.
possession is treated as a U.S. branch. The
special rules discussed in this section apply to a
possessions financial institution.
If you are paying a U.S. branch an amount
that is not subject to NRA withholding, treat the
payment as made to a foreign person, irrespective of any agreement to treat the branch as a
U.S. person for amounts subject to NRA withholding. Consequently, amounts not subject to
NRA withholding that are paid to a U.S. branch
are not subject to Form 1099 reporting or
backup withholding.
Alternatively, a U.S. branch may provide you
with a Form W-8IMY with which it associates the
documentation of the persons on whose behalf it
acts. In this situation, the payees are the persons on whose behalf the branch acts provided
you can reliably associate the payment with
valid documentation from those persons. See
Nonqualified Intermediaries under Documentation, later.
If the U.S. branch does not provide you with
a Form W-8IMY, then you should treat a payment subject to NRA withholding as made to the
foreign person of which the branch is a part and
the income as effectively connected with the
conduct of a trade or business in the United
States.
Page 6

Withholding foreign partnership and foreign

trust. A withholding foreign partnership (WP)
is any foreign partnership that has entered into a
WP withholding agreement with the IRS and is
acting in that capacity. A withholding foreign
trust (WT) is a foreign simple or grantor trust that
has entered into a WT withholding agreement
with the IRS and is acting in that capacity.
A WP or WT may act in that capacity only for
payments of amounts subject to NRA withholding that are distributed to, or included in the
distributive share of, its direct partners, beneficiaries, or owners. A WP or WT acting in that
capacity must assume NRA withholding responsibility for these amounts. You may treat a WP or
WT as a payee if it has provided you with documentation (discussed later) that represents that
it is acting as a WP or WT for such amounts.

States and who meets either the green card test

or the substantial presence test for the calendar
year.

WP and WT withholding agreements. The

WP and WT withholding agreements and the
application procedures for the agreements are
in Revenue Procedure 2003-64. Also see the
following items.

1. 31 days during the current calendar year,

and

Revenue Procedure 2004-21.

Revenue Procedure 2005-77.
Employer identification number (EIN). A
completed Form SS-4 must be submitted with
the application for being a WP or WT. The WP or
WT will be assigned a WP-EIN or WT-EIN to be
used only when acting in that capacity.
Documentation. A WP or WT must provide
you with a Form W-8IMY that certifies that the
WP or WT is acting in that capacity and a written
statement identifying the amounts for which it is
so acting. The statement is not required to contain withholding rate pool information or any
information relating to the identity of a direct
partner, beneficiary, or owner. The Form
W-8IMY must contain the WP-EIN or WT-EIN.

Foreign Persons
A payee is subject to NRA withholding only if it is
a foreign person. A foreign person includes a
nonresident alien individual, foreign corporation,
foreign partnership, foreign trust, foreign estate,
and any other person that is not a U.S. person. It
also includes a foreign branch of a U.S. financial
institution if the foreign branch is a qualified
intermediary. In most cases, the U.S. branch of
a foreign corporation or partnership is treated as
a foreign person.
Nonresident alien. A nonresident alien is an
individual who is not a U.S. citizen or a resident
alien. A resident of a foreign country under the
residence article of an income tax treaty is a
nonresident alien individual for purposes of withholding.
Married to U.S. citizen or resident alien.
Nonresident alien individuals married to U.S.
citizens or resident aliens may choose to be
treated as resident aliens for certain income tax
purposes. However, these individuals are still
subject to the NRA withholding rules that apply
to nonresident aliens for all income except
wages. Wages paid to these individuals are subject to graduated withholding. See Wages Paid
to Employees Graduated Withholding.
Resident alien. A resident alien is an individual who is not a citizen or national of the United

Green card test. An alien is a U.S. resident if the individual was a lawful permanent resident of the United States at any
time during the calendar year. This is
known as the green card test because
these aliens hold immigrant visas (also
known as green cards).

Substantial presence test. An alien is

considered a U.S. resident if the individual

meets the substantial presence test for the
calendar year. Under this test, the individual must be physically present in the
United States on at least:

2. 183 days during the current year and the 2

preceding years, counting all the days of
physical presence in the current year, but
only 1/3 the number of days of presence in
the first preceding year, and only 1/6 the
number of days in the second preceding
year.
In most cases, the days the alien is in the
United States as a teacher, student, or trainee
on an F, J, M, or Q visa are not counted.
This exception is for a limited period of time.
For more information on resident and nonresident status, the tests for residence, and the
exceptions to them, see Publication 519.
Note. If your employee is late in notifying
you that his or her status changed from nonresident alien to resident alien, you may have to
make an adjustment to Form 941 if that employee was exempt from withholding of social
security and Medicare taxes as a nonresident
alien. For more information on making adjustments, see chapter 13 of Publication 15 (Circular E).
Resident of a U.S. possession. A bona
fide resident of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin
Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), or American Samoa who is not a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national
is treated as a nonresident alien for the withholding rules explained here. A bona fide resident of
a possession is someone who:

Meets the presence test,

Does not have a tax home outside the
possession, and

Does not have a closer connection to the

United States or to a foreign country than

to the possession.

For more information, see Publication 570,

Tax Guide for Individuals With Income From
U.S. Possessions.
Foreign corporations. A foreign corporation
is one that does not fit the definition of a domestic corporation. A domestic corporation is one
that was created or organized in the United
States or under the laws of the United States,
any of its states, or the District of Columbia.
Guam or Northern Mariana Islands corporations. A corporation created or organized in,
Publication 515 (2012)

or under the laws of, Guam or the CNMI is not

considered a foreign corporation for the purpose
of withholding tax for the tax year if:

At all times during the tax year less than

25% in value of the corporations stock is

owned, directly or indirectly, by foreign
persons; and

At least 20% of the corporations gross

income is derived from sources within

Guam or the CNMI for the 3-year period
ending with the close of the preceding tax
year of the corporation (or the period the
corporation has been in existence, if less).

Note. The provisions discussed below

under U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa
corporations will apply to Guam or CNMI corporations when an implementing agreement is in
effect between the United States and that possession.
U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa
corporations. A corporation created or organized in, or under the laws of, the U.S. Virgin
Islands or American Samoa is not considered a
foreign corporation for the purposes of withholding tax for the tax year if:

At all times during the tax year less than

25% in value of the corporations stock is

owned, directly or indirectly, by foreign
persons,

At least 65% of the corporations gross

income is effectively connected with the

conduct of a trade or business in the U.S.
Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam,
the CNMI, or the United States for the
3-year period ending with the close of the
tax year of the corporation (or the period
the corporation or any predecessor has
been in existence, if less), and

No substantial part of the income of the

corporation is used, directly or indirectly,

to satisfy obligations to a person who is
not a bona fide resident of the U.S. Virgin
Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the
CNMI, or the United States.

Foreign private foundations. A private foundation that was created or organized under the
laws of a foreign country is a foreign private
foundation. Gross investment income from
sources within the United States paid to a qualified foreign private foundation is subject to NRA
withholding at a 4% rate (unless exempted by a
treaty) rather than the ordinary statutory 30%
rate.
Other foreign organizations, associations,
and charitable institutions. An organization
may be exempt from income tax under section
501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code even if it
was formed under foreign law. In most cases,
you do not have to withhold tax on payments of
income to these foreign tax-exempt organizations unless the IRS has determined that they
are foreign private foundations.
Payments to these organizations, however,
must be reported on Form 1042-S, even though
no tax is withheld.
You must withhold tax on the unrelated business income (as described in Publication 598,
Tax on Unrelated Business Income of Exempt
Publication 515 (2012)

Organizations) of foreign tax-exempt organizations in the same way that you would withhold
tax on similar income of nonexempt organizations.
U.S. branches of foreign persons. In most
cases, a payment to a U.S. branch of a foreign
person is a payment made to the foreign person.
However, you may treat payments to U.S.
branches of foreign banks and foreign insurance
companies (discussed earlier) that are subject
to U.S. regulatory supervision as payments
made to a U.S. person, if you and the U.S.
branch have agreed to do so, and if their agreement is evidenced by a withholding certificate,
Form W-8IMY. For this purpose, a financial institution organized under the laws of a U.S. possession is treated as a U.S. branch.

Documentation
In most cases, you must withhold 30% from the
gross amount paid to a foreign payee unless you
can reliably associate the payment with valid
documentation that establishes either of the following.

The payee is a U.S. person.

The payee is a foreign person that is the

beneficial owner of the income and is entitled to a reduced rate of withholding.

In most cases, you must get the documentation

before you make the payment. The documentation is not valid if you know, or have reason to
know, that it is unreliable or incorrect. See Standards of Knowledge, later.
If you cannot reliably associate a payment
with valid documentation, you must use the presumption rules discussed later. For example, if
you do not have documentation or you cannot
determine the part of a payment that is allocable
to specific documentation, you must use the
presumption rules.
The specific types of documentation are discussed in this section. However, see Withholding on Specific Income, later, as well as the
instructions to the particular forms. As the withholding agent, you also may want to see the
Instructions for the Requester of Forms
W-8BEN, W-8ECI, W-8EXP, and W-8IMY.
Section 1446 withholding. Under section
1446 of the Code, a partnership must withhold
tax on its effectively connected income allocable
to a foreign partner. In most cases, a partnership
determines if a partner is a foreign partner and
the partners tax classification based on the
withholding certificate provided by the partner.
This is the same documentation that is filed for
NRA withholding, but may require additional information as discussed under each of the forms
in this section.
Joint owners. If you make a payment to joint
owners, you need to get documentation from
each owner.
Form W-9. In most cases, you can treat the
payee as a U.S. person if the payee gives you a
Form W-9. The Form W-9 can be used only by a
U.S. person and must contain the payees taxpayer identification number (TIN). If there is
more than one owner, you may treat the total
amount as paid to a U.S. person if any one of the

owners gives you a Form W-9. See U.S. Taxpayer Identification Numbers, later. U.S. persons are not subject to NRA withholding, but
may be subject to Form 1099 reporting and
backup withholding.
Form W-8. In most cases, a foreign person
that is a beneficial owner of the income should
give you a Form W-8. Until further notice, you
can rely upon Forms W-8 that contain a P.O. box
as a permanent residence address provided you
do not know, or have reason to know, that the
person providing the form is a U.S. person and
that a street address is available. You may rely
on Forms W-8 for which there is a U.S. mailing
address provided you received the form prior to
December 31, 2001.
If certain requirements are met, the foreign
person can give you documentary evidence,
rather than a Form W-8. You can rely on documentary evidence in lieu of a Form W-8 for a
payment made in a U.S. possession.
Other documentation. Other documentation
may be required to claim an exemption from, or
a reduced rate of, withholding on pay for personal services. The nonresident alien individual
may have to give you a Form W-4 or a Form
8233, Exemption From Withholding on Compensation for Independent (and Certain Dependent) Personal Services of a Nonresident Alien
Individual. These forms are discussed in Pay for
Personal Services Performed under Withholding on Specific Income.

Beneficial Owners
If all the appropriate requirements have been
established on a Form W-8BEN, W-8ECI,
W-8EXP or, if applicable, on documentary evidence, you may treat the payee as a foreign
beneficial owner.
Form W-8BEN, Certificate of Foreign Status
of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax
Withholding. This form is used by a foreign
person to:

Establish foreign status;

Claim that such person is the beneficial

owner of the income for which the form is

being furnished or a partner in a partnership subject to section 1446 withholding;
and

If applicable, claim a reduced rate of, or

exemption from, withholding under an income tax treaty.

Form W-8BEN also may be used to claim that

the foreign person is exempt from Form 1099
reporting and backup withholding for income
that is not subject to NRA withholding. For example, a foreign person may provide a Form
W-8BEN to a broker to establish that the gross
proceeds from the sale of securities are not
subject to Form 1099 reporting or backup withholding.
Claiming treaty benefits. You may apply a
reduced rate of withholding to a foreign person
that provides a Form W-8BEN claiming a reduced rate of withholding under an income tax
treaty only if the person provides a U.S. TIN and
certifies that:

It is a resident of a treaty country;

Page 7

 It is the beneficial owner of the income;

If it is an entity, it derives the income

within the meaning of section 894 of the

Internal Revenue Code (it is not fiscally
transparent); and

It meets any limitation on benefits provi-

sion contained in the treaty, if applicable.

If the foreign beneficial owner claiming a

treaty benefit is related to you, the foreign beneficial owner also must certify on Form W-8BEN
that it will file Form 8833, Treaty-Based Return
Position Disclosure Under Section 6114 or
7701(b), if the amount subject to NRA withholding received during a calendar year exceeds, in
the aggregate, $500,000.
An entity derives income for which it is claiming treaty benefits only if the entity is not treated
as fiscally transparent for that income. See Fiscally transparent entity discussed earlier under
Flow-Through Entities.
Limitations on benefits provisions generally
prohibit third country residents from obtaining
treaty benefits. For example, a foreign corporation may not be entitled to a reduced rate of
withholding unless a minimum percentage of its
owners are citizens or residents of the United
States or the treaty country.
The exemptions from, or reduced rates of,
U.S. tax vary under each treaty. You must check
the provisions of the tax treaty that apply. Tables
at the end of this publication show the countries
with which the United States has income tax
treaties and the rates of withholding that apply in
cases where all conditions of the particular
treaty articles are satisfied.
If you know, or have reason to know, that an
owner of income is not eligible for treaty benefits
claimed, you must not apply the treaty rate. You
are not, however, responsible for misstatements
on a Form W-8, documentary evidence, or statements accompanying documentary evidence for
which you did not have actual knowledge, or
reason to know, that the statements were incorrect.
Exceptions to TIN requirement. A foreign
person does not have to provide a TIN to claim a
reduced rate of withholding under a treaty if the
requirements for the following exceptions are
met.

Income from marketable securities (discussed next).

Unexpected payments to an individual

(discussed under U.S. Taxpayer Identification Numbers).

Marketable securities. A Form W-8BEN

provided to claim treaty benefits does not need a
U.S. TIN if the foreign beneficial owner is claiming the benefits on income from marketable securities. For this purpose, income from a
marketable security consists of the following
items.

trust that are (or were upon issuance) publicly offered and are registered with the
SEC under the Securities Act of 1933.

Income related to loans of any of the

above securities.

Offshore accounts. If a payment is made

outside the United States to an offshore account, a payee may give you documentary evidence, rather than Form W-8BEN.
In most cases, a payment is made outside
the United States if you complete the acts necessary to effect the payment outside the United
States. However, an amount paid by a bank or
other financial institution on a deposit or account
usually will be treated as paid at the branch or
office where the amount is credited. An offshore
account is an account maintained at an office or
branch of a U.S. or foreign bank or other financial institution at any location outside the United
States.
You may rely on documentary evidence
given to you by a nonqualified intermediary or a
flow-through entity with its Form W-8IMY. This
rule applies even though you make the payment
to a nonqualified intermediary or flow-through
entity in the United States. In most cases, the
nonqualified intermediary or flow-through entity
that gives you documentary evidence also will
have to give you a withholding statement, discussed later.
Documentary evidence. You may apply a
reduced rate of withholding to income from marketable securities (discussed earlier) paid
outside the United States to an offshore account
if the beneficial owner gives you documentary
evidence in place of a Form W-8BEN. To claim
treaty benefits, the documentary evidence must
be one of the following:
1. A certificate of residence that:
a. Is issued by a tax official of the treaty
country of which the foreign beneficial
owner claims to be a resident,
b. States that the person has filed its most
recent income tax return as a resident
of that country, and
c. Is issued within 3 years prior to being
presented to you.
2. Documentation for an individual that:
a. Includes the individuals name, address,
and photograph,
b. Is an official document issued by an authorized governmental body, and
c. Is issued no more than 3 years prior to
being presented to you.
3. Documentation for an entity that:
a. Includes the name of the entity,

Dividends and interest from stocks and

b. Includes the address of its principal office in the treaty country, and

Dividends from any redeemable security

c. Is an official document issued by an authorized governmental body.

debt obligations that are actively traded.

issued by an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act
of 1940 (mutual fund).

Dividends, interest, or royalties from units

of beneficial interest in a unit investment

Page 8

In addition to the documentary evidence, a foreign beneficial owner that is an entity must
provide a statement that it derives the income
for which it claims treaty benefits and that it

meets one or more of the conditions set forth in

a limitation on benefits article, if any, (or similar
provision) contained in the applicable treaty.
Form W-8ECI, Certificate of Foreign Persons Claim That Income Is Effectively Connected With the Conduct of a Trade or
Business in the United States. This form is
used by a foreign person to:

Establish foreign status,

Claim that such person is the beneficial

owner of the income for which the form is

being furnished, and

Claim that the income is effectively con-

nected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States. (See Effectively
Connected Income, later.)

Effectively connected income for which a valid

Form W-8ECI has been provided is generally
not subject to NRA withholding.
If a partner submits this form to a partnership, the income claimed to be effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or
business is subject to withholding under section
1446. If the partner has made, or will make, an
election under section 871(d) or 882(d), the partner must submit Form W-8ECI, and attach a
copy of the election, or a statement of intent to
elect, to the form.
If the partners only effectively connected income is the income allocated
CAUTION
from the partnership and the partner is
not making the election under section 871(d) or
882(d), the partner should provide Form
W-8BEN to the partnership.

Form W-8EXP, Certificate of Foreign Government or Other Foreign Organization for

United States Tax Withholding. This form is
used by a foreign government, international organization, foreign central bank of issue, foreign
tax-exempt organization, foreign private foundation, or government of a U.S. possession to:

Establish foreign status,

Claim that such person is the beneficial

owner of the income for which the form is

being furnished, and

Claim a reduced rate of, or an exemption

from, withholding as such an entity.

If the government or organization is a partner

in a partnership carrying on a trade or business
in the United States, the effectively connected
income allocable to the partner is subject to
withholding under section 1446.
See Foreign Governments and Certain
Other Foreign Organizations, later.

Foreign Intermediaries
and Foreign
Flow-Through Entities
Payments made to a foreign intermediary or
foreign flow-through entity are treated as made
to the payees on whose behalf the intermediary
or entity acts. The Form W-8IMY provided by a
foreign intermediary or flow-through entity must
be accompanied by additional information for
you to be able to reliably associate the payment
with a payee. The additional information required depends on the type of intermediary or
Publication 515 (2012)

flow-through entity and the extent of the withholding responsibilities it assumes.

Form W-8IMY, Certificate of Foreign Intermediary, Foreign Flow-Through Entity, or Certain U.S. Branches for United States Tax
Withholding. This form is used by foreign intermediaries and foreign flow-through entities,
as well as certain U.S. branches, to:

Represent that a foreign person is a qualified intermediary or nonqualified intermediary,

Represent, if applicable, that the qualified

intermediary is assuming primary NRA

withholding responsibility and/or primary
Form 1099 reporting and backup withholding responsibility,

and to provide you withholding rate pool information separately for each such U.S. person
unless it has assumed Form 1099 reporting and
backup withholding responsibility. For the alternative procedure for providing rate pool information for U.S. non-exempt persons, see the Form
W-8IMY instructions.
The withholding statement must:
1. Designate those accounts for which it acts
as a qualified intermediary,
2. Designate those accounts for which it assumes primary NRA withholding responsibility and/or primary Form 1099 and
backup withholding responsibility, and

Represent that a foreign partnership or a

3. Provide sufficient information for you to allocate the payment to a withholding rate
pool.

Represent that a foreign flow-through en-

The extent to which you must have withholding rate pool information depends on the withholding and reporting obligations assumed by
the QI.

foreign simple or grantor trust is a withholding foreign partnership or a withholding foreign trust,
tity is a nonwithholding foreign partnership, or a nonwithholding foreign trust and
that the income is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States,

Represent that the provider is a U.S.

branch of a foreign bank or insurance

company and either is agreeing to be
treated as a U.S. person or is transmitting
documentation of the persons on whose
behalf it is acting, or

Represent that, for purposes of section

1446, it is an upper-tier foreign partnership

or a foreign grantor trust and that the form
is being used to transmit the required documentation. For information on qualifying
as an upper-tier foreign partnership, see
Regulations section 1.1446-5.

Qualified Intermediaries
In most cases, a QI is any foreign intermediary
that has entered into a QI withholding agreement (discussed earlier) with the IRS. A foreign
intermediary that has received a QI employer
identification number (QI-EIN) may represent on
Form W-8IMY that it is a QI before it receives a
fully executed agreement. The intermediary can
claim that it is a QI until the IRS revokes its
QI-EIN. The IRS will revoke a QI-EIN if the QI
agreement is not executed and returned to the
IRS within a reasonable period of time after the
agreement was sent to the intermediary for signature.
Responsibilities. Payments made to a QI
that does not assume NRA withholding responsibility are treated as paid to its account holders
and customers. However, a QI is not required to
provide you with documentation it obtains from
its foreign account holders and customers. Instead, it provides you with a withholding statement that contains withholding rate pool
information. A withholding rate pool is a payment of a single type of income, determined in
accordance with the categories of income reported on Form 1042-S that is subject to a single
rate of withholding. A qualified intermediary is
required to provide you with information regarding U.S. persons subject to Form 1099 reporting
Publication 515 (2012)

Primary responsibility not assumed. If a

QI does not assume primary NRA withholding
responsibility or primary Form 1099 reporting
and backup withholding responsibility for the
payment, you can reliably associate the payment with valid documentation only to the extent
you can reliably determine the part of the payment that relates to each withholding rate pool
for foreign payees. Unless the alternative procedure applies, the qualified intermediary must
provide you with a separate withholding rate
pool for each U.S. person subject to Form 1099
reporting and/or backup withholding. The QI
must provide a Form W-9 or, in the absence of
the form, the name, address, and TIN, if available, for such person.
Primary NRA withholding responsibility
assumed. If you make a payment to a QI that
assumes primary NRA withholding responsibility (but not primary Form 1099 reporting and
backup withholding responsibility), you can reliably associate the payment with valid documentation only to the extent you can reliably
determine the part of the payment that relates to
the withholding rate pool for which the QI assumes primary NRA withholding responsibility
and the part of the payment attributable to withholding rate pools for each U.S. person, unless
the alternative procedure applies, subject to
Form 1099 reporting and/or backup withholding.
The QI must provide a Form W-9 or, in the
absence of the form, the name, address, and
TIN, if available, for such person.
Primary NRA and Form 1099 responsibility
assumed. If you make a payment to a QI that
assumes both primary NRA withholding responsibility and primary Form 1099 reporting and
backup withholding responsibility, you can reliably associate a payment with valid documentation provided that you receive a valid Form
W-8IMY. It is not necessary to associate the
payment with withholding rate pools.
Example. You make a payment of dividends to a QI. It has five customers: two are
foreign persons who have provided documentation entitling them to a 15% rate of withholding
on dividends; two are foreign persons subject to
a 30% rate of withholding on dividends; and one
is a U.S. individual who provides it with a Form

W-9. Each customer is entitled to 20% of the

dividend payment. The QI does not assume any
primary withholding responsibility. The QI gives
you a Form W-8IMY with which it associates the
Form W-9 and a withholding statement that allocates 40% of the dividend to a 15% withholding
rate pool, 40% to a 30% withholding rate pool,
and 20% to the U.S. individual. You should report on Forms 1042-S 40% of the payment as
made to a 15% rate dividend pool and 40% of
the payment as made to a 30% rate dividend
pool. The part of the payment allocable to the
U.S. individual (20%) is reportable on Form
1099-DIV.
Smaller partnerships and trusts. A QI may
apply special rules to a smaller partnership or
trust (Joint Account Provision) only if the partnership or trust meets the following conditions.

It is a foreign partnership or foreign simple

or grantor trust.

It is a direct account holder of the QI.

It does not have any partner, beneficiary,
or owner that is a U.S. person or a passthrough partner, beneficiary, or owner.

For information on these rules, see section

4A.01 of the QI agreement. This is found in
Appendix 3 of Revenue Procedure 2003-64.
Also see Revenue Procedure 2004-21.
Related partnerships and trusts. A QI may
apply special rules to a related partnership or
trust only if the partnership or trust meets the
following conditions.
1. It is a foreign partnership or foreign simple
or grantor trust.
2. It is either:
a. A direct account holder of the QI, or
b. An indirect account holder of the QI that
is a direct partner, beneficiary, or owner
of a partnership or trust to which the QI
has applied this rule.
For information on these rules, see section
4A.02 of the QI agreement. This is found in
Appendix 3 of Revenue Procedure 2003-64.
Also see Revenue Procedure 2005-77.

Nonqualified Intermediaries
If you are making a payment to an NQI, foreign
flow-through entity, or U.S. branch that is using
Form W-8IMY to transmit information about the
branchs account holders or customers, you can
treat the payment (or a part of the payment) as
reliably associated with valid documentation
from a specific payee only if, prior to making the
payment:

You can allocate the payment to a valid

Form W-8IMY,

You can reliably determine how much of

the payment relates to valid documentation provided by a payee (a person that is

not itself a foreign intermediary, flowthrough entity, or U.S. branch), and

You have sufficient information to report

the payment on Form 1042-S or Form
1099, if reporting is required.

Page 9

The NQI, flow-through entity, or U.S. branch

must give you certain information on a withholding statement that is associated with the Form
W-8IMY. A withholding statement must be updated to keep the information accurate prior to
each payment.
Withholding statement. In most cases, a
withholding statement must contain the following information.
1. The name, address, and TIN (if any, or if
required) of each person for whom documentation is provided.
2. The type of documentation (documentary
evidence, Form W-8, or Form W-9) for
every person for whom documentation has
been provided.
3. The status of the person for whom the documentation has been provided, such as
whether the person is a U.S. exempt recipient (U.S. person exempt from Form 1099
reporting), U.S. non-exempt recipient (U.S.
person subject to Form 1099 reporting), or
a foreign person. For a foreign person, the
statement must indicate whether the person is a beneficial owner or a foreign intermediary, flow-through entity, or a U.S.
branch.
4. The type of recipient the person is, based
on the recipient codes used on Form
1042-S.
5. Information allocating each payment, by income type, to each payee (including U.S.
exempt and U.S. non-exempt recipients)
for whom documentation has been provided.
6. The rate of withholding that applies to each
foreign person to whom a payment is allocated.
7. A foreign payees country of residence.
8. If a reduced rate of withholding is claimed,
the basis for a reduced rate of withholding
(for example, portfolio interest, treaty benefit, etc.).
9. In the case of treaty benefits claimed by
entities, whether the applicable limitation
on benefits statement and the statement
that the foreign person derives the income
for which treaty benefits are claimed, have
been made.
10. The name, address, and TIN (if any) of any
other NQI, flow-through entity, or U.S.
branch from which the payee will directly
receive a payment.
11. Any other information a withholding agent
requests to fulfill its reporting and withholding obligations.
Alternative procedure. Under this alternative
procedure the NQI can give you the information
that allocates each payment to each foreign and
U.S. exempt recipient by January 31 following
the calendar year of payment, rather than prior
to the payment being made as otherwise required. To take advantage of this procedure, the
NQI must: (a) inform you, on its withholding
statement, that it is using the alternative procedure; and (b) obtain your consent. You must
receive the withholding statement with all the
Page 10

required information (other than item 5) prior to

making the payment.
This alternative procedure cannot be
used for payments to U.S. non-exempt
CAUTION
recipients. Therefore, an NQI must always provide you with allocation information for
all U.S. non-exempt recipients prior to a payment being made.

Pooled withholding information. If an NQI

uses the alternative procedure, it must provide
you with withholding rate pool information, as
opposed to individual allocation information,
prior to the payment of a reportable amount. A
withholding rate pool is a payment of a single
type of income (as determined by the income
categories on Form 1042-S) that is subject to a
single rate of withholding. For example, an NQI
that has foreign account holders receiving royalties and dividends, both subject to the 15% rate,
will provide you with information for two withholding rate pools (one for royalties and one for
dividends). The NQI must provide you with the
payee specific allocation information (information allocating each payment to each payee) by
January 31 following the calendar year of payment.
Failure to provide allocation information.
If an NQI fails to provide you with the payee
specific allocation information for a withholding
rate pool by January 31, you must not apply the
alternative procedure to any of the NQIs withholding rate pools from that date forward. You
must treat the payees as undocumented and
apply the presumption rules, discussed later in
Presumption Rules. An NQI is deemed to have
failed to provide specific allocation information if
it does not give you such information for more
than 10% of any one withholding rate pool.
However, if you receive such information by
February 14, you may make the appropriate
adjustments to repay any excess withholding
incurred between February 1 and on or before
February 14.
If the NQI fails to allocate more than 10% of
the payment to a withholding rate pool by February 14 following the calendar year of payment,
you must file a Form 1042-S for each account
holder in the pool on a pro-rata basis. For example, if there are four account holders in a withholding rate pool that receives a $100 payment
and the NQI fails to allocate more than $10 of
the payment, you must file four Forms 1042-S,
one for each account holder in the pool, showing
$25 of income to each. You must also check the
Pro-rata Basis Reporting box at the top of each
form. If, however, the nonqualified intermediary
provides allocation information for 90% or more
of the payment to a withholding rate pool, the
pro-rata reporting method is not required. Instead, you must file a Form 1042-S for each
account holder for whom you have allocation
information and report the unallocated part of
the payment on a Form 1042-S issued to unknown recipient.

the distributive share of, any direct partner. The

WP must withhold the amount required to be
withheld. A WP must provide you with a Form
W-8IMY that certifies that the WP is acting in
that capacity and a written statement identifying
the amounts for which it is so acting. The Form
W-8IMY must contain the WP-EIN.
Responsibilities of WP. The WP must withhold on the date it makes a distribution of an
amount subject to NRA withholding to a direct
foreign partner based on the Forms W-8 or W-9
it receives from its partners. If the partners distributive share has not been distributed, the WP
must withhold on the partners distributive share
on the earlier of the date that the partnership
must mail or otherwise provide to the partner a
Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) or the due date for
furnishing the statement (whether or not the WP
is required to furnish the statement).
The WP may determine the amount of withholding based on a reasonable estimate of the
partners distributive share of income subject to
withholding for the year. The WP must correct
the estimated withholding to reflect the actual
distributive share on the earlier of the dates
mentioned in the preceding paragraph. If that
date is after the due date (including extensions)
for filing the WPs Forms 1042 and 1042-S for
the calendar year, the WP may withhold and
report any adjustments in the following calendar
year.
Form 1042 filing. The WP must file Form
1042 even if no amount was withheld. In addition
to the information that is required for the Form
1042, the WP must attach a statement showing
the amounts of any over- or under-withholding
adjustments and an explanation of those adjustments.
Form 1042-S reporting. The WP can elect
to report payments made to its direct partners on
a pooled basis rather than reporting payments to
each direct partner. This election must be made
when the WP withholding agreement is executed. If the election was not made, the WP
must file separate Forms 1042-S for each direct
partner whose distributive share included an
amount subject to NRA withholding.
Smaller partnerships and trusts. Under a
special rule, a WP that has made a pooled
reporting election can treat partners of certain
smaller partnerships and beneficiaries or owners of certain smaller trusts (Joint Account Provision) as direct partners. These rules only apply
to a partnership or trust that meets the following
conditions.

It is a foreign partnership or foreign simple

or grantor trust.

It is a direct partner of the WP.

It does not have any partner, beneficiary,
or owner that is a U.S. person or a passthrough partner, beneficiary, or owner.

Withholding Foreign Partnerships

For more information on applying these rules,

see section 10.01 of the WP agreement found in
Appendix 1 of Revenue Procedure 2003-64.
Also see Revenue Procedure 2004-21.

If you are making payments to a WP, you do not

have to withhold if the WP is acting in that
capacity. The WP must assume NRA withholding responsibility for amounts (subject to NRA
withholding) that are distributed to, or included in

Related partnerships and trusts. Under a

special rule, a WP that has made a pooled
reporting election can treat direct partners of
certain related partnerships and direct beneficiaries or owners of certain related trusts as
Publication 515 (2012)

direct partners. These rules only apply to a partnership or trust that meets the following conditions.

1042-S for the calendar year, the WT may withhold and report any adjustments in the following
calendar year.

1. It is a foreign partnership or foreign simple

or grantor trust.

Form 1042 filing. The WT must file Form

1042 even if no amount was withheld. In addition
to the information that is required for the Form
1042, the WT must attach a statement showing
the amounts of any over- or under-withholding
adjustments and an explanation of those adjustments.

2. It is either:
a. A direct partner of the WP, or
b. An indirect partner of the WP that is a
partner, beneficiary, or owner of a partnership or trust to which the WP has
applied this rule.
For more information on applying these rules
see section 10.02 of the WP agreement found
in Appendix 1 of Revenue Procedure 2003-64.
Also see Revenue Procedure 2005-77.
Not acting as WP. A foreign partnership that
is not acting as a WP is a nonwithholding foreign
partnership. This occurs if a WP is not acting in
that capacity for some or all of the amounts it
receives from you. Also, a WP generally is a
nonwithholding foreign partnership for amounts
distributed to, or included in the distributive
share of, pass-through partners or indirect partners.
You must treat payments made to a
nonwithholding foreign partnership as made to
the partners of the partnership. The partnership
must provide you with a Form W-8IMY (with Part
VI completed), a withholding statement identifying the amounts, the withholding certificates or
documentary evidence of the partners, and the
information shown earlier under Withholding
statement under Nonqualified Intermediaries.

Withholding Foreign Trusts

If you are making payments to a WT, you do not
have to withhold if the WT is acting in that capacity. The WT must assume NRA withholding responsibility for amounts (subject to NRA
withholding) that are distributed to, or included in
the distributive share of, any direct beneficiary or
owner. The WT must withhold the amount required to be withheld. A WT must provide you
with a Form W-8IMY that certifies that the WT is
acting in that capacity and a written statement
identifying the amounts for which it is so acting.
The Form W-8IMY must contain the WT-EIN.
Responsibilities of WT. The WT must withhold on the date it makes a distribution of an
amount subject to NRA withholding to a direct
foreign beneficiary or owner. If the beneficiarys
or owners distributive share has not been distributed, the WT must withhold on the beneficiarys or owners distributive share on the
earlier of the date that the trust must mail or
otherwise provide to the beneficiary or owner a
Schedule K-1 (Form 1041) or the due date for
furnishing the statement (whether or not the WT
is required to furnish the statement).
The WT may determine the amount of withholding based on a reasonable estimate of the
beneficiarys or owners distributive share of income subject to withholding for the year. The
WT must correct the estimated withholding to
reflect the actual distributive share on the earlier
of the dates mentioned in the preceding paragraph. If that date is after the due date (including
extensions) for filing the WTs Forms 1042 and
Publication 515 (2012)

Form 1042-S reporting. A WT can elect to

report payments made to its direct beneficiaries
or owners on a pooled basis rather than reporting payments to each direct beneficiary or
owner. This election must be made when the
WT withholding agreement is executed. If the
election was not made, the WT must file separate Forms 1042-S for each direct beneficiary or
owner whose distributive share included an
amount subject to NRA withholding.
Smaller partnerships and trusts. Under a
special rule, a WT that has made a pooled reporting election can treat partners of certain
smaller partnerships and beneficiaries or owners of certain smaller trusts (Joint Account Provision) as direct beneficiaries or owners. These
rules only apply to a partnership or trust that
meets the following conditions.

It is a foreign partnership or foreign simple

or grantor trust.

It is a direct partner, beneficiary, or owner

of the WT.

It does not have any partner, beneficiary,

or owner that is a U.S. person or a passthrough partner, beneficiary, or owner.

For more information on applying these rules,

see section 10.01 of the WT agreement found in
Appendix 2 of Revenue Procedure 2003-64.
Also see Revenue Procedure 2004-21.
Related partnerships and trusts. Under a
special rule, a WT that has made a pooled reporting election can treat direct partners of certain related partnerships and direct beneficiaries
or owners of certain related trusts as direct beneficiaries or owners. These rules only apply to a
partnership or trust that meets the following conditions.
1. It is a foreign partnership or foreign simple
or grantor trust.
2. It is either:
a. A direct beneficiary or owner of the WT,
or
b. An indirect beneficiary or owner of the
WT that is a partner, beneficiary, or
owner of a partnership or trust to which
the WP has applied this rule.
For more information on applying these rules,
see section 10.02 of the WP agreement found
in Appendix 2 of Revenue Procedure 2003-64.
Also see Revenue Procedure 2005-77.
Not acting as WT. A foreign trust that is not
acting as a WT is a nonwithholding foreign trust.
This occurs if a WT is not acting in that capacity
for some or all of the amounts it receives from
you. Also, a WT generally is a nonwithholding

foreign trust for amounts distributed to, or included in the distributive share of, pass-through
beneficiaries or owners or indirect beneficiaries
or owners.
In most cases, you must treat payments
made to a nonwithholding foreign trust as made
to the beneficiaries of a simple trust or the owners of a grantor trust. The trust must provide you
with a Form W-8IMY (with Part VI completed), a
withholding statement identifying the amounts,
the withholding certificates or documentary evidence of the beneficiaries or owners, and the
information shown earlier under Withholding
statement under Nonqualified Intermediaries.

Standards of Knowledge
You must withhold in accordance with the presumption rules (discussed later) if you know or
have reason to know that a Form W-8 or documentary evidence provided by a payee is unreliable or incorrect. If you rely on an agent to obtain
documentation, you are considered to know, or
have reason to know, the facts that are within
the knowledge of your agent.

Reason To Know
In most cases, you are considered to have reason to know that a claim of U.S. status or of a
reduced rate of withholding is incorrect if statements contained in the withholding certificate or
other documentation, or other relevant facts of
which you have knowledge, would cause a reasonably prudent person in your position to question the claims made.
Financial institutions (including a regulated
investment company) are treated as having reason to know documentation is unreliable or incorrect for payments on marketable securities
only in the circumstances discussed next. If the
documentation is considered unreliable or incorrect, you must get new documentation. However, you may rely on the original
documentation if you receive the additional
statements and/or documentation discussed.
The circumstances, discussed next, also apply to a withholding agent that is not a financial
institution or making a payment on marketable
securities. However, these withholding agents
are not limited to these circumstances in determining if they have reason to know that documentation is unreliable or incorrect. These
withholding agents cannot base their determination on the receipt of additional statements or
documents. They need to get new documentation.

Withholding Certificates
You have reason to know that a Form W-8
provided by a direct account holder that is a
foreign person is unreliable or incorrect if:

The Form W-8 is incomplete with respect

to any item on the form that is relevant to
the claims made by the account holder;

The Form W-8 contains any information

that is inconsistent with the account
holders claim;

The Form W-8 lacks information neces-

sary to establish entitlement to a reduced

Page 11

rate of withholding, if a reduced rate is

claimed; or

You have information not contained on the

form that is inconsistent with the claims
made on the form.

Establishment of foreign status. You have

reason to know that a Form W-8BEN or Form
W-8EXP is unreliable or incorrect to establish a
direct account holders status as a foreign person if:
1. The Form W-8 has a permanent residence
address in the United States;
2. The Form W-8 has a mailing address in
the United States;
3. You have a residence or mailing address
as part of your account information that is
an address in the United States;
4. The person providing the certificate notifies
you of a new residence or mailing address
in the United States; or
5. If the Form W-8 is provided with respect to
an offshore account, the account holder
has standing instructions directing you to
pay amounts from its account to an address or account maintained in the United
States.
Note. Items (2) and (3) do not apply if the
U.S. mailing address is provided on a Form W-8
received before December 31, 2001.
You may, however, rely on a Form W-8 as
establishing the account holders foreign status
if any of the following apply:
1. You receive the Form W-8 from an individual and:
a. You possess or obtain documentary evidence (that does not contain a U.S.
address) that was provided within the
last three years, was valid when provided, supports the claim of foreign status, and the beneficial owner provides
you with a reasonable explanation in
writing supporting the account holders
foreign status; or
b. If the account is maintained at your office outside the United States, you are
required to report annually a payment to
the account holder on a tax information
statement filed with the tax authority of
the country in which your office is located and that country has an income
tax treaty in effect with the United
States.
2. You receive the Form W-8 from an entity
that is not a flow-through entity and:
a. You have in your possession or obtain
documentation that substantiates that
the entity is organized or created under
foreign law, or
b. If the account is maintained at your office outside the United States, you are
required to report annually a payment to
the account holder on a tax information
statement filed with the tax authority of

Page 12

the country in which your office is located and that country has an income
tax treaty in effect with the United
States.
3. The account holder has provided standing
instructions to make payments with respect to its offshore account to a U.S. account or U.S. address if the account holder
provides a reasonable explanation in writing that supports the account holders foreign status.
Claim of reduced rate of withholding under
treaty. You have reason to know that a Form
W-8BEN provided by a direct account holder to
claim a reduced rate of withholding under a
treaty is unreliable or incorrect for purposes of
establishing the account holders residency in a
treaty country if:

The permanent residence address on the

Form W-8BEN is not in the treaty country
or the beneficial owner notifies you of a
new permanent residence address that is
not in the treaty country,

The permanent residence address on the

Form W-8BEN is in the treaty country but

the withholding certificate (or your account
information) contains a mailing address
that is not in the treaty country, or

The account holder has standing instructions for you to pay amounts from its account to an address or an account not in
the treaty country.

You may, however, rely on a Form W-8BEN

as establishing an account holders claim of a
reduced rate of withholding under a treaty if any
of the following apply.
1. The permanent residence address is not in
the treaty country and:

3. You have instructions to pay amounts

outside the treaty country and the account
holder gives you a reasonable explanation,
in writing, establishing residence in the applicable treaty country.

Documentary Evidence
You have reason to know that documentary evidence provided by a direct account holder that is
a foreign person is unreliable or incorrect if:

The documentary evidence does not rea-

sonably establish the identity of the person

presenting the documentary evidence;

The documentary evidence contains information that is inconsistent with the account holders claim of a reduced rate of
withholding; or

You have account information that is in-

consistent with the account holders claim

of a reduced rate of withholding, or the
documentary evidence lacks information
necessary to establish a reduced rate of
withholding. For example, the documentary evidence does not contain, or is not
supplemented by, statements regarding
the derivation of the income or compliance
with limitations on benefits provisions in
the case of an entity claiming treaty benefits.

Establishment of foreign status. You have

reason to know that documentary evidence is
unreliable or incorrect to establish a direct account holders status as a foreign person if:

The only mailing or residence address on

documentary evidence provided after December 31, 2000, is an address at a financial institution (unless the financial
institution is the beneficial owner), an
in-care-of address, or a P.O. box;

a. The account holder provides a reasonable explanation for the permanent residence address outside the treaty
country, or

You have a mailing or residence address

b. You possess or obtain documentary evidence that establishes residency in a

treaty country.

The account holder has standing instruc-

2. The mailing address is not in the treaty

country and:
a. You possess or obtain additional documentation (that does not contain an address outside the treaty country)
supporting the beneficial owners claim
of residence in the treaty country,
b. You possess or obtain documentation
that establishes that the beneficial
owner is an entity organized in a treaty
country,
c. You know that the address outside the
treaty country is a branch of a bank or
insurance company that is a resident of
the treaty country, or
d. You obtain a written statement from the
beneficial owner that reasonably establishes its entitlement to treaty benefits.

for the account holder in the United States

or if the account holder notifies you of a
new address in the United States; or
tions directing you to pay amounts from
the account to an address or account
maintained in the United States.

You may, however, rely on documentary evidence as establishing an account holders foreign status if any of the following apply.
1. The mailing or residence address is in the
United States, you receive the documentary evidence from an individual, and
a. You possess or obtain additional documentary evidence (that does not contain a U.S. address) supporting the
claim of foreign status and a reasonable
explanation in writing supporting the account holders foreign status,
b. You possess or obtain a Form W-8 that
contains a permanent residence address and mailing address outside the
United States (or if a mailing address is
inside the United States the account

Publication 515 (2012)

holder provides a reasonable explanation, in writing, supporting the account

holders foreign status, or the Form W-8
was received before December 31,
2001), or
c. The account is maintained at your office
outside the United States and you are
required to report annually a payment to
the account holder on a tax information
statement filed with the tax authority of
the country in which your office is located and that country has an income
tax treaty in effect with the United
States.
2. The mailing or residence address is in the
United States, you receive the documentary evidence from an entity (other than a
flow-through entity) and:
a. You possess or obtain documentation
to substantiate that the entity is actually
organized under the laws of a foreign
country,
b. You obtain a valid Form W-8 that contains a permanent residence address
and mailing address outside the United
States (or if a mailing address is inside
the United States, the account holder
provides additional documentary evidence sufficient to establish the account
holders foreign status, or the Form W-8
was received before December 31,
2001), or
c. The account is maintained at an office
outside the United States and you are
required to report annually a payment to
the account holder on a tax information
statement filed with the tax authority of
the country in which your office is located and that country has an income
tax treaty in effect with the United
States.

You may, however, rely on documentary evidence as establishing an account holders claim
of a reduced rate of withholding under a treaty if
any of the following apply.
1. The mailing or residence address is
outside the treaty country and:
a. You possess or obtain additional documentary evidence supporting the account holders claim of residence in the
treaty country (and the documentary evidence does not contain an address
outside the treaty country, a P.O. box,
an in-care-of address, or the address of
a financial institution),
b. You possess or obtain documentary evidence that establishes that the account
holder is an entity organized in a treaty
country, or
c. You obtain a valid Form W-8BEN that
contains a permanent residence address and a mailing address in the applicable treaty country.
2. You have instructions to pay amounts
outside the treaty country and the account
holder gives you a reasonable explanation,
in writing, establishing residence in the applicable treaty country.

Indirect Account Holders

A financial institution that receives documentation from a payee through an NQI, a
flow-through entity, or a U.S. branch of a foreign
bank or insurance company subject to U.S. or
state regulatory supervision has reason to know
that the documentary evidence is unreliable or
incorrect if a reasonably prudent person in the
financial institutions position would question the
claims made. This standard requires, but is not
limited to, compliance with the following rules.

You have a mailing or residence address

Withholding statement. You must review the

withholding statement provided with Form
W-8IMY and may not rely on information in the
statement to the extent the information does not
support the claims made for a payee. You may
not treat a payee as a foreign person if a U.S.
address is provided for the payee. You may not
treat a person as a resident of a country with
which the United States has an income tax
treaty if the address for the person is outside the
treaty country.
You may, however, treat a payee as a foreign person and may treat a foreign person as a
resident of a treaty country if a reasonable explanation is provided, in writing, by the NQI,
flow-through entity, or U.S. branch.

The only address that you have (whether

Withholding certificate. If you receive a

Form W-8 for a payee in association with a Form
W-8IMY, you must review each Form W-8 and

3. You have instructions to pay amounts to

an address or an account in the United
States and the account holder provides
you with a reasonable explanation, in writing, that supports the account holders foreign status.
Claim of reduced rate of withholding under
treaty. You have reason to know that documentary evidence provided by a direct account
holder to claim a reduced rate of withholding
under a treaty is unreliable or incorrect for purposes of establishing the account holders residency in a treaty country if:
for the account holder that is outside the
applicable treaty country,

in or outside the treaty country) is a P.O.

box, an in-care-of address, or the address
of a financial institution (that is not the
beneficial owner of the income), or

verify that the information is consistent with the

information on the withholding statement. If
there is a discrepancy, you may rely on the Form
W-8, if valid, and instruct the NQI, flow-through
entity, or U.S. branch to correct the withholding
statement, or, alternatively, you may apply the
presumption rules, discussed later in Presumption Rules, to the payee.
Documentary evidence. If you receive documentary evidence for a payee in association
with a Form W-8IMY, you must review the documentary evidence provided by the NQI,
flow-through entity, or U.S. branch to determine
that there is no obvious indication that the payee
is a U.S. person subject to Form 1099 reporting
or that the documentary evidence does not establish the identity of the person who provided
the documentation (for example, the documentary evidence does not appear to be an identification document).

Presumption Rules
If you cannot reliably associate a payment with
valid documentation, you must apply certain
presumption rules or you may be liable for tax,
interest, and penalties. If you comply with the
presumption rules, you are not liable for tax,
interest, and penalties even if the rate of withholding that should have been applied based on
the payees actual status is different from that
presumed.
The presumption rules apply to determine
the status of the person you pay as a U.S. or
foreign person and other relevant characteristics, such as whether the payee is a beneficial
owner or intermediary, and whether the payee is
an individual, corporation, partnership, or trust.
You are not permitted to apply a reduced rate of
NRA withholding based on a payees presumed
status if documentation is required to establish a
reduced rate of withholding. For example, if the
payee of interest is presumed to be a foreign
person, you may not apply the portfolio interest
exception or a reduced rate of withholding under
a tax treaty since both exceptions require documentation.
If you rely on your actual knowledge about a
payees status and withhold an amount less
than that required under the presumption rules
or do not report a payment that is subject to
reporting under the presumption rules, you may
be liable for tax, interest, and penalties. You
should, however, rely on your actual knowledge
if doing so results in withholding an amount
greater than would apply under the presumption
rules or in reporting an amount that would not be
subject to reporting under the presumption
rules.
The presumption rules, in the absence of
documentation, for the subject matter are discussed in the regulation section indicated on
Chart A.

The account holder has standing instruc-

tions for you to pay amounts from its account to an address or account not in the
treaty country.

Publication 515 (2012)

Page 13

Chart A. Presumption Rules in the

Absence of Documentation
For the
presumption
rules related to:

Amounts paid as part of the purchase

price of an obligation sold between interest payment dates. See Interest, later.

See regulations
section:

Original issue discount paid on the sale of

Payees status

1.1441-1(b)(3);
1.6049-5(d)

Insurance premiums paid on a contract is-

Effectively
connected income

1.1441-4(a)(2)

Partnership and its

partners

1.1441-5(d);
1.1446-1(c)(3)

Estate or trust and

its beneficiaries or
owner

1.1441-5(e)(6)

Foreign
tax-exempt
organizations
(including private
foundations)

1.1441-9(b)(3)

Income Subject to
NRA Withholding
This section explains how to determine if a payment is subject to NRA withholding.
A payment is subject to NRA withholding if it
is from sources within the United States, and it is
either:

Fixed or determinable annual or periodical

(FDAP) income, or

Certain gains from the disposition of tim-

ber, coal, and iron ore, or from the sale or

exchange of patents, copyrights, and similar intangible property.

In addition, a payment is subject to NRA withholding if withholding is specifically required,

even though it may not constitute U.S. source
income or FDAP income. For example, corporate distributions may be subject to NRA withholding even though a part of the distribution
may be a return of capital or capital gain not
otherwise subject to NRA withholding.
Amounts not subject to NRA withholding.
The following amounts are not subject to NRA
withholding.

Portfolio interest on bearer obligations or

foreign-targeted registered obligations if
those obligations meet certain requirements. See Interest, later.

Bank deposit interest that is not effectively

connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade

or business. See Interest, later.

Original issue discount on certain short-

term obligations. See Original issue discount, later.

Nonbusiness gambling income of a non-

resident alien playing blackjack, baccarat,

craps, roulette, or big-6 wheel in the
United States. See Gambling winnings,
later.

Page 14

an obligation other than a redemption. See

Original issue discount, later.
sued by a foreign insurer.

Source of Income
In most cases, income is from U.S. sources if it
is paid by domestic corporations, U.S. citizens
or resident aliens, or entities formed under the
laws of the United States or a state. Income is
also from U.S. sources if the property that produces the income is located in the United States
or the services for which the income is paid were
performed in the United States. A payment is
treated as being from sources within the United
States if the source of the payment cannot be
determined at the time of payment, such as fees
for personal services paid before the services
have been performed. Other source rules are
summarized in Chart B and explained in detail in
the separate discussions under Withholding on
Specific Income, later.
In most cases, interest on an obligation of a
foreign corporation or foreign partnership is foreign-source income. If the entity is engaged in a
trade or business in the United States during its
tax year, interest paid by such entity is treated as
from U.S. sources only if the interest is paid by a
U.S. trade or business conducted by the entity or
is allocable to income that is treated as effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade
or business. This applies to a foreign partnership only if it is predominantly engaged in the
active conduct of a trade or business outside the
United States.
Guarantee income. Certain amounts paid, directly or indirectly, for the provision of a guarantee of indebtedness issued after September 27,
2010, are from U.S. sources. The amounts must
be paid by one of the following:

accurate allocation of income for services performed in the United States based on the facts
and circumstances. In most cases, you make
this allocation on a time basis. That is, U.S.
source income is the amount that results from
multiplying the total amount of pay by the following fraction:
Number of days services are performed in the
United States
Total number of days of service for which
compensation is paid

Chart B. Summary of Source Rules

for FDAP Income
IF you have:

Pay for personal

services

Where the services

are performed

Dividends

The type of
corporation (U.S. or
foreign)

Interest
Rents

Personal service income. If the income is for

personal services performed in the United
States, it is from U.S. sources. The place where
the services are performed determines the
source of the income, regardless of where the
contract was made, the place of payment, or the
residence of the payer.
However, under certain circumstances, payment for personal services performed in the
United States is not considered income from
sources within the United States. For information on this exception, see Pay for Personal
Services Performed, later.
If the income is for personal services performed partly in the United States and partly
outside the United States, you must make an

The residence of the

payer
Where the property is
located

Royalties Patents, Where the property is

copyrights, etc.
used
Royalties Natural
resources

Where the property is

located

Pensions:
Distributions
attributable to
contributions

Where the services

were performed while
a nonresident alien

Pensions:
Investment earnings The location of
on contributions
pension trust
Scholarships and
fellowship grants

In most cases, the

residence of payer

Guarantee of
indebtedness

The residence of the

debtor or whether the
payment is effectively
connected with a U.S.
trade or business

1. A noncorporate U.S. resident or a U.S.

corporation for the provision of a guarantee of the resident or corporation, or
2. Any foreign person for the provision of a
guarantee if the payment is connected with
income that is effectively connected, or
treated as effectively connected, with the
conduct of a U.S. trade or business.

THEN the source of

that income is
determined by:

Employees. If the services are performed

partly in the United States and partly outside the
United States by an employee, the allocation of
pay, other than certain fringe benefits, is determined on a time basis. The following fringe benefits are sourced on a geographical basis as
shown in the following list.

Housing employees main job location.

Education employees main job location.
Local transportation employees main
job location.

Tax reimbursement jurisdiction imposing tax.

Hazardous or hardship duty pay location of pay zone.

Moving expense reimbursement employees new main job location.

Publication 515 (2012)

For information on what is included in these

benefits, see Regulations section
1.861-4(b)(2)(ii)(D).
An employees main job location (principal
place of work) is usually the place where the
employee spends most of his or her working
time. If there is no one place where most of the
work time is spent, the main job location is the
place where the work is centered, such as where
the employee reports for work or is otherwise
required to base his or her work.
An employee can use an alternative basis
based on facts and circumstances, rather than
the time or geographical basis. The employee,
not the employer, must demonstrate that the
alternative basis more properly determines the
source of the pay or fringe benefits.
Territorial limits. Wages received for services rendered inside the territorial limits of the
United States and wages of an alien seaman
earned on a voyage along the coast of the
United States are regarded as from sources in
the United States. Wages or salaries for personal services performed in a mine or on an oil
or gas well located or being developed on the
continental shelf of the United States are treated
as from sources in the United States.
Income from the performance of services
directly related to the use of a vessel or aircraft is
treated as derived entirely from sources in the
United States if the use begins and ends in the
United States. This income is subject to NRA
withholding if it is not effectively connected with
a U.S. trade or business. If the use either begins
or ends in the United States, see Transportation
income, later.
Crew members. Income from the performance of services by a nonresident alien in connection with the individuals temporary presence
in the United States as a regular member of the
crew of a foreign vessel engaged in transportation between the United States and a foreign
country or a U.S. possession is not income from
U.S. sources.
Scholarships, fellowships, and grants.
Scholarships, fellowships, and grants are
sourced according to the residence of the payer.
Those made by entities created or domiciled in
the United States are generally treated as income from sources within the United States.
However, see Activities outside the United
States, next. Those made by entities created or
domiciled in a foreign country are treated as
income from foreign sources.

source income, and the part attributable to services performed outside the United States is foreign source income.
Employer contributions to a defined benefit
plan covering more than one individual are not
made for the benefit of a specific participant, but
are made based on the total liabilities to all
participants. All funds held under the plan are
available to provide benefits to any participant. If
the payment is from such a plan, you can use
the method in Revenue Procedure 2004-37 to
allocate the payment to sources in and out of the
United States. Revenue Procedure 2004-37,
2004-26 I.R.B.1099, is available at www.irs.gov/
irb/2004-26_IRB/ar08.html.
The earnings part of a pension payment is
U.S. source income if the trust is a U.S. trust.

Fixed or Determinable
Annual or Periodical Income
(FDAP)

premiums paid to or for the account of, a

nonresident alien landlord by a tenant
under the terms of a lease.

Publication rights.
Prizes awarded to nonresident alien artists
for pictures exhibited in the United States.

Purses paid to nonresident alien boxers

for prize fights in the United States.

Prizes awarded to nonresident alien professional golfers in golfing tournaments in

the United States.
Installment payments. Income can be FDAP
income whether it is paid in a series of repeated
payments or in a single lump sum. For example,
$5,000 in royalty income would be FDAP income whether paid in 10 payments of $500 each
or in one payment of $5,000.

FDAP income is all income except:

Gains from the sale of property (including

market discount and option premiums but

not including original issue discount), and

Items of income excluded from gross in-

come without regard to U.S. or foreign status of the owner of the income, such as
tax-exempt municipal bond interest and
qualified scholarship income.

The following items are examples of FDAP

income.

Compensation for personal services.

Dividends, including dividend equivalent
payments.

Interest.
Original issue discount.
REMIC excess inclusion income.
Pensions and annuities.
Alimony.
Real property income, such as rents, other
than gains from the sale of real property.

Royalties.
Taxable scholarships and fellowship
grants.

Other taxable grants, prizes, and awards.

A sales commission paid or credited
monthly.

Activities outside the United States. A

scholarship, fellowship, grant, targeted grant, or
an achievement award received by a nonresident alien for activities conducted outside the
United States is treated as foreign source income.

A commission paid for a single transac-

Pension payments. The source of pension

payments is determined by the part of the distribution that constitutes the compensation element (employer contributions) and the part that
constitutes the earnings element (the investment income).
The compensation element is sourced the
same as compensation from the performance of
personal services. The part attributable to services performed in the United States is U.S.

FDAP income distributed by a partnership

Publication 515 (2012)

Taxes, mortgage interest, or insurance

tion.

The distributable net income of an estate

or trust that is FDAP income and must be

distributed currently, or has been paid or
credited during the tax year.
that, or such an amount that, although not
actually distributed, is includible in the
gross income of a foreign partner.

Insurance proceeds. Income derived by an

insured nonresident alien from U.S. sources
upon the surrender of, or at the maturity of, a life
insurance policy, is FDAP income and is subject
to NRA withholding. This includes income derived under a life insurance contract issued by a
foreign branch of a U.S. life insurance company.
The proceeds are income to the extent they
exceed the cost of the policy.
However, certain payments received under a
life insurance contract on the life of a terminally
or chronically ill individual before death (accelerated death benefits) may not be subject to tax.
This also applies to certain payments received
for the sale or assignment of any part of the
death benefit under contract to a viatical settlement provider. See Publication 525, Taxable
and Nontaxable Income, for more information.
Racing purses. Racing purses are FDAP income and racetrack operators must withhold
30% on any purse paid to a nonresident alien
racehorse owner in the absence of definite information contained in a statement filed together
with a Form W-8BEN that the owner has not
raced, or does not intend to enter, a horse in
another race in the United States during the tax
year. If available information indicates that the
racehorse owner has raced a horse in another
race in the United States during the tax year,
then the statement and Form W-8BEN filed for
that year are ineffective. The owner may be
exempt from withholding of tax at 30% on the
purses if the owner gives you Form W-8ECI,
which provides that the income is effectively
connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or
business and that the income is includible in the
owners gross income.
Covenant not to compete. Payment received
for a promise not to compete is generally FDAP
income. Its source is the place where the promisor forfeited his or her right to act. Amounts paid
to a nonresident alien for his or her promise not
to compete in the United States are subject to
NRA withholding.
Page 15

Withholding on
Specific Income
Different kinds of income are subject to different
withholding requirements.

Effectively Connected
Income
In most cases, when a foreign person engages
in a trade or business in the United States, all
income from sources in the United States connected with the conduct of that trade or business
is considered effectively connected with a U.S.
business. FDAP income may or may not be
effectively connected with a U.S. business. For
example, effectively connected income includes
rents from real property if the alien chooses to
treat that income as effectively connected with a
U.S. trade or business.
The factors to be considered in establishing
whether FDAP income and similar amounts are
effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business include:

Whether the income is from assets used

in, or held for use in, the conduct of that
trade or business; or

Whether the activities of that trade or business were a material factor in the realization of the income.

Income from securities. There is a special

rule determining whether income from securities
is effectively connected with the active conduct
of a U.S. banking, financing, or similar business.
If the foreign persons U.S. office actively
and materially participates in soliciting, negotiating, or performing other activities required to
arrange the acquisition of securities, the U.S.
source interest or dividend income from the securities, gain or loss from their sale or exchange,
income or gain economically equivalent to such
amounts, or amounts received for providing a
guarantee of indebtedness, is attributable to the
U.S. office and is effectively connected income.
Withholding exemption. In most cases, you
do not need to withhold tax on income if you
receive a Form W-8ECI on which a foreign
payee represents that:

The foreign payee is the beneficial owner

of the income,

The income is effectively connected with

the conduct of a trade or business in the
United States, and

The income is includible in the payees

gross income.

This withholding exemption applies to income

for services performed by a foreign partnership
or foreign corporation (unless item (4) below
applies to the corporation). The exemption does
not apply, however, to:
1. Pay for personal services performed by an
individual,
2. Effectively connected taxable income of a
partnership that is allocable to its foreign
Page 16

partners (see Partnership Withholding on

Effectively Connected Income, later),
3. Income from the disposition of a U.S. real
property interest (see U.S. Real Property
Interest, later), or
4. Payments to a foreign corporation for personal services if all of the following apply:
a. The foreign corporation otherwise qualifies as a personal holding company for
income tax purposes,
b. The foreign corporation receives
amounts under a contract for personal
services of an individual whom the corporation has no right to designate, and
c. 25% or more in value of the outstanding
stock of the foreign corporation at some
time during the tax year is owned, directly or indirectly, by or for an individual who has performed, is to perform, or
may be designated as the one to perform, the services called for under the
contract.
Notional principal contract income. Certain
payments attributable to a notional principal
contract are not subject to NRA withholding regardless of whether a Form W-8ECI is provided.
However, specified notional principal contract
income (described later under Dividend
equivalent payments) is subject to withholding.
Income from a notional principal contract is
subject to reporting on Form 1042-S if it is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or
business in the United States. You must treat
the income as effectively connected with a U.S.
trade or business if you pay the income to, or to
the account of, a qualified business unit (a
branch) of a foreign person located in the United
States or a qualified business unit located
outside the United States and you know, or have
reason to know, the income is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business. You do not need to treat notional principal
contract income as effectively connected if you
receive a Form W-8BEN that represents that the
income is not effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business or if the payee
provides a representation in a master agreement or in the confirmation on the particular
notional principal contract transaction that the
payee is a U.S. person or a non-U.S. branch of a
foreign person.
Income paid to U.S. branch of foreign bank
or insurance company. A payment to a U.S.
branch of a foreign bank or a foreign insurance
company that is subject to U.S. regulation by the
Federal Reserve or state insurance authorities
is presumed to be effectively connected with the
conduct of a trade or business in the United
States unless the branch provides a Form
W-8BEN or Form W-8IMY for the income. If a
U.S. branch of a foreign bank or insurance company receives income that the payer did not
withhold upon because of the presumption that
the income was effectively connected with the
U.S. branchs trade or business, the U.S. branch
is required to withhold on the income if it is in fact
not effectively connected with the conduct of its

trade or business in the United States. Withholding is required whether the payment was collected on behalf of other persons or on behalf of
another branch of the same entity.

Income Not
Effectively Connected
This section discusses the specific types of income that are subject to NRA withholding. The
income codes contained in this section correspond to the income codes used on Form
1042-S (discussed later), and in most cases, on
Tables 1 and 2 found at the end of this publication.
You must withhold tax at the statutory rates
shown in Chart C unless a reduced rate or exemption under a tax treaty applies. For U.S.
source gross income that is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, the rate is
usually 30%. In most cases, you must withhold
the tax at the time you pay the income to the
foreign person. See When to withhold, earlier.

Interest
Interest from U.S. sources paid to foreign payees is subject to NRA withholding. When making
a payment on an interest bearing obligation, you
must withhold on the gross amount of stated
interest payable on the interest payment date,
even if the payment or a part of the payment
may be a return of capital rather than interest.
A substitute interest payment made to the
transferor of a security in a securities lending
transaction or a sale-repurchase transaction is
treated the same as the interest on the transferred security. Use Income Code 33 to report
these substitute payments.
Interest paid by U.S. obligors general (Income Code 1). With specific exceptions, such
as portfolio interest, you must withhold on interest paid or credited on bonds, debentures,
notes, open account indebtedness, governmental obligations, certain deferred payment arrangements (as provided in section 483 of the
Internal Revenue Code) or other evidences of
indebtedness of U.S. obligors. U.S. obligors include the U.S. Government or its agencies or
instrumentalities, any U.S. citizen or resident,
any U.S. corporation, and any U.S. partnership.
If, in a sale of a corporations property, payment of the bonds or other obligations of the
corporation is assumed by the buyer, that buyer,
whether an individual, partnership, or corporation, must deduct and withhold the taxes that
would be required to be withheld by the selling
corporation as if there had been no sale or
transfer. Also, if interest coupons are in default,
the tax must be withheld on the gross amount of
interest whether or not the payment is a return of
capital or the payment of income.
A resident alien paying interest on a margin
account maintained with a foreign brokerage
firm must withhold from the interest whether the
interest is paid directly or constructively.
Interest on bonds of a U.S. corporation paid
to a foreign corporation not engaged in a trade
or business in the United States is subject to
NRA withholding even if the interest is guaranteed by a foreign corporation that made payment outside the United States.
Publication 515 (2012)

Domestic corporations must withhold on interest credited to foreign subsidiaries or foreign

parents.

Wages paid to a
nonresident alien employee
Graduated
(see Pay for Personal
rates in Circular
Services Performed, later)
A or Circular E

Original issue discount (Income Code 30).

Original issue discount paid on the redemption
of an obligation is subject to NRA withholding.
Original issue discount paid as part of the
purchase price of an obligation sold or exchanged, other than in a redemption, is not subject to NRA withholding unless the purchase is
part of a plan the principal purpose of which is to
avoid tax and the withholding agent has actual
knowledge or reason to know of the plan. Withholding is required by a person other than the
issuer of an obligation (or the issuers agent) for
all obligations issued after December 31, 2000.

Each foreign partners

share of effectively
connected income of the
partnership (see
Partnership Withholding on
Effectively Connected
Income, later)
Distributions of effectively
connected income to
foreign partners by publicly
traded partnerships (see
Publicly Traded
Partnerships, later)

35%

The original issue discount subject to NRA

withholding is the taxable amount of original
issue discount. The taxable amount is the original issue discount that accrued while the obligation was held by the foreign beneficial owner up
to the time the obligation was sold or exchanged
or a payment was made, reduced by any original
issue discount that was previously taxed. If a
payment was made, the tax due on the original
issue discount may not exceed the payment
reduced by the tax imposed on the part of the
payment that is qualified stated interest.

Dispositions of U.S. real

property interests (see U.S.
Real Property Interest,
later)

10%*

If you cannot determine the taxable amount,

you must withhold on the entire amount of original issue discount accrued from the date of
issue until the date of redemption (or sale or
exchange, if subject to NRA withholding) determined on the basis of the most recently published Publication 1212, Guide to Original Issue
Discount (OID) Instruments.
For more information on original issue discount, see Publication 550, Investment Income
and Expenses.

Chart C. Withholding Tax Rates

(Note. You must withhold tax at the
following rates on payments of
income unless a reduced rate or
exemption is authorized under a tax
treaty. The President may apply
higher tax rates on income paid to
residents or corporations of foreign
countries that impose burdensome
or discriminatory taxes on U.S.
persons.)
IF you paid the following
THEN you
type of income:
generally must
withhold at the
following rate:
Taxable part of U.S.
scholarship or fellowship
grant paid to holder of F,
J, M, or Q visa (see
Scholarships and
Fellowship Grants, later)
Gross investment income
from interest, dividends,
rents, and royalties paid to
a foreign private foundation
Pensions part paid for
personal services (see
Pensions, Annuities, and
Alimony, later)

Publication 515 (2012)

14%

4%
Graduated
rates in Circular
A or Circular E

35%

Dividends paid to Puerto

Rico corporation

10%

All other income subject to

withholding

30%

*35% in the case of certain distributions by corporations,

partnerships, trusts, or estates.

Reduced Rates of
Withholding on Interest
Certain interest is subject to a reduced rate of, or
exemption from, withholding.
Portfolio interest. Interest and original issue
discount that qualifies as portfolio interest is not
subject to NRA withholding. To qualify as portfolio interest, the interest must be paid on obligations issued after July 18, 1984, and otherwise
subject to NRA withholding.
Note. The rules for determining whether interest is portfolio interest change for obligations
issued after March 18, 2012. Before March 19,
2012, portfolio interest includes interest on certain registered and nonregistered (bearer)
bonds if the obligations meet the requirements
described below.
For obligations issued after March 18, 2012,
portfolio interest does not include interest on
nonregistered bonds.
Obligations not in registered form. Interest on an obligation that is not in registered form
(bearer obligation) is portfolio interest if the obligation is foreign-targeted. A bearer obligation is
foreign-targeted if:

There are arrangements to ensure that the

obligation will be sold, or resold in connection with the original issue, only to a person who is not a United States person,

Interest on the obligation is payable only

outside the United States and its possessions, and

The face of the obligation contains a statement that any United States person who
holds the obligation will be subject to limits
under the United States income tax laws.

Documentation is not required for interest on

bearer obligations to qualify as portfolio interest.
In some cases, however, you may need documentation for purposes of Form 1099 reporting
and backup withholding.
Obligations in registered form. Portfolio
interest includes interest paid on an obligation
that is in registered form, and for which you have
received documentation that the beneficial
owner of the obligation is not a United States
person.
If the registered obligation is not targeted to
foreign markets, you must receive documentation on which you may rely to treat the payee as
a foreign person that is the beneficial owner of
the interest. The documentation required is a
valid Form W-8BEN (a valid Form W-8EXP from
an entity that completes the Form W-8EXP for
other purposes is also acceptable) or, if allowable, valid documentary evidence. See Documentation, earlier.
A registered obligation is targeted to foreign
markets if it is sold (or resold in connection with
its original issuance) only to foreign persons or
to foreign branches of U. S. financial institutions
in accordance with procedures similar to those
provided under section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i) of the
regulations. However, the procedure that requires the obligation to be offered for sale (or
resale) only outside the United States does not
apply if the registered obligation is offered for
sale through a public auction. Also, the procedure that requires the obligation to be delivered
outside the United States does not apply if the
obligation is considered registered because it
may be transferred only through a book entry
system and the obligation is offered for sale
through a public auction. The documentation
needed depends on whether the interest is paid
to a financial institution, a member of a clearing
organization, or to some other foreign person.
Dematerialized book-entry systems.
Under these systems, bonds are required to be
represented only by book entries, and no physical certificates are issued or transferred. The
bonds are transferred only by book entries.
These bonds are considered to be in registered
form if the holder may only obtain a physical
certificate in bearer form when the clearing organization that maintains the book-entry system
goes out of business without a successor. In
most cases, these rules apply to bonds issued
after December 31, 2006. A bond issued in
bearer form before January 1, 2007, may continue to be treated as such until its maturity even
if it is held under a book-entry system.
Interest that does not qualify as portfolio
interest. Payments to certain persons and
payments of contingent interest do not qualify as
portfolio interest. You must withhold at the statutory rate on such payments unless some other
exception, such as a treaty provision, applies.
Contingent interest. Portfolio interest generally does not include contingent interest. Contingent interest is interest that is determined by
reference to any of the following.

Any receipts, sales, or other cash flow of

the debtor or related person.

Income or profits of the debtor or related

person.

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 Any change in value of any property of the

debtor or a related person.

Any dividend, partnership distributions, or

similar payments made by the debtor or a

related person.

The term related person is defined in section

871(h)(4)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The contingent interest rule does not apply to
any interest paid or accrued on any indebtedness with a fixed term that was issued:

On or before April 7, 1993, or

After April 7, 1993, pursuant to a written

binding contract in effect on that date and

at all times thereafter before that indebtedness was issued.

Ten-percent owners. Interest paid to a foreign person that owns 10% or more of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of
a corporation, or 10% or more of the capital or
profits interest in a partnership, that issued the
obligation on which the interest is paid is not
portfolio interest. To determine 10% ownership,
see Regulations section 1.871-14(g).
Banks. Except in the case of interest paid
on an obligation of the United States, interest
paid to a bank on an extension of credit made
pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the
ordinary course of the banks trade or business
does not qualify as portfolio interest.
Controlled foreign corporations. Interest
paid to a controlled foreign corporation from a
person related to the controlled foreign corporation is not portfolio interest.
Interest on real property mortgages (Income
Code 2). Certain treaties (see Table 1) permit
a reduced rate or exemption for interest paid or
credited on real property mortgages. This is interest paid on any type of debt instrument that is
secured by a mortgage or deed of trust on real
property located in the United States, regardless
of whether the mortgagor (or grantor) is a U.S.
citizen or a U.S. business entity.
REMIC excess inclusions.
A domestic
partnership must separately state a partners
allocable share of REMIC taxable income or net
loss and the excess inclusion amount on Schedule K-1 (Form 1065). If the partnership allocates
all or some part of its allocable share of REMIC
taxable income to a foreign partner, the partner
must include the partners allocated amount in
income as if that amount was received on the
earlier of the following dates.
1. The date of distribution by the partnership.
2. The date the foreign partner disposed of its
indirect interest in the REMIC residual interest.
3. The last day of the partnerships tax year.
For purposes of item (2), the disposition may
occur as a result of:

A termination of the REMIC,

A disposition of the partnerships residual
interest in the REMIC,

A disposition of the foreign partners interest in the partnership, or

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Any other reduction in the foreign partners

allocable share of the partnerships part of
the REMIC net income or deduction.

The partnership must withhold tax on the part

of the REMIC amount that is an excess inclusion. Excess inclusion income is treated as income from sources in the United States and is
not eligible for any reduction in withholding tax
(by treaty or otherwise).
An excess inclusion allocated to the following foreign persons must be included in that
persons income at the same time as other income from the entity is included in income.

Shareholder of a real estate investment

trust.

Shareholder of a regulated investment

company.

Participant in a common trust fund.

Patron of a subchapter T cooperative organization.

The entity must withhold on the excess inclusion.

For information on the taxation and reporting
of excess inclusion income by REITs, RICs, and
other pass-through entities, see Notice 2006-97,
2006-46 I.R.B. 904, available at www.irs.gov/irb/
2006-46_IRB/ar14.html.
Interest paid to controlling foreign corporations (Income Code 3). A treaty may permit a
reduced rate or exemption for interest paid by a
domestic corporation to a controlling foreign corporation. The interest may be on any type of
debt, including open or unsecured accounts
payable, notes, certificates, bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness.
Interest paid by foreign corporations (Income Code 4).
If a foreign corporation is
engaged in a U.S. trade or business, any interest paid by the foreign corporations trade or
business in the United States (branch interest) is
subject to NRA withholding as if paid by a domestic corporation (without considering the
payer having income from abroad exception).
As a result, the interest paid to foreign payees is
generally subject to NRA withholding. In addition, if allocable interest exceeds the branch
interest paid, the excess interest is also subject
to tax and reported on the foreign corporations
income tax return, Form 1120-F. See Instructions for Form 1120-F for more information.
If there is no treaty provision that reduces the
rate of withholding on branch interest, you must
withhold tax at the statutory rate of 30% on the
interest paid by a foreign corporations U.S.
trade or business.
In general, payees of interest from a U.S.
trade or business of a foreign corporation are
entitled to reduced rates of, or exemption from,
tax under a treaty in the same manner and
subject to the same conditions as if they had
received the interest from a domestic corporation. However, a foreign corporation that receives interest paid by a U.S. trade or business
of a foreign corporation also must be a qualified
resident of its country of residence to be entitled
to benefits under that countrys tax treaty. If the
payee foreign corporation is a resident of a
country that has entered into an income tax
treaty since 1987 that contains a limitation on
benefits article, the foreign corporation need

only satisfy the limitation on benefits article in

that treaty to qualify for a reduced rate of tax.
Alternatively, a payee may be entitled to
treaty benefits under the payers treaty if there is
a provision in that treaty that applies specifically
to interest paid by the payer foreign corporation.
This provision may exempt all or a part of this
interest. Some treaties provide for an exemption
regardless of the payees residence or citizenship, while others provide for an exemption according to the payees status as a resident or
citizen of the payers country.
A foreign corporation that pays interest must
be a qualified resident (under section 884 of the
Internal Revenue Code) of its country of residence for the payers treaty to exempt payments
from tax by the foreign corporation. However, if
the foreign corporation is a resident of a country
that has entered into an income tax treaty since
1987 that contains a limitation on benefits article, the foreign corporation need only satisfy the
limitation on benefits article in that treaty to qualify for the exemption.
Interest on deposits (Income Code 29). Foreign persons are not subject to withholding on
interest that is not connected with a U.S. trade or
business if it is from:

Deposits with persons carrying on the

banking business,

Deposits or withdrawable accounts with

savings institutions chartered and supervised under federal or state law as savings
and loan or similar associations, such as
credit unions, if the interest is or would be
deductible by the institutions, or

Amounts left with an insurance company

under an agreement to pay interest on
them.

Deposits include certificates of deposit, open

account time deposits, Eurodollar certificates of
deposit, and other deposit arrangements.
The deposit interest exception does not require a Form W-8BEN. However, a Form
W-8BEN may be required for purposes of Form
1099 reporting and backup withholding.
You may have to file Form 1042-S to report
certain payments of interest on deposits.
Interest from foreign business arrangements. In certain cases, interest received
from a domestic payer most of whose gross
income is active foreign business income is not
subject to NRA withholding.
Active foreign business income is gross income which is:

Derived from sources outside the United

States, and

Attributable to the active conduct of a

trade or business in a foreign country or

possession of the United States by the
domestic payer.

Obligations issued before August 10, 2010.

Interest received from a resident alien individual
or a domestic corporation is not subject to NRA
withholding if the interest meets all of the following requirements.

At least 80% of the payers gross income

from all sources has been from active foreign business for the 3 tax years of the
Publication 515 (2012)

payer before the year in which the interest

is paid, or for the applicable part of those 3
years.

The recipient is not a related person. Use

rules similar to those in section 954(d)(3)

of the Internal Revenue Code to determine
if the recipient is a related person.

The interest is paid on an obligation issued before August 10, 2010.

The obligation has not been significantly

modified since August 10, 2010.

Corporations existing on January 1, 2011.

Certain interest received from a domestic corporation that is an existing 80/20 company is not
subject to NRA withholding. An existing 80/20
company must meet all of the following requirements.

It was in existence on January 1, 2011.

For the 3 tax years beginning before January 1, 2011 (or for its years of existence if
the corporation was in existence for less
than 3 tax years), at least 80% of its gross
income from all sources was active foreign
business income.

It continues to meet the 80-percent test for

every tax year beginning after December
31, 2010.

It has not added a substantial line of business after August 10, 2010.

Transitional rule for active foreign business

income. In most cases, the domestic corporation determines its active foreign business income by combining its income and the income of
any subsidiary in which it owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the stock. However, if the
testing period includes one or more tax years
beginning before January 1, 2011, the corporation can use only its gross income for any tax
year beginning before January 1, 2011, and will
meet the 80% test if the weighted average percentage of active foreign business income is
more than 80%.
A foreign beneficial owner does not need to
provide a Form W-8 or documentary evidence
for this exception. However, documentation may
be required for purposes of Form 1099 reporting
and backup withholding.
Sales of bonds between interest dates.
Amounts paid as part of the purchase price of an
obligation sold or exchanged between interest
payment dates is not subject to NRA withholding. This does not apply if the sale or exchange
is part of a plan the principal purpose of which is
to avoid tax and you have actual knowledge or
reason to know of the plan. The exemption from
NRA withholding applies even if you do not have
any documentation from the payee. However,
documentation may be required for purposes of
Form 1099 reporting and backup withholding.
Short-term obligations. Interest and original
issue discount paid on an obligation that is payable 183 days or less from the date of its original
issue (without regard to the period held by the
taxpayer) is not subject to NRA withholding. This
exemption applies even if you do not have any
Publication 515 (2012)

documentation from the payee. However, documentation may be required for purposes of Form
1099 reporting and backup withholding.
Income from U.S. Savings Bonds of residents of the Ryukyu Islands or the Trust
Territory of the Pacific Islands. Interest from
a Series E, Series EE, Series H, or Series HH
U.S. Savings Bond is not subject to NRA withholding if the nonresident alien individual acquired the bond while a resident of the Ryukyu
Islands or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

Dividends
The following types of dividends paid to foreign
payees are generally subject to NRA withholding.
Dividends paid by U.S. corporations general (Income Code 6). This category includes
all distributions of domestic corporations (other
than dividends qualifying for direct dividend
rate Income Code 7).
A corporation making a distribution with respect to its stock or any intermediary making a
payment of such a distribution, is required to
withhold on the entire amount of the distribution.
However, a distributing corporation or intermediary may elect to not withhold on the part of the
distribution that:
1. Represents a nontaxable distribution payable in stock or stock rights,
2. Represents a distribution in part or full payment in exchange for stock,
3. Is not paid out of current or accumulated
earnings and profits, based on a reasonable estimate of the anticipated amount of
earnings and profits for the tax year of the
distribution made at a time reasonably
close to the date of the distribution,
4. Represents a capital gain dividend (use
Income Code 36) or an exempt interest
dividend by a regulated investment company, or
5. Is subject to withholding under section
1445 of the Code (withholding on dispositions of U.S. real property interests) and
the distributing corporation is a U.S. real
property holding corporation or a qualified
investment entity.
The election is made by actually reducing the
amount of withholding at the time the distribution
is paid.
A qualified investment entity (QIE) is:
1. Any real estate investment trust (REIT), or
2. Any regulated investment company (RIC)
that is a U.S. real property holding corporation, but only for distributions by the RIC
that are directly or indirectly attributable to
distributions the RIC received from a REIT.
In determining if the RIC is a U.S. real property
holding corporation, the RIC is required to include as U.S. real property interests its holdings
of stock in a RIC or REIT that is a U.S. real
property holding company, even if the stock is
regularly traded and the RIC owns more than
5% of the stock.

Dividends paid by a QIE. A distribution by

a QIE to a nonresident alien or a foreign corporation is treated as a dividend and is not subject
to withholding under section 1445 as a gain from
the sale or exchange of a U.S. real property
interest if:

The distribution is on stock regularly

traded on a securities market in the United
States, and

The individual or corporation did not own

more than 5% of that stock at any time
during the 1-year period ending on the
date of distribution.
If these requirements are not met, item (5) in the
previous list applies to the distribution.
Dividends paid by a domestic corporation
(an existing 80/20 company). The active
foreign business percentage of any dividend
paid by a domestic corporation that is an existing
80/20 company is not subject to NRA withholding. A domestic corporation is an existing 80/20
company if it satisfies all of the following.
1. It was in existence on January 1, 2011.
2. For the 3 tax years beginning before January 1, 2011 (or for all years of existence if
it was in existence for less than 3 tax
years), at least 80% of its gross income
from all sources was active foreign business income. Active foreign business income is gross income that is:
a. Derived from sources outside the
United States, and
b. Attributable to the active conduct of a
trade or business in a foreign country or
possession of the United States by the
corporation.
3. It continues to meet the 80-percent test for
every tax year beginning after December
31, 2010.
4. It has not added a substantial line of business after August 10, 2010.
Transitional rule for item (2). In most
cases, the domestic corporation determines its
active foreign business income by combining its
income and the income of any subsidiary in
which it owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more
of the stock. However, if the testing period includes one or more tax years beginning before
January 1, 2011, the corporation can use only its
gross income for any tax year beginning before
January 1, 2011, and will meet the 80% test if
the weighted average percentage of active foreign business income is more than 80%.
The active foreign business percentage is
found by dividing the corporations active foreign
business income for the testing period by the
corporations total gross income for that period.
The testing period is the 3 tax years before the
year in which the dividends are declared (or
shorter period if the corporation was not in existence for 3 years). If the corporation has no
gross income for that 3-year period, the testing
period is the tax year in which the dividend is
paid.
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Consent dividends. If you receive a Form

972, Consent of Shareholder To Include Specific Amount in Gross Income, from a nonresident alien individual or other foreign shareholder
who agrees to treat the amount as a taxable
dividend, you must pay and report on Form 1042
and Form 1042-S any withholding tax you would
have withheld if the dividend had been actually
paid.
Dividends qualifying for direct dividend rate
(Income Code 7). A treaty may reduce the
rate of withholding on dividends from that which
generally applies under the treaty if the shareholder owns a certain percentage of the voting
stock of the corporation. In most cases, this
preferential rate applies only if the shareholder
directly owns the required percentage, although
some treaties permit the percentage to be met
by direct or indirect ownership. The preferential
rate may apply to the payment of a deemed
dividend under section 304(a)(1) of the Code.
Under some treaties, the preferential rate for
dividends qualifying for the direct dividend rate
applies only if no more than a certain percentage
of the paying corporations gross income for a
certain period consists of dividends and interest
other than dividends and interest from subsidiaries or from the active conduct of a banking,
financing, or insurance business. A foreign person claiming the direct dividend rate should
complete line 10 of Form W-8BEN regarding
special rates and conditions.
Consent dividends. If you receive a Form
972 from a foreign shareholder qualifying for the
direct dividend rate, you must pay and report on
Form 1042 and Form 1042-S any withholding
tax you would have withheld if the dividend had
been actually paid.
Dividends paid by foreign corporations (Income Code 8). Dividends paid by a foreign
corporation are generally not subject to NRA
withholding. This exception does not require a
Form W-8BEN. However, a Form W-8BEN may
be required for purposes of Form 1099 reporting
and backup withholding.
The payment to a foreign corporation by a
foreign corporation of a deemed dividend under
section 304(a)(1) of the Code is subject to NRA
withholding except to the extent it can be clearly
determined to be from foreign sources.
Corporation subject to branch profits tax.
If a foreign corporation is subject to branch profits tax for any tax year, withholding is not required on any dividends paid by the corporation
out of its earnings and profits for that tax year.
Dividends may be subject to NRA withholding if
they are attributable to any earnings and profits
when the branch profits tax is prohibited by a tax
treaty.
A foreign person may claim a treaty benefit
on dividends paid by a foreign corporation to the
extent the dividends are paid out of earnings and
profits in a year in which the foreign corporation
was not subject to the branch profits tax. However, you may apply a reduced rate of withholding under an income tax treaty only under rules
similar to the rules that apply to treaty benefits
claimed on branch interest paid by a foreign
corporation. You should check the specific
treaty provision.
Dividends paid to Puerto Rico corporation.
The tax rate on dividends paid to a corporation
Page 20

created or organized in, or under the law of, the

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is 10%, rather
than 30%, if:

At all times during the tax year less than

25% in value of the Puerto Rico corporations stock is owned, directly or indirectly,
by foreign persons,

At least 65% of the Puerto Rico corporations gross income is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or
business in Puerto Rico or the United
States for the 3-year period ending with
the close of the tax year of that corporation (or the period the corporation or any
predecessor has been in existence, if
less), and

No substantial part of the income of the

Puerto Rico corporation is used, directly or

indirectly, to satisfy obligations to a person
who is not a bona fide resident of Puerto
Rico or the United States.

Dividend equivalent payments. Dividend

equivalent payments are treated as U.S. source
dividends. Use Income Code 34 or 40 to report
dividend equivalent payments.
A dividend equivalent is a payment that,
directly or indirectly, is contingent on, or determined by reference to, the payment of a dividend from U.S. sources. Dividend equivalent
payments include the following payments.
1. A substitute dividend made under a securities lending or sale-repurchase transaction
involving a U.S. stock,
2. A payment made under a specified notional principal contract, and
3. Any payment determined by the IRS to be
substantially similar to a payment in (1) or
(2) above.

The IRS identifies the contract as an

SNPC.

For payments made after March 18, 2012, an

SNPC is any notional principal contract unless
the IRS has determined that the contract is a
type that does not have the potential for tax
avoidance.
Amounts paid to qualified securities lenders. A withholding agent that makes payments
of substitute dividends to a qualified securities
lender (QSL) should treat the QSL as the recipient. The withholding agent is not required to
withhold on a substitute dividend payment that is
part of a series of dividend equivalent payments
if it receives, at least annually, a certificate from
the QSL that includes a statement with the following information.

The recipient of the substitute dividend is

a QSL, and

With respect to the substitute dividend it

receives from the withholding agent, the

QSL states that it will withhold and remit
the proper amount of U.S. gross-basis tax.

For more information, see Notice 2010-46,

2010-24 I.R.B. 757, available at www.irs.gov/irb/
2010-24_IRB/ar09.html.

Gains
You generally do not need to withhold on any
gain from the sale of real or personal property
because it is not FDAP income. However, see
U.S. Real Property Interest, later.
Capital gains (Income Code 9). You must
withhold at 30%, or if applicable, a reduced
treaty rate, on the gross amount of the following
items:

Gains on the disposal of timber, coal, or

domestic iron ore with a retained economic interest, unless an election is made
to treat those gains as income effectively
connected with a U.S. trade or business,

Substitute dividend (Income Code 34). A

substitute dividend is any payment made in a
securities lending or sale-repurchase transaction that (directly or indirectly) is contingent
upon, or determined by reference to, the payment of a dividend from sources in the United
States.

Gains on contingent payments received

Specified notional principal contract

(SNPC). For payments made before March
19, 2012, a specified notional principal contract
is any notional principal contract that satisfies
one or more of the following.

Gains on certain transfers of all substantial

In connection with entering into the con-

tract, any long party to the contract transfers the underlying security to any short
party to the contract.

In connection with the termination of the

contract, any short party to the contract
transfers the underlying security to any
long party to the contract.

The underlying security is not readily

tradeable on an established securities

market.

In connection with entering into the con-

tract, the underlying security is posted as

collateral by any short party to the contract
with any long party to the contract.

from the sale or exchange after October 4,

1966, of patents, copyrights, secret
processes and formulas, goodwill, trademarks, trade brands, franchises, and other
like property,
rights to, or an undivided interest in, patents if the transfers were made before October 5, 1966, and

Certain gains from the sale or exchange of

original issue discount obligations issued
after March 31, 1972. For more on withholding on original issue discount obligations, see Interest, earlier.

If you do not know the amount of the gain, you

must withhold an amount necessary to ensure
that the tax withheld will not be less than 30% of
the recognized gain. The amount to be withheld,
however, must not be more than 30% of the
amount payable because of the transaction.
Unless you have reason to believe otherwise, you may rely upon the written statement of
the person entitled to the income as to the
amount of gain. The Form W-8 or documentary
Publication 515 (2012)

evidence must show the beneficial owners basis in the property giving rise to the gain.
Tax treaties. Many tax treaties exempt certain
types of gains from U.S. income tax. Be sure to
carefully check the provision of the treaty that
applies before allowing an exemption from withholding.

Royalties
In general, you must withhold tax on the payment of royalties from sources in the United
States. However, certain types of royalties are
given reduced rates or exemptions under some
tax treaties. Accordingly, these different types of
royalties are treated as separate categories for
withholding purposes.
Most treaties have more than one withholding rate on royalties, which varies
CAUTION
by the classification of the payment in
that treaty. Be sure to check your particular
treaty for the specific rate that applies to you.
Industrial royalties (Income Code 10). This
category of income includes royalties for the use
of, or the right to use, patents, trademarks, secret processes and formulas, goodwill,
franchises, know-how, and similar rights. It
may also include payments for the use of, or
right to use, industrial, commercial, and scientific equipment, when this is included in the
treaty definition of royalties.

Motion picture or television copyright royalties (Income Code 11). This category refers
to royalties paid for the use of motion picture and
television copyrights.
Other royalties (for example, copyright, recording, publishing) (Income Code 12).
This category refers to the royalties paid for the
use of copyrights on books, periodicals, articles,
etc., except motion picture and television copyrights.

amounts paid under an annuity contract issued

by a foreign branch of a U.S. life insurance
company. However, most tax treaties provide
that private pensions and annuities are exempt
from withholding.
In the absence of a treaty exemption, you
must withhold at the statutory rate of 30% on the
entire distribution that is from sources within the
United States. You may, however, apply withholding at graduated rates to the part of a distribution that arises from the performance of
services in the United States after December 31,
1986.
Employer contributions to a defined benefit
plan covering more than one individual are not
made for the benefit of a specific participant, but
are made based on the total liabilities to all
participants. All funds held under the plan are
available to provide benefits to any participant. If
the distribution is from such a plan, you can use
the method in Revenue Procedure 2004-37 to
allocate the distribution to sources in the United
States.
The withholding rules that apply to payments
to foreign persons generally take precedence
over any other withholding rules that would apply to distributions from qualified plans and other
qualified retirement arrangements.
No withholding. Do not withhold tax on an
annuity payment to a nonresident alien if at the
time of the first payment from the plan, 90% or
more of the employees eligible for benefits
under the plan are citizens or residents of the
United States and the payment is:
1. For the nonresidents personal services
performed outside the United States; or
2. For personal services by a nonresident individual present in the United States for 90
days or less during each tax year, whose
pay for those services did not exceed
$3,000, and the personal services were
performed for:

Real Property Income and

Natural Resources Royalties
(Income Code 13)

a. A nonresident alien individual, foreign

partnership, or foreign corporation not
engaged in a trade or business in the
United States; or

You must withhold tax on income (such as rents

and royalties) from real property located in the
United States and held for the production of
income, unless the foreign payee elects to treat
this income as effectively connected with a U.S.
trade or business. If the foreign payee chooses
to treat this income as effectively connected, the
payee must give you Form W-8ECI (discussed
earlier). This real property income includes royalties from mines, wells, or other natural deposits, as well as ordinary rents for the use of real
property. For withholding that applies to the disposition of U.S. real property interests, see U.S.
Real Property Interest, later.

b. An office or place of business of a U.S.

resident or citizen which was maintained outside the United States.

Pensions, Annuities, and

Alimony (Income Code 14)

If the payment otherwise qualifies under

these rules, but less than 90% of the employees
eligible for benefits are citizens or residents of
the United States, you still need not withhold tax
on the payment if:

The recipient is a resident of a country that

gives a substantially equal exclusion to
U.S. citizens and residents, or

The recipient is a resident of a beneficiary

developing country under the Trade Act of

1974.

The following rules apply to withholding on pensions, annuities, and alimony of foreign payees.

The foreign person entitled to the payments

must provide you with a Form W-8BEN that
contains the TIN of the foreign person.

Pensions and annuities. In most cases, you

must withhold tax on the gross amount of pensions and annuities that you pay that are from
sources within the United States. This includes

Alimony payments. In most cases, alimony

payments made by U.S. resident aliens to nonresident aliens are taxable and subject to NRA
withholding whether the recipients are residing

Publication 515 (2012)

abroad or are temporarily present in the United

States.
Many tax treaties, however, provide for an
exemption from withholding for alimony payments. These treaties are shown in Table 1 by a
footnote reference under Income Code 14.
Alimony payments made to a nonresident
alien by a U.S. ancillary administrator of a nonresident alien estate are from foreign sources
and are not subject to withholding.

Scholarships and Fellowship

Grants (Income Code 15)
A scholarship or fellowship grant is an amount
given to an individual for study, training, or research, and which does not constitute compensation for personal services. Whether a
fellowship grant from U.S. sources is subject to
NRA withholding depends on the nature of the
payments and whether the recipient is a candidate for a degree. See Scholarships, fellowships, and grants under Source of Income,
earlier.
Candidate for a degree. Do not withhold on a
qualified scholarship from U.S. sources granted
and paid to a candidate for a degree. A qualified
scholarship means any amount paid to an individual as a scholarship or fellowship grant to the
extent that, in accordance with the conditions of
the grant, the amount is to be used for the
following expenses:

Tuition and fees required for enrollment or

attendance at an educational organization,

and

Fees, books, supplies, and equipment re-

quired for courses of instruction at the educational organization.

The payment of a qualified scholarship to a

nonresident alien is not reportable and is not
subject to NRA withholding. However, the part of
a scholarship or fellowship paid to a nonresident
alien which does not constitute a qualified scholarship is reportable on Form 1042-S and is subject to NRA withholding. For example, those
parts of a scholarship devoted to travel, room,
and board are subject to NRA withholding and
are reported on Form 1042-S. The withholding
rate is 14% on taxable scholarship and fellowship grants paid to nonresident aliens temporarily present in the United States in F, J, M, or
Q nonimmigrant status. Payments made to
nonresident alien individuals in any other immigration status are subject to 30% withholding.
Nondegree candidate. If the person receiving
the scholarship or fellowship grant is not a candidate for a degree, and is present in the United
States in F, J, M, or Q nonimmigrant status, you must withhold tax at 14% on the total
amount of the grant that is from U.S. sources if
the following requirements are met.
1. The grant must be for study, training, or
research in the United States.
2. The grant must be made by:
a. A tax-exempt organization operated for
charitable, religious, educational, etc.
purposes,
b. A foreign government,
Page 21

c. A federal, state, or local government

agency, or

These additional amounts should be entered on

lines C and D, as appropriate.

d. An international organization, or a binational or multinational educational or

cultural organization created or continued by the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (known as
the Fulbright-Hays Act).

As lines E, F, and G of the worksheet do not

apply to nonresident aliens subject to this procedure, there should be no entries on those lines.
The nonresident alien student or grantee
may deduct away-from-home expenses (meals,
lodging, and transportation) on Form W-4 if he or
she expects to be away from his or her tax home
for 1 year or less. The amount of the claimed
expenses should be the anticipated actual
amount, if known.
The actual expenses or the per diem allowance should be shown on line A of the worksheet in addition to the personal exemption
amount.
The student or grantee can claim other expenses that will be deductible on Form 1040NR,
U.S. Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return.
These include student loan interest, certain
state and local income taxes, charitable contributions, casualty losses, and moving expenses.
He or she should include these anticipated
amounts on line A of the worksheet.
The student or grantee can also enter on line
A of the worksheet, the part of the grant or
scholarship that is tax exempt under the statute
or a tax treaty.
Lines A through D of the Personal Allowances Worksheet are added and the total
should be shown on line H.
The payer of the grant or scholarship must
review the Form W-4 to make sure all the necessary and required information is provided. If the
withholding agent knows or has reason to know
that the amounts shown on the Form W-4 may
be false, the withholding agent must reject the
Form W-4 and withhold at the appropriate statutory rate (14% or 30%). However, if the only
incorrect information is that the student or
grantees stay in the United States has extended
beyond 12 months, the withholding agent may
withhold under these rules, but without a deduction for away-from-home expenses.
After receipt and acceptance of the Form
W-4, the payer must withhold at the graduated
rates in Publication 15 (Circular E) as if the grant
or scholarship income were wages. The gross
amount of the income is reduced by the total
amount of exemptions and deductions on the
Form W-4 and the withholding tax is figured on
the rest.
When completing Form 1042-S for the student or grantee, enter the taxable part (gross
amount less qualified scholarship) of the scholarship or fellowship grant in box 2, enter the
withholding allowance amount from line H of the
Personal Allowances Worksheet of Form W-4 in
box 3, and show the net of these two amounts in
box 4.

If the grant does not meet both (1) and (2)

above, you must withhold at 30% on the amount
of the grant that is from U.S. sources.
Alternate withholding procedure. You may
choose to treat the taxable part of a U.S. source
grant or scholarship as wages. The student or
grantee must have been admitted into the
United States on an F, J, M, or Q visa. The
student or grantee will know that you are using
this alternate withholding procedure when you
ask for a Form W-4.
The student or grantee must complete Form
W-4 annually following the instructions given
here and forward it to you, the payer of the
scholarship, or your designated withholding
agent. You may rely on the information on Form
W-4 unless you know or have reason to know it
is incorrect. You must file a Form 1042-S (discussed later) for each student or grantee who
gives you, or your withholding agent, a Form
W-4.
Each student or grantee who files a Form
W-4 must file an annual U.S. income tax return
to be allowed the exemptions and deductions
claimed on that form. If the individual is in the
United States during more than one tax year, he
or she must attach a statement to the annual
Form W-4 indicating that the individual has filed
a U.S. income tax return for the previous year. If
he or she has not been in the United States long
enough to have to file a return, the individual
must attach a statement to the Form W-4 saying
that a timely U.S. income tax return will be filed.
A prorated part of allowable personal exemptions based on the projected number of days he
or she will be in this country is allowed. This is
figured by multiplying the daily exemption
amount ($10.38 for 2012) by the number of days
the student or grantee expects to be in the
United States during the year. The prorated exemption amount should be shown on line A of
the Personal Allowances Worksheet that comes
with Form W-4.
In most cases, zero (-0-) should be shown on
line B of the worksheet. But, a student or grantee
who qualifies under Article 21(2) of the United
States-India income tax treaty can enter the
standard deduction if he or she does not claim
away-from-home expenses or other itemized
deductions (discussed later).
In most cases, zero (-0-) should be shown on
lines C and D of the worksheet. But, an additional daily exemption amount may be allowed
for the spouse and each dependent if the student or grantee is:

A resident of Canada, Mexico, or South

Korea;

A U.S. national (a citizen of American Samoa, or a Northern Mariana Islander who

chose to become a U.S. national); or

Eligible for the benefits of Article 21(2) of

the United States-India income tax treaty.

Page 22

Pay for services rendered. Pay for services

rendered as an employee by an alien who also is
the recipient of a scholarship or fellowship grant
usually is subject to graduated withholding according to the rules discussed later in Wages
Paid to Employees Graduated Withholding.
This includes taxable amounts an individual who
is a candidate for a degree receives for teaching,
doing research, and carrying out other part-time
employment required as a condition for receiving the scholarship or fellowship grant.
Grants given to students, trainees, or researchers which require the performance of personal services as a necessary condition for

disbursing the grant do not qualify as scholarship or fellowship grants. Instead, they are compensation for personal services considered to
be wages. It does not matter what term is used
to describe the grant (for example, stipend,
scholarship, fellowship, etc.).
Withholding agents who pay grants
that are in fact wages must report such
CAUTION
grants on Forms 941 and W-2 and
withhold income tax on them at the graduated
rates. Withholding agents may not allow tax
treaty exemptions that apply to scholarships and
fellowships to be applied to grants that are really
wages. It is the responsibility of the withholding
agent to determine whether a grant is wages or
a scholarship or fellowship, and to report and
withhold on the grant accordingly. An alien student, trainee, or researcher may not claim a
scholarship or fellowship treaty exemption
against income that has been reported to him on
Form W-2 as wages.

Per diem paid by the U.S. Government. Per

diem for subsistence paid by the U.S. Government (directly or by contract) to a nonresident
alien engaged in a training program in the United
States funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development are not subject to 14% or
30% withholding. This is true even if the alien is
subject to income tax on those amounts.
Tax treaties. Many treaties contain exemptions from U.S. taxation for scholarships and
fellowships. Although usually found in the student articles of the tax treaties, many of these
exemptions also apply to research grants received by researchers who are not students.
Table 2 of this publication shows a line entry
entitled Scholarship or fellowship grant for
those treaties which have such an exemption.
The treaty provision usually exempts the entire
scholarship or fellowship amount, regardless of
whether the grant is a qualified scholarship
under U.S. law.
An alien student, trainee, or researcher may
claim a treaty exemption for a scholarship or
fellowship by submitting Form W-8BEN to the
payer of the grant. However, a scholarship or
fellowship recipient who receives both wages
and a scholarship or fellowship from the same
institution can claim treaty exemptions on both
kinds of income on Form 8233.
The scholarship or fellowship recipient who
is claiming a treaty exemption must provide you
with his or her TIN on Form W-8BEN or on Form
8233 or you cannot allow the treaty exemption.
A copy of a completed Form W-7, showing that a
TIN has been applied for, can be given to you
with a Form 8233. See Form 8233, later, under
Pay for Personal Services Performed.
Nonresident alien who becomes a resident
alien. In most cases, only a nonresident alien
individual may use the terms of a tax treaty to
reduce or eliminate U.S. tax on income from a
scholarship or fellowship grant. A student (including a trainee or business apprentice) or researcher who has become a resident alien for
U.S. tax purposes may not use the terms of a tax
treaty due to a provision known as a saving
clause. However, an exception to the saving
clause may permit an exemption from tax to
continue for scholarship or fellowship grant income even after the recipient has otherwise
become a U.S. resident alien for tax purposes.
Publication 515 (2012)

In this situation, the individual must give you a

Form W-9 and an attachment that includes all
the following information.

The treaty country.

The treaty article addressing the income.
The article number (or location) in the tax

treaty that contains the saving clause and

its exceptions.

The type and amount of income that qualifies for the exemption from tax.

Sufficient facts to justify the exemption

from tax under the terms of the treaty article.

Example. Article 20 of the U.S.-China income tax treaty allows an exemption from tax for
scholarship income received by a Chinese student temporarily present in the United States.
Under the Internal Revenue Code, a student
may become a resident alien for tax purposes if
his or her stay in the United States exceeds 5
calendar years. However, the treaty allows the
provisions of Article 20 to continue to apply even
after the Chinese student becomes a resident
alien of the United States.

Other Grants, Prizes, and Awards

Other grants, prizes, and awards made by grantors that reside in the United States are treated
as income from sources within the United
States. Those made for activities conducted
outside the United States by a foreign person or
by grantors that reside outside the United States
are treated as income from foreign sources.
These provisions do not apply to salaries or
other pay for services.
Grant. The purpose of a grant must be to
achieve a specific objective, produce a report or
other similar product, or improve or enhance a
literary, artistic, musical, scientific, teaching, or
other similar capacity, skill, or talent of the
grantee. A grant must also be an amount which
does not qualify as a scholarship or fellowship.
The grantor must not intend the amount to be
given to the grantee for the purpose of aiding the
grantee to perform study, training, or research.
Prizes and awards. Prizes and awards are
amounts received primarily in recognition of religious, charitable, scientific, educational, artistic, literary, or civic achievement, or are received
as the result of entering a contest. A prize or
award is taxable to the recipient unless all of the
following conditions are met:

The recipient was selected without any action on his or her part to enter the contest
or proceeding,

The recipient is not required to render substantial future services as a condition to

receive the prize or award, and

The prize or award is transferred by the

payer to a governmental unit or

tax-exempt charitable organization as designated by the recipient.

Publication 515 (2012)

Targeted grants and achievement awards.

Targeted grants and achievement awards received by nonresident aliens for activities conducted outside the United States are treated as
income from foreign sources. Targeted grants
and achievement awards are issued by exempt
organizations or by the United States (or one of
its instruments or agencies), a state (or a political subdivision of a state), or the District of
Columbia for an activity (or past activity in the
case of an achievement award) undertaken in
the public interest.

Pay for Personal

Services Performed
This section explains the rules for withholding
tax from pay for personal services. You generally must withhold tax at the 30% rate on compensation you pay to a nonresident alien
individual for labor or personal services performed in the United States, unless that pay is
specifically exempted from withholding or subject to graduated withholding. This rule applies
regardless of your place of residence, the place
where the contract for service was made, or the
place of payment.
Illegal aliens. Foreign workers who are illegal
aliens are subject to U.S. taxes in spite of their
illegal status. U.S. employers or payers who hire
illegal aliens may be subject to various fines,
penalties, and sanctions imposed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. If such employers or payers choose to hire illegal aliens,
the payments made to those aliens are subject
to the same tax withholding and reporting obligations that apply to other classes of aliens.
Illegal aliens who are nonresident aliens and
who receive income from performing independent personal services are subject to 30% withholding unless exempt under some provision of
law or a tax treaty. Illegal aliens who are resident
aliens and who receive income from performing
dependent personal services are subject to the
same reporting and withholding obligations that
apply to U.S. citizens who receive the same kind
of income.
Form 8233, Exemption From Withholding on
Compensation for Independent (and Certain
Dependent) Personal Services of a Nonresident Alien Individual. This form is used by a
nonresident alien individual to claim a tax treaty
exemption from withholding on some or all compensation paid for:

Independent personal services

(self-employment),

Dependent personal services, or

Personal services income and noncompensatory scholarship or fellowship income from the same withholding agent.

Persons providing independent personal

services can use Form 8233 to claim the personal exemption amount.
Form W-4, Employees Withholding Allowance Certificate. This form is used by a person providing dependent personal services to
claim the personal exemption amount, but not a
tax treaty exemption. Nonresident alien individuals are subject to special instructions for completing the Form W-4. See the discussion under

Wages Paid to Employees Graduated Withholding, later.

Pay for independent personal services (Income Code 16). Independent personal services (a term commonly used in tax treaties) are
personal services performed by an independent
nonresident alien contractor as contrasted with
those performed by an employee. This category
of pay includes payments for professional services, such as fees of an attorney, physician, or
accountant made directly to the person performing the services. It also includes honoraria paid
by colleges and universities to visiting teachers,
lecturers, and researchers.
Pay for independent personal services is
subject to NRA withholding and reporting as
follows.
30% rate. You must withhold at the statutory
rate of 30% on all payments unless the alien
enters into a withholding agreement or receives
a final payment exemption (discussed later).
The amount of pay subject to 30% withholding may be reduced by the personal exemption
amount ($3,800 for 2012) if the alien gives you a
properly completed Form 8233. A nonresident
alien is allowed only one personal exemption.
However, individuals who are residents of Canada, Mexico, or South Korea, or are U.S. nationals generally are entitled to the same
exemptions as U.S. citizens.
Students and business apprentices covered
by Article 21(2) of the United States-India income tax treaty may claim an additional exemption for their spouse if a joint return is not filed,
and if the spouse has no gross income for the
year and is not the dependent of another taxpayer. They also may claim additional exemptions for children who reside with them in the
United States at any time during the year, but
only if the dependents are U.S. citizens or nationals or residents of the United States, Canada, or Mexico. They may not claim exemptions
for dependents who are admitted to the United
States on F-2, J-2, or M-2 visas unless such
dependents have become resident aliens.
Each allowable exemption must be prorated
according to the number of days during the tax
year during which the alien performs services in
the United States. Multiply the number of these
days by $10.38 (the daily exemption amount for
2012) to figure the prorated amount. Residents
of South Korea must make a further proration of
their additional exemptions based on their gross
income effectively connected with a U.S. trade
or business. The rules for this proration are
discussed in detail in Publication 519.
A U.S. national is an individual who owes his
sole allegiance to the United States, but who is
not a U.S. citizen. Such an individual is usually a
citizen of American Samoa or a Northern Mariana Islander who chose to become a U.S. national.
Example 1. Hans Schmidt, who is a resident of Country X, worked (not as an employee)
for a U.S. company in the United States for 100
days during 2012 before returning to his country.
He earned $6,000 for the services performed
(not considered wages) in the United States.
Hans is married and has three dependent children. His wife did not work and had no income
subject to U.S. tax. Hans is allowed $1,038 as a
deduction against the payments for his personal
services performed in the United States (100
Page 23

days $10.38). Tax must be withheld at 30% on

the rest of his earnings, $4,962 ($6,000
$1,038).
Example 2. If, in Example 1, Hans were a
resident of Mexico, working under contract with
a domestic corporation, $5,190 (100 days
$10.38 per day for each of five exemptions)
would be allowed against the payments for personal services performed in the United States.
Tax must be withheld at 30% on the rest of his
earnings, $810 ($6,000 $5,190).
Withholding agreements. Pay for personal
services of a nonresident alien who is engaged
during the tax year in the conduct of a U.S. trade
or business may be wholly or partially exempted
from withholding at the statutory rate if an agreement has been reached between the Commissioner or his delegate and the alien as to the
amount of withholding required. This agreement
will be effective for payments covered by the
agreement that are made after the agreement is
executed by all parties. The alien must agree to
timely file an income tax return for the current tax
year.
Final payment exemption. The final payment of compensation for independent personal
services may be wholly or partially exempt from
withholding at the statutory rate. This exemption
applies to the last payment of compensation,
other than wages, for personal services rendered in the United States that the alien expects
to receive from any withholding agent during the
tax year.
To obtain the final payment exemption, the
alien, or the aliens agent, must file the forms
and provide the information required by the
Commissioner or his delegate. This information
includes, but is not limited to, the following items.

A statement by each withholding agent

from whom amounts of gross income effectively connected with the conduct of a
U.S. trade or business have been received
by the alien during the tax year. It must
show the amount of income paid and the
amount of tax withheld. The withholding
agent must sign the statement and include
a declaration that it is made under penalties of perjury.

A statement by the withholding agent from

whom the final payment of compensation

for personal services will be received
showing the amount of final payment and
the amount that would be withheld if a final
payment exemption is not granted. The
withholding agent must sign the statement
and include a declaration that it is made
under penalties of perjury.

A statement by the alien that he or she

does not intend to receive any other

amounts of gross income effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or
business during the current tax year.

The amount of tax that has been withheld

(or paid) under any other provision of the

Code or regulations for any income effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S.
trade or business during the current tax
year.

The amount of any outstanding tax liabilities, including any interest and penalties,

Page 24

from the current tax year or prior tax periods.

The provision of any income tax treaty

under which a partial or complete exemption from withholding may be claimed, the
country of the aliens residence, and a
statement of sufficient facts to justify an
exemption under that treaty.

The alien must give a statement, signed and

verified by a declaration that it is made under the
penalties of perjury, that all the information provided is true, and that to his or her knowledge no
relevant information has been omitted.
If satisfied with the information provided, the
Commissioner or his delegate will determine the
amount of the aliens tentative income tax for the
tax year on gross income effectively connected
with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business.
Ordinary and necessary business expenses
may be taken into account if proved to the satisfaction of the Commissioner or his delegate.
The Commissioner or his delegate will provide the alien with a letter to you, the withholding
agent, stating the amount of the final payment of
compensation for personal services that is exempt from withholding, and the amount that
would otherwise be withheld that may be paid to
the alien due to the exemption. The amount of
pay exempt from withholding cannot be more
than $5,000. The alien must give two copies of
the letter to you and must also attach a copy of
the letter to his or her income tax return for the
tax year for which the exemption is effective.
Travel expenses. If you pay or reimburse
the travel expenses of a nonresident alien, the
payments are not reportable to the IRS and are
not subject to NRA withholding if the payments
are made under an accountable plan as described in section 1.62-2 of the regulations. This
treatment applies only to that part of a payment
that represents the payment of travel and lodging expenses and not to that part that represents
compensation for independent personal services.
Tax treaties. Under some tax treaties, pay
for independent personal services performed in
the United States is treated as business income
and taxed according to the treaty provisions for
business profits.
Under other tax treaties, pay for independent
personal services performed in the United
States is exempt from U.S. income tax only if the
independent nonresident alien contractor performs the services during a period of temporary
presence in the United States (usually not more
than 183 days) and is a resident of the treaty
country.
Independent nonresident alien contractors
use Form 8233 to claim an exemption from withholding under a tax treaty. For more information,
see Form 8233, earlier.
Form 8233 should be used to claim a
treaty benefit based on a business
profits provision or an independent
personal services provision.
Often, you must withhold under the statutory
rules on payments made to a treaty country
resident contractor for services performed in the
United States. This is because the factors on
which the treaty exemption is based may not be
determinable until after the close of the tax year.

TIP

The contractor must then file a U.S. income tax

return (Form 1040NR) to recover any
overwithheld tax by providing the IRS with proof
that he or she is entitled to a treaty exemption.

Wages Paid to Employees

Graduated Withholding
Salaries, wages, bonuses, or any other pay for
personal services (referred to collectively as
wages) paid to nonresident alien employees are
subject to graduated withholding in the same
way as for U.S. citizens and residents if the
wages are effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business. Any wages paid
to a nonresident alien for personal services performed as an employee for an employer are
generally not subject to the 30% withholding if
the wages are subject to graduated withholding.
Also, the 30% withholding does not apply to
pay for personal services performed as an employee for an employer if it is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or
business and is specifically exempted from the
definition of wages. See Pay that is not wages,
later.
Special rule for certain agricultural workers.
The 30% withholding does not apply to pay for
personal services performed by a foreign agricultural worker in the United States on an H-2A
visa. However, if the total wages are $600 or
more and the worker does not give you a TIN,
you may need to backup withhold. You may
withhold at graduated rates if the employee asks
you to by giving you a completed Form W-4.
Pay for personal services that is not subject
to NRA withholding is not subject to reporting on
Form 1042-S. If the compensation is more than
$600, report it on Form W-2 (if the employee
gave you a TIN) or on Form 1099-MISC (if the
employee did not give you a TIN).
Employer-employee relationship. For pay
for personal services to qualify as wages, there
must be an employer-employee relationship.
Under the common law rules, every individual who performs services subject to the will and
control of an employer, both as to what shall be
done and how it shall be done, is an employee. It
does not matter that the employer allows the
employee considerable discretion and freedom
of action, as long as the employer has the legal
right to control both the method and the result of
the services.
If an employer-employee relationship exists,
it does not matter what the parties call the relationship. It does not matter if the employee is
called a partner, coadventurer, agent, or independent contractor. It does not matter how the
pay is measured, how the individual is paid, or
what the payments are called. Nor does it matter
whether the individual works full-time or
part-time.
The existence of the employer-employee relationship under the usual common law rules will
be determined, in doubtful cases, by an examination of the facts of each case.
Employee. An employee generally includes
any individual who performs services if the relationship between the individual and the person
for whom the services are performed is the legal
relationship of employer and employee. This
Publication 515 (2012)

includes an individual who receives a supplemental unemployment pay benefit that is treated
as wages.
No distinction is made between classes of
employees. Superintendents, managers, and
other supervisory personnel are employees. In
most cases, an officer of a corporation is an
employee, but a director acting in this capacity is
not. An officer who does not perform any services, or only minor services, and neither receives nor is entitled to receive any pay is not
considered an employee.
Employer. An employer is any person or
organization for whom an individual performs or
has performed any service, of whatever nature,
as an employee. The term employer includes
not only individuals and organizations in a trade
or business, but organizations exempt from income tax, such as religious and charitable organizations, educational institutions, clubs, social
organizations, and societies. It also includes the
governments of the United States, the states,
Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, as
well as their agencies, instrumentalities, and political subdivisions.
Two special definitions of employer that may
have considerable application to nonresident
aliens are:

An employer includes any person paying

wages for a nonresident alien individual,

foreign partnership, or foreign corporation
not engaged in trade or business in the
United States (including Puerto Rico as if
a part of the United States), and

An employer includes any person who has

control of the payment of wages for services that are performed for another person
who does not have that control.

For example, if a trust pays wages, such as

certain types of pensions, supplemental unemployment pay, or retired pay, and the person for
whom the services were performed has no legal
control over the payment of the wages, the trust
is the employer.
These special definitions have no effect
upon the relationship between an alien employee and the actual employer when determining whether the pay received is considered to be
wages.
If an employer-employee relationship exists,
the employer ordinarily must withhold the income tax from wage payments by using the
percentage method or wage bracket tables as
shown in Publication 15 (Circular E).
Pay that is not wages. Employment for which
the pay is not considered wages (for graduated
income tax withholding) includes, but is not limited to, the following items.

Agricultural labor if the total cash wages

paid to an individual worker during the

year is less than $150 and the total paid to
all workers during the year is less than
$2,500. But even if the total amount paid
to all workers is $2,500 or more, wages of
less than $150 per year paid to a worker
are not subject to income tax withholding if
certain conditions are met. For these conditions, see Publication 51 (Circular A).

Publication 515 (2012)

Services of a household nature performed

in or about the private home of an employer, or in or about the clubrooms or

house of a local college club, fraternity, or
sorority. A local college club, fraternity, or
sorority does not include an alumni club or
chapter and may not be operated primarily
as a business enterprise. Examples of
these services include those performed as
a cook, janitor, housekeeper, governess,
gardener, or houseparent.

Certain services performed outside the

course of the employers trade or business

for which cash payment is less than $50
for the calendar quarter.

Services performed as an employee of a

foreign government, without regard to citizenship, residence, or where services are

performed. These include services performed by ambassadors, other diplomatic
and consular officers and employees, and
nondiplomatic representatives. They do
not include services for a U.S. or Puerto
Rican corporation owned by a foreign government.

Services performed within or outside the

United States by an employee or officer

(regardless of citizenship or residence) of
an international organization designated
under the International Organizations Immunities Act.

Services performed by a duly ordained,

commissioned, or licensed minister of a

church, but only if performed in the exercise of the ministry and not as an employee of the United States, a U.S.
possession, or a foreign government, or
any of their political subdivisions. These
also include services performed by a
member of a religious order in carrying out
duties required by that order.

Tips paid to an employee if they are paid

in any medium other than cash or, if in

cash, they amount to less than $20 in any
calendar month in the course of employment.

Services performed outside the United

States. Compensation paid to a nonresident
alien (other than a resident of Puerto Rico, discussed later) for services performed outside the
United States is not considered wages and is not
subject to withholding.

A nonresident alien cannot claim exemption from withholding on Form

CAUTION
W-4. Use Form 8233 to claim a tax
treaty exemption from withholding. See Form
8233, earlier.
In completing Form W-4, nonresident aliens
should use the following instructions instead of
the instructions on Form W-4.

1. Check Single on line 3 (regardless of actual marital status).

2. Claim only one withholding allowance on
line 5, unless a resident of Canada, Mexico, or South Korea, or a U.S. national.
3. Write Nonresident Alien or NRA above
the dotted line on line 6.
Also see Notice 1392, Supplemental Form
W-4 Instructions for Nonresident Aliens.
Nonresident alien employees are not
required to request an additional withholding amount, but they can choose to
have an additional amount withheld on line 6.

TIP

Students and business apprentices from

India. Students and business apprentices who
are eligible for the benefits of Article 21(2) of the
United States-India income tax treaty can claim
additional withholding allowances on line 5 for
their spouses. In addition, they can claim an
additional withholding allowance for each dependent who has become a resident alien.
Determining amount to withhold. Employers are required to add an amount to the wages
of a nonresident alien employee solely for the
purpose of calculating income tax withholding.
The specific amounts depend on the payroll
period. These amounts can be found in Withholding Adjustment for Nonresident Aliens in
chapter 9 of Publication 15 (Circular E). This
adjustment does not apply to students and business apprentices from India.

CAUTION

Do not include the additional amount

on the employees Form W-2, Wage
and Tax Statement.

Reporting requirements for wages and withheld taxes paid to nonresident aliens. The
employer must report the amount of wages and
deposits of withheld income and social security
and Medicare taxes by filing Form 941. Household employers should see Publication 926,
Household Employers Tax Guide, for information on reporting and paying employment taxes
on wages paid to household employees.

Withholding exemptions. The amount of

wages subject to graduated withholding may be
reduced by the personal exemption amount
($3,800 for 2012). The personal exemptions allowed in figuring wages subject to graduated
withholding are the same as those discussed
earlier under Pay for independent personal services, except that an employee must claim them
on Form W-4.

Form W-2. The employer also must report

on Form W-2 the wages subject to NRA withholding and the withheld taxes. You must give
copies of this form to the employee. If the employee submits Form 8233 to claim exemption
from withholding under a tax treaty, the wages
are reported on Form 1042-S and not in box 1 of
Form W-2. Wages exempt under a tax treaty
may still be reported in the state and local wages
boxes of Form W-2 if such wages are subject to
state and local taxation. For more information,
see the instructions for these forms.

Special instructions for Form W-4. A nonresident alien subject to wage withholding must
give the employer a completed Form W-4 to
enable the employer to figure how much income
tax to withhold.

Trust fund recovery penalty. If you are a

person responsible for withholding, accounting
for, or depositing or paying employment taxes,
and willfully fail to do so, you can be held liable
for a penalty equal to the full amount of the
Page 25

unpaid trust fund tax, plus interest. A responsible person for this purpose can be an officer of a
corporation, a partner, a sole proprietor, or an
employee of any form of business. A trustee or
agent with authority over the funds of the business can also be held responsible for the penalty.
Willfully in this case means voluntarily, consciously, and intentionally. You are acting willfully if you pay other expenses of the business
instead of the withholding taxes.
Federal unemployment tax (FUTA). The employer must pay FUTA and file Form 940 or
940-EZ, Employers Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return. Only the employer
pays this tax; it is not deducted from the employees wages. In certain cases, wages paid to
students and railroad and agricultural workers
are exempt from FUTA tax. For more information, see the instructions for these forms.
Wages paid to nonresident alien students,
teachers, researchers, trainees, and other nonresident aliens in F-1, J-1, M-1, or Q nonimmigrant status are not subject to FUTA tax.
Pay for dependent personal services (Income Code 17). Dependent personal services are personal services performed in the
United States by a nonresident alien individual
as an employee rather than as an independent
contractor.
Pay for dependent personal services is subject to NRA withholding and reporting as follows.
Graduated rates. Ordinarily, you must withhold on pay (wages) for dependent personal
services using graduated rates. The nonresident alien must complete Form W-4 as discussed earlier under Special instructions for
Form W-4, and you must report wages and income tax withheld on Form W-2. However, you
do not have to withhold if any of the following
four exceptions applies.
Exception 1. Compensation paid for labor
or personal services performed in the United
States is deemed not to be income from sources
within the United States and is exempt from U.S.
income tax if:
1. The labor or services are performed by a
nonresident alien temporarily present in
the United States for a period or periods
not exceeding a total of 90 days during the
tax year;
2. The total pay does not exceed $3,000; and
3. The pay is for labor or services performed
as an employee of, or under a contract
with:
a. A nonresident alien individual, foreign
partnership, or foreign corporation that
is not engaged in a trade or business in
the United States, or
b. A U.S. citizen or resident alien individual, a domestic partnership, or a domestic corporation, if the labor or
services are performed for an office or
place of business maintained in a foreign country or in a possession of the
United States by this individual, partnership, or corporation.
Page 26

If the total pay is more than $3,000, the entire

amount is income from sources in the United
States and is subject to U.S. tax.
Also, compensation paid for labor or services
performed in the United States by a nonresident
alien in connection with the individuals temporary presence in the United States as a regular
member of the crew of a foreign vessel engaged
in transportation between the United States and
a foreign country or a U.S. possession is not
income from sources within the United States.
Exception 2. Compensation paid by a foreign employer to a nonresident alien for the
period the alien is temporarily present in the
United States on an F, J, or Q visa is exempt from U.S. income tax. For this purpose, a
foreign employer means:

A nonresident alien individual, foreign

partnership, or foreign corporation, or

An office or place of business maintained

in a foreign country or in a U.S. possession by a domestic corporation, a domestic partnership, or an individual U.S. citizen
or resident.

You can exempt the payment from withholding if you can reliably associate the payment
with a Form W-8BEN containing the taxpayer
identification number of the payee.
Exception 3. Compensation paid to certain
residents of Canada or Mexico who enter or
leave the United States at frequent intervals is
not subject to withholding. These aliens must
either:

Perform duties in transportation services

(such as a railroad, bus, truck, ferry,

steamboat, aircraft, or other type) between
the United States and Canada or Mexico;
or

Perform duties connected with an international project, relating to the construction,

maintenance, or operation of a waterway,
viaduct, dam, or bridge crossed by, or
crossing, the boundary between the
United States and Canada or the boundary between the United States and Mexico.

To qualify for the exemption from withholding

during a tax year, a Canadian or Mexican resident must give the employer a statement with
the employees name, address, and identification number, and certifying that the resident:

Is not a U.S. citizen or resident;

Is a resident of Canada or Mexico, whichever applies; and

Expects to perform the described duties

during the tax year in question.

The statement can be in any form, but it must

be dated and signed by the employee and must
include a written declaration that it is made
under penalties of perjury.
Canadian and Mexican residents employed entirely within the United States.
Neither the transportation service exception nor
the international projects exception applies to
the pay of a resident of Canada or Mexico who is
employed entirely within the United States and

who commutes from a home in Canada or Mexico to work in the United States. If an individual
works at a fixed point or points in the United
States (such as a factory, store, office, or designated area or areas), the wages for services
performed as an employee for an employer are
subject to graduated withholding.
Exception 4. Compensation paid for services performed in Puerto Rico by a nonresident
alien who is a resident of Puerto Rico for an
employer (other than the United States or one of
its agencies) is not subject to withholding.
Compensation paid for either of the following
types of services is not subject to withholding if
the alien does not expect to be a resident of
Puerto Rico during the entire tax year.

Services performed outside the United

States but not in Puerto Rico by a nonresident alien who is a resident of Puerto Rico
for an employer other than the United
States or one of its agencies; or

Services performed outside the United

States by a nonresident alien who is a

resident of Puerto Rico, as an employee of
the United States or any of its agencies.

To qualify for the exemption from withholding

for any tax year, the employee must give the
employer a statement showing the employees
name and address and certifying that the employee:

Is not a citizen or resident of the United

States, and

Is a resident of Puerto Rico who does not

expect to be a resident for that entire tax
year.

The statement must be signed and dated by the

employee and contain a written declaration that
it is made under penalties of perjury.
Tax treaties. Pay for dependent personal
services under some tax treaties is exempt from
U.S. income tax only if both the employer and
the employee are treaty country residents and
the nonresident alien employee performs the
services while temporarily living in the United
States (usually for not more than 183 days).
Other treaties provide for exemption from U.S.
tax on pay for dependent personal services if the
employer is any foreign resident and the employee is a treaty country resident and the nonresident alien employee performs the services
while temporarily in the United States.
Pay for teaching (Income Code 18). This
category is given a separate income code number because some tax treaties provide at least
partial exemption from withholding and from
U.S. tax. Pay for teaching means payments to a
nonresident alien professor, teacher, or researcher by a U.S. university or other accredited
educational institution for teaching or research
work at the institution.
Graduated rates. Graduated withholding of
income tax usually applies to all wages, salaries,
and other pay for teaching and research paid by
a U.S. educational institution during the period
the nonresident alien is teaching or performing
research at the institution.
Social security and Medicare tax. A nonresident alien temporarily in the United States
on an F-1, J-1, M-1, or Q-1 visa is not
Publication 515 (2012)

subject to social security and Medicare taxes on

pay for services performed to carry out the purpose for which the alien was admitted to the
United States. Social security and Medicare
taxes should not be withheld or paid on this
amount.
Example. A nonresident alien is issued a
visa to teach for a university. While in the United
States, he takes a part-time job working for a
chemical company. The wages earned while
teaching at the university are exempt from social
security and Medicare taxes. The wages earned
at the chemical company are subject to social
security and Medicare taxes.
If an alien is considered a resident alien, as
discussed earlier, that pay is subject to social
security and Medicare taxes even though the
alien is still in one of the nonimmigrant statuses
mentioned above. This rule also applies to
FUTA (unemployment) taxes paid by the employer. Teachers, researchers, and other employees temporarily present in the United States
on other nonimmigrant visas or in refugee or
asylee immigration status are fully liable for social security and Medicare taxes unless an exemption applies from one of the totalization
agreements in force between the United States
and several other nations.
The Social Security Administration
publishes the complete texts and explanatory pamphlets of the totalization
agreements, which are available by calling
1-800-772-1213 or by visiting the Social Security Administration web site at:
www.socialsecurity.gov/international.
Tax treaties. Under most tax treaties, pay
for teaching or research is exempt from U.S.
income tax and from withholding for a specified
period of time when paid to a professor, teacher,
or researcher who was a resident of the treaty
country immediately prior to entry into the United
States and who is not a citizen of the United
States (see Table 2). The U.S. educational institution paying the compensation must report the
amount of compensation paid each year which
is exempt from tax under a tax treaty on Form
1042-S. The employer should also report the
compensation in the state and local wages
boxes of Form W-2 if the wages are subject to
state and local taxes, or in the social security
and Medicare wages boxes of Form W-2 if the
wages are subject to social security and Medicare taxes.
Claimants must give you either Form
W-8BEN or 8233, as applicable, to obtain these
treaty benefits.
Pay during studying and training (Income
Code 19).
This category refers to pay (as
contrasted with remittances, allowances, or
other forms of scholarships or fellowship
grants see Scholarships and Fellowship
Grants, earlier) for personal services performed
while a nonresident alien is temporarily in the
United States as a student, trainee, or apprentice, or while acquiring technical, professional,
or business experience.
Graduated rates. Wages, salaries, or other
compensation paid to a nonresident alien student, trainee, or apprentice for labor or personal
services performed in the United States are subject to graduated withholding.
Publication 515 (2012)

Social security and Medicare tax. A nonresident alien temporarily in the United States
on an F-1, J-1, M-1, or Q-1 visa is not
subject to social security and Medicare taxes on
pay for services performed to carry out the purpose for which the alien was admitted to the
United States. Social security and Medicare
taxes should not be withheld or paid on this
amount. This exemption from social security and
Medicare taxes also applies to employment performed under Curricular Practical Training and
Optional Practical Training, on or off campus, by
foreign students in F-1, J-1, M-1, or Q
status as long as the employment is authorized
by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Example. A nonresident alien is admitted to
the United States to study surveying. As part of
her course, she apprentices to a surveyor. She
also works part time at a restaurant to supplement her income. The wages she earns as an
apprentice are not subject to social security and
Medicare taxes. The wages and tips she earns
at the restaurant are subject to social security
and Medicare taxes.
If an alien is considered a resident alien, as
discussed earlier, that pay is subject to social
security and Medicare taxes even though the
alien is still in one of the nonimmigrant statuses
mentioned above. This rule also applies to
FUTA (unemployment) taxes paid by the employer.
Any student who is enrolled and regularly
attending classes at a school may be exempt
from social security, Medicare, and FUTA taxes
on pay for services performed for that school.
See Publication 15 (Circular E).
Tax treaties. Many tax treaties provide an
exemption from U.S. income tax and from withholding on compensation paid to nonresident
alien students or trainees during training in the
United States for a limited period. In addition,
some treaties provide an exemption from tax
and withholding for compensation paid by the
U.S. Government or its contractor to a nonresident alien student or trainee who is temporarily
present in the United States as a participant in a
program sponsored by the U.S. Government
(see Table 2). However, a withholding agent
who is a U.S. resident, a U.S. Government
agency, or its contractor must report the amount
of pay on Form 1042-S.
Claimants must give you either Form
W-8BEN or 8233, as applicable, to obtain these
treaty benefits.

Artists and Athletes

(Income Codes 42 and 43)
Because many tax treaties contain a provision
for pay to artists and athletes, a separate category is assigned these payments for withholding
purposes. This category includes payments
made for performances by public entertainers
(such as theater, motion picture, radio, or television artists, or musicians) or athletes.
Use Income Code 42 to report payments to
artists and athletes who have not signed a central withholding agreement (CWA), discussed
later. Use Income Code 43 to report payments to
artists and athletes who have signed a CWA.

Income Code 42. You must withhold tax at a

30% rate on payments to artists and athletes for
services performed as independent contractors.
See Pay for independent personal services, earlier, for more information. You must withhold tax
at graduated rates on payments to artists and
athletes for services performed as employees.
See Pay for dependent personal services, earlier, for more information. However, in any situation where the nature of the relationship
between the payer of the income and the artist
or athlete is not ascertainable, you should withhold at a rate of 30%.
Income Code 43. Nonresident alien entertainers and athletes who perform or participate in
events in the United States can request a CWA
for a lower rate of withholding. A CWA is an
agreement entered into by the athlete or entertainer, a designated withholding agent, and the
IRS. Under no circumstances will a CWA reduce
taxes withheld to less than the anticipated
amount of income tax liability.
Nonresident alien entertainers or athletes requesting a CWA must submit a written application and appropriate attachments. Use Form
13930, Application for Central Withholding
Agreement, and its instructions to apply for a
CWA.
The designated withholding agent must
agree to withhold income tax from payments
made to the nonresident alien, to pay over the
withheld tax to the IRS on the dates and in the
amounts specified in the agreement, and to
have the IRS apply the payments of withheld tax
to the withholding agents Form 1042 account.
The designated withholding agent will be required to file Form 1042 and Form 1042-S for
each tax year in which income is paid to a
nonresident alien covered by the CWA. The
designated withholding agent will issue Form
1042-S to each nonresident alien athlete and
entertainer affected by the agreement.
A request for a CWA must be submitted to the following address at least 45
days before the agreement is to take
effect. Exceptions will be considered on a case
by case basis.
Central Withholding Agreement Program
Internal Revenue Service
3651 S. Interregional Hwy. 35
Stop 4302 AUSC
Austin, TX 78741

TIP

You do not need to complete box 3 or

box 5 on Form 1042-S for any artist or
athlete who is covered by a CWA.

Tax treaties. Under many tax treaties, compensation paid to public entertainers or athletes
for services performed in the United States is
exempt from U.S. income tax only when the
alien is present for a limited period of time and
the pay is within limits provided in the tax treaty
(see Table 2).
Employees and independent contractors
may claim an exemption from withholding under
a tax treaty by filing Form 8233. Often, however,
you will have to withhold at the statutory rates on
the total payments to the entertainer or athlete.
This is because the exemption may be based
upon factors that cannot be determined until
after the end of the year.
Page 27

Other Income
For the discussion of Income Codes 24, 25, and
26, see U.S. Real Property Interest, later. For
the discussion of Income Code 27, see Publicly
Traded Partnerships, later.
Gambling winnings (Income Code 28). In
general, nonresident aliens are subject to NRA
withholding at 30% on the gross proceeds from
gambling won in the United States if that income
is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or
business and is not exempted by treaty. The tax
withheld and winnings are reportable on Forms
1042 and 1042-S.
No tax is imposed on nonbusiness gambling
income a nonresident alien wins playing blackjack, baccarat, craps, roulette, or big-6 wheel in
the United States. A Form W-8BEN is not required to obtain the exemption from withholding,
but a Form W-8BEN may be required for purposes of Form 1099 reporting and backup withholding. Gambling income that is not subject to
NRA withholding is not subject to reporting on
Form 1042-S.
Nonresident aliens are taxed at graduated
rates on net gambling income won in the U.S.
that is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or
business.
Tax treaties. Gambling income of residents
(as defined by treaty) of the following foreign
countries is not taxable by the United States:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Russia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden,
Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.
Gambling income of residents of Malta is
taxed at 10%.
Claimants must give you a Form W-8BEN
(with a TIN) to claim treaty benefits on gambling
income that is not effectively connected with a
U.S. trade or business. See U.S. Taxpayer Identification Numbers, later, for when you can accept a Form W-8BEN without a TIN.
Transportation income. U.S. source gross
transportation income is generally not subject to
NRA withholding.
Transportation income is income from the
use of a vessel or aircraft, whether owned, hired,
or leased, or from the performance of services
directly related to the use of a vessel or aircraft.
U.S. source gross transportation income includes 50% of all transportation income from
transportation that either begins or ends in the
United States. For personal service income
other than income derived from, or in connection
with, a vessel, the use must be between the
United States and a U.S. possession.
The recipient of U.S. source gross transportation income must pay tax at the rate of 4%
unless the income is effectively connected with
the conduct of a U.S. trade or business. If the
income is effectively connected with a U.S. trade
or business, it is taxed on a net basis at a
graduated rate of tax.
Payments to certain expatriates. Certain
payments to nonresident aliens who are covered expatriates under section 877A(g)(1) are
subject to NRA withholding at 30%. In general,
nonresident aliens are covered expatriates if
they were U.S. citizens or long-term residents
Page 28

who renounced their citizenship or ceased to be

long-term residents for U.S. tax purposes after
June 16, 2008, and satisfied other tests for average annual net income tax and net worth. For
more information on the definition of covered
expatriates, see the Instructions for Form 8854.
Eligible deferred compensation items (Income Code 38). In general, you must withhold
tax at a 30% rate on any payment of an eligible
deferred compensation item. The amount subject to tax is the amount of the payment that
would have been included in the nonresident
aliens U.S. gross income if he had continued to
be taxed as a U.S. citizen or resident.
Distributions from a nongrantor trust (Income Code 39). In general, you must withhold
tax at a 30% rate on any direct or indirect distribution from a nongrantor trust. The amount subject to tax is the part of the distribution that would
have been included in the nonresident aliens
U.S. gross income if he had continued to be
taxed as a U.S. citizen or resident. If the nonresident alien was not a beneficiary of the nongrantor trust on the day before he gave up his U.S.
citizenship or long-term residence, you do not
have to withhold tax.
Guarantee of indebtedness (Income Code
41). An amount paid to a foreign payee for the
provision of a guarantee of indebtedness issued
after September 27, 2010, may be subject to
NRA withholding. The amounts must be paid by
one of the following:
1. A noncorporate U.S. resident,
2. A domestic corporation, or
3. Any foreign person if the amount paid is
connected with income that is effectively
connected, or treated as effectively connected, with a U.S. trade or business.
An indirect payment includes a payment by a
foreign bank to a foreign corporation for the
foreign corporations guarantee of indebtedness
owed to the foreign bank by the foreign corporations domestic subsidiary, where the cost of the
guarantee fee is passed on to the domestic
subsidiary through additional interest charged
on the indebtedness.
Other income (Income Code 50). Use this
category to report U.S. source FDAP income
that is not reportable under any of the other
income categories. Examples of income that
may be reportable under this category are commissions, insurance proceeds, patronage distributions, prizes, and racing purses.
As discussed earlier under Income Subject
to NRA Withholding, every kind of FDAP income
from U.S. sources that is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business is subject to
NRA withholding unless the income is specifically exempt under the Code or a tax treaty. You
generally must withhold at the 30% rate on this
income.

Foreign Governments
and Certain Other
Foreign Organizations
Investment income earned by a foreign government is not included in the gross income of the
foreign government and is not subject to U.S.
withholding tax. Investment income means income from investments in the United States in
stocks, bonds, or other domestic securities, financial instruments held in the execution of governmental financial or monetary policy, and
interest on money deposited by a foreign government in banks in the United States. A foreign
government must provide a Form W-8EXP or, in
the case of a payment made outside the United
States to an offshore account, documentary evidence to obtain this exemption. Investment income paid to a foreign government is subject to
reporting on Form 1042-S.
The following types of income received by a
foreign government are subject to NRA withholding.
1. Income (including investment income) received from the conduct of a commercial
activity or from sources other than those
stated above.
2. Income received from a controlled commercial entity (including gain from the disposition of any interest in a controlled
commercial entity) and income received by
a controlled commercial entity.
If the foreign government is a partner in a
partnership carrying on a trade or business
in the United States, the effectively connected income allocable to the foreign government is considered derived from a
controlled commercial activity and is subject
to withholding under section 1446.
3. Gain derived from the disposition of a U.S.
real property interest. Withholding on these
gains is discussed later under U.S. Real
Property Interest.
A government of a U.S. possession is exempt from U.S. tax on all U.S. source income.
This income is not subject to NRA withholding.
These governments should use Form W-8EXP
to get this exemption.
International organizations. International organizations are exempt from U.S. tax on all U.S.
source income. This income is not subject to
withholding. International organizations are not
required to provide a Form W-8 or documentary
evidence to receive the exemption if the name of
the payee is one that is designated as an international organization by executive order.
Foreign tax-exempt organizations. A foreign organization that is a tax exempt organization under section 501(c) of the Internal
Revenue Code is not subject to a withholding tax
on amounts that are not income includible under
section 512 of the Internal Revenue Code as
unrelated business taxable income. However, if
a foreign organization is a foreign private foundation, it is subject to a 4% withholding tax on all
U.S. source investment income. For a foreign
tax-exempt organization to claim an exemption
Publication 515 (2012)

from withholding because of its tax exempt status under section 501(c), or to claim withholding
at a 4% rate, it must provide you with a Form
W-8EXP. However, if a foreign organization is
claiming an exemption from withholding under
an income tax treaty, or the income is unrelated
business taxable income, the organization must
provide a Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI. Income
paid to foreign tax-exempt organizations is subject to reporting on Form 1042-S. If the organization is a partner in a partnership carrying on a
trade or business in the United States, the effectively connected income allocable to the organization is subject to withholding under section
1446.

U.S. Taxpayer
Identification Numbers
As the withholding agent, in most cases you
must request that the payee provide you with its
U.S. taxpayer identification number (TIN). You
must include the payees TIN on forms, statements, and other tax documents. The payees
TIN may be any of the following.

An individual may have a social security

number (SSN). If the individual does not

have and is eligible for an SSN, he or she
must use Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, to get an SSN. The
Social Security Administration will tell the
individual if he or she is eligible to get an
SSN.

An individual may have an IRS individual

taxpayer identification number (ITIN). If

the individual does not have and is not
eligible for an SSN, he or she must apply
for an ITIN by using Form W-7.

Any person other than an individual, and

any individual who is an employer or who

is engaged in a U.S. trade or business as
a sole proprietor, must have an employer
identification number (EIN). Use Form
SS-4 to get an EIN.

A TIN must be on a withholding certificate if

the beneficial owner is claiming any of the following.

Tax treaty benefits (see Exceptions to TIN

requirement, later).

Income is effectively connected with a

U.S. trade or business.

Exemption for certain annuities (see Pensions, Annuities, and Alimony, earlier).

Exemption based on exempt organization

or private foundation status.

In addition, a TIN must be on a withholding

certificate from a person claiming to be any of
the following.

Qualified intermediary.
Withholding foreign partnership.
Withholding foreign trust.
Exempt organization.

Publication 515 (2012)

U.S. branch of a foreign person treated as

a U.S. person (see section
1.1441-1(b)(2)(iv) of the regulations).

U.S. person.
Exceptions to TIN requirement. A foreign
person does not have to provide a U.S. TIN to
claim a reduced rate of withholding under a tax
treaty if the requirements for the following exceptions are met.

Mary without withholding U.S. tax. The casino

must, on the following Monday, fax a completed
Form W-7 for Mary, including the required certification, to the IRS for an expedited ITIN.
Situation 2. Assume that Mary won the
money on Monday. To pay the winnings without
withholding U.S. tax, the casino must apply for
and get an ITIN for Mary because an expedited
ITIN is available from the IRS at the time of the
payment.

Income from marketable securities (discussed earlier under Form W-8BEN).

Unexpected payment to an individual (discussed next).

Unexpected payment. A Form W-8BEN or

a Form 8233 provided by a nonresident alien to
get treaty benefits does not need a U.S. TIN if
you, the withholding agent, meet all the following
requirements.

You are an acceptance agent.

You can request an ITIN for a payee on an
expedited basis.

You are required to make an unexpected

payment to the nonresident alien.

You cannot get the ITIN because the IRS

is not issuing ITINs at the time you make

the payment or at any earlier time after
you know you have to make the payment.

You cannot reasonably delay making the

unexpected payment.

You submit a completed Form W-7 for the

payee, with a certification that you have
reviewed the required documentation and
have no actual knowledge or reason to
know that the documentation is not complete or accurate, to the IRS during the
first business day after you made the payment.

An acceptance agent is a person who, under a

written agreement with the IRS, is authorized to
assist alien individuals and other foreign persons get ITINs or EINs. For information on the
application procedures for becoming an acceptance agent, see Rev. Proc. 2006-10, 2006-2
I.R.B. 293, available at www.irs.gov/irb/
2006-02_IRB/ar13.html.
A payment is unexpected if you or the beneficial owner could not have reasonably anticipated the payment during a time when an ITIN
could be obtained. This could be due to the
nature of the payment or the circumstances in
which the payment is made. A payment is not
considered unexpected solely because the
amount of the payment is not fixed.
Example. Mary, a citizen and resident of
Ireland, visits the United States and wins $5,000
playing a slot machine in a casino. Under the
treaty with Ireland, the winnings are not subject
to U.S. tax. Mary claims the treaty benefits by
providing a Form W-8BEN to the casino upon
winning at the slot machine. However, she does
not have an ITIN. The casino is an acceptance
agent that can request an ITIN on an expedited
basis.
Situation 1. Assume that Mary won the
money on Sunday. Since the IRS does not issue
ITINs on Sunday, the casino can pay $5,000 to

Depositing
Withheld Taxes
This section discusses the rules for depositing
income tax withheld on FDAP income. The deposit rules discussed here do not apply to the
following items.

Taxes on pay subject to graduated withholding as discussed earlier. (See Form

941 for the deposit rules.)

Tax withheld on pensions and annuities

subject to graduated withholding or the

10% tax on nonperiodic distributions. (See
Form 945 for the deposit rules.)

Tax withheld on a foreign partners share

of effectively connected income of a partnership. See Partnership Withholding on

Effectively Connected Income, later.

Tax withheld on dispositions of U.S. real

property interests by foreign persons. See

U.S. Real Property Interest, later.

Taxes on household employees. See

Schedule H (Form 1040), Household Employment Taxes, to report social security

and Medicare taxes, and any income tax
withheld, on wages paid to a nonresident
alien household employee.

When Deposits
Are Required
A deposit required for any period occurring in
one calendar year must be made separately
from a deposit for any period occurring in another calendar year. A deposit of this tax must
be made separately from a deposit of any other
type of tax.
The amount of tax you are required to withhold determines the frequency of your deposits.
The following rules show how often deposits
must be made.
1. If at the end of a calendar year the total
amount of undeposited taxes is less than
$200, you may either pay the taxes with
your Form 1042 or deposit the entire
amount by March 15 of the following calendar year.
2. If at the end of any month the total amount
of undeposited taxes is $200 or more but
less than $2,000, you must deposit the
taxes within 15 days after the end of the
month. If the 15th day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday in the District of Columbia, you must deposit the taxes by the
next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or
legal holiday in the District of Columbia. If
Page 29

you made a deposit of $2,000 or more

during the month (except December)
under rule 3 below, carry over any end-ofthe-month balance of less than $2,000 to
the next month. If you made a deposit of
$2,000 or more during December, any
end-of-December balance of less than
$2,000 should be remitted with your Form
1042 by March 15 of the following year.
3. If at the end of any quarter-monthly period
the total amount of undeposited taxes is
$2,000 or more, you must deposit the
taxes within 3 business days after the end
of the quarter-monthly period. (A quarter-monthly period ends on the 7th, 15th,
22nd, and last day of the month.) A business day is any day other than a Saturday,
Sunday, or legal holiday in the District of
Columbia.
Electronic deposit requirement. You must
deposit all withheld taxes by electronic funds
transfer. In most cases, electronic funds transfers are made using the Electronic Federal Tax
Payment System (EFTPS). If you do not want to
use EFTPS, you can arrange for your tax professional, financial institution, or other trusted third
party to make deposits on your behalf. Also, you
may arrange for your financial institution to initiate a same-day wire payment on your behalf.
EFTPS is a free service provided by the Department of Treasury. Services provided by your tax
professional, financial institution, or other third
party may have a fee. For more information
about EFTPS or to enroll in EFTPS, visit www.
eftps.gov or call 1-800-555-4477. Additional information about EFTPS is also available in Publication 966, The Secure Way to Pay Your
Federal Taxes.
Qualified business taxpayers that request an EIN will automatically be enrolled in EFTPS. They will receive
information on how to activate their account.

TIP

Note. All payments should be stated in U.S.

dollars and should be made in U.S. dollars.
Penalty for failure to make deposits on time.
If you fail to make a required deposit within the
time prescribed, a penalty is imposed on the
underpayment (the excess of the required deposit over any actual timely deposit for a period).
You can avoid the penalty if you can show that
the failure to deposit was for reasonable cause
and not because of willful neglect. Also, the IRS
may waive the penalty if certain requirements
are met.
Depositing on time. For deposits made by
EFTPS to be on time, you must initiate the deposit by 8 p.m. Eastern time the day before the
date the deposit is due. If you use a third party to
make deposits on your behalf, they may have
different cutoff times.
Penalty rate. If the deposit is:

1 to 5 days late, the penalty is 2% of the

underpayment,

6 to 15 days late, the penalty is 5%, or

16 or more days late, the penalty is 10%.
However, if the deposit is not made within 10
days after the IRS issues the first notice demanding payment, the penalty is 15%.
Page 30

If you owe a penalty for failing to deposit tax

for more than one deposit period, and you make
a deposit, your deposit is applied to the most
recent period to which the deposit relates unless
you designate the deposit period or periods to
which your deposit is to be applied. You can
make this designation only during a 90 day period that begins on the date of the penalty notice.
The notice contains instructions on how to make
this designation.

Adjustment for
Overwithholding
What to do if you overwithheld tax depends on
when you discover the overwithholding.
Overwithholding discovered by March 15 of
following calendar year. If you discover that
you overwithheld tax by March 15 of the following calendar year, you may use the undeposited
amount of tax to make any necessary adjustments between you and the recipient of the
income. However, if the undeposited amount is
not enough to make any adjustments, or if you
discover the overwithholding after the entire
amount of tax has been deposited, you can use
either the reimbursement procedure or the
set-off procedure to adjust the overwithholding.

TIP

If March 15 is a Saturday, Sunday, or

legal holiday, the next business day is
the final date for these actions.

Reimbursement procedure. Under the reimbursement procedure, you repay the beneficial owner or payee the amount overwithheld.
You use your own funds for this repayment. You
must make the repayment by March 15 of the
year after the calendar year in which the amount
was overwithheld. For example, if you
overwithhold tax in 2012, you must repay the
beneficial owner by March 15, 2013. You must
keep a receipt showing the date and amount of
the repayment and provide a copy of the receipt
to the beneficial owner.
You may reimburse yourself by reducing any
subsequent deposits you make before the end
of the year after the calendar year in which the
amount was overwithheld. The reduction cannot
be more than the amount you actually repaid.
If you will reduce a deposit due in that later
year, you must show the total tax withheld and
the amount actually repaid on a timely filed (not
including extensions) Form 1042-S for the calendar year in which the amount was
overwithheld. You must state on a timely filed
(not including extensions) Form 1042 that you
are claiming a credit.
Example. James Smith is a resident of the
United Kingdom. In December 2012, domestic
corporation M paid a dividend of $100 to James,
at which time M withheld $30 and paid the balance of $70 to him. In February 2013, James
gave M a valid Form W-8BEN. He advises M
that under the income tax convention with the
United Kingdom, only $15 should have been
withheld from the dividend and requests repayment of the $15 overwithheld. Although M Corporation had already deposited the $30, the
corporation repaid James $15 before the end of
February.
During 2012, M made no other payments
from which tax had to be withheld. On its timely
filed 2012 Form 1042, M reports $15 as its total

tax liability and $30 as its total deposits. M requests that the $15 overpayment be credited to
its 2013 Form 1042 rather than refunded.
The Form 1042-S that M files for the dividend
paid to James in 2012 must show a tax withheld
of $30 in boxes 7 and 9 and $15 as an amount
repaid in box 10.
In June 2013, M made payments from which
it withheld tax of $200. On July 15, 2013, M
deposited $185, that is, $200 less the $15 credit
claimed on its Form 1042 for 2012. M timely filed
its Form 1042 for 2013, showing tax liability of
$200, $185 deposited, and $15 credit from
2012.
Set-off procedure. Under the set-off procedure, you repay the beneficial owner or payee
the amount overwithheld by reducing the
amount you would have been required to withhold on later payments you make to that person.
These later payments must be made before the
earlier of:

The date you actually file Form 1042-S for

the calendar year in which the amount
was overwithheld, or

March 15 of the year after the calendar

year in which the amount was
overwithheld.

On Form 1042 and Form 1042-S for the calendar year in which the amount was overwithheld,
show the reduced amount as the amount required to be withheld.
Overwithholding discovered at a later date.
If you discover after March 15 of the following
calendar year that you overwithheld tax for the
prior year, do not adjust the amount of tax reported on Forms 1042-S (and Form 1042) or on
any deposit or payment for that prior year. Do
not repay the beneficial owner or payee the
amount overwithheld.
In this situation, the recipient will have to file
a U.S. income tax return (Form 1040NR, Form
1040NR-EZ, or Form 1120-F) or, if a tax return
has already been filed, a claim for refund (Form
1040X or amended Form 1120-F) to recover the
amount overwithheld.

Returns Required
Every withholding agent, whether U.S. or foreign, must file Forms 1042 and 1042-S to report
payments of amounts subject to NRA withholding unless an exception applies. Do not use
Forms 1042 and 1042-S to report tax withheld
on the following:

Wages, salaries, or other compensation

reported on Form W-2 (see Wages Paid to

Employees Graduated Withholding, earlier, under Pay for Personal Services Performed);

Any part of a U.S. or foreign partnerships

(other than a publicly traded partnership)

effectively connected taxable income allocable to a foreign partner (see Partnership
Withholding on Effectively Connected Income, later);

Dispositions of U.S. real property interests

by foreign persons (see U.S. Real Property Interest, later);

Publication 515 (2012)

 Pensions, annuities, and certain other de-

ferred income reported on Form 1099; and

Income, social security, and Medicare

taxes on wages paid to a household employee reported on Schedule H (Form

1040).

Forms 1042 and 1042-S must be filed

by March 15 of the year following the
calendar year in which the income subject to reporting was paid. If March 15 falls on a
Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the due date
is the next business day.
Form 1042. Every U.S. and foreign withholding agent that is required to file a Form 1042-S
also must file an annual return on Form 1042.
You must file Form 1042 even if you were not
required to withhold any income tax.
You must file Form 1042 with the:

DUE

Ogden Service Center

P.O. Box 409101
Ogden, UT 84409
Form 1042-S. Every U.S. and foreign withholding agent must file a Form 1042-S for
amounts subject to NRA withholding unless an
exception applies. The form can be filed electronically or on paper. A separate Form 1042-S
is required for each recipient of income to whom
you made payments during the preceding calendar year regardless of whether you withheld or
were required to withhold tax. You must use a
separate Form 1042-S for each type of income
that you paid to the same recipient. See Statements to recipients, later.
You must furnish a Form 1042-S for each
recipient even if you did not withhold tax because you repaid the tax withheld to the recipient or because the income payment was exempt
from tax under the Internal Revenue Code or
under a U.S. income tax treaty.
You can use a substitute Form 1042-S if it
meets the requirements listed in Publication
1179. Get Publication 1179 for more information.
If you file a substitute for Copy A with
the IRS that does not conform to the
CAUTION
specifications in Publication 1179, you
may be subject to a penalty for failing to file a
correct return. See Penalties, later.

Joint owners. If all the owners provide documentation that permits them to receive the
same reduced rate of withholding (for example,
under an income tax treaty), you should apply
the reduced rate of withholding. You are required, however, to report the payment on one
Form 1042-S to the person whose status you
rely upon to determine the withholding rate. If,
however, any one of the owners requests its
own Form 1042-S, you must furnish Form
1042-S to the person who requests it. If more
than one Form 1042-S is issued for a single
payment, the total amount paid and tax withheld
reported on all Forms 1042-S cannot exceed the
total amounts paid to joint owners.
Electronic reporting. Withholding agents
or their agents generally must file electronically
if they are required to file 250 or more Forms
1042-S with the IRS. You are encouraged to file
electronically even if you are not required to.
Publication 515 (2012)

A completed Form 4419, Application for Filing Information Returns Electronically (FIRE),
should be filed at least 30 days before the due
date of the return. Returns may not be filed
electronically until the application has been approved by the IRS.
For information and instructions on filing
Forms 1042-S electronically, get Publication
1187, Specifications for Filing Form 1042-S,
Foreign Persons U.S. Source Income Subject
to Withholding, Electronically. If you file electronically, you will use the Filing Information Returns Electronically (FIRE) system. You get to
the system through the Internet at fire.irs.gov.
Form 1042-T. If Form 1042-S is filed on paper,
it must be filed with Form 1042-T. You may need
to file more than one Form 1042-T. See the
instructions for that form for more information.
Deposit interest paid to alien individuals who
are residents of Canada. If you pay deposit
interest of $10 or more to a nonresident alien
individual who resides in Canada and is not a
U.S. citizen, you may have to report it on Form
1042-S. This reporting requirement generally
applies to interest that is (a) on a deposit maintained at a banks office in the United States and
(b) not effectively connected with a trade or
business within the United States.
Determining residency. You determine
whether a payee is a Canadian resident based
on the permanent residence address required to
be provided on the Form W-8BEN. If you have
actual knowledge that the payee is a U.S. person, you must report the payment on Form
1099-INT.
Statements to recipients. You must furnish a
statement to each recipient for whom you are
filing a Form 1042-S by the due date for filing
Forms 1042 and 1042-S with the IRS. You may
use a copy of the official Form 1042-S for this
purpose. Or, you may provide recipients with the
information together with, or on, other (commercial) statements or notices. These statements
must clearly identify the type of income (as described on the official form), the amount of tax
withheld, the withholding rate (including 00.00 if
exempt), and the country involved. You may
include more than one type of income on the
copies of the Form 1042-S that you provide to
the recipient of the income. You may not, however, include more than one income line on the
copy of the form filed with the IRS.

Extensions of Time To File

You can request extensions of time to file Forms
1042 and 1042-S with the IRS and additional
extensions to furnish Forms 1042-S to recipients.
Extension to file Form 1042. You can get an
automatic 6-month extension of time to file Form
1042 by filing Form 7004, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File Certain Business Income Tax, Information, and Other
Returns. File Form 7004 on or before the due
date of Form 1042. Form 7004 does not extend
the time for payment of tax.

Form 7004 extends only the due date

for filing the returns with the IRS. It
CAUTION
does not extend the due date for furnishing statements to recipients.

Extension to file Form 1042-S with the IRS.

You can get an automatic 30-day extension of
time to file Form 1042-S by filing Form 8809,
Application for Extension of Time To File Information Returns. You should request an extension as soon as you are aware that an extension
is necessary, but no later than the due date for
filing Form 1042-S. You may request one additional extension of 30 days by submitting a second Form 8809 before the end of the first
extension period. Requests for an additional extension are not automatically granted. Approval
or denial is based on administrative criteria and
guidelines. The IRS will send you a letter of
explanation approving or denying your request
for an additional extension.
If you are requesting extensions of time
to file for more than one withholding
CAUTION
agent or payer, you must submit the
extension request electronically.

Extension to provide statements to recipients. You may request an extension of time to

provide the statements to recipients by sending
a letter to Internal Revenue Service; Information
Returns Branch; Attn: Extension of Time Coordinator; 240 Murall Drive, Mail Stop 4360; Kearneysville, WV 25430. The letter must include (a)
your name, (b) your TIN, (c) your address, (d)
type of return, (e) a statement that your extension request is for providing statements to recipients, (f) reason for delay, and (g) the signature
of the payer or authorized agent. Your request
must be postmarked by the date on which the
statements are due to the recipients. If your
request for an extension is approved, generally
you will be granted a maximum of 30 extra days
to furnish the recipient statements. See Publication 1187.
If you are requesting extensions of time
to file for recipients of more than 10
CAUTION
withholding agents, you must submit
the extension requests electronically. See Publication 1187, Part D, section 4, for more information.

Penalties
If you do not file a correct and complete Form
1042 or Form 1042-S with the IRS on time or if
you do not provide a correct and complete Form
1042-S to the recipient on time, you may be
subject to a penalty.
Failure to file Form 1042. The penalty for not
filing Form 1042 when due (including extensions) is usually 5% of the unpaid tax for each
month or part of a month the return is late, but
not more than 25% of the unpaid tax.
Failure to file correct Form 1042-S. A penalty may be imposed for failure to file Form
1042-S when due (including extensions) or for
failure to provide complete and correct information. The amount of the penalty depends on
when you file a correct Form 1042-S. The penalty for each Form 1042-S is:

$30 if you file a correct form within 30

days, with a maximum penalty of

Page 31

$250,000 per year ($75,000 for a small

business);

$60 if you file after 30 days but by August

1, with a maximum penalty of $500,000
($200,000 for a small business); or

$100 if you file after August 1 or do not file

a correct form, with a maximum penalty of
$1,500,000 per year ($500,000 for a small
business).

Small businesses lower maximum penalties. A small business is a business that has
average annual gross receipts of $5 million or
less for the most recent 3 tax years (or for the
period of its existence, if shorter) ending before
the calendar year in which the Forms 1042-S are
due.
Exception. No penalty is imposed if the following statements are true.
1. You filed Form 1042-S with the IRS on
time, but it was incorrect or incomplete.
2. You filed a correct Form 1042-S by
August 1.
If both statements (1) and (2) are true, the penalty for filing incorrect returns (but not for filing
late) will not apply to the greater of 10 Forms
1042-S or .5% of the total number of Forms
1042-S and any other information returns you
are required to file with the IRS for the calendar
year.
Failure to furnish Form 1042-S to recipient.
A penalty may be imposed for failure to provide
Form 1042-S to the recipient when due (including extensions) or for failing to provide complete
and correct information. The amount of the penalty depends on when you provide the correct
Form 1042-S. The penalty for each Form
1042-S is:

$30 if you provide the correct Form

1042-S within 30 days, with a maximum

penalty of $250,000 per year ($75,000 for
a small business);

$60 if you provide the correct Form

1042-S after 30 days but by August 1, with

a maximum penalty of $500,000 per year
($200,000 for a small business); or

$100 if you provide the correct Form

1042-S after August 1, with a maximum

penalty of $1,500,000 per year ($500,000
for a small business).

Exception. No penalty is imposed if you

meet all the following requirements.
1. You provided a Form 1042-S to a recipient
on time, but it was incorrect or incomplete.
2. You provide a correct Form 1042-S to the
recipient by August 1.
If you satisfy the requirements in (1) and (2)
above, the penalty for providing incorrect returns
(but not for filing late) will not apply to the greater
of 10 Forms 1042-S or .5% of the total number of
all types of information returns you had to provide during the calendar year.
Penalty for intentional disregard of requirements to file or provide returns. If you intentionally disregard the requirement to file Form
1042-S when due, to provide Form 1042-S to
Page 32

the recipient when due, or to report correct information, the penalty is the greater of $250 or 10%
of the total amount of the items that must be
reported, with no maximum penalty.
Failure to file electronically. If you are required to file Form 1042-S electronically but you
fail to do so, and you do not have an approved
waiver, you may be subject to a penalty of $50
per form unless you show reasonable cause.
The penalty applies separately to original and
amended returns. The maximum penalty is
$100,000.

Partnership
Withholding on
Effectively Connected
Income
Under section 1446, a partnership (foreign or
domestic) that has income effectively connected
with a U.S. trade or business (or income treated
as effectively connected) must pay a withholding
tax on the effectively connected taxable income
that is allocable to its foreign partners. A publicly
traded partnership must withhold tax on actual
distributions of effectively connected income.
See Publicly Traded Partnerships, later.
This withholding tax does not apply to income that is not effectively connected with the
partnerships U.S. trade or business. That income is subject to NRA withholding tax, as discussed earlier in this publication.

Foreign Partner
A partner that is a foreign person should provide
the appropriate Form W-8 (as shown in Chart D)
to the partnership.
Partners who have otherwise provided Form
W-8 to a partnership for purposes of section
1441 or 1442, as discussed earlier, can use the
same form for purposes of section 1446 if they
meet the requirements discussed earlier under
Documentation. However, a foreign simple trust
that has provided documentation for its beneficiaries for purposes of section 1441 must provide a Form W-8 on its own behalf for purposes
of section 1446.
The partnership may not rely on the certification if it has actual knowledge or has reason to
know that any information on the form is incorrect or unreliable.
The partnership must keep the certification
for as long as it may be relevant to the partnerships liability for section 1446 tax.

Chart D. Documentation for

Foreign Partners*
IF you are a:

THEN provide to the

partnership Form:

Nonresident alien

W-8BEN

Foreign corporation

W-8BEN

Foreign partnership

W-8IMY

Foreign government

W-8EXP

Foreign grantor
trust**

W-8IMY

Who Must Withhold

Certain foreign trust

or foreign estate

W-8BEN

The partnership, or a withholding agent for the

partnership, must pay the withholding tax. A
partnership that must pay the withholding tax but
fails to do so may be liable for the payment of the
tax and any penalties and interest.
The partnership must determine whether a
partner is a foreign partner. A foreign partner
can be a nonresident alien individual, foreign
corporation, foreign partnership, foreign estate
or trust, foreign tax-exempt organization, or foreign government.

Foreign tax-exempt
organization
(including a private
foundation)

W-8EXP

U.S. partner. A partner that is a U.S. person

should provide Form W-9 to the partnership.
A partnership may rely on a partners certification of nonforeign status and assume that a
partner is not a foreign partner unless the form:

Does not give the partners name, U.S.

taxpayer identification number, and address, or

Is not signed under penalties of perjury

and dated.

The partnership must keep the certification for

as long as it may be relevant to the partnerships
liability for section 1446 tax.
The partnership may not rely on the certification if it has actual knowledge or has reason to
know that any information on the form is incorrect or unreliable.
If a partnership does not receive a Form W-9
(or similar documentation) the partnership must
presume that the partner is a foreign person.

Nominee

W-8 used by
beneficial owner

* A partnership may substitute its own form for the

official version of Form W-8 to ascertain the identity
of its partners.
**A domestic grantor trust must provide a
statement as shown in Regulations section
1.1446-1(c)(2)(ii)(E) and documentation for its
grantor.

Amount of Withholding Tax

The amount a partnership must withhold is
based on its effectively connected taxable income that is allocable to its foreign partners for
the partnerships tax year. However, see Publicly Traded Partnerships, later.
Reduction of withholding. The foreign partners share of the partnerships gross effectively
connected income is reduced by:

The partners share of partnership deductions connected to that income for the
year.

The partners tax treaty benefits related to

that income (see Chart D for documentation).

Publication 515 (2012)

The partnership may reduce the foreign partners share of partnership gross effectively connected income by:
1. State and local income taxes the partnership withholds and pays on behalf of the
partner on current year effectively connected taxable income allocated to the
partner.
2. The foreign partners partner-level deductions and losses that the partner certifies to
the partnership as:
a. Carried forward from a prior year,
b. Properly allocated to gross effectively
connected income of the partners trade
or business in the United States, and
c. Reasonably expected to be available
and claimed on the partners U.S. income tax return.
To certify the deductions and losses, a partner must submit to the partnership Form
8804-C, Certificate of Partner-Level Items to Reduce Section 1446 Withholding.
If the partners investment in the partnership
is the only activity producing effectively connected income and the section 1446 tax is less
than $1,000, no withholding is required. The
partner must provide Form 8804-C to the partnership to receive the exemption from withholding.
A foreign partner may submit a Form 8804-C
to a partnership at any time during the partnerships year and prior to the partnerships filing of
its Form 8804. An updated certificate is required
when the facts or representations made in the
original certificate have changed or a status report is required.
For more information, see the Instructions for
Form 8804-C.
Tax rate. The withholding tax rate on a partners share of effectively connected income is
35%. However, the partnership may withhold at
the highest rate applicable to a particular type of
income allocated to a noncorporate partner provided the partnership received the appropriate
documentation. See Regulations section
1.1446-3(a)(2)(ii).

A foreign partners share of withholding tax

paid by a partnership is treated as distributed to
the partner on the earliest of:

The day on which the tax was paid by the

partnership,

The last day of the partnerships tax year

for which the tax was paid, or

The last day on which the partner owned

an interest in the partnership during that
year.

The amount treated as distributed to the partner

is generally treated as an advance or draw
under Regulations section 1.731-1(a)(1)(ii) to
the extent of the partners share of income for
the partnership year.
Notification to partners. In most cases, a
partnership must notify each foreign partner of
the tax withheld on its behalf within 10 days of
the installment payment date. No particular form
is required for this notification. For more information on the substance of the notification and
exceptions, see Regulations section
1.1446-3(d)(1)(i).
Real property gains. If a domestic partnership disposes of a U.S. real property interest, the
gain is treated as effectively connected income
and the partnership or withholding agent must
withhold following the rules discussed here. A
domestic partnerships compliance with these
rules satisfies the requirements for withholding
on the disposition of U.S. real property interests
(discussed later).
If a foreign partnership disposes of a U.S.
property interest, the transferee must withhold
under section 1445(a), although the gain also is
treated as effectively connected income. The
foreign partnership may credit the amount withheld under section 1445(a) that is allocable to
foreign partners against its section 1446 tax
liability.

Reporting and Paying the Tax

Three forms are required for reporting and paying over tax withheld on effectively connected
income allocable to foreign partners. This does
not apply to publicly traded partnerships, discussed later.

Installment payments. A partnership must

make installment payments of withholding tax
on its foreign partners share of effectively connected taxable income whether or not distributions are made during the partnerships tax year.
The amount of a partnerships installment payment is the sum of the installment payments for
each of its foreign partners. The amount of each
installment payment can be figured by using
Form 8804-W.

Form 8804, Annual Return for Partnership

Withholding Tax (Section 1446). The withholding tax liability of the partnership for its tax
year is reported on Form 8804. Form 8804 is
also a transmittal form for Forms 8805.
Any additional withholding tax owed for the
partnerships tax year is paid (in U.S. currency)
with Form 8804. A Form 8805 for each foreign
partner must be attached to Form 8804, whether
or not any withholding tax was paid.

Date payments are due. Payments of

withholding tax must be made during
the partnerships tax year in which the
effectively connected taxable income is derived.
A partnership must pay the IRS a part of the
annual withholding tax for its foreign partners by
the 15th day of the 4th, 6th, 9th, and 12th
months of its tax year for U.S. income tax purposes. Any additional amounts due are to be
paid with Form 8804, the annual partnership
withholding tax return, discussed later.

File Form 8804 by the 15th day of the

4th month after the close of the partnerships tax year. However, a partnership that keeps its books and records outside
the United States and Puerto Rico has until the
15th day of the 6th month after the close of the
partnerships tax year to file. If you need more
time to file Form 8804, you may file Form 7004
to request an automatic 5-month extension of
time to file. Form 7004 does not extend the time
to pay the tax.

DUE

Publication 515 (2012)

DUE

Form 8805, Foreign Partners Information

Statement of Section 1446 Withholding Tax.
Form 8805 is used to show the amount of effectively connected taxable income and any withholding tax payments allocable to a foreign
partner for the partnerships tax year. At the end
of the partnerships tax year, Form 8805 must be
sent to each foreign partner on whose behalf
section 1446 tax was withheld or whose Form
8804-C the partnership considered, whether or
not any withholding tax is paid. It must be delivered to the foreign partner by the due date of the
partnership return (including extensions). A
copy of Form 8805 for each foreign partner also
must be attached to Form 8804 when it is filed.
Also attach the most recent Form 8804-C, discussed earlier, to the Form 8805 filed for the
partnerships tax year in which the Form 8804-C
was considered.
A copy of Form 8805 must be attached to the
foreign partners U.S. income tax return to take a
credit on its Form 1040NR or Form 1120-F.
Form 8813, Partnership Withholding Tax
Payment Voucher (Section 1446). This form
is used to make payments of withheld tax to the
United States Treasury. Payments must be
made in U.S. currency by the payment dates
(see Date payments are due, earlier). See the
Instructions for Form 8804-C for when you must
attach a copy of that form to Form 8813.
Penalties. A penalty may be imposed for failure to file Form 8804 when due (including extensions). It is the same as the penalty for not filing
Form 1042, discussed earlier under Failure to
file Form 1042.
A penalty may be imposed for failure to file
Form 8805 when due (including extensions) or
for failure to provide complete and correct information. The amount of the penalty depends on
when you file a correct Form 8805. The penalty
for each Form 8805 is the same as the penalty
for not filing Form 1042-S, discussed earlier
under Failure to file correct Form 1042-S.
If you fail to provide a complete and correct
Form 8805 to each partner when due (including
extensions), a penalty may be imposed. The
amount of the penalty depends on when you
provide the correct Form 8805. The penalty for
each Form 8805 is the same as the penalty for
not providing a correct and complete Form
1042-S on time, discussed earlier under Failure
to furnish Form 1042-S to recipient.
Exception. No penalty is imposed if you
meet certain requirements. The rules are the
same as for Form 1042-S. See Exception in
Failure to file correct Form 1042-S and Exception in Failure to furnish Form 1042-S to recipient.
If you intentionally disregard the requirement
to file Form 8805 when due, to provide Form
8805 to the recipient when due, or to report
correct information, the penalty for each Form
8805 (or statement to recipient) is the greater of
$250 or 10% of the total amount of the items that
must be reported, with no maximum penalty.
Identification numbers. A partnership that
has not been assigned a U.S. EIN must obtain
one. If a number has not been assigned by the
due date of the first withholding tax payment, the
partnership should enter the date the number
was applied for on Form 8813 when making its
payment. As soon as the partnership receives
Page 33

its EIN, it must immediately provide that number

to the IRS.
To ensure proper crediting of the withholding
tax when reporting to the IRS, the partnership
must include each partners U.S. TIN on Form
8805. If there are partners in the partnership
without identification numbers, the partnership
should inform them of the need to get a number.
See U.S. Taxpayer Identification Numbers, earlier.

Publicly Traded Partnerships

A publicly traded partnership (PTP) that has
effectively connected income, gain, or loss must
pay withholding tax on any distributions of that
income made to its foreign partners. A PTP must
use Forms 1042 and 1042-S (Income Code 27)
to report withholding from distributions. The rate
of withholding is 35%.
A PTP is any partnership an interest in which
is regularly traded on an established securities
market or is readily tradable on a secondary
market. These rules do not apply to a PTP
treated as a corporation under section 7704 of
the Code.
Foreign partner. The partnership determines
whether a partner is a foreign partner using the
rules discussed earlier under Foreign Partner.
Nominee. The withholding agent under this
section can be the PTP or a nominee. For this
purpose, a nominee is a domestic person that
holds an interest in a PTP on behalf of a foreign
person. The nominee is treated as the withholding agent only to the extent of the amount specified in the qualified notice given to the nominee
by the PTP. If a nominee is designated as the
withholding agent, the obligation to withhold is
imposed solely on the nominee. The nominee
must report the distributions and withheld
amounts on Forms 1042 and 1042-S. For more
information, see Regulations section
1.1446-4(b) and (d).
Distributions subject to withholding. The
partnership or nominee must withhold tax on
any actual distributions of money or property to
foreign partners. The amount of the distribution
includes the amount of any section 1446 tax
required to be withheld. In the case of a partnership that receives a partnership distribution from
another partnership (a tiered partnership), the
distribution also includes the tax withheld from
that distribution.
If the distribution is in property other than
money, the partnership cannot release the property until it has enough funds to pay over the
withholding tax.
A publicly traded partnership that complies
with these withholding requirements satisfies
the requirements discussed later under U.S.
Real Property Interest. Distributions subject to
withholding include:

Amounts subject to withholding under section 1445(e)(1) of the Code on distributions pursuant to an election under
Regulations section 1.1445-5(c)(3), and

Amounts not subject to withholding under

section 1445 of the Code because the distributee is a partnership or is a foreign

corporation that has made an election to
be treated as a domestic corporation.

Page 34

Excluded amounts. Partnership distributions are considered to be paid out of the following types of income in the order listed.
1. Amounts of noneffectively connected income distributed by the partnership and
subject to NRA withholding under section
1441 or 1442, as discussed earlier.
2. Amounts of effectively connected income
not subject to withholding under section
1446 (for example, amounts exempt by
treaty).
3. Amounts subject to withholding under
these rules.
4. Amounts not listed in (1) through (3).

U.S. Real
Property Interest
The disposition of a U.S. real property interest
by a foreign person (the transferor) is subject to
income tax withholding. If you are the transferee, you must find out if the transferor is a
foreign person. If the transferor is a foreign person and you fail to withhold, you may be held
liable for the tax.
Foreign person. A foreign person is a nonresident alien individual, foreign corporation that
has not made an election under section 897(i) of
the Internal Revenue Code to be treated as a
domestic corporation, foreign partnership, foreign trust, or foreign estate. It does not include a
resident alien individual.
Transferor. A transferor is any foreign person
that disposes of a U.S. real property interest by
sale, exchange, gift, or any other transfer. A
transfer includes distributions to shareholders of
a corporation and beneficiaries of a trust or estate.
The owner of a disregarded entity, not the
entity, is treated as the transferor of the property.
Transferee. A transferee is any person, foreign or domestic, that acquires a U.S. real property interest by purchase, exchange, gift, or any
other transfer.
U.S. real property interest. A U.S. real property interest is an interest, other than as a creditor, in real property (including an interest in a
mine, well, or other natural deposit) located in
the United States or the U.S. Virgin Islands, as
well as certain personal property that is associated with the use of real property (such as farming machinery). It also means any interest, other
than as a creditor, in any domestic corporation
unless it is established that the corporation was
at no time a U.S. real property holding corporation during the shorter of the period during which
the interest was held, or the 5-year period ending on the date of disposition. If on the date of
disposition, the corporation did not hold any U.S.
real property interests, and all the interests held
at any time during the shorter of the applicable
periods were disposed of in transactions in
which the full amount of any gain was recognized, then an interest in the corporation is not a
U.S. real property interest.

Amount to withhold. The transferee must deduct and withhold a tax equal to 10% (or other
amount) of the total amount realized by the foreign person on the disposition (for example,
10% of the purchase price).
The amount realized is the sum of:

The cash paid, or to be paid (principal

only);

The fair market value of other property

transferred, or to be transferred; and

The amount of any liability assumed by

the transferee or to which the property is

subject immediately before and after the
transfer.

If the property transferred was owned jointly by

U.S. and foreign persons, the amount realized is
allocated between the transferors based on the
capital contribution of each transferor.
Foreign corporations. A foreign corporation that distributes a U.S. real property interest
must withhold a tax equal to 35% of the gain it
recognizes on the distribution to its shareholders.
Domestic corporations. A domestic corporation must withhold a tax equal to 10% of the
fair market value of the property distributed to a
foreign shareholder if:

The shareholders interest in the corporation is a U.S. real property interest, and

The property distributed is either in re-

demption of stock or in liquidation of the

corporation.

U.S. real property holding corporations.

A distribution from a domestic corporation that is
a U.S. real property holding corporation
(USRPHC) is generally subject to NRA withholding and withholding under the U.S. real property
interest provisions. This also applies to a corporation that was a USRPHC at any time during
the shorter of the period during which the U.S.
real property interest was held, or the 5-year
period ending on the date of disposition. A
USRPHC can satisfy both withholding provisions if it withholds under one of the following
procedures.

Apply NRA withholding on the full amount

of the distribution, whether or not any part

of the distribution represents a return of
basis or capital gain. If a reduced tax rate
applies under an income tax treaty, then
the rate of withholding must not be less
than 10%, unless the treaty specifies a
lower rate for distributions from a
USRPHC.

Apply NRA withholding to the part of the

distribution that the USRPHC estimates is

a dividend. Then, withhold 10% on the remainder of the distribution (or on a smaller
amount if a withholding certificate is obtained and the amount of the distribution
that is a return of capital is established).

The same procedure must be used for all distributions made during the year. A different procedure may be used each year.
Partnerships. If a partnership disposes of a
U.S. real property interest at a gain, the gain is
treated as effectively connected income and is

Publication 515 (2012)

subject to the rules explained earlier under Partnership Withholding on Effectively Connected
Income.
Trusts and estates. You are a withholding
agent if you are a trustee, fiduciary, or executor
of a trust or estate having one or more foreign
beneficiaries. You must establish a U.S. real
property interest account. You enter in the account all gains and losses realized during the tax
year of the trust or estate from dispositions of
U.S. real property interests. You must withhold
35% on any distribution to a foreign beneficiary
that is attributable to the balance in the real
property interest account on the day of the distribution. A distribution from a trust or estate to a
beneficiary (foreign or domestic) will be treated
as attributable first to any balance in the U.S.
real property interest account and then to other
amounts.
A trust with more than 100 beneficiaries may
elect to withhold from each distribution 35% of
the amount attributable to the foreign beneficiarys proportionate share of the current balance of the trusts real property interest account.
This election does not apply to publicly traded
trusts or real estate investment trusts (REITs).
For more information about this election, see
Regulations section 1.1445-5(c).
Qualified investment entities. Special rules
apply to qualified investment entities (QIEs). A
QIE is:
1. Any real estate investment trust (REIT), or
2. Any regulated investment company (RIC)
that is a U.S. real property holding corporation, but only for distributions by the RIC
that are directly or indirectly attributable to
distributions the RIC received from a REIT.
In determining if a RIC is a U.S. real property
holding corporation, the RIC is required to include as U.S. real property interests its holdings
of stock in a RIC or REIT that is a U.S. real
property holding corporation, even if that stock is
regularly traded and the RIC owns less than 5%
of the stock.
In most cases, any distribution from a QIE
attributable to gain from the sale or exchange of
a U.S. real property interest is treated as such
gain by the nonresident alien, foreign corporation, or other QIE receiving the distribution. A
distribution by a QIE on stock regularly traded on
an established securities market in the United
States is not treated as gain from the sale or
exchange of a U.S. real property interest if the
nonresident alien or foreign corporation did not
own more than 5% of that stock at any time
during the 1-year period ending on the date of
the distribution. A distribution that is not treated
as gain from the sale or exchange of a U.S. real
property interest is included in the shareholders
gross income as a dividend.
A distribution by a QIE to a nonresident alien
or foreign corporation that is treated as gain from
the sale or exchange of a U.S. real property
interest by the shareholder is subject to withholding at 35%.
Domestically controlled QIE. The sale of
an interest in a domestically controlled QIE is not
the sale of a U.S. real property interest. The
entity is domestically controlled if at all times
during the testing period less than 50% in value
of its stock was held, directly or indirectly, by
Publication 515 (2012)

foreign persons. The testing period is the shorter

of (a) the 5-year period ending on the date of
disposition, or (b) the period during which the
entity was in existence.
If a foreign shareholder in a domestically
controlled QIE disposes of an interest in the QIE
in an applicable wash sale transaction, special
rules apply. In this transaction, the nonresident
alien, foreign corporation, or other QIE:
1. Disposes of an interest in the domestically
controlled QIE during the 30-day period
before the ex-dividend date of a distribution that would have been treated by the
shareholder as gain from the sale or exchange of a U.S. real property interest;
and
2. Acquires, or enters into a contract or option to acquire, a substantially identical interest in that entity during the 61-day
period that began on the first day of the
30-day period.
If this occurs, the shareholder is treated as having gain from the sale or exchange of a U.S. real
property interest in an amount equal to the distribution that would have been treated as such
gain. This also applies to any substitute dividend
payment. No withholding is required on these
transactions.
A transaction is not treated as an applicable
wash sale transaction if:

The shareholder actually receives the distribution from the domestically controlled
QIE on either the interest disposed of, or
acquired, in the transaction, or

The shareholder disposes of any class of

stock in a QIE that is regularly traded on

an established securities market in the
United States but only if the shareholder
did not own more than 5% of that stock at
any time during the 1-year period ending
on the date of the distribution.

Additional information. For additional information on the withholding rules that apply to
corporations, trusts, estates, and qualified investment entities, see section 1445 of the Internal Revenue Code and the related regulations.
For additional information on the withholding
rules that apply to partnerships, see the previous discussion.
You also may write to the:

2. The property disposed of is an interest in a

domestic corporation if any class of stock
of the corporation is regularly traded on an
established securities market. However,
this exception does not apply to certain
dispositions of substantial amounts of
non-publicly traded interests in publicly
traded corporations.
3. The disposition is of an interest in a domestic corporation and that corporation
furnishes you a certification stating, under
penalties of perjury, that the interest is not
a U.S. real property interest. In most
cases, the corporation can make this certification only if either of the following is true.

During the previous 5 years (or, if

shorter, the period the interest was

held by its present owner), the corporation was not a USRPHC.

As of the date of disposition, the in-

terest in the corporation is not a U.S.

real property interest by reason of
section 897(c)(1)(B) of the Code. The
certification must be dated not more
than 30 days before the date of
transfer.

4. The transferor gives you a certification stating, under penalties of perjury, that the
transferor is not a foreign person and containing the transferors name, U.S. taxpayer
identification number, and home address
(or office address, in the case of an entity).
The transferor can give the certification to a
qualified substitute. The qualified substitute
gives you a statement, under penalties of perjury, that the certification is in the possession of
the qualified substitute. For this purpose, a
qualified substitute is (a) the person (including
any attorney or title company) responsible for
closing the transaction, other than the transferors agent, and (b) the transferees agent.
5. You receive a withholding certificate from
the Internal Revenue Service that excuses
withholding. See Withholding Certificates,
later.

Internal Revenue Service

Philadelphia, PA 19255-0725

6. The transferor gives you written notice that

no recognition of any gain or loss on the
transfer is required because of a nonrecognition provision in the Internal Revenue
Code or a provision in a U.S. tax treaty.
You must file a copy of the notice by the
20th day after the date of transfer with the
Ogden Service Center, P.O. Box 409101,
Ogden, UT 84409.

Exceptions. You do not have to withhold if

any of the following apply.

7. The amount the transferor realizes on the

transfer of a U.S. real property interest is
zero.

1. You (the transferee) acquire the property

for use as a residence and the amount
realized (sales price) is not more than
$300,000. You or a member of your family
must have definite plans to reside at the
property for at least 50% of the number of
days the property is used by any person
during each of the first two 12-month periods following the date of transfer. When
counting the number of days the property
is used, do not count the days the property
will be vacant. For this exception, the
transferee must be an individual.

8. The property is acquired by the United

States, a U.S. state or possession, a political subdivision, or the District of Columbia.
9. The grantor realizes an amount on the
grant or lapse of an option to acquire a
U.S. real property interest. However, you
must withhold on the sale, exchange, or
exercise of that option.
10. The disposition is of an interest in a publicly traded partnership or trust. However,
this exception does not apply to certain
dispositions of substantial amounts of
Page 35

non-publicly traded interests in publicly

traded partnerships or trusts.
Late filing of certifications or notices. If
you become aware that you have failed to timely
file certain certifications or notices, you still may
be able to file them.
Complete the required certification or notice
and file it with the appropriate person or the IRS.
Also include the following.

A statement at the top of the document(s)

that it is FILED PURSUANT TO REV.
PROC. 2008-27.

An explanation describing why the failure

was due to reasonable cause. Within the

explanation, provide that you filed with, or
obtained from, an appropriate person the
required certification or notice.

The completed certification or notice attached

to the explanation must be sent to the Ogden
Service Center, P.O. Box 409101, Ogden, UT
84409.
Certifications. The certifications in items
(3) and (4) are not effective if you (or the qualified substitute) have actual knowledge, or receive a notice from an agent (or substitute), that
they are false. This also applies to the qualified
substitutes statement under item (4).
If you (or the substitute) are required by regulations to furnish a copy of the certification (or
statement) to the IRS and you (or the substitute)
fail to do so in the time and manner prescribed,
the certification (or statement) is not effective.
Liability of agent or qualified substitute.
If you (or the substitute) receive a certification
discussed in item (3) or (4) or a statement in item
(4), and the agent, or substitute, has actual
knowledge that the certification (or statement) is
false, or in the case of (3), that the corporation is
a foreign corporation, the agent (or substitute)
must notify you, or the agent (or substitute) will
be held liable for the tax. The agents (or substitutes) liability is limited to the compensation the
agent (or substitute) gets from the transaction.
An agent is any person who represents the
transferor or transferee in any negotiation with
another person (or another persons agent) relating to the transaction, or in settling the transaction. A person is not treated as an agent if the
person only performs one or more of the following acts related to the transaction:

Receipt and disbursement of any part of

the consideration;

Recording of any document;

Typing, copying, and other clerical tasks;
Obtaining title insurance reports and re-

ports concerning the condition of the property; or

Transmitting documents between the parties.

Reporting and
Paying the Tax
Transferees must use Forms 8288 and 8288-A
to report and pay over any tax withheld on the
acquisition of U.S. real property interests. These
Page 36

forms must also be used by corporations, estates, and QIEs that must withhold tax on distributions and other transactions involving U.S.
real property interests. You must include the
U.S. TIN of both the transferor and the transferee on the forms.
For partnerships disposing of U.S. real property interests, the manner of reporting and paying over the tax withheld is the same as
discussed earlier under Partnership Withholding
on Effectively Connected Income.
Publicly traded trusts must use Forms 1042
and 1042-S to report and pay over tax withheld
on distributions from dispositions of U.S. real
property interests.
QIEs must use Forms 1042 and 1042-S for a
distribution to a nonresident alien or foreign corporation that is treated as a dividend, as discussed earlier under Qualified investment
entities.
Form 8288, U.S. Withholding Tax Return for
Dispositions by Foreign Persons of U.S. Real
Property Interests. The tax withheld on the
acquisition of a U.S. real property interest from a
foreign person is reported and paid over using
Form 8288. Form 8288 also serves as the transmittal form for copies A and B of Form 8288-A.

DUE

In most cases, you must file Form 8288

by the 20th day after the date of the
transfer.

If an application for a withholding certificate

(discussed later) is submitted to the IRS before
or on the date of a transfer and the application is
still pending with the IRS on the date of transfer,
the correct withholding tax must be withheld, but
does not have to be reported and paid over
immediately. The amount withheld (or lesser
amount as determined by the IRS) must be
reported and paid over within 20 days following
the day on which a copy of the withholding
certificate or notice of denial is mailed by the
IRS.
If the principal purpose of applying for a withholding certificate is to delay paying over the
withheld tax, the transferee will be subject to
interest and penalties. The interest and penalties will be assessed for the period beginning on
the 21st day after the date of transfer and ending
on the day the payment is made.
Form 8288-A, Statement of Withholding on
Dispositions by Foreign Persons of U.S. Real
Property Interests. The withholding agent
must prepare a Form 8288-A for each person
from whom tax has been withheld. Attach copies
A and B of Form 8288-A to Form 8288. Keep
Copy C for your records.
IRS will stamp Copy B and send it to the
person subject to withholding. That person must
file a U.S. income tax return and attach the
stamped Form 8288-A to receive credit for any
tax withheld.
A stamped copy of Form 8288-A will
not be provided to the transferor if the
CAUTION
transferors TIN is not included on that
form. The IRS will send a letter to the transferor
requesting the TIN and providing instructions for
how to get a TIN. When the transferor provides
the IRS with a TIN, the IRS will provide the
transferor with a stamped Copy B of Form
8288-A.
Form 1099-S, Proceeds From Real Estate
Transactions. In most cases, the real estate

broker or other person responsible for closing

the transaction must report the sale of the property to the IRS using Form 1099-S. For more
information about Form 1099-S, see the Instructions for Form 1099-S and the General Instructions for Certain Information Returns.

Withholding Certificates
The amount that must be withheld from the disposition of a U.S. real property interest can be
adjusted by a withholding certificate issued by
the IRS. The transferee, the transferees agent,
or the transferor may request a withholding certificate. The IRS will generally act on these requests within 90 days after receipt of a complete
application including the TINs of all the parties to
the transaction. A transferor that applies for a
withholding certificate must notify the transferee
in writing that the certificate has been applied for
on the day of or the day prior to the transfer.
A withholding certificate may be issued due
to:
1. A determination by the IRS that reduced
withholding is appropriate because either:
a. The amount that must be withheld
would be more than the transferors
maximum tax liability, or
b. Withholding of the reduced amount
would not jeopardize collection of the
tax;
2. The exemption from U.S. tax of all gain
realized by the transferor; or
3. An agreement for the payment of tax providing security for the tax liability, entered
into by the transferee or transferor.
Applications for withholding certificates are
divided into six basic categories. This categorizing provides for specific information that is
needed to process the applications. The six categories are:
1. Applications based on a claim that the
transferor is entitled to nonrecognition
treatment or is exempt from tax,
2. Applications based solely on a calculation
of the transferors maximum tax liability,
3. Applications under special installment
sales rules,
4. Applications based on an agreement for
the payment of tax with conforming security,
5. Applications for blanket withholding certificates, and
6. Applications on any other basis.
The applicant must make available to
the IRS, within the time prescribed, all
RECORDS
information required to verify that representations relied upon in accepting the agreement are accurate, and that the obligations
assumed by the applicant will be performed pursuant to the agreement. Failure to provide requested information promptly usually will result
in rejection of the application, unless the IRS
grants an extension of the target date.
Categories (1), (2), and (3). Use Form
8288-B, Application for Withholding Certificate
Publication 515 (2012)

for Dispositions by Foreign Persons of U.S. Real

Property Interests, to apply for a withholding
certificate. Follow the instructions for the form.
Categories (4), (5), and (6). Do not use Form
8288-B for applications under categories (4),
(5), and (6). For these categories follow the
instructions given here and under the specific
category.
All applications for withholding certificates
must use the following format. The information
must be provided in paragraphs labeled to correspond with the numbers and letters set forth
below. If the information requested does not
apply, place N/A in the relevant space.
1. Information on the application category:
a. State which category (4, 5, or 6) describes the application,
b. If a category (4) application:
i. State whether the proposed agreement secures (A) the transferors
maximum tax liability or (B) the
amount that would otherwise have
to be withheld, and
ii. State whether the proposed agreement and security instrument conform to the standard formats.

property interest and, if so, the amount

of tax paid.
4. Provide full information concerning the basis for the issuance of the withholding certificate. Although the information to be
included in this section of the application
will vary from case to case, the rules
shown under the specific category provide
general guidelines for the inclusion of appropriate information for that category.
The application must be signed by the individual, a responsible officer in the case of a
corporation, a general partner in the case of a
partnership, or a trustee, executor, or equivalent
fiduciary in the case of a trust or estate, or a duly
authorized agent (with a copy of the power of
attorney, such as Form 2848, attached). The
person signing the application must verify under
penalties of perjury that all representations are
true, correct, and complete to that persons
knowledge and belief. If the application is based
in whole or in part on information provided by
another party to the transaction, that information
must be supported by a written verification
signed under penalties of perjury by that party
and attached to the application.
Send applications to the:
Ogden Service Center
P.O. Box 409101
Ogden, UT 84409

2. Information on the transferee or transferor:

a. State the name, address, and TIN of
the person applying for the withholding
certificate (if this person does not have
a TIN and is eligible for an ITIN, he or
she can apply for the ITIN by attaching
the application to a completed Form
W-7 and forwarding the package to the
address given in the Form W-7 instructions);
b. State whether that person is the transferee or transferor; and
c. State the name, address, and TIN of all
other transferees and transferors of the
U.S. real property interest for which the
withholding certificate is sought.
3. Information on the U.S. real property interest for which the withholding certificate is
sought. State the:
a. Type of interest (such as interest in real
property, in associated personal property, or in a domestic U.S. real property
holding corporation);
b. Contract price;
c. Date of transfer;
d. Location and general description (if an
interest in real property);
e. Class or type and amount of the interest
in a U.S. real property holding corporation; and
f. Whether in the 3 preceding tax years:
(1) U.S. income tax returns were filed
relating to the U.S. real property interest
and, if so, when and where those returns were filed and, if not, why returns
were not filed and (2) U.S. income
taxes were paid relating to the U.S. real
Publication 515 (2012)

Category (4) applications. If the application

is based on an agreement for the payment of
tax, the application must include:

Information establishing the transferors

maximum tax liability, or the amount that

otherwise has to be withheld;

A signed copy of the agreement proposed

by the applicant; and

A copy of the security instrument proposed by the applicant.

Either the transferee or the transferor may enter

into an agreement for the payment of tax. The
agreement is a contract between the IRS and
any other person and consists of two necessary
elements. Those elements are:

A detailed description of the rights and obligations of each, and

A security instrument or other form of security acceptable to the Commissioner or

his delegate.

For more information on the agreement for the

payment of tax, including a sample agreement,
see section 5 of Revenue Procedure 2000-35.
Revenue Procedure 2000-35 is in Cumulative
Bulletin 2000-2, or it can be found on page 211
of Internal Revenue Bulletin 2000-35 at www.irs.
gov/pub/irs-irbs/irb00-35.pdf.
There are four major types of security acceptable to the IRS. They are:

Bond with surety or guarantor,

Bond with collateral,
Letter of credit, and
Guarantee (corporate transferors).

The IRS may, in unusual circumstances and at

its discretion, accept any additional form of security that it finds to be adequate.
For more information on acceptable security
instruments, including sample forms of these
instruments, see section 6 of Revenue Procedure 2000-35.
Category (5) applications. A blanket withholding certificate may be issued if the transferor
holding the U.S. real property interests provides
an irrevocable letter of credit or a guarantee and
enters into a tax payment and security agreement with the IRS. A blanket withholding certificate excuses withholding concerning multiple
dispositions of those property interests by the
transferor or the transferors legal representative during a period of no more than 12 months.
For more information, see section 9 of Revenue Procedure 2000-35.
Category (6) applications. These are nonstandard applications and may be of the following types.
Agreement for payment of tax with nonconforming security. An applicant seeking to
enter into an agreement for the payment of tax
but wanting to provide a nonconforming type of
security must include the following in the application:
1. The information required for Category (4)
applications, discussed earlier,
2. A description of the nonconforming security proposed by the applicant, and
3. A memorandum of law and facts establishing that the proposed security is valid and
enforceable and that it adequately protects
the governments interest.
Other nonstandard applications. An application for a withholding certificate not previously described must explain in detail the
proposed basis for the issuance of the certificate
and set forth the reasons justifying the issuance
of a certificate on that basis.

Amendments to Applications
An applicant for a withholding certificate may
amend an otherwise complete application by
sending an amending statement to the address
shown earlier. There is no particular form required, but the amending statement must provide the following information:

The name, address, and TIN of the person

providing the amending statement specifying whether that person is the transferee
or transferor,

The date of the original application for a

withholding certificate that is being
amended,

A brief description of the real property in-

terest for which the original application for

a withholding certificate was provided, and

The basis for the amendment including

any change in the facts supporting the

original application for a withholding certificate and any change in the terms of the
withholding certificate.
Page 37

The statement must be signed and accompanied by a penalties of perjury statement.

If an amending statement is provided, the
time in which the IRS must act upon the application is extended by 30 days. If the amending
statement substantially changes the original application, the time for acting upon the application
is extended by 60 days. If an amending statement is received after the withholding certificate
has been signed, but before it has been mailed
to the applicant, the IRS will have a 90-day
extension of time in which to act.

Tax Treaty Tables

under which residents (sometimes limited to citizens) of those countries are taxed at a reduced
rate or are exempt from U.S. income taxes on
certain income received from within the United
States.
Income that is exempt under a treaty is not
subject to withholding at source under the statutory rules discussed in this publication.
Three tables follow:
Table 1 lists the withholding rates on income other than personal service income.
Table 2 lists the different types of personal
service income that are entitled to an exemption
from, or reduction in, withholding.

Table 3 shows where the full text of each

treaty and protocol may be found in the Cumulative Bulletins if it has been published.
These tables are not meant to be a
complete guide to all provisions of
CAUTION
every income tax treaty. For detailed
information, you must consult the provisions of
the tax treaty that apply to the country of the
nonresident alien to whom you are making payment.
You can obtain the full text of these treaties
at IRS.gov.

The United States has income tax treaties (or

conventions) with a number of foreign countries

Page 38

Publication 515 (2012)

Table 1. Withholding Tax Rates on Income Other Than Personal Service Income Under Chapter 3, Internal
Revenue Code, and Income Tax TreatiesFor Withholding in 2012
Taxpayers must meet the limitation on benefits provisions in the treaty, if any, to qualify for reduced withholding rates.
In most cases, the Business Profits article, rather than a reduced withholding tax rate, applies if the income is attributable to a permanent establishment of
the taxpayer in the United States.
Income Code Number

Interest

Name

Code

Paid by U.S.
Corporations
Generala

Paid by U.S.
Obligors General

14

Qualifying for Direct

Dividend Ratea, b

Pensions and
Annuities d

Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

AS

Austria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

AU

Bangladesh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

BG

Barbados . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

BB

15 w

5w

0f

Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

BE

0 g,jj

15 dd,mm

5 dd,mm,oo

0f

Bulgaria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

BU

5 g,dd,jj,nn

10 dd,mm

5 dd,mm

0f

0 g,jj

15 mm

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CA

China, Peoples Rep. of . . . . . . .

CH

Comm. of Independent

States*

.........

10 g,k,nn

7
Dividends

0 g,jj
10 g,bb,jj

10

15 mm

5 mm,oo

15 w

5w

15 mm

10 mm

5 mm

10

10

0 f,q

15
0t

0n

30

30

Cyprus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CY

10 nn

15

30
0f

Czech Republic . . . . . . . . . . . .

EZ

0g

15 w

5w

0f

0 g,kk

Denmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

DA

15 dd,mm

5 dd,mm,oo

Egypt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

EG

15

15

0f

Estonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

EN

10 g,kk

15 w

5w

0f

Finland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

FI

0 g,kk

15 dd,mm

5 dd,mm,oo

0f

France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

FR

0 g,k

15 mm

5 mm,oo

30 t

Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

GM

0 g,jj

15 dd,mm

5 dd,mm,oo

0f

Greece . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

GR

0r

30

30

Hungary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

HU

15

0t

Iceland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

IC

0 g,kk

15 dd,mm

5 dd,mm

India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

IN

15 z

25 w

15 w

Indonesia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ID

10

15

10

Ireland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

EI

0 g,k

Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

IS

171/2 z

25 w

Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

IT

10 g,h

15 mm

Jamaica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

JM

121/2

15

Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

JA

10 e,g,dd,ee

10 dd,ee,mm

Kazakhstan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

KZ

10 g

15 ff

Korea, South . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

KS

12

15

Latvia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

LG

10 g,kk

15 w

15 mm

30 c,t

0f
15 q

5 mm

0f

121/2 w

0f

5 mm

0f

10

0 f,p

5 dd,ee,mm,oo

5 ff

0f

10
5w

0f
0f

* Those countries to which the U.S.-U.S.S.R. income tax treaty still applies: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Publication 515 (2012)

Page 39

Table 1.Withholding Tax Rates on Income Other Than Personal Service Income Under Chapter 3, Internal
Revenue Code, and Income Tax TreatiesFor Withholding in 2012
Taxpayers must meet the limitation on benefits provisions in the treaty, if any, to qualify for reduced withholding rates.
In most cases, the Business Profits article, rather than a reduced withholding tax rate, applies if the income is attributable to a permanent establishment of
the taxpayer in the United States.
Income Code Number

10

11

12

Film & TV

Copyrights

Royalties

Name

Industrial
Equipment

Code

Know-How/ Other
Industrial
Royalties

Patents

Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

AS

30 u

Austria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

AU

30 u

10

Bangladesh . . . . . . . . . . . .

BG

30 u

10

10

10

10

Barbados . . . . . . . . . . . . .

BB

30 u

Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

BE

30 u

Bulgaria . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

BU

30 u

Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CA

30 u

10

China, Peoples Rep. of . . . .

CH

10 v

10

10

10

10

Comm. of Independent States . . . . .

Cyprus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CY

30 u

Czech Republic . . . . . . . . .

EZ

10

10

10

Denmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

DA

30 u

Egypt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

EG

30 u

30 u

15

15

Estonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

EN

10

10

10

10

Finland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

FI

30 u

France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

FR

30 u

Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

GM

30 u

Greece . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

GR

Hungary . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

HU

30 u

Iceland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

IC

30 u

India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

IN

10

15

15

15

15

Indonesia . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ID

10

10

10

10

10

Ireland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

EI

30 u

Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

IS

30 u

15 u

15

10

10

Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

IT

Jamaica . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

JM

30 u

10

10

10

10

Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

JA

30 u

Kazakhstan . . . . . . . . . . . .

KZ

10

10

10

10

10

Korea, South . . . . . . . . . . .

KS

30 u

15

15

10

10

Latvia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

LG

10

10

10

10

Page 40

0 ee

0 ee

0 ee

0 ee

Publication 515 (2012)

Table 1.Withholding Tax Rates on Income Other Than Personal Service Income Under Chapter 3, Internal
Revenue Code, and Income Tax TreatiesFor Withholding in 2012
Taxpayers must meet the limitation on benefits provisions in the treaty, if any, to qualify for reduced withholding rates.
In most cases, the Business Profits article, rather than a reduced withholding tax rate, applies if the income is attributable to a permanent establishment of
the taxpayer in the United States.
Income Code Number

Interest

14

Qualifying for Direct

Dividend Ratea,b

Pensions and
Annuities

Dividends

Paid by U.S. Obligors

General

Paid by U.S.
Corporations Generala

LH

10 g,kk

15 w

5w

0f

LU

0 g,k

15 w

5w

MT

10 g,jj

15 dd,mm

5 dd,mm

0f

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MX

15 g,dd,ee,hh

10 dd,mm

5 dd,mm,oo

Morocco . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MO

15

15

Name

Code

Lithuania . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Luxembourg . . . . . . . . . . .
Malta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

0g

10

0f

Netherlands . . . . . . . . . . .

NL

15 pp

5 gg,oo,pp

0 f,pp

New Zealand . . . . . . . . . .

NZ

10 g,jj,nn

15 mm

5 mm,oo

Norway . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NO

10 z

15

15

Pakistan . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PK

30

30

15

0j

Philippines . . . . . . . . . . . .

RP

15

25

20

30 q

Poland . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PL

15

5
5w

0f

30

Portugal . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PO

10 g,k

15 w

Romania . . . . . . . . . . . . .

RO

10

10

Russia . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

RS

0g

10 ff

5 ff

0t

Slovak Republic . . . . . . . .

LO

0g

15 w

5w

0f

Slovenia . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SI

5g

15 mm

5 mm

0f

0 g,jj

10

0f
0f

South Africa . . . . . . . . . . .

SF

15 w

5w

15 l

Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SP

10

15 w

10 w

0f

Sri Lanka . . . . . . . . . . . .

CE

10 g,jj

15 gg

15 gg

0t

Sweden . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SW

0g

15 dd,mm

5 dd,mm,oo

Switzerland . . . . . . . . . . .

SZ

0 g,jj

15 w

5w

Thailand . . . . . . . . . . . . .

TH

15 g,z

15 w

10 w

0f

Trinidad & Tobago . . . . . . .

TD

30

30

30

0f

Tunisia . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

TS

15

20 w

14 w

0f

Turkey . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

TU

15 g, m,z

20 w

15 w

Ukraine . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

UP

0g

15 ff

5 ff

United Kingdom . . . . . . . .

UK

0 g,ee,kk

15 ee,mm

5 ee,mm,oo

0f

Venezuela . . . . . . . . . . . .

VE

Other Countries . . . . . . . .

Publication 515 (2012)

10 g,kk,ll

15 mm

30

30

5 mm
30

0t
30

Page 41

Table 1. Withholding Tax Rates on Income Other Than Personal Service Income Under Chapter 3, Internal
Revenue Code, and Income Tax TreatiesFor Withholding in 2012
Taxpayers must meet the limitation on benefits provisions in the treaty, if any, to qualify for reduced withholding rates.
In most cases, the Business Profits article, rather than a reduced withholding tax rate, applies if the income is attributable to a permanent establishment of
the taxpayer in the United States.
Income Code Number

10

11

12

Film & TV

Copyrights

Royalties
Industrial
Equipment

Know-how/ Other
Industrial
Royalties

Name

Code

Patents

Lithuania . . . . . . . . . . .

LH

10

10

10

10

Luxembourg . . . . . . . . .

LU

30 u

Malta . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MT

30 u

10

10

10

10

Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . .

MX

10

10

10

10

10

Morocco . . . . . . . . . . .

MO

30 u

10

10

10

10

Netherlands . . . . . . . . .

NL

30 u

New Zealand . . . . . . . .

NZ

30 u

Norway . . . . . . . . . . . .

NO

30 u

Pakistan . . . . . . . . . . .

PK

30 u

30 u

Philippines . . . . . . . . . .

RP

30 u

15

15

15

15

Poland . . . . . . . . . . . .

PL

30 u

10

10

10

10

Portugal . . . . . . . . . . .

PO

10

10

10

10

10

Romania . . . . . . . . . . .

RO

30 u

15

15

10

10

Russia . . . . . . . . . . . .

RS

30 u

Slovak Republic . . . . . .

LO

10

10

10

Slovenia . . . . . . . . . . .

SI

30 u

South Africa . . . . . . . . .

SF

30 u

Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SP

10

10

5 aa

Sri Lanka . . . . . . . . . .

CE

30 u,y

10

10

10

10

Sweden . . . . . . . . . . .

SW

30 u

Switzerland . . . . . . . . .

SZ

30 u

30 u

Thailand . . . . . . . . . . .

TH

15

15

Trinidad & Tobago . . . . .

TD

30 u

15

15

30 u

Tunisia . . . . . . . . . . . .

TS

10

15

15

15

15

0 cc

Turkey . . . . . . . . . . . .

TU

10

10

10

10

Ukraine . . . . . . . . . . . .

UP

30 u

10

10

10

10

United Kingdom . . . . . .

UK

30 u

Venezuela . . . . . . . . . .

VE

Other Countries . . . . . .

Page 42

0 ee

0 ee

0 ee

0 ee

10

10

10

10

30

30

30

30

30

Publication 515 (2012)

f
g

No U.S. tax is imposed on a percentage of any

dividend paid by a U.S. corporation in existence
on January 1, 2011, that received at least 80% of
its gross income from an active foreign business
for the 3-year period before the dividend is
declared. (See sections 871(i)(2)(B) and 881(d)
of the Internal Revenue Code.)
The reduced rate applies to dividends paid by a
subsidiary to a foreign parent corporation that
has the required percentage of stock ownership.
In some cases, the income of the subsidiary must
meet certain requirements (e.g., a certain
percentage of its total income must consist of
income other than dividends and interest).
In most cases, if the person was receiving
pension distributions before March 31, 2000, the
distributions continue to be exempt from U.S. tax.
In most cases, this rate applies only to pensions
not paid by a government. See specific treaty
rules for government pensions.
Interest is exempt if (a) paid to certain financial
institutions or (b) paid on indebtedness from the
sale on credit of equipment or merchandise.
Includes alimony.
Exemption or reduced rate does not apply to an
excess inclusion for a residual interest in a real
estate mortgage investment conduit (REMIC).
Interest paid or accrued on the sale of goods,
merchandise, or services between enterprises is
exempt. Interest paid or accrued on the sale on
credit of industrial, commercial, or scientific
property is exempt.
The rate is 5% for trademarks and any
information for rentals of industrial, commercial,
or scientific equipment.
Exemption is not available when paid from a fund
under an employees pension or annuity plan, if
contributions to it are deductible under U.S. tax
laws in determining taxable income of the
employer.
The rate is 15% for interest determined with
reference to the profits of the issuer or one of its
associated enterprises.
Annuities purchased while the annuitant was not
a resident of the United States are not taxable.
The reduced rate applies if the distribution is not
subject to a penalty for early withdrawal.
Contingent interest that does not qualify as
portfolio interest is treated as a dividend and is
subject to the rate under column 6 or 7.
The exemption applies only to interest on credits,
loans, and other indebtedness connected with
the financing of trade between the United States
and the C.I.S. member. It does not include
interest from the conduct of a general banking
business.
The exemption applies only to gains from the
sale or other disposition of property acquired by
gift or inheritance.
The exemption does not apply if the applicable
past employment was performed in the United
states while such person was a resident of the
United States, or if the annuity was purchased in
the United States while such person was a
resident of the United States.
Annuities paid in return for other than the
recipients services are exempt. For Bangladesh,
exemption does not apply to annuity received for
services rendered.
Exemption does not apply to such interest paid
by a U.S. corporation to a Greek corporation
controlling, directly or indirectly, more than 50
percent of the entire voting power in the paying
corporation.

Publication 515 (2012)

aa
bb

cc
dd

ee

ff

gg

hh

The rate for royalties with respect to tangible

personal property is 7%.
Does not apply to annuities. For Denmark,
annuities are exempt.
Depending on the facts, the rate may be
determined by either the Business Profits article
or the Other Income article.
Tax imposed on 70% of gross royalties for rentals
of industrial, commercial, or scientific equipment.
The rate in column 6 applies to dividends paid by
a regulated investment company (RIC) or a real
estate investment trust (REIT). However, that
rate applies to dividends paid by a REIT only if
the beneficial owner of the dividends is an
individual holding less than a 10% interest (25%
in the case of Portugal, Spain, Thailand, and
Tunisia) in the REIT.
Royalties not taxed at the 5% or 8% rate are
taxed at a 10% rate, unless the royalty is
attributable to a permanent establishment of the
taxpayer in the United States.
The rate is 5% for the rental of tangible personal
property.
The rate is 10% if the interest is paid on a loan
granted by a bank or similar financial institution.
For Norway, the interest described in the
preceding sentences is exempt. For Thailand,
the 10% rate also applies to interest from an
arms length sale on credit of equipment,
merchandise, or services.
The rate is 8% for copyrights of scientific work.
The rate is 5% for interest (a) beneficially owned
by a bank or other financial institution (including
an insurance company) or (b) paid due to a sale
on credit of any industrial, commercial, or
scientific equipment, or of any merchandise to an
enterprise.
The rate is 15% for copyrights of scientific work.
Amounts paid to a pension fund that are not
derived from the carrying on of a business,
directly or indirectly, by the fund are exempt. This
includes dividends paid by a REIT only if the
conditions in footnote mm are met. For Sweden,
to be entitled to the exemption, the pension fund
must not sell or make a contract to sell the
holding from which the dividend is derived within
2 months of the date the pension fund acquired
the holding.
Exemption or reduced rate does not apply to
amount paid under, or as part of, a conduit
arrangement.
The rate in column 6 applies to dividends paid by
a regulated investment company (RIC).
Dividends paid by a real estate investment trust
(REIT) are subject to a 30% rate.
The rate applies to dividends paid by a real
estate investment trust (REIT) only if the
beneficial owner of the dividends is (a) an
individual holding less than a 10% interest in the
REIT, (b) a person holding not more than 5% of
any class of the REITs stock and the dividends
are paid on stock that is publicly traded, or (c) a
person holding not more than a 10% interest in
the REIT and the REIT is diversified.
The rate is 4.9% for interest derived from (1)
loans granted by banks and insurance
companies and (2) bonds or securities that are
regularly and substantially traded on a
recognized securities market. The rate is 10% for
interest not described in the preceding sentence
and paid (i) by banks or (ii) by the buyer of
machinery and equipment to the seller due to a
sale on credit.

The exemption does not apply if (1) the recipient

was a U.S. resident during the 5-year period
before the date of payment, (2) the amount was
paid for employment performed in the United
States, and (3) the amount is not a periodic
payment, or is a lump-sum payment in lieu of a
right to receive an annuity.
jj The rate is 15% (10% for Bulgaria; 30% for
Austria, Germany and Switzerland) for
contingent interest that does not qualify as
portfolio interest. In most cases, this is interest
based on receipts, sales, income, or changes in
the value of property.
kk The rate is 15% for interest determined with
reference to (a) receipts, sales, income, profits or
other cash flow of the debtor or a related person,
(b) any change in the value of any property of the
debtor or a related person, or (c) any dividend,
partnership distribution, or similar payment made
by the debtor or related person.
ll The rate is 4.95% if the interest is beneficially
owned by a financial institution (including an
insurance company).
mmThe rate in column 6 applies to dividends paid by
a regulated investment company (RIC) or real
estate investment trust (REIT). However, that
rate applies to dividends paid by a REIT only if
the beneficial owner of the dividends is (a) an
individual (or pension fund, in some cases)
holding not more than a 10% interest in the REIT,
(b) a person holding not more than 5% of any
class of the REITs stock and the dividends are
paid on stock that is publicly traded, or (c) a
person holding not more than a 10% interest in
the REIT and the REIT is diversified.
nn Interest received by a financial institution is
exempt. In some cases, the exemption does not
apply if the interest is paid as part of an
arrangement involving back-to-back loans or
other arrangement that is economically
equivalent and intended to have a similar effect
to back-to-back loans.
oo Dividends received from an 80%-owned
corporate subsidiary are exempt if certain
conditions are met. For Japan, dividends
received from a more than 50% owned corporate
subsidiary are exempt if certain conditions are
met.
pp The rate in column 6 applies to dividends paid by
a regulated investment company (RIC) or real
estate investment trust (REIT). However, that
rate applies to dividends paid by a REIT only if
the beneficial owner of the dividends is (a) an
individual holding not more than a 25% interest in
the REIT, (b) a person holding not more than 5%
of any class of the REITs stock and the
dividends are paid on stock that is publicly
traded, or (c) a person holding not more than a
10% interest in the REIT and the REIT is
diversified, or (d) a Dutch belegginginstelling.
ii

Page 43

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Publication 515 (2012)

Dependent personal services8, 17 . . . . . . . . . . . .

Public entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:23
Remittances or allowances11 . . . . . . . . . . . . .

16

17
42

19

Barbados

Belgium

Independent personal services7, 8 . . . . . . . . . . . .

15
16
17
42
18
19

Bangladesh

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Studying and training:11

Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Compensation during study or training . . . . . . .

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19

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Independent personal services53

Dependent personal services12, 17
Public entertainment . . . . . . . .
Teaching4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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17
42
18

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.......
.......

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2 years45 . . . . .
2 years45 . . . . .

183 days . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .
2 years . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . .

89 days .
89 days .
183 days
No limit .

2 years45 . . . . .
2 years45 . . . . .

2 years45
183 days
183 days
No limit .
2 years .

3 years45 . . . . .

.............
.
.
.
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.

No limit . . . . . .
183 days . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .

.............
.............
.............

Scholarship or fellowship grant4 . . . . . .

Independent personal services7 . . . . . .
Dependent personal services17 . . . . . .
Public entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Teaching or research4 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:4
Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . .
Compensation during study or training

Independent personal
Dependent personal services17
Public entertainment . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances11

No limit . . . . . .

.............

16
17
42
19

183 days . . . . .
183 days . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .

Maximum
Presence
in U.S.
(4)
.............
.............
.............

Austria
services7

Independent personal services7

Dependent personal services17
Public entertainment . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances11

Purpose 22
(3)

16
17
42
19

Code1
(2)

Australia

Country
(1)

Category of Personal Services

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Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. educational or research
institution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign contractor . . . .

Any U.S. contractor . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident5

Any contractor . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . .
Any contractor . . . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any contractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any contractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Required Employer or Payer

(5)

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

17

No limit . . . . . . .
$9,000 p.a. . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$20,000 p.a.25 . .
No limit . . . . . . .

19(1)(a)
19(1)(b)

7
14
16
19(2)

20

14
14
15

21(2)
21(2)

21(2)
15
16
18
21(1)

20

14
15
17

20

14
15
17

Treaty Article
Citation
(7)

.
.
.

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . .
$5,000 p.a. . . .
$5,000 p.a. . . .
$250 per day or
$4,000 p.a.6, 50 .

No limit . . . . . . .
$8,000 p.a. . . . .

No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
$10,000 p.a. 30
No limit . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . . .
$20,000 p.a.25 . .

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . . .
$10,000 p.a. 25 . .

Maximum
Amount of
Compensation
(6)

Table 2. Compensation for Personal Services Performed in United States Exempt from U.S. Income Tax Under Income Tax Treaties

Publication 515 (2012)

Page 45

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Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign contractor . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . .
Any U.S. educational or scientific
institution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

......

......
......
......

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

.
.
.
.

1 year . . . . . . .

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.

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

C.I.S. resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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.

5 years . . . . . .
1 year . . . . . . .

5 years .
183 days
183 days
2 years .

No specific limit

.
.
.
.

..

Studying and training:

Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Compensation while gaining experience . . . . . .
Compensation under U.S.
Government program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

.
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.

19

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Scholarship or fellowship grant .

Independent personal services .
Dependent personal services . .
Teaching4, 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . .

No specific limit

..

15
16
17
18

U.S. educational or research institute . . .

3 years . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident5 . . . . . . . . .

Any contractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

No limit52 . . . . .
No specific limit
183 days . . . . .
183 days . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. educational or research
institution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Required Employer or Payer

(5)

No limit . . . . . .
183 days . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .

2 years45 . . . . .
2 years45 . . . . .

183 days . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .
2 years . . . . . .

Maximum
Presence
in U.S.
(4)

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

Commonwealth of
Independent States

Scholarship or fellowship grant15 . . . . . . . . . .

Independent personal services7 . . . . . . . . . . .
Dependent personal services8, 17 . . . . . . . . . .
Public entertainment29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Teaching4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Compensation during training or while gaining
experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Public entertainment54 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances11 . . . . . . . . . . . . .

42
19

15
16
17
42
18
19

Independent personal services53 . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dependent personal services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

16
17

Studying and training:11

Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Compensation during study or training . . . . . . .

.
.
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.

19

.
.
.
.

Independent personal services53

Dependent personal services8, 17
Public entertainment . . . . . . . .
Teaching4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Purpose 22
(3)

16
17
42
18

Code1
(2)

China,
Peoples Rep. of

Canada

Bulgaria

Country
(1)

Category of Personal Services

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No limit . . . . . . .

Limited . . . . . . .
No limit21 . . . . . .

Limited19
No limit .
No limit .
No limit .

$5,000 p.a. . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .

$10,000 . . . . . . .
No limit13 . . . . . .
$15,000 p.a.25 . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$9,000 p.a. . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$15,000 p.a.25 . .
No limit . . . . . . .

Maximum
Amount of
Compensation
(6)

VI(1)

VI(1)
VI(1)

VI(1)
VI(2)
VI(2)
VI(1)

20(c)

20(a)

20(b)
13
14
16
19

XX

VII
XV
XV
XVI

19(1)(a)
19(1)(b)

7
14
16
19(2)

Treaty Article
Citation
(7)

Page 46

Publication 515 (2012)

Denmark

Czech Republic

Cyprus

Country
(1)

Independent personal services7 . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dependent personal services17 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Public entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

16
17
42

19

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16
17
42
19

Independent personal services7 .

Dependent personal services8, 17
Public entertainment . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:4
Remittances or allowances11 .

Studying and training:4

Remittances and allowances . . . . . . . .
Compensation during training . . . . . . . .
Compensation while gaining experience2
Compensation under U.S.
Government program . . . . . . . . . . . .

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19

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5 years .
183 days
183 days
No limit .
2 years .

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No limit . . . . . .
183 days . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .
3 years45 . . . . .

............

1 year . . . . . . .

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.....

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.
5 years . . . . . .
5 years . . . . . .
12 consec. mos.

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.....
.....
.....

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Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident5

Any contractor . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident .

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......

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Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any contractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .
Czech resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign

...
Any contractor . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . .
Any U.S. educational or research
institution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

resident5

U.S. Government or its contractor . . . . . .

.
.
.
.

1 year . . . . . . .

.
.
.
.

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Cyprus resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

.
.
.
.

Required Employer or Payer

(5)

Generally, 5
years . . . . . . . .
Generally, 5
years . . . . . . . .
1 year . . . . . . .

Generally, 5
years . . . . .
182 days . .
182 days . .
No limit . . .

Maximum
Presence
in U.S.
(4)

............
............
............

.
.
.
.

Scholarship or fellowship grant

Independent personal services7 .
Dependent personal services8, 17
Public entertainment . . . . . . . .
Teaching4, 35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

15
16
17
42
18
4, 15

Compensation while gaining experience2 . . . . .

Compensation under U.S.
Government program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Compensation during training . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Scholarship or fellowship grant 15 . . . . . . . . . . . .

Purpose 22
(3)

15

Code1
(2)

Category of Personal Services

19(1)

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.
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.
.

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.
.

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . . .
$20,000 p.a.25 . .

$10,000 . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$5,000 p.a. . . . .
$8,000 . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
$20,000 p.a.30
No limit . . . . .

$10,000 . . . . . . .

$2,000 p.a. . . . .
$7,500 . . . . . . .

20

14
15
17

21(3)

21(1)
21(1)
21(2)

21(1)
14
15
18
21(5)

21(3)

21(1)
21(2)

21(1)

21(1)
17
18

Treaty Article
Citation
(7)
.
.
.

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .
$500 per day or
$5,000 p.a.6 . . .

Maximum
Amount of
Compensation
(6)

Publication 515 (2012)

Page 47

15
16
17
42
19

16
17
42
19

15
16
17
42
18
19

Finland

France

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............
............

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Compensation while gaining experience2 . . . . .

.......
.......

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Any U.S. or foreign resident5

Any contractor . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident .

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.
5 years43 . . . . .
12 consec. mos.
5 years43 . . . . .
12 consec. mos.

5
No limit .
183 days
No limit .
2 years43

years43

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.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

Any foreign resident . . . . . . .

French resident . . . . . . . . . .
Other foreign or U.S. resident .
French resident . . . . . . . . . .

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

Any U.S. or foreign

.......
Any contractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . .
U.S. educational or research institution

resident5

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any contractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

U.S. Government or its contractor . . . . . .

.
.
.
.

1 year . . . . . . .

.
.
.
.

No limit . . . . . .

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

Any foreign resident . . . . . . .

Estonian resident . . . . . . . . .
Other foreign or U.S. resident .
Estonian resident . . . . . . . . .

.
.
.
.

.............
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

5 years . . . . . .
12 consec. mos.
5 years . . . . . .
12 consec. mos.

5 years .
183 days
183 days
No limit .

No limit . . . . . .
183 days . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident5

Any contractor . . . . . . . . . .
Egyptian resident . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident .
U.S. educational institution .

U.S. Government or its contractor . . . . . .

.
.
.
.
.

1 year . . . . . . .

.
.
.
.
.

U.S. or any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Egyptian resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

.
.
.
.
.

Required Employer or Payer

(5)

Generally, 5
years . . . . . . . .
Generally, 5
years . . . . . . . .
12 consec. mos.

Generally, 5
years . . . . .
89 days . . .
89 days . . .
No limit . . .
2 years . . .

Maximum
Presence
in U.S.
(4)

.............
.............
.............

Scholarship or fellowship
.....
Independent personal services7 . . . . . .
Dependent personal services8, 17 . . . . .
Public entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Teaching4, 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:4
Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . .
Compensation during study or training

grant15

Independent personal services7

Dependent personal services17
Public entertainment . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances11

Compensation while gaining experience2 . . . . .

Compensation under U.S.
Government program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Scholarship or fellowship grants4

Independent personal services7 .
Dependent personal services8, 17
Public entertainment . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:4
Remittances or allowances . . .
Compensation during training .

Compensation while gaining experience2 . . . . .

Compensation under U.S.
Government program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Compensation during training . . . . . . . . . . . . .

............

.
.
.
.

Independent personal services . .

Dependent personal services16, 17
Public entertainment . . . . . . . .
Teaching4, 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances . . .

16
17
42
18
19

.
.
.
.

Scholarship or fellowship grant15 . . . . . . . . . . . .

Purpose 22
(3)

15

Code1
(2)

Estonia

Egypt

Country
(1)

Category of Personal Services

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

No limit . . .
$8,000 . . .
$5,000 p.a.
$8,000 . . .

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
$10,000 p.a. 30
No limit . . . . .

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . . .
$20,000 p.a.25 . .

$10,000 . . . . . . .

No limit . . .
$8,000 . . .
$5,000 p.a.
$8,000 . . .

No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
$20,000 p.a. 30

$10,000 . . . . . . .

$3,000 p.a. . . . .
$7,500 . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
$400 per day46
No limit . . . . .

Maximum
Amount of
Compensation
(6)

21(1)
21(2)
21(1)
21(2)

21(1)
14
15
17
20

20

14
15
17

20(3)

20(1)
20(2)
20(1)
20(2)

20(1)
14
15
17

23(3)

23(1)
23(2)

23(1)

23(1)
15
16
17
22

Treaty Article
Citation
(7)

Page 48

Publication 515 (2012)

16
17
18
19

15
16
17
42
19

Hungary

Iceland

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

......

......
......
......

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
1 year . . . . . . .

183 days . . . .
No limit . . . . .
............
5 years . . . . .
5 years . . . . .
12 consec. mo.

5 years . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . .

.............
.
.
.
.

183 days . . . . .
183 days . . . . .
2 years . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . .

.
.
.
.
.

.............
.............
.............

Scholarship or fellowship grant . . . . . . . .

Independent personal services53 . . . . . .
Dependent personal services8, 17 . . . . . .
Public entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . . .
Compensation during study or training .
Compensation while gaining experience
Compensation under U.S.
Government program . . . . . . . . . . .

Independent personal services7

Dependent personal services17
Teaching4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:23
Remittances or allowances11

Teaching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

18
19

.
.
.
.
.

No limit . . . . . .
4 years . . . . . .
1 year . . . . . . .

.....
.....
.....
183 days
183 days
183 days
183 days
3 years .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .
U.S. educational or research institution . .

183 days . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .
2 years . . . . . .

.
.
.

.........

U.S. Government or its contractor . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident2 . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign

resident5

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any contractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
U.S. educational institution . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Greek resident contractor . . . . . . . . . .

Other foreign or U.S. resident contractor
Greek resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other foreign or U.S resident . . . . . . . .
U.S. educational institution . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident5 . . . . . . . . .

Required Employer or Payer

(5)

No limit . . . . . .

Maximum
Presence
in U.S.
(4)
.
.
.
.
.

Dependent personal services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

.
.
.
.
.

17

.
.
.
.
.

Independent personal services . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

.
.
.
.
.

16

.
.
.
.
.

Greece

Scholarship or fellowship grant . . . . . . . . .

Independent personal services53 . . . . . . .
Dependent personal services12,17 . . . . . . .
Public entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Teaching4, 55 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:11
Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . . . .
Compensation during study or training . .
Compensation while gaining experience2

Purpose 22
(3)

15
16
17
42
18
19

Code1
(2)

Germany

Country
(1)

Category of Personal Services

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
$9,000 . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . .
$20,000 p.a.25
............
No limit . . . . .
$9,000 p.a. . .
$9,000 . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . .
$10,000 p.a. .
No limit . . . .
$10,000 p.a. .
No limit . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$9,000 p.a. . . . .
$10,00028 . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$20,000 p.a.30 . .
No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .

Maximum
Amount of
Compensation
(6)

19(3)

19(1)
19(1)
19(2)

19(1)
7
14
16

18(1)

13
14
17

XIII

X
X
X
X
XII

20(2)
20(4)
20(5)

20(3)
7
15
17
20(1)

Treaty Article
Citation
(7)

Publication 515 (2012)

Page 49

16
17
42
18
19

15
16
17
42
18
19

16
17
42
19

15
16
17
42
18
19

16
17
42
18
19

Indonesia

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Code1
(2)

India

Country
(1)
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

Independent personal services .

Dependent personal services 8, 17
Public entertainment . . . . . . . .
Teaching or research 4 . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances . . .
7

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
............

.
.
.
.

5 years .
182 days
182 days
No limit .
2 years .

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
No limit . . . . . .

No limit .
183 days
90 days .
2 years .

1 year . . . . . . .

.
.
.
.
.

.....

.
.
.
.
.
5 years . . . . . .
5 years . . . . . .
12 consec. mo.

.
.
.
.
.

.....
.....
.....

.
.
.
.
.

1 year45 . . . . . .

............
.
.
.
.
.

No limit . . . . . .
183 days . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .

5 years . . . . . .
5 years . . . . . .
12 consec. mo.

5 years .
119 days
119 days
No limit .
2 years .

Reasonable
period . . . . . . .

89 days .
183 days
No limit .
2 years .

Maximum
Presence
in U.S.
(4)

............
............
............

......
......
......

.
.
.
.
.

Scholarship and fellowship grant . . . . . . .

Independent personal services . . . . . . . . .
Dependent personal services16, 17 . . . . . . .
Public entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Teaching4, 39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . . . .
Compensation during study or training . .
Compensation while gaining experience2
Compensation under U.S.
Government program . . . . . . . . . . . .

Independent personal services7 .

Dependent personal services17, 47
Public entertainment . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances11 .

Scholarship and fellowship

.....
Independent personal services7 . . . . . . .
Dependent personal services17 . . . . . . .
Public entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Teaching4, 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . . .
Compensation during training . . . . . . .
Compensation while gaining experience

grant15

Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Independent personal services7, 8

Dependent personal services8, 17
Public entertainment . . . . . . . .
Teaching4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:

Purpose 22
(3)

Category of Personal Services

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any contractor . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident
Any U.S. or foreign resident

U.S. Government or its contractor . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .
Israeli resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign

Any contractor . . . . . . . . .
Israeli resident . . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident
U.S. educational institution

resident5

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any contractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign

Any contractor . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident
U.S. educational institution

resident5

Any foreign resident27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any contractor . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident
U.S. educational institution

Required Employer or Payer

(5)
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
$20,000 p.a.25
No limit . . . . .

$10,000 . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$3,000 p.a. . . . .
$7,500 . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
$400 per day37
No limit . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . . .
$20,000 p.a.25 . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$2,000 p.a. . . . .
$7,500 . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .
$2,000 p.a.25, 50 .
No limit . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .
$1,500 p.a.26, 50 .
No limit . . . . . .

Maximum
Amount of
Compensation
(6)

21

14(1)
15(2)
17
20

24(3)

24(1)
24(1)
24(2)

24(1)
16
17
18
23

20

14
15
17

19(1)
19(1)
19(2)

19(1)
15
16
17
20

21(1)

15
16
18
22

Treaty Article
Citation
(7)

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Publication 515 (2012)

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42
18
19

15
16
17
19

15
16
17
18
19

Kazakhstan

Korea, South

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

5 years .
182 days
182 days
2 years .

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

1 year . . . . . . .

.
.
.
.

.....

.
.
.
.
5 years . . . . . .
5 years . . . . . .
1 year . . . . . . .

.
.
.
.

.....
.....
.....

.
.
.
.

5 years31 . . . . .

.........
.
.
.
.

5
.....
183 days . . . . .
183 days . . . . .

years31

.........
.........
.........

Scholarship or fellowship
.......
Independent personal services7 . . . . . . . .
Dependent personal services17 . . . . . . . .
Teaching4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . . . .
Compensation during training . . . . . . . .
Compensation while gaining experience2
Compensation under U.S.
Government program . . . . . . . . . . . .

Scholarship or fellowship
.
Independent personal services7 . . . .
Dependent personal services17, 47 . . .
Studying and training:4
Remittances or allowances . . . . . .
grant15

.
.
.
.
1 year45 . . . . . .

.
.
.
.

...........

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

183 days . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .
2 years . . . . . .

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

grant4, 15, 41

Independent personal services8, 53

Dependent personal services8, 17 .
Public entertainment . . . . . . . . .
Teaching or research4 . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances . . . .

.
.
.
.

No limit . . . . . .
12 consec. mo.
12 consec. mo.

.
.
.
.

.....
.....
.....

Teaching4, 44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:23
Remittances or allowances11 . . . . . . . .
Compensation during study . . . . . . . . .
Compensation while gaining experience2

18
19

.
.
.
.

2 years . . . . . .

Dependent personal services17 . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Public entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17
42

89 days .
89 days .
183 days
No limit .

Maximum
Presence
in U.S.
(4)

.....

Independent personal services7 . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Purpose 22
(3)

16

Code1
(2)

Japan

Jamaica

Country
(1)

Category of Personal Services

.
.
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.

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.

U.S. Government or its contractor . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign or U.S. resident . . . . . . . . . .
Korean resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign

..
Any contractor . . . . . . . . . . . .
Korean resident18 . . . . . . . . . .
U.S. educational institution . . .

resident5

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign

.........
Any contractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

resident5

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. educational institution . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jamaican resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jamaican resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

U.S. educational institution . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign contractor . . . .

Any U.S. contractor . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident

Required Employer or Payer

(5)

18
22

.
.

.
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.

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.
.

.
.
.
.

$10,000 . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$2,000 p.a. . . . .
$5,000 . . . . . . .

No limit . . .
$3,000 p.a.
$3,000 p.a.
No limit . . .

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$10,000 p.a.25 . .
No limit . . . . . . .

21(3)

21(1)
21(1)
21(2)

21(1)
18
19
20

19

19
14
15

19

7
14
16
20

21(1)
21(2)
21(2)

14
14
15

Treaty Article
Citation
(7)
.
.
.

No limit . . . . . . .
$7,500 p.a. . . . .
$7,500 p.a. . . . .

No limit . . . . . .
$5,000 p.a. . . .
$5,000 p.a. . . .
$400 per day or
$5,000 p.a.6 . . .
No limit . . . . . .

Maximum
Amount of
Compensation
(6)

Publication 515 (2012)

Page 51

15
16
17
42
19

15
16
17
42
19

16
17
42
18
19

16
17
42
19

16
17
42
19

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Mexico

Code1
(2)

Latvia

Country
(1)
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............
............

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............
............

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Independent personal services7 .

Dependent personal services17, 47
Public entertainment . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances . . .

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Any U.S. or foreign resident5

Any contractor . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident .

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182 days . . . . .
183 days . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .

............

1 year45 . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .

......
......
......

............
............
............

183 days . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .

2 years45 . . . . .

No limit .
183 days
No limit .
2 years .

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Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any contractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Any contractor . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident
Any U.S. or foreign resident

.
.
.
.

Any U.S. or foreign

..
Any contractor . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident . . .

.
.
.
.

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.
.
.

U.S. Government or its contractor . . . . . .

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.

1 year . . . . . . .

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.
.
.

Any foreign resident . . . . . . .

Lithuanian resident . . . . . . . .
Other foreign or U.S. resident .
Lithuanian resident . . . . . . . .

.
.
.
.

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.

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.
.

5 years . . . . . .
12 consec. mos.
5 years . . . . . .
12 consec. mos.

5 years .
183 days
183 days
No limit .

resident5

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

U.S. Government or its contractor . . . . . .

.
.
.
.

1 year . . . . . . .

.
.
.
.
Any foreign resident . . . . . . .
Latvian resident . . . . . . . . . .
Other foreign or U.S. resident .
Lativan resident . . . . . . . . . .

.
.
.
.

Required Employer or Payer

(5)

5 years . . . . . .
12 consec. mos.
5 years . . . . . .
12 consec. mos.

5 years .
183 days
183 days
No limit .

Maximum
Presence
in U.S.
(4)

......
......
......

............

.
.
.
.

Independent personal
......
Dependent personal services12, 17 . . . . . .
Public entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . . .
Compensation during study or training .
Compensation while gaining experience

services53

Independent personal
.
Dependent personal services12, 17
Public entertainment . . . . . . . .
Teaching or research9 . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances11 .

services7

Compensation while gaining experience2 . . . . .

Compensation under U.S.
Government program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Scholarship or fellowship
Independent personal services7 .
Dependent personal services8, 17
Public entertainment . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:4
Remittances or allowances . . .
Compensation during training .

grants4

Compensation while gaining experience2 . . . . .

Compensation under U.S.
Government program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Scholarship or fellowship grants4

Independent personal services7 .
Dependent personal services8, 17
Public entertainment . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:4
Remittances or allowances . . .
Compensation during training .

Purpose 22
(3)

Category of Personal Services

.
.
.
.

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.
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.

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.

.
.
.
.

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . . .
$3,000 p.a.30 . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$9,000 p.a. . . . .
$9,000 p.a. . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$20,000 p.a.25 . .

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
$10,000 p.a.25
No limit . . . . .

$10,000 . . . . . . .

No limit . . .
$8,000 . . .
$5,000 p.a.
$8,000 . . .

No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
$20,000 p.a. 30

$10,000 . . . . . . .

No limit . . .
$8,000 . . .
$5,000 p.a.
$8,000 . . .

No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
$20,000 p.a. 30

Maximum
Amount of
Compensation
(6)

21

14
15
18

20(1)
20(2)
20

7
14
16

21(1)

15
16
18
21(2)

20(3)

20(1)
20(2)
20(1)
20(2)

20(1)
14
15
17

20(3)

20(1)
20(2)
20(1)
20(2)

20(1)
14
15
17

Treaty Article
Citation
(7)

Page 52

Publication 515 (2012)

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16
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19

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16
17
42
18
19

16
17
42
19

15
16
42
17
18
19

Netherlands

New Zealand

Norway

Code1
(2)

Morocco

Country
(1)

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5 years .
182 days
90 days .
182 days
2 years .

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.

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.

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.
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.

1 year . . . . . . .

.
.
.
.
.

.....

.
.
.
.
.

5 years . . . . . .
5 years . . . . . .
12 consec. mo.

.
.
.
.
.

.....
.....
.....

.
.
.
.
.

No limit . . . . . .

..........
.
.
.
.
.

183 days . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .

Reasonable
period . . . . . . .
Reasonable
period . . . . . . .
Reasonable
period . . . . . . .

3 years .
No limit .
183 days
No limit .
2 years .

..........
..........
..........

Scholarship or fellowship grant15 . . . . . . .

Independent personal services7 . . . . . . . .
Public entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dependent personal services17, 56 . . . . . . .
Teaching4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . . . .
Compensation during training . . . . . . . .
Compensation while gaining experience2
Compensation under U.S.
Government program . . . . . . . . . . . .

Independent personal
..
Dependent personal services17 . . .
Public entertainment . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances11 . . .

services53

Compensation while recipient of scholarship

or fellowship grant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Compensation while gaining experience . . . . . .

...........

.
.
.
.
.

5 years . . . . . .
5 years . . . . . .

............
............
.
.
.
.
.

5 years . . . . . .
182 days . . . . .
182 days . . . . .

Maximum
Presence
in U.S.
(4)
............
............
............

Scholarship or fellowship grant15, 33

Independent personal services7 . .
Dependent personal services17, 47 .
Public entertainment . . . . . . . . .
Teaching4, 34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:33
Remittances or allowances . . . .

Scholarship or fellowship grant15

Independent personal services7 .
Dependent personal services17 .
Studying and training:5
Remittances or allowances . . .
Compensation during training .

Purpose 22
(3)

Category of Personal Services

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.
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.

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.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

U.S. Government or its contractor . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

U.S. or any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .
Norwegian resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident5

Any contractor . . . . . . . . . .
Any contractor . . . . . . . . . .
Norwegian resident18 . . . . .
U.S. educational institution .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident5

Any contractor . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident .
U.S. educational institution .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

U.S. or any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident5 . . . . . . . . .

Any contractor13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Moroccan resident13, 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Required Employer or Payer

(5)

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

$10,000 . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$2,000 p.a. . . . .
$5,000 . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
$10,000 p.a.28
No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$10,00025 . . . . .

$2,000 p.a.36 . . .

$2,000 p.a. . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
$10,000 p.a.25
No limit . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$2,000 p.a. . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$5,000 . . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . . .

Maximum
Amount of
Compensation
(6)

16(3)

16(1)
16(1)
16(2)

16(1)
13
13
14
15

20

7
15
17

22(2)

22(1)

22(1)

22(2)
15
16
18
21(1)

18
18

18
14
15

Treaty Article
Citation
(7)

Publication 515 (2012)

Page 53

15
16
17
18
19

15
16
17
42
18
19

Poland

Portugal

Teaching4, 38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . . . .
Compensation during study . . . . . . . . .
Compensation while gaining experience2
Compensation while under U.S.
Government program . . . . . . . . . . . .

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

5 years .
182 days
182 days
2 years .

.
.
.
.

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.
.

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.

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.
.

.
.
.
.
.
5 years . . . . . .
12 consec. mos.
5 years . . . . . .
12 consec. mos.

5 years .
182 days
183 days
No limit .
2 years .

1 year . . . . . . .

.
.
.
.

.....

.
.
.
.

5 years . . . . . .
5 years . . . . . .
1 year . . . . . . .

.
.
.
.

.....
.....
.....

.
.
.
.

1 year . . . . . . .

.
.
.
.
.

.....

.
.
.
.
.

5 years . . . . . .
5 years . . . . . .
12 consec. mo.

.
.
.
.
.

.....
.....
.....

5 years
89 days
89 days
89 days
No limit
2 years . . . . . .

.......
.......

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.....

Compensation while gaining experience2 . . . . .

Scholarship or fellowship grant15 . . . . .

Independent personal services7 . . . . . .
Dependent personal services8, 17 . . . . .
Public entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Teaching4, 42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:4
Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . .
Compensation during study or training

Scholarship or fellowship
.......
Independent personal services . . . . . . . . .
Dependent personal services17 . . . . . . . .
Teaching4, 41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . . . .
Compensation during training . . . . . . . .
Compensation while gaining experience2
Compensation while under U.S.
Government program . . . . . . . . . . . .

grant15

.
.
.
.

No limit . . . . . .

.
.
.
.

.....

.
.
.
.

No limit . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .
1 year . . . . . . .

No limit .
183 days
183 days
2 years .

Maximum
Presence
in U.S.
(4)

.....
.....
.....

18
19

.
.
.
.

Dependent personal services17 . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Public entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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.

17
42

.
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Scholarship or fellowship
............
Independent personal services7 . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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.

15
16

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.
.

Philippines
grant15

Scholarship or fellowship grant15 . . . . . . .

Independent personal services16 . . . . . . .
Dependent personal services16 . . . . . . . .
Teaching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . . . .
Compensation during training . . . . . . . .
Compensation while gaining experience2
Compensation while under U.S.
Government program . . . . . . . . . . . .

Purpose 22
(3)

15
16
17
18
19

Code1
(2)

Pakistan

Country
(1)

Category of Personal Services

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Any foreign resident . . . . . . .
Portuguese resident . . . . . . .
Other foreign or U.S. resident .
Portuguese resident . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident5

Any contractor . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident .
U.S. educational institution .

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U.S. Government or its contractor . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

U.S. or any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .
Polish resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign

..
Any contractor . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . .
U.S. educational institution . . .

resident5

U.S. Government or its contractor . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .
Philippines resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

U.S. educational institution . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign

Any foreign contractor . . . .
Any U.S. resident . . . . . . .
Any Philippines resident18 .
Any U.S. or foreign resident

resident5

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . .

U.S. or any foreign resident . . . . . . . .
Pakistani resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
U.S. Government, its contractor, or any
foreign resident employer . . . . . . . .

Pakistani nonprofit organization

Pakistani resident contractor . .
Pakistani resident . . . . . . . . . .
U.S. educational institution . . .

Required Employer or Payer

(5)
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17
21

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No limit . . .
$8,000 . . .
$5,000 p.a.
$8,000 . . .

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No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
$10,000 p.a.30
No limit . . . . .

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$10,000 . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$2,000 p.a. . . . .
$5,000 . . . . . . .

No limit
No limit
No limit
No limit

$10,000 p.a. . . . .

23(1)
23(2)
23(1)
23(2)

23(1)
15
16
19
22

18(3)

18(1)
18(1)
18(2)

18(1)
15
16
17

22(3)

22(1)
22(1)
22(2)

22(1)
15
15
16

XIII(3)

XIII(1)
XIII(1)
XIII(2)

XIII(1)
XI
XI
XII

Treaty Article
Citation
(7)

.
.
.
.

No limit . . . . . . .
$3,000 p.a. . . . .
$7,500 p.a. . . . .

No limit . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .
$10,000 p.a. . . .
No limit . . . . . .
$100 per day or
$3,000 p.a.28, 50 .
No limit . . . . . .

$10,000 . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$5,000 p.a. . . . .
$6,000 . . . . . . .

No limit
No limit
No limit
No limit

Maximum
Amount of
Compensation
(6)

Page 54

Publication 515 (2012)

Slovenia

15
16
17
42
18
19

Studying and training:4

Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . . . .
Compensation during training . . . . . . . .
Compensation while gaining experience2
Compensation while under U.S.
Government program . . . . . . . . . . . .
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5 years .
183 days
183 days
No limit .
2 years .

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1 year . . . . . . .

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.....

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5 years . . . . . .
5 years . . . . . .
12 consec. mos.

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.....
.....
.....

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5 years10
12 mos. .
5 years10
12 mos. .

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............
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5
No limit .
183 days
No limit .
2 years40

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years31

years10

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Compensation while gaining experience2 . . . . .

Scholarship or fellowship
.
Independent personal services7 .
Dependent personal services12, 17
Public entertainment . . . . . . . .
Teaching or research4 . . . . . . .
Studying and training:4
Remittances or allowances . . .
Compensation during training .

grant4

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5 years31 . . . . .

19

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.

..........

Scholarship or fellowship
Independent personal services7 .
Dependent personal services12, 17
Public entertainment . . . . . . . .
Teaching4, 35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5 years .
182 days
90 days .
182 days
89 days .
2 years .

5
.....
183 days . . . . .
183 days . . . . .

15
16
17
42
18

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1 year . . . . . . .

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.....

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5 years . . . . . .
5 years . . . . . .
1 year . . . . . . .

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.....
.....
.....

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.

Maximum
Presence
in U.S.
(4)

..........
..........
..........

Slovak Republic
grant4, 15

Scholarship or fellowship
Independent personal services7 . . .
Dependent personal services8, 17, 32 .
Studying and training:4
Remittances or allowances . . . . .

15
16
17
19

Russia
grant4, 15, 41

Scholarship or fellowship grant15 . . . . . . .

Independent personal services . . . . . . . . .
Public entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dependent personal services17 . . . . . . . .
Public entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Teaching4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . . . .
Compensation during training . . . . . . . .
Compensation while gaining experience2
Compensation while under U.S.
Government program . . . . . . . . . . . .

Purpose 22
(3)

15
16
42
17
42
18
19

Code1
(2)

Romania

Country
(1)

Category of Personal Services

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..........

...
....
....
....

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.
Any foreign resident . . . . . . .
Slovenian resident . . . . . . . .
Other foreign or U.S. resident .
Slovenian resident . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign

Any contractor . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident
Any U.S. or foreign resident

resident5

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.

U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or any foreign resident . . . . . . .
Slovak resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign

Any contractor . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident
Any U.S. educational or
research institution . . . . .

resident5

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign

.........
Any contractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

resident5

U.S. Government or its contractor . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

U.S. or any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .
Romanian resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident5

Any contractor . . . . . . . . . .
Any contractor . . . . . . . . . .
Romanian resident18 . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident .
U.S. educational institution .

Required Employer or Payer

(5)

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

No limit . . .
$8,000 . . .
$5,000 p.a.
$8,000 . . .

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
$15,000 p.a.30
No limit . . . . .

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

$10,000 . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$5,000 p.a. . . . .
$8,000 . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
$20,000 p.a.30

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . . .

$10,000 . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$2,000 p.a. . . . .
$5,000 . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .
$3,000 p.a.28 . .
No limit . . . . . .
$2,999.99 p.a.28
No limit . . . . . .

Maximum
Amount of
Compensation
(6)

20(1)
20(2)
20(1)
20(2)

20(1)
14
15
17
20(3)

21(3)

21(1)
21(1)
21(2)

21(5)

21(1)
14
15
18

18

18
13
14

20(3)

20(1)
20(1)
20(2)

20(1)
14
14
15
15
19

Treaty Article
Citation
(7)

Publication 515 (2012)

Page 55

16
17
42
19

15
16
17
42
19

16
17
42
19

16
17
42
19

16
17
42
19

Spain

Sri Lanka

Sweden

Switzerland

Code1
(2)

South Africa

Country
(1)

Independent personal services7 .

Dependent personal services8, 17
Public entertainment . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances 11 . .

Independent personal services7 .

Dependent personal services12, 17
Public entertainment . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances 11 .

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.
.

No limit . . . . . .
183 days . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .

............

No limit . . . . . .

............
............
............

............

No limit . . . . . .
1 year . . . . . . .

.....
.....
No limit . . . . . .
183 days . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .

183 days . . . . .
183 days . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .

.....
.....
.....

5 years . . . . . .
5 years . . . . . .
12 consec. mo.

5 years .
No limit .
183 days
No limit .

............
............
............

Independent personal services7, 12 . . . . . .

Dependent personal services12, 17 . . . . . . .
Public entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances11 . . . . . . . .
Compensation while gaining experience2

.
.
.
.

.....
.....
.....

.
.
.
.

1 year45 . . . . . .

............
.
.
.
.

183 days . . . . .
183 days . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .

Maximum
Presence
in U.S.
(4)
............
............
............

Scholarship or fellowship
......
Independent personal services7 . . . . . . . .
Dependent personal services17 . . . . . . . .
Public entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:4
Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . . . .
Compensation during training . . . . . . . .
Compensation while gaining experience2

grant4, 15

Independent personal services7 .

Dependent personal services12, 17
Public entertainment . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances11 .

Purpose 22
(3)

Category of Personal Services

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any contractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any contractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sri Lankan resident19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any contractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .
Spanish resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign

..
Any contractor . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident . . .

resident5

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any contractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Required Employer or Payer

(5)

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . . .
$10,000 p.a.25 . .

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . . .
$6,00025 . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$6,000 . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . . .
$6,000 p.a.30 . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$5,000 p.a. . . . .
$8,000 . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
No limit . . . . .
$10,000 p.a.30

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . . .
$7,500 p.a.30 . . .

Maximum
Amount of
Compensation
(6)

20

14
15
17

21

14
15
18

21(1)
21(2)

15
16
18

22(1)
22(1)
22(2)

22(1)
15
16
19

20

14
15
17

Treaty Article
Citation
(7)

Page 56

Publication 515 (2012)

15
16
17
42
19

16
17
42
18
19

Turkey

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.

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.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
............

.
.
.
.

.............
.............

.
....
....
....

Independent personal services7 .

Dependent personal services12, 17
Public entertainment . . . . . . . .
Teaching or research . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances11 .

Scholarship and fellowship

Independent personal services7
Dependent personal services17
Public entertainment . . . . . . .
Studying and training:11
Remittances or allowances . .
Compensation during training

grant11, 15

.
.
.
.

....

.
.
.
.

Studying and training:

Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . . . . .
Compensation during study or research . .
Compensation during professional training
Compensation while gaining experience . .
Compensation under U.S.
Government program . . . . . . . . . . . . .

19
.
.
.
.

Teaching4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

18
.
.
.
.

Dependent personal services14 . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.

.
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No limit . . . . . .

183 days
183 days
No limit .
2 years .

5 years . . . . . .
5 years . . . . . .

5 years .
183 days
183 days
No limit .

1 year . . . . . . .

5 years
5 years.
5 years
1 year .

5 years .
183 days
183 days
183 days
183 days
2 years .

1 year . . . . . . .

......

Scholarship or fellowship grant15 . . . . . . . . . . . .

Independent personal services14 . . . . . . . . . . . .

15
16

5 years . . . . . .
5 years. . . . . . .
12 consec. mos.

......
......
......

Teaching or research4, 38 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances . . . . . . . . .
Compensation during training . . . . . . .
Compensation while gaining experience
Compensation under U.S.
Government program . . . . . . . . . . .

18
19

2 years . . . . . .

Dependent personal services17, 47 . . . . . . . . . . . .

Public entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17
42

89 days . . . . . .
183 days . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .

5 years . . . . . .
89 days . . . . . .

Maximum
Presence
in U.S.
(4)

......

Scholarship or fellowship grant . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Independent personal services7 . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Purpose 22
(3)

15
16

Code1
(2)

Tunisia

Trinidad and Tobago

Thailand

Country
(1)

Category of Personal Services

.
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.....

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Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any contractor . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident
Any foreign resident . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign

..
U.S. resident contractor . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident . . .

resident5

U.S. Government or its contractor . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . .

U.S. or any foreign resident .
U.S. or any foreign resident .
Trinidad Tobago resident2 .

Any U.S. or foreign resident5 . . . .

Any foreign resident contractor . . .
Any U.S. contractor . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. resident . . . . . . . . . . . .
U.S. educational institution or U.S.
Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .
Thai resident2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . .
No limit . . . .
$3,000 p.a. 48
No limit . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$4,000 p.a. . . . .

No limit . . . .
$7,500 p.a. .
No limit . . . .
$7,500 p.a.25

$10,0006 . . . . . .

No limit . . .
$2,000 p.a.6
$5,000 p.a.6
$5,0006 . . .

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit
No limit
$3,0006
No limit
$3,0006

$10,000 . . . . . . .

20(1)

14
15
17
20(2)

20
20

20
14
15
17

19(3)

19(1)
19(1)
19(1)
19(2)

18

19(1)
17
17
17
17

22(3)

22(1)
22(1)
22(2)

19
23

.
.
No limit . . . . . . .
$3,000 p.a. . . . .
$7,500 p.a. . . . .

15
15
16

22(1)

Treaty Article
Citation
(7)

.
.
.

$10,000 p.a. . . .
No limit49 . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .
$100 per day or
$3,000 p.a.48 . .
No limit . . . . . .

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.

No limit . . . . . . .

.......

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident5 . .

Any U.S. resident or permanent
establishment . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign contractor . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident . . .

Required Employer or Payer

(5)

Maximum
Amount of
Compensation
(6)

Publication 515 (2012)

Page 57

15
16
17
19

16
17
42
18
19

15
16
17
42
18
19

United Kingdom

Venezuela

Code1
(2)

Ukraine

Country
(1)

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Compensation while gaining experience . . . . . .

5 years10
12 mos. .
5 years10
12 mos. .

.
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.

...........
...........

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5
No limit .
183 days
No limit .
2 years40

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years10

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1 year45 . . . . . .

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............

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.
183 days . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .
2 years . . . . . .

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.
.
.
.

5 years31 . . . . .

............
.
.
.
.

5 years31 . . . . .
No limit . . . . . .
183 days . . . . .

Maximum
Presence
in U.S.
(4)
............
............
............

Scholarship or fellowship
.
Independent personal services7, 12
Dependent personal services12, 17 .
Public entertainment . . . . . . . . .
Teaching4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Studying and training:4
Remittances or allowances . . . .
Compensation during training . .

grants4

Independent personal
Dependent personal services12, 17
Public entertainment . . . . . . . .
Teaching or research4 . . . . . . .
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances11 .

services53

Scholarship or fellowship grant41

Independent personal services3, 7
Dependent personal services3, 17
Studying and training:
Remittances or allowances4 . .

Purpose 22
(3)

Category of Personal Services

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
.
.

Any foreign resident . . . . . . .

Venezuelan resident . . . . . . .
Other foreign or U.S. resident .
Venezuelan resident2 . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign

Any contractor . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . .
Any U.S. or foreign resident
Any U.S. or foreign resident

resident5

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.

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident . . . . . . . . . .
Any U.S. educational institution . . . . . . .

Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any U.S. or foreign resident5 . . . . . . . . .

Any contractor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Any foreign resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Required Employer or Payer

(5)

No limit . . .
$8,000 . . .
$5,000 p.a.
$8,000 . . .

.
.
.
.

No limit . . . .
No limit . . . .
No limit . . . .
$6,000 p.a. 30
No limit . . . .

.
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No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
$20,000 p.a.25 . .
No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .

No limit . . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . . .
No limit . . . . . . .

Maximum
Amount of
Compensation
(6)

21(1)
21(2)
21(1)
21(2)

21(1)
14
15
18
21(3)

20

7
14
16
20A

20

20
14
15

Treaty Article
Citation
(7)

2
3

4
5

8
9

10

11
12

13

14
15

16
17

18

19

20

Refers to income code numbers under which the

income is reported on Forms 1042-S. Personal
services must be performed by a nonresident alien
individual who is a resident of the specified treaty
country.
Applies only if training or experience is received
from a person other than aliens employer.
The exemption does not apply to income received
for performing services in the United States as an
entertainer or a sportsman. However, this income is
exempt for U.S. income tax if the visit is (a)
substantially supported by public funds of Ukraine,
its political subdivisions, or local authorities, or (b)
made under a specific arrangement agreed to by
the governments of the treaty countries.
Does not apply to compensation for research work
primarily for private benefit.
Grant must be from a nonprofit organization. In
many cases, the exemption also applies to
amounts from either the U.S. or foreign
government. For Indonesia and the Netherlands,
the exemption also applies if the amount is awarded
under a technical assistance program entered into
by the United States or the foreign government, or
its political subdivisions or local authorities.
Reimbursed expenses are not taken into account in
figuring any maximum compensation to which the
exemption applies. For Japan and Trinidad and
Tobago, only reimbursed travel expenses are
disregarded in figuring the maximum
compensation.
Exemption does not apply to the extent income is
attributable to the recipients fixed U.S. base. For
residents of Korea and Norway, the fixed base must
be maintained for more than 182 days (for Norway,
30 days in the case of the exploration or exploitation
of the seabed and sub-soil and their natural
resources); for residents of Morocco, the fixed base
must be maintained for more than 89 days.
Does not apply to fees paid to a director of a U.S.
corporation.
Does not apply to compensation for research work
for other than the U.S. educational institution (or, for
Italy, a medical facility that is primarily publicly
funded) involved.
Applies to any additional period that a full-time
student needs to complete the educational
requirements as a candidate for a postgraduate or
professional degree from a recognized educational
institution.
Applies only to full-time student or trainee.
Fees paid to a resident of the treaty country for
services performed in the United States as a
director of a U.S. corporation are subject to U.S.
tax.
Exemption does not apply if, during the immediately
preceding period, such individual claimed the
benefits of Article 23(1).
Does not apply to compensation paid to public
entertainers that is more than $100 a day.
Does not apply to payments from the National
Institutes of Health under its Visiting Associate
Program and Visiting Scientist Program.
Exemption applies only if the compensation is
subject to tax in the country of residence.
The exemption does not apply if the employees
compensation is borne by a permanent
establishment (or in some cases a fixed base) that
the employer has in the United States.
The exemption also applies if the employer is a
permanent establishment in the treaty country but
is not a resident of the treaty country.
Applies also to a participant in a program
sponsored by the U.S. Government or an
international organization.
The exemption is also extended to journalists and
correspondents who are temporarily in the U.S. for
periods not longer than 2 years and who receive
compensation from abroad.

Page 58

21

22

23

24

25
26
27

28

29

30

31
32

33

34

35

36

37

Also exempt are amounts of up to $10,000 received

from U.S. sources to provide ordinary living
expenses. For students, the amount will be less
than $10,000, determined on a case by case basis.
Withholding may be required if the factors on which
the treaty exemption is based may not be
determinable until after the close of the tax year.
Athletes and entertainers may be able to enter into
a central withholding agreement with the IRS for
reduced withholding provided certain requirements
are met.
A student or trainee may choose to be treated as a
U.S. resident for tax purposes. If the choice is
made, it may not be changed without the consent of
the U.S. competent authority.
Does not apply to amounts received in excess of
reasonable fees payable to all directors of the
company for attending meetings in the United
States.
Exemption does not apply if gross receipts
(including reimbursements) exceed this amount.
Exemption does not apply if net income exceeds
this amount.
Exemption does not apply to payments borne by a
permanent establishment in the United States or
paid by a U.S. citizen or resident or the federal,
state, or local government.
Exemption does not apply if compensation (or
gross income for the Phillippines and Romania)
exceeds this amount.
The exemption applies only to income from
activities performed under special cultural
exchange programs agreed to by the U.S. and
Chinese governments.
Exemption does not apply if gross receipts (or
compensation for Portugal and Venezuela),
including reimbursements, exceed this amount.
Income is fully exempt if visit to the United States is
substantially supported by public funds of the treaty
country or its political subdivisions or local
authorities.
The 5-year limit pertains only to training or
research.
Compensation from employment directly
connected with a place of business that is not a
permanent establishment is exempt if the alien is
present in the United States for a period not
exceeding 12 consecutive months. Compensation
for technical services directly connected with the
application of a right or property giving rise to a
royalty is exempt if the services are provided as part
of a contract granting the use of the right or
property.
Exemption does not apply if, during the immediately
preceding period, the individual claimed the
benefits of Article 21.
Exemption does not apply if, during the immediately
preceding period, the individual claimed the
benefits of Article 22.
Exemption does not apply if the individual either (a)
claimed the benefit of Article 21(5) during a
previous visit, or (b) during the immediately
preceding period, claimed the benefit of Article
21(1), (2), or (3).
Exemption applies only to compensation for
personal services performed in connection with, or
incidental to, the individuals study, research, or
training.
If the compensation exceeds $400 per day, the
entertainer may be taxed on the full amount. If the
individual receives a fixed amount for more than
one performance, the amount is prorated over the
number of days the individual performs the services
(including rehearsals).

38

39

40
41

42

43
44
45
46
47

48

49

50

51

52

53
54

55

56

Exemption does not apply if, during the immediately

preceding period, the individual claimed the
benefits of Article 22(1).
Exemption does not apply if, during the
immediately preceding period, the individual
claimed the benefits of Article 24(1).
The combined benefit for teaching cannot exceed 5
years.
Exemption does not apply if, during the immediately
preceding period, the individual claimed the
benefits of Article 18(1).
Exemption does not apply if the individual either (a)
previously claimed the benefit of this Article, or (b)
during the immediately preceding period, claimed
the benefit of Article 23. The benefits under Articles
22 and 23 cannot be claimed at the same time.
The combined period of benefits under Articles 20
and 21(1) cannot exceed 5 years.
Exemption does not apply if the individual
previously claimed the benefit of this Article.
The time limit pertains only to an apprentice or
business trainee.
Exemption does not apply if gross receipts exceed
this amount.
Fees paid to a resident of the treaty country for
services as a director of a U.S. corporation are
subject to U.S. tax, unless the services are
performed in the country of residence.
Exemption does not apply if gross receipts exceed
this amount. Income is fully exempt if visit to the
United States is substantially supported by public
funds of the treaty country or its political
subdivisions or local authorities.
A $10,000 limit applies if the expense is borne by a
permanent establishment or a fixed base in the
United States. Exemption does not apply if the
recipient maintains a permanent establishment in
the U.S. with which the income is effectively
connected.
This provision does not apply if these activities are
substantially supported by a nonprofit organization
or by public funds of the treaty country or its political
subdivisions or local authorities. For Indonesia and
the Phillipines, the competent authority of the
sending state must certify that the visit qualifies.
Exemption does not apply if gross receipts,
including reimbursements, exceed this amount
during the year. Income is fully exempt if visit is
wholly or mainly supported by public funds of one or
both of the treaty countries or their political
subdivisions or local authorities.
Exemption applies to a business apprentice
(trainee) only for a period not exceeding 1 year (2
years for Belgium and Bulgaria) from the date of
arrival in the United States.
Treated as business profits under Article 7 (VII) of
the treaty.
Employment with a team which participates in a
league with regularly scheduled games in both
countries is covered under the provisions for
dependent personal services.
Exemption does not apply if during the immediately
preceding period, the individual claimed the benefit
of Article 20(2), (3), or (4).
Labor or personal services performed in connection
with the exploration or exploitation of the seabed
and sub-soil and their natural resources is fully
exempt for a period of 60 days in the tax year.

Publication 515 (2012)

Table 3.

List of Tax Treaties (Updated through December 31, 2011)

Country
Australia
Protocol
Austria
Bangladesh
Barbados
Protocol
Protocol
Belgium
Bulgaria
Canada2
Protocol
Protocol
Protocol
China, Peoples Republic of
Commonwealth of Independent
States3
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Protocol
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
Protocol
France
Protocol
Protocol
Germany
Protocol
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Kazakhstan
Korea, Republic of
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Mexico
Protocol
Protocol
Morocco
Netherlands
Protocol
New Zealand
Protocol
Norway
Protocol

Publication 515 (2012)

Official Text
Symbol1

General
Effective Date4

Citation

Applicable Treasury
Explanations
or Treasury Decision (T.D.)

TIAS 10773
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS 11090
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS 11087
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS 12065

Dec. 1, 1983
Jan. 1, 2004
Jan. 1, 1999
Jan. 1, 2007
Jan. 1, 1984
Jan. 1, 1994
Jan. 1, 2005
Jan. 1, 2008
Jan. 1, 2009
Jan. 1, 1985
Jan. 1, 1996
Dec. 16, 1997
Jan. 1, 2009
Jan. 1, 1987

1986-2 C.B. 220

1986-2 C.B. 246

1991-2 C.B. 436

1991-2 C.B. 466

1986-2 C.B. 258

1987-2 C.B. 298

1988-1 C.B. 414

1988-1 C.B. 447

TIAS 8225
TIAS 10965
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS 10149
TIAS
TIAS 12101
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS 2902
TIAS 9560
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS 11593
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS 10207
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS 9506
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS 10195
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS 10772
TIAS
TIAS 7474
TIAS 10205

Jan. 1, 1976
Jan. 1, 1986
Jan. 1, 1993
Jan. 1, 2001
Jan. 1, 2008
Jan. 1, 1982
Jan. 1, 2000
Jan. 1, 1991
Jan. 1, 2008
Jan. 1, 1996
Jan. 1, 2007
Jan. 1, 2009
Jan. 1, 1990
Jan. 1, 2008
Jan. 1, 1953
Jan. 1, 1980
Jan. 1, 2009
Jan. 1, 1991
Jan. 1, 1990
Jan. 1, 1998
Jan. 1, 1995
Jan. 1, 2010
Jan. 1, 1982
Jan. 1, 2005
Jan. 1, 1996
Jan. 1, 1980
Jan. 1, 2000
Jan. 1, 2000
Jan. 1, 2001
Jan. 1, 2011
Jan. 1,1994
Oct. 26, 1995
Jan. 1, 2004
Jan. 1, 1981
Jan. 1, 1994
Jan. 1, 2005
Nov. 2, 1983
Jan. 1, 2011
Jan. 1, 1971
Jan. 1, 1982

1976-2 C.B. 463

1989-2 C.B. 280

1976-2 C.B. 475

1989-2 C.B. 314

1982-1 C.B. 219

1982-1 C.B. 243

1958-2 C.B. 1054

1980-1 C.B. 333

T.D. 6109, 1954-2 C.B. 638

1980-1 C.B. 354

1982-1 C.B. 257

1982-1 C.B. 291

1979-2 C.B. 435

1979-2 C.B. 458

1982-2 C.B. 405

1982-2 C.B. 427

1990-2 C.B. 274

1990-2 C.B. 303

1973-1 C.B. 669

1982-2 C.B. 440

1973-1 C.B. 693

1982-2 C.B. 454

Page 59

Table 3. (continued)

Country
Pakistan
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Protocol
Switzerland
Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Venezuela
1
2
3

Official Text
Symbol1
TIAS 4232
TIAS 10417
TIAS 8486
TIAS
TIAS 8228
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS 7047
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS
TIAS

General
Effective Date4
Jan. 1, 1959
Jan. 1, 1983
Jan. 1, 1974
Jan. 1, 1996
Jan. 1, 1974
Jan. 1, 1994
Jan. 1, 1993
Jan. 1, 2002
Jan. 1, 1998
Jan. 1, 1991
Jan. 1, 2004
Jan. 1, 1996
Jan. 1, 2007
Jan. 1, 1998
Jan. 1, 1998
Jan. 1, 1970
Jan. 1, 1990
Jan. 1, 1998
Jan. 1, 2001
Jan. 1, 2004
Jan. 1, 2000

Citation

Applicable Treasury
Explanations
or Treasury Decision (T.D.)

1960-2 C.B. 646

1984-2 C.B. 384
1977-1 C.B. 416

T.D. 6431, 1960-1 C.B. 755

1984-2 C.B. 412
1977-1 C.B. 427

1976-2 C.B. 492

1976-2 C.B. 504

1971-2 C.B. 479

(TIAS) Treaties and Other International Act Series.

Information on the treaty can be found in Publication 597, Information on the United States-Canada Income Tax Treaty.
The U.S.-U.S.S.R. income tax treaty applies to the countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Date listed is the effective date for most income taxes. Check the treaty and/or protocol for other effective dates, including, for example, taxes
withheld at source.
4

Page 60

Publication 515 (2012)

How To Get Tax Help

You can get help with unresolved
tax issues, order free publications
and forms, ask tax questions, and
get information from the IRS in several ways. By selecting the method
that is best for you, you will have
quick and easy access to tax help.
Free help with your return. Free
help in preparing your return is
available nationwide from
IRS-certified volunteers. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
(VITA) program is designed to help
low-moderate income taxpayers
and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program is designed to
assist taxpayers age 60 and older
with their tax returns. Most VITA
and TCE sites offer free electronic
filing and all volunteers will let you
know about credits and deductions
you may be entitled to claim. To
find the nearest VITA or TCE site,
visit
IRS.gov
or
call
1-800-906-9887
or
1-800-829-1040.
As part of the TCE program,
AARP offers the Tax-Aide counseling program. To find the nearest
AARP Tax-Aide site, call
1-888-227-7669 or visit AARPs
website at
www.aarp.org/money/taxaide.
For more information on these
programs, go to IRS.gov and enter
keyword VITA in the upper
right-hand corner.
Internet. You can access
the IRS website at
IRS.gov 24 hours a day, 7
days a week to:

Check the status of your 2011

refund. Go to IRS.gov and
click on Wheres My Refund.
Wait at least 72 hours after
the IRS acknowledges receipt
of your e-filed return, or 3 to 4
weeks after mailing a paper
return. If you filed Form 8379
with your return, wait 14
weeks (11 weeks if you filed
electronically). Have your
2011 tax return available so
you can provide your social
security number, your filing
status, and the exact whole
dollar amount of your refund.

E-file your return. Find out

about commercial tax preparation and e-file services

available free to eligible taxpayers.

Download forms, including

talking tax forms, instructions,

and publications.

Order IRS products online.

Publication 515 (2012)

Research your tax questions

online.

Search publications online by

topic or keyword.

Use the online Internal Revenue Code, regulations, or

other official guidance.

View Internal Revenue Bulletins (IRBs) published in the

last few years.

Figure your withholding al-

lowances using the withholding calculator online at www.

irs.gov/individuals.

Determine if Form 6251 must

be filed by using our Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) Assistant available online at
www.irs.gov/individuals.

Sign up to receive local and

national tax news by email.

Get information on starting

and operating a small business.

Phone. Many services
are available by phone.

Ordering forms, instructions,

and publications. Call
1-800-TAX-FORM
(1-800-829-3676) to order
current-year forms, instructions, and publications, and
prior-year forms and instructions. You should receive
your order within 10 days.

Asking tax questions. Call the

IRS with your tax questions at

1-800-829-1040.

Solving problems. You can

get face-to-face help solving

tax problems every business
day in IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers. An employee
can explain IRS letters, request adjustments to your account, or help you set up a
payment plan. Call your local
Taxpayer Assistance Center
for an appointment. To find
the number, go to www.irs.
gov/localcontacts or look in
the phone book under United
States Government, Internal
Revenue Service.

TTY/TDD equipment. If you

have access to TTY/TDD
equipment, call
1-800-829-4059 to ask tax
questions or to order forms
and publications.

TeleTax topics. Call

1-800-829-4477 to listen to

pre-recorded messages covering various tax topics.

Refund information. You can

check the status of your refund on the new IRS phone

app. Download the free
IRS2Go app by visiting the
iTunes app store or the Android Marketplace. IRS2Go is
a new way to provide you
with information and tools. To
check the status of your refund by phone, call
1-800-829-4477 (automated
refund information 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week). Wait at
least 72 hours after the IRS
acknowledges receipt of your
e-filed return, or 3 to 4 weeks
after mailing a paper return. If
you filed Form 8379 with your
return, wait 14 weeks (11
weeks if you filed electronically). Have your 2011 tax return available so you can
provide your social security
number, your filing status,
and the exact whole dollar
amount of your refund. If you
check the status of your refund and are not given the
date it will be issued, please
wait until the next week
before checking back.

Other refund information. To

check the status of a

prior-year refund or amended
return refund, call
1-800-829-1040.

Evaluating the quality of our

telephone services. To ensure
IRS representatives give accurate,
courteous, and professional answers, we use several methods to
evaluate the quality of our telephone services. One method is for
a second IRS representative to listen in on or record random telephone calls. Another is to ask some
callers to complete a short survey
at the end of the call.
Walk-in. Many products
and services are available
on a walk-in basis.

Products. You can walk in to

many post offices, libraries,

and IRS offices to pick up
certain forms, instructions,
and publications. Some IRS
offices, libraries, grocery
stores, copy centers, city and
county government offices,
credit unions, and office supply stores have a collection of
products available to print
from a CD or photocopy from
reproducible proofs. Also,

some IRS offices and libraries

have the Internal Revenue
Code, regulations, Internal
Revenue Bulletins, and Cumulative Bulletins available
for research purposes.

Services. You can walk in to

your local Taxpayer Assistance Center every business

day for personal, face-to-face
tax help. An employee can
explain IRS letters, request
adjustments to your tax account, or help you set up a
payment plan. If you need to
resolve a tax problem, have
questions about how the tax
law applies to your individual
tax return, or you are more
comfortable talking with
someone in person, visit your
local Taxpayer Assistance
Center where you can spread
out your records and talk with
an IRS representative
face-to-face. No appointment
is necessary just walk in. If
you prefer, you can call your
local Center and leave a message requesting an appointment to resolve a tax account
issue. A representative will
call you back within 2 business days to schedule an
in-person appointment at your
convenience. If you have an
ongoing, complex tax account
problem or a special need,
such as a disability, an appointment can be requested.
All other issues will be handled without an appointment.
To find the number of your
local office, go to
www.irs.gov/localcontacts or
look in the phone book under
United States Government,
Internal Revenue Service.

Mail. You can send your

order for forms, instructions, and publications to
the address below. You should receive a response within 10 days
after your request is received.
Internal Revenue Service
1201 N. Mitsubishi Motorway
Bloomington, IL 61705-6613
Taxpayer Advocate Service.
The Taxpayer Advocate Service
(TAS) is your voice at the IRS. Our
job is to ensure that every taxpayer
is treated fairly, and that you know
and understand your rights. We offer free help to guide you through
the often-confusing process of
resolving tax problems that you havent been able to solve on your
Page 61

own. Remember, the worst thing

you can do is nothing at all.
TAS can help if you cant resolve your problem with the IRS
and:

Your problem is causing fi-

nancial difficulties for you,

your family, or your business.

You face (or your business is

facing) an immediate threat of

adverse action.

You have tried repeatedly to

contact the IRS but no one

has responded, or the IRS
has not responded to you by
the date promised.

If you qualify for our help, well do

everything we can to get your problem resolved. You will be assigned
to one advocate who will be with
you at every turn. We have offices
in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Although
TAS is independent within the IRS,
our advocates know how to work
with the IRS to get your problems
resolved. And our services are always free.
As a taxpayer, you have rights
that the IRS must abide by in its
dealings with you. Our tax toolkit at
www.TaxpayerAdvocate.irs.gov

Index

Low Income Taxpayer Clinics

(LITCs). Low Income Taxpayer
Clinics (LITCs) are independent
from the IRS. Some clinics serve
individuals whose income is below
a certain level and who need to
resolve a tax problem. These clinics provide professional representation before the IRS or in court on
audits, appeals, tax collection disputes, and other issues for free or
for a small fee. Some clinics can
provide information about taxpayer
rights and responsibilities in many
different languages for individuals
who speak English as a second
language. For more information
and to find a clinic near you, see
the LITC page on www.irs.gov/advocate or IRS Publication 4134,

Low Income Taxpayer Clinic List.

This publication is also available by
calling 1-800-829-3676 or at your
local IRS office.

Tax Map: an electronic re-

Free tax services. Publication

910, IRS Guide to Free Tax Services, is your guide to IRS services
and resources. Learn about free
tax information from the IRS, including publications, services, and
education and assistance programs. The publication also has an
index of over 100 TeleTax topics
(recorded tax information) you can
listen to on the telephone. The majority of the information and services listed in this publication are
available to you free of charge. If
there is a fee associated with a
resource or service, it is listed in the
publication.
Accessible versions of IRS published products are available on request in a variety of alternative
formats for people with disabilities.

Tax Topics from the IRS tele-

DVD for tax products.

You can order Publication
1796, IRS Tax Products
DVD, and obtain:

Current-year forms, instructions, and publications.

search tool and finding aid.

Tax law frequently asked

questions.

phone response system.

Internal Revenue Code Title 26 of the U.S. Code.

Links to other Internet based

Tax Research Materials.

Fill-in, print, and save features for most tax forms.

Internal Revenue Bulletins.

Toll-free and email technical
support.

Two releases during the year.

The first release will ship
the beginning of January
2012.
The final release will ship
the beginning of March 2012.

Purchase the DVD from National

Technical Information Service
(NTIS) at www.irs.gov/cdorders for
$30 (no handling fee) or call
1-877-233-6767 toll free to buy the
DVD for $30 (plus a $6 handling
fee).

Prior-year forms, instructions,

and publications.

To help us develop a more useful index, please let us know if you have ideas for index entries.
See Comments and Suggestions in the Introduction for the ways you can reach us.

10% owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
80/20 company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
501(c) organizations . . . . . . . . . 28

A
Acceptance agent . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Accounts, offshore . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Alien:
Illegal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Nonresident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Alimony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Allocation information . . . . . . . 10
American Samoa . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Amount to withhold . . . . . . . . . . 3
Annuities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Artists and athletes:
Earnings of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Special events and
promotions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Assistance (See Tax help)
Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

B
Backup withholding . . . . . . . . 3, 9
Page 62

can help you understand these

rights.
If you think TAS might be able
to help you, call your local advocate, whose number is in your
phone book and on our website at
www.irs.gov/advocate. You can
also call our toll-free number at
1-877-777-4778.
TAS also handles large-scale or
systemic problems that affect many
taxpayers. If you know of one of
these broad issues, please report it
to us through our Systemic Advocacy Management System at www.
irs.gov/advocate.

Banks, interest received

by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Beneficial owner . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Bonds sold between interest
dates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Branch profits tax . . . . . . . . . . . 20

C
Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26, 31
Capital gains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Central withholding
agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Consent dividends . . . . . . . . . . 20
Contingent interest . . . . . . . . . . 17
Controlled foreign corporations,
interest paid to . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Controlling foreign
corporations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Covenant not to
compete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Crew members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Dependent personal
services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Allowance for personal
exemptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Defined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Exempt from withholding . . . . 26
Depositing taxes:
How to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
When to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Disregarded entities . . . . . . . . . . 4
Dividends:
Direct dividend rate . . . . . . . . . 20
Domestic corporation . . . . . . . 19
Foreign corporations . . . . . . . . 20
In general . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Documentary evidence . . . . . . . 8,
12, 13
Documentation:
From foreign beneficial owners
and U.S. payees . . . . . . . . . . 7
From foreign intermediaries and
foreign flow-through
entities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Presumptions in the absence
of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Qualified intermediaries . . . . . . 5

Effectively connected
income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Defined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Foreign partners . . . . . . . . . . . 32
EFTPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Electronic deposit rules . . . . . 30
Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 24
Employer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

F
Federal unemployment
tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Fellowship grants . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Fellowship income . . . . . . . . . . 15
Financial institutions . . . . . . . . . 5
FIRPTA withholding . . . . . . . 4, 34
Fiscally transparent entity . . . . 5
Fixed or determinable annual or
periodic income . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Flow-through entities . . . . . . . 4, 9
Foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
501(c) organizations . . . . . . . . 28
Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6, 16
Charitable organizations . . . . . 7
Corporations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Governments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Publication 515 (2012)

Foreign (Cont.)
Insurance company . . . . . . 6, 16
Intermediary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Organizations and
associations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Partner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Partnerships,
nonwithholding . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Private foundation . . . . . . . . 7, 28
Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Trusts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Form:
940 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
941 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
1042 . . . . . . . . . . . . 3, 10, 11, 31
1042-S . . . . . . . . 3, 6, 10, 11, 31
1099 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3, 9
1099-S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
4419 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
7004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
8233 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
8288 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
8288-A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
8288-B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
8804 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
8805 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
8813 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
8833 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
SS-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
SS-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
W-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
W-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22, 23, 25
W-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
W-8BEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
W-8ECI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
W-8EXP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
W-8IMY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
W-9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Free tax services . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
FUTA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

G
Gambling winnings . . . . . . . . . . 28
Graduated rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Graduated withholding . . . . . . 24
Grant income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21, 23
Green card test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Guam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Income code:
01 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
02 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
03 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
04 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
06 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
07 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
08 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
09 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Independent personal services:
Defined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Exempt from withholding . . . . 23
India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Indirect account holders . . . . 13
Installment payment . . . . . 15, 33
Insurance proceeds . . . . . . . . . 15
Interest:
Contingent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Controlling foreign
corporations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Foreign business
arrangements . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Foreign corporations . . . . . . . . 18
Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Portfolio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Real property
mortgages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Intermediary:
Foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Nonqualified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Qualified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 9
International
organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
ITIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Help (See Tax help)

I
Identification number,
taxpayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29, 33
Illegal aliens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Important reminders . . . . . . . . . 2
Income:
Fixed or determinable annual or
periodical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Notional principal
contract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Other than effectively
connected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Personal service . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Source of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Publication 515 (2012)

K
Knowledge, standards of . . . . 11

L
Liability of withholding
agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

M
Magnetic media
reporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Marketable securities . . . . . . . . . 8
Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Missing children . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
More information (See Tax help)
Mortgages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

N
Nonqualified
intermediary . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 9
Non-registered
obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Nonresident alien:
Defined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Married to U.S. citizen or
resident . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Nonwage pay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Northern Mariana Islands . . . . . 6
Notional principal contract
income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
NRA withholding:
In general . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Income subject to . . . . . . . . . . 14
Persons subject to . . . . . . . . . . . 4

O
Obligations:
Not in registered form . . . . . . . 17
Registered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Offshore accounts . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Original issue discount . . . . . . 17
Overwithholding, adjustment
for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

P
Partner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Partner, foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Partnerships:
Effectively connected income of
foreign partners . . . . . . . . . . 32
Foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Publicly traded . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Smaller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 10, 11
Withholding foreign . . . . . . . 6, 10
Pay for personal services:
Artists and athletes . . . . . . . . . 27
Dependent personal
services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Exempt from withholding . . . . 23
Independent personal
services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Salaries and wages . . . . . . . . 24
Scholarship or fellowship
recipient . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Studying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Teaching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Payee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Penalties:
Deposit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Form 1042 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Form 8804 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Form 8805 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Magnetic media . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Trust fund recovery . . . . . . . . . 25
Pensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15, 21
Per diem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Personal service income . . . . 14
Pooled withholding
information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Portfolio interest . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Presumption:
Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Individual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Partnership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Private foundation,
foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Prizes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Publications (See Tax help)
Puerto Rico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6, 26

Q
QI withholding agreement . . . . 5
Qualified intermediary . . . . . . 5, 9
Qualified investment entity
(QIE):
Distributions paid by . . . . . . . . 35
Dividends paid by . . . . . . . . . . 19

R
Racing purses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Real property interest:
Disposition of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Withholding certificates . . . . . 36
Reason to know . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Refund procedures:
Qualified intermediaries . . . . . . 6
Registered obligations . . . . . . 17
Researchers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Residency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Resident alien defined . . . . . . . . 6
Returns required . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Royalties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Ryukyu Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

S
Salaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Saving clause . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Scholarship . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15, 21
Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 16
Services performed outside the
U.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Short-term obligation . . . . . . . . 19
Social security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Source of income . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Standards of knowledge . . . . . 11
Substantial presence test . . . . 6

T
Tax:
Reporting and paying . . . . . . . 33
Tax help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Tax treaties:
Claiming benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Dependent personal
services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Entertainers and
athletes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Gains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Gambling winnings . . . . . . . . . 28
Independent personal
services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Student . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Students and trainees . . . . . . 27
Table of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59, 60
Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Teaching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Tax-exempt entities . . . . . . . . . 28
Taxpayer Advocate . . . . . . . . . . 61
Taxpayer identification number
(TIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29, 33
Exceptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Teachers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Ten-percent owners . . . . . . . . . 18
Territorial limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Page 63

Totalization agreements . . . . . 27
Transportation income . . . . . . 28
Travel expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Trusts:
Foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Smaller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Withholding foreign . . . . . . . 6, 11
TTY/TDD information . . . . . . . . 61

U
U.S. agent of foreign
person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
U.S. branch:
Foreign bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6, 16

Page 64

Foreign insurance
company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6, 16
Foreign person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
U.S. national . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
U.S. real property interest . . . . 4
U.S. savings bonds . . . . . . . . . . 19
U.S. territorial limits . . . . . . . . . 15
U.S. Virgin Islands . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Unexpected payment . . . . . . . . 29

W
Wages:
Paid to employees . . . . . . . . . . 24
Pay that is not . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
When to withhold . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Withhold, amount to . . . . . . . . . . 3

Withhold, when to . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Withholding:
Agreements . . . . . . . . 5, 6, 24, 27
Alternative procedure . . . . . . . 10
Certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11, 13
Rate pool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Real property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Withholding agent:
Defined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Returns required . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Tax deposit
requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Withholding exemptions and
reductions:
Dependent personal
services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Exemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Final payment
exemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Foreign governments . . . . . . . 28
International
organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Real property interest . . . . . . . 36
Researchers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Scholarships and fellowship
grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Withholding
agreements . . . . . . . . . . 24, 27

Publication 515 (2012)