Tax forms: W-9 and W-8BEN

Before your first withdrawal, you need a tax form on file: a W-9 if you're a US person, or a W-8BEN if you're not. You fill it in once, from Tax Information on the Payouts page. We need it so we can pay you correctly and send the year-end tax forms the IRS requires.

Which form is yours

• W-9: for US citizens and US residents, including green card holders. A US citizen living abroad is still a US person and files a W-9.
• W-8BEN: for everyone else, if you live outside the US and aren't a US citizen or resident.

How to fill it in

1. Open Payouts in the sidebar and find Tax Information.
2. Press Get Started.
3. Answer Are you a U.S. person for tax purposes? with Yes or No.
4. If you answered No, choose the Country you live in.
5. Press Continue to DocuSign. DocuSign opens in a new tab.
6. Enter your legal name, address and tax ID in DocuSign, then sign.
7. Come back to the Payouts page. It updates on its own once you've signed. You can also press I've finished signing.

If you picked the wrong answer, press Not right? Change your answer before you sign.

Typing your SSN on a W-9: put a space between each group, like 123 45 6789, so the digits line up in the boxes on the form.

Your tax ID is typed directly into DocuSign. Davincii never sees or stores it.

What the status means

The badge next to Tax Information shows where you are:

• Not Started: press Get Started.
• In Progress: you began but didn't finish. Press Resume.
• Under Review: you signed a new form that lowers how much US tax is held from your royalties, so we check it before it applies. Nothing else is needed from you.
• Completed: you're done.
• Expired: your W-8BEN has lapsed. Press Renew and sign a new one.

When a W-8BEN expires

A W-8BEN is valid through December 31 of the third year after the year you signed it. We email you once it has 30 days or less left. Once it expires, you can't withdraw until you sign a new one. A W-9 doesn't expire.

US tax withholding on a W-8BEN

If you file a W-8BEN, US tax is withheld from royalties paid by US societies: ASCAP, BMI and The MLC. The rate depends on your country. It's up to 30%, and lower if your country has a tax treaty with the US. Royalties from societies outside the US aren't withheld. When tax is withheld, the Payouts page shows it as a line under your balance.

A W-9 has no withholding. You're responsible for your own taxes on what we pay you. If you're unsure which form applies, ask a tax professional.

Next steps

Once your form is done, set up a payout method and withdraw your money. If you live outside the US, see using Davincii outside the US and our guide to international royalty collection.