Contributor Tax Information

For Eezy contributors to be eligible for payment, both U.S. and non-U.S. contributors must have an approved tax form on file with us.

You may select and sign the tax form that is appropriate for you within the content manager.

Frequently Asked Questions: 

I’m not a U.S. citizen or resident, and I do not live or work in the U.S.A.. Why is Eezy withholding taxes on my earnings?

Eezy is registered as a U.S. corporation. As such, we must comply with U.S. tax laws. These laws mandate withholding taxes on royalties earned from payments to people who are not residents or citizens of the United States.

What happens if I do not provide Eezy with an approved tax form?

If Eezy does not have an approved tax form for you before the 10th of the month in which you are eligible for payment, any earnings owed to you will be rolled over to the following month's payment.

Okay, I have to complete U.S. tax registration to be eligible for payment. How is the U.S. going to tax me?

Eezy is required to deduct 30% withholding tax from certain royalties paid to individuals and companies who are not US citizens or US residents. This 30% withholding tax may be reduced or eliminated if you are a resident of a treaty country and provide Eezy with a properly completed treaty claim. Here is a list of countries that have tax treaties with the United States and the corresponding tax rates.

How do I complete the tax registration process and claim treaty benefits?

To ensure that these withholding tax laws are properly administered, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has designed Form W-8BEN for purposes of:

• Certifying that you or your company is not a U.S. citizen or tax resident, and/or
• Claiming reduction in, or exemption from, U.S. withholding tax under an applicable income tax treaty.

Eezy is required to obtain a W-8BEN from each contributor who is not a U.S. citizen or resident.

We'll provide printable instructions in PDF format that will likely answer your questions if you get stuck filling out the form. U.S. tax law can be tricky, so we've added some help on completing this process.

*Please note that this guidance is not meant to replace the official instructions to the W-8BEN. As these are important documents, you should refer to the W-8BEN instructions and/or consult with a tax advisor if you get stuck.

What parts of the W-8BEN must I complete?

All non-U.S. contributors are required to complete Parts I of the W-8BEN and agree to the certification in Part IV.

Important note: If you are eligible for treaty benefits that will reduce or eliminate your withholding taxes and wish to claim these benefits, you MUST complete Part II of the W-8BEN.

Certain contributors (those who are not the rights holder) will need to provide a U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number (U.S. TIN) on Line 6 of Part I before any treaty claim can be respected.

Can I see the list of countries with tax treaties?

Sure. Here is a list of countries that have tax treaties with the United States and their corresponding tax rates. You can also view this information on the IRS website.

My country has a 0% (5%,10%,15%,25%) agreement with the U.S.. How does this work?

Once you properly complete the Form W-8BEN we will withhold at the tax rate specified in your country's income tax treaty.

Example: If your country has a 10% withholding tax rate, and you earn $150 in royalties - your net royalty payment will be $135 ($150 - $15 [10% withholding tax] = $135 )

I have had withholding taxes taken out of my Eezy earnings. Can I get that taxed amount back?

You will likely be able to claim a tax benefit in your local country related to any U.S. withholding tax deducted from your royalty. We highly recommend that you consult with your local country tax adviser on this matter. Eezy will not refund any withheld royalties due to missing or inaccurate tax forms.

I am a resident of a treaty country with a 0% agreement, do I actually need to fill out the forms?

Yes. We need to have your properly completed Form W-8BEN in order to apply the treaty exemption or rate reduction.

I am not a resident of a treaty country. How will I be taxed?

If you are not a resident of a treaty country, we will deduct a 30% withholding tax on all payments of U.S. source royalties. Please note, Eezy will still require you to properly complete an Form W-8BEN to verify your non-resident status.

Is an ITIN number required on the W-8BEN form?

To receive the treaty rate, a U.S. ITIN number is not required on the W8-BEN form as long as you are the rights holder for all submitted content. We highly recommend you consult with a tax advisor if you have further questions.

What are the most common tax forms?

Here are the most common forms our contributors require:

• W-8 BEN - Instructions (non-U.S. residents i.e. foreign individuals)
• W-9 - Instructions (U.S. residents)
• W-8-BENE - Instructions (non-US entities)

Here are a few other tax forms that may be applicable to you, depending on your status:

• W-8 ECI - Instructions
• W-8 IMY - Instructions
• W-8 EXP - Instructions