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W-8BEN form

What is a W-8BEN form?

A W-8BEN form is a legally required document for the ultimate beneficial owner of listed securities deriving income in the United States to ensure compliance with U.S. tax regulations. 

Non-U.S. residents must have a completed W-8BEN form to declare their tax status to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) so that the appropriate level of tax is withheld. 

When you sign up and fund your Stake Wall St account for the first time, we digitally complete the W-8BEN (or W9 if you’re a U.S. tax resident) on your behalf and cover the administrative fee (usually US$5).

Purpose of the W-8BEN form

A completed W-8BEN reduces withholding tax on dividend distributions from 30% to 15% on U.S.-domiciled holdings.

Stake has streamlined this process with our U.S. broker-dealer to ensure your documentation is completed and the appropriate withholding tax is automatically applied to your account. 

You can view your current W-8BEN form by heading to: More > Tax & Documents > US tax form.

Please note that the W-8BEN remains valid for three years, after which we may require you to self-certify via our broker partner's portal.

Please note, this information is correct at the time of publication and is not intended to be advice. We recommend you obtain independent and professional advice regarding your personal tax implications. 


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Stakeshop Pty Ltd is registered as an overseas company in New Zealand (NZBN: 9429047452152), and is registered as a Financial Service Provider under the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act 2008 (No. FSP774414). We hold a full licence issued by the Financial Markets Authority to provide a financial advice service under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013. However, the content on this website has not been prepared to take into account any of your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. To the extent you require further information about the relevant New Zealand legislation that may apply, or require specific advice, please contact your legal and/or financial adviser (as appropriate). The information on our website or our mobile application is not intended to be an inducement, offer or solicitation to anyone in any jurisdiction in which Stake is not regulated or able to market its services. At Stake, we’re focused on giving you a better investing experience but we don’t take into account your personal objectives, circumstances or financial needs. Any advice is of a general nature only. As investments carry risk, before making any investment decision, please consider if it’s right for you and seek appropriate taxation and legal advice. Please view our Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, Financial Advice Disclosure and Disclaimers before deciding to use or invest on Stake. By using the Stake website or service in any way, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions All financial products involve risk and you should ensure you understand the risks involved as certain financial products may not be suitable to everyone. Past performance of any product described on this website is not a reliable indication of future performance. Stake is a registered trademark under class 36 (New Zealand).

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