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W-8BEN form
What is a W-8BEN form?
A W-8BEN form is a legally required document for non-U.S. residents who receive income from U.S.-sourced investments. It declares your tax status to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and ensures the correct amount of withholding tax is applied.
Why it matters
Without a completed W-8BEN form, the default withholding tax on U.S. dividends is 30%.
With a valid form, Australian tax residents benefit from a reduced rate of 15%, thanks to the Australia–U.S. tax treaty.
How it works with Stake
When you sign up and fund your Stake Wall St account for the first time, we:
Digitally complete the W-8BEN form (or W-9 if you're a U.S. tax resident)
Cover the usual administrative fee (normally US$5)
Work with our U.S. broker-dealer to ensure the correct tax rate is applied automatically
You can view your current W-8BEN by going to:
Settings > Tax & Reporting > U.S. tax forms
W-8BEN validity and expiry
The W-8BEN form remains valid for three years. After that, we may ask you to self-certify your status again via our broker’s portal.
What about U.S.-domiciled assets on the ASX?
If you hold U.S.-domiciled ETFs or shares listed on the ASX, Stake won’t submit a W-8BEN form on your behalf.
You’ll need to contact the share registry directly to complete and lodge the form.
Note: This information is general in nature and correct at the time of publication. Please seek independent professional advice to understand how it applies to your personal tax situation.
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