TIN and tax treaty benefits for nonresident aliens

As a nonresident alien earning through the Medium Partner Program, you are required to submit a W-8 form with a valid taxpayer identification number (TIN). You may also be eligible to claim tax treaty benefits to reduce your withholding rate.

Which tax form do I fill out?

To determine which W-8 form applies to your situation, click Start the tax form questionnaire in Step 2 of the taxpayer information form. You can also consult the IRS's W-8BEN instructions for guidance.

For help filling out your form, see Filling out the W-8BEN and W-8BEN-E tax form.

TIN requirement

A valid TIN is required to complete enrollment and earn through the Partner Program. This can be a US TIN or a foreign tax identification number issued by your country of residence.

Tax treaty benefits

You can earn through the Partner Program without claiming treaty benefits. However, if you do not claim them, Medium will withhold royalty taxes at the default rate and remit them to the US government on your behalf.

If your country of residence has a tax treaty with the US, you may be able to claim treaty benefits in Part II of your W-8 form to reduce the withholding rate. To do so, resubmit your W-8 form and select your country of residence under Claim of Treaty Benefits (Part II).

To check whether your country has a tax treaty with the US, see United States income tax treaties A to Z on the IRS website.

For more information on how withholding rates are applied, see Earnings withholding for US taxes.