Withholding on Specific Income

Different kinds of income are subject to different withholding requirements.

Effectively Connected Income

Generally, when a foreign person engages in a trade or business in the United States, all income from sources within the United States other than fixed or determinable annual or periodical (FDAP) income, discussed earlier, is considered effectively connected with a U.S. business. FDAP income may or may not be effectively connected with a U.S. business. For example, effectively connected income includes rents from real property if the alien chooses to treat that income as effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business.

The factors to be considered in establishing whether FDAP income and similar amounts are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business include:

1. Whether the income is from assets used in, or held for use in, the conduct of that trade or business, or
2. Whether the activities of that trade or business were a material factor in the realization of the income.

Income from securities. There is a special rule for determining whether income from securities is effectively connected with the active conduct of a U.S. banking, financing, or similar business.

When the foreign person's U.S. office actively and materially participates in soliciting, negotiating, or performing other activities required to arrange the acquisition of securities, the U.S. source interest or dividend income from the securities (or gain or loss from their sale or exchange) is attributable to the U.S. office.

Withholding exemption. Generally, you do not need to withhold tax on income if you receive a Form W-8ECI on which a foreign payee represents that:

1. The foreign payee is the beneficial owner of the income,
2. The income is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, and
3. The income is includible in the recipient's gross income.

This withholding exemption applies to income for services performed by a foreign partnership or foreign corporation (unless item (4) below applies to the corporation). The exemption does not apply, however, to:

1. Pay for personal services performed by an individual,
2. Effectively connected taxable income of a partnership that is allocable to its foreign partners, (See Partnership Withholding on Effectively Connected Income, later.)
3. Income from the disposition of a U.S. real property interest, (See U.S. Real Property Interest, later.) or
4. Payments to a foreign corporation for personal services if all of the following apply:
   1. The foreign corporation otherwise qualifies as a personal holding company for income tax purposes,
   2. The foreign corporation receives amounts under a contract for personal services of an individual whom the corporation has no right to designate, and
   3. 25% or more in value of the outstanding stock of the foreign corporation at some time during the tax year is owned, directly or indirectly, by or for an individual who has performed, is to perform or may be designated as the one to perform, the services called for under the contract.

Notional principal contract income. Payment of an amount attributable to a notional principal contract is not subject to NRA withholding regardless of whether a Form W-8ECI is provided. However, income from a notional principal contract is subject to reporting on Form 1042-S if it is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States. You must treat the income as effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business if you pay the income to, or to the account of, a qualified business unit (a branch) of a foreign person located in the United States, or a qualified business unit located outside the United States and you know, or have reason to know, the income is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business. You do not need to treat notional principal contract income as effectively connected if you receive a Form W-8BEN that represents that the income is not effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business or if the payee provides a representation in a master agreement or in the confirmation on the particular notional principal contract transaction that the payee is a U.S. person or a non-U.S. branch of a foreign person.

Income paid to U.S. branch of foreign bank or insurance company. A payment to a U.S. branch of a foreign bank or a foreign insurance company that is subject to U.S. regulation by the Federal Reserve or state insurance authorities is presumed to be effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States unless the branch provides a Form W-8BEN or Form W-8IMY for the income. If a U.S. branch of a foreign bank or insurance company receives income that the payer did not withhold upon because of the presumption that the income was effectively connected with the U.S. branch's trade or business, the U.S. branch is required to withhold on the income if it is in fact not effectively connected with the conduct of its trade or business in the United States. Withholding is required whether the payment was collected on behalf of other persons or on behalf of another branch of the same entity.

Income Other Than Effectively Connected Income

This section discusses the specific types of income that are subject to NRA withholding. The income codes contained in this section correspond to the income codes used on Form 1042-S (discussed later), and in most cases, on Tables 1 and 2 found at the end of this publication.

You must withhold tax at the statutory rates shown in Chart C unless a reduced rate or exemption under a tax treaty applies. For U.S. source gross income that is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, the rate is usually 30%. Generally, you must withhold the tax at the time you pay the income to the foreign person. See When to withhold, earlier.

Chart C. Withholding Tax Rates

Interest

Interest from U.S. sources paid to foreign payees is subject to NRA withholding. When making a payment on an interest bearing obligation, you must withhold on the gross amount of stated interest payable on the interest payment date, regardless of whether the payment or a portion of the payment may be a return of capital rather than interest.

A substitute interest payment made to the transferor of a security in a securities lending transaction or a sale-repurchase transaction is treated the same as the interest on the transferred security.

Interest paid by U.S. obligors--general (Income Code 1). With specific exceptions, such as portfolio interest, you must withhold on interest paid or credited on bonds, debentures, notes, open account indebtedness, governmental obligations, certain deferred payment arrangements (as provided in section 483 of the Internal Revenue Code) or other evidences of indebtedness of U.S. obligors. U.S. obligors include the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities, any U.S. citizen or resident, any U.S. corporation, and any U.S. partnership.

If, in a sale of a corporation's property, payment of the bonds or other obligations of the corporation is assumed by the buyer, that buyer, whether an individual, partnership, or corporation, must deduct and withhold the taxes that would be required to be withheld by the selling corporation as if there had been no sale or transfer. Also, if interest coupons are in default, the tax must be withheld on the gross amount of interest whether or not the payment is a return of capital or the payment of income.

A resident alien individual paying interest on a margin account maintained with a nonresident foreign brokerage firm must withhold from the interest whether the interest is paid directly or constructively.

Interest on bonds of a U.S. corporation paid to a foreign corporation not engaged in a trade or business in the United States is subject to NRA withholding even though the interest is guaranteed by a foreign corporation that made payment outside the United States.

Domestic corporations must withhold on interest credited to foreign subsidiaries.

Original issue discount (Income Code 30). Original issue discount paid on the redemption of an obligation is subject to NRA withholding. Original issue discount paid as part of the purchase price of an obligation sold or exchanged, other than in a redemption, is not subject to NRA withholding unless the purchase is part of a plan the principal purpose of which is to avoid tax and the withholding agent has actual knowledge or reason to know of the plan. Withholding by a person other than the issuer of an obligation (or the issuer's agent) is not required unless the obligation is issued after December 31, 2000.

The amount of original issue discount subject to NRA withholding is the taxable amount of original issue discount. The taxable amount is the amount of original issue discount that accrued while the obligation was held by the foreign beneficial owner up to the time the obligation was sold or exchanged or a payment was made, reduced by any amount of original issue discount that was previously taxed. If a payment was made, the tax due on the original issue discount may not exceed the amount of the payment reduced by the tax imposed on the portion of the payment that is qualified stated interest.

If you cannot determine the taxable amount, you must withhold on the entire amount of original issue discount accrued from the date of the issue until the date of redemption (or sale or exchange, if subject to NRA withholding) determined on the basis of the most recently published Publication 1212, List of Original Issue Discount Instruments.

For more information on original issue discount, see Publication 550, Investment Income and Expenses.

Reduced Rates of Withholding on Interest

Certain interest is subject to a reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding.

Portfolio interest. Interest and original issue discount that qualifies as portfolio interest is not subject to NRA withholding. To qualify as portfolio interest, the interest must be otherwise subject to NRA withholding, must be paid on obligations issued after July 18, 1984, and must meet certain other requirements.

Obligations not in registered form. Interest on an obligation that is not in registered form (bearer obligation) is portfolio interest if the obligation is foreign-targeted. A bearer obligation is foreign-targeted if:

1. There are arrangements to ensure that the obligation will be sold, or resold in connection with the original issue, only to a person who is not a United States person,
2. Interest on the obligation is payable only outside the United States and its possessions, and
3. The face of the obligation contains a statement that any United States person who holds the obligation will be subject to limits under the United States income tax laws.

Documentation is not required for interest on bearer obligations to qualify as portfolio interest. In some cases, however, you may need documentation for purposes of Form 1099 reporting and backup withholding.

Obligations in registered form. Portfolio interest includes interest paid on an obligation that is in registered form, and for which you have received documentation that the beneficial owner of the obligation is not a United States person.

If the registered obligation is not targeted to foreign markets, you must receive documentation on which you may rely to treat the payee as a foreign person that is the beneficial owner of the interest. The documentation required is a valid Form W-8BEN (a valid Form W-8EXP from an entity that completes the Form W-8EXP for other purposes is also acceptable) or, if allowable, valid documentary evidence. See Documentation, earlier.

A registered obligation is targeted to foreign markets if it is sold (or resold in connection with its original issuance) only to foreign persons or to foreign branches of U. S. financial institutions in accordance with procedures similar to those provided under section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i) of the regulations. However, the procedure that requires the obligation to be offered for sale (or resale) only outside the United States does not apply if the registered obligation is offered for sale through a public auction. Also, the procedure that requires the obligation to be delivered outside the United States does not apply if the obligation is considered registered because it may be transferred only through a book entry system and the obligation is offered for sale through a public auction. The documentation needed depends on whether the interest is paid to a financial institution, a member of a clearing organization, or to some other foreign person.

Interest that does not qualify as portfolio interest. Payments to certain persons and payments of contingent interest do not qualify as portfolio interest. You must withhold at the statutory rate on such payments unless some other exception, such as a treaty provision applies.

Ten-percent owners. Interest paid to a foreign person that owns 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of a corporation, or 10% or more of the capital or profits interest in a partnership, that issued the obligation on which interest is paid is not portfolio interest. Generally, the constructive ownership of stock rules apply in determining if a person is a 10% shareholder of a corporation.

Banks. Except in the case of interest paid on an obligation of the United States, interest paid to a bank on an extension of credit made pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of the bank's trade or business does not qualify as portfolio interest.

Controlled foreign corporations. Interest paid to a controlled foreign corporation from a person related to the controlled foreign corporation is not portfolio interest.

Contingent interest. Portfolio interest generally does not include contingent interest. Contingent interest is interest that is determined by reference to any of the following.

• Any receipts, sales, or other cash flow of the debtor or related person.
• Income or profits of the debtor or related person.
• Any change in value of any property of the debtor or a related person.
• Any dividend, partnership distributions, or similar payments made by the debtor or a related person.

The term "related person" is defined in section 871(h)(4)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The contingent interest rule does not apply to any interest paid or accrued on any indebtedness with a fixed term that was issued:

• On or before April 7, 1993, or
• After April 7, 1993, pursuant to a written binding contract in effect on that date and at all times thereafter before that indebtedness was issued.

Interest on real property mortgages (Income Code 2). Because a treaty (for example, the U.S.--Egypt treaty) may not permit a reduced rate or exemption for interest paid or credited on real property mortgages, it is assigned a separate category for withholding purposes. Interest on real property mortgages is interest paid on any type of debt instrument that is secured by a mortgage or deed of trust on real property located in the United States, regardless of whether the mortgagor (or grantor) is a U.S. citizen or a U.S. business entity.

Interest paid to controlling foreign corporations (Income Code 3). Because a treaty (for example, the U.S.--Greece treaty) may not permit a reduced rate or exemption for interest paid by a domestic corporation to a controlling foreign corporation, it is assigned a separate category. The interest may be on any type of debt including open or unsecured accounts payable, notes, certificates, bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness. A controlling foreign corporation is a corporation of the treaty country that controls, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the entire voting power of the paying corporation.

Interest paid by foreign corporations (Income Code 4). If a foreign corporation is engaged in a U.S. trade or business, any interest paid by the foreign corporation's trade or business in the United States (branch interest) is subject to NRA withholding as if paid by a domestic corporation (without considering the "payer having income from abroad" exception). As a result, the interest paid to foreign payees is generally subject to NRA withholding. In addition, if "allocable interest" exceeds the branch interest paid, the excess interest is also subject to tax and reported on the foreign corporation's income tax return, Form 1120-F. See Instructions for Form 1120-F for more information.

If there is no treaty provision that reduces the rate of withholding on branch interest, you must withhold tax at the statutory rate of 30% on the interest paid by a foreign corporation's U.S. trade or business.

In general, payees of interest from a U.S. trade or business of a foreign corporation are entitled to reduced rates of, or exemption from, tax under a treaty in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as if they had received the interest from a domestic corporation. However, a foreign corporation that receives interest paid by a U.S. trade or business of a foreign corporation must also be a qualified resident of its country of residence to be entitled to benefits under that country's tax treaty. If the foreign corporation is a resident of a country that has entered into an income tax treaty since 1987 that contains a limitation on benefits article, the foreign corporation need only satisfy the limitation on benefits article in that treaty to qualify for a reduced rate of tax.

Alternatively, a payee may be entitled to treaty benefits under the payor's treaty if there is a provision in that treaty that applies specifically to interest paid by the payor foreign corporation. This provision may exempt all or a part of this interest. Some treaties provide for an exemption regardless of the payee's residence or citizenship, while others provide for an exemption according to the payee's status as a resident or citizen of the payor's country.

A foreign corporation that pays interest must be a qualified resident (under section 884 of the Internal Revenue Code) of its country of residence for the payor's treaty to exempt payments from tax by the foreign corporation. However, if the foreign corporation is a resident of a country that has entered into an income tax treaty since 1987 that contains a limitation on benefits article, the foreign corporation need only satisfy the limitation on benefits article in that treaty to qualify for the exemption.

Interest on deposits (Income Code 29). Foreign persons are not subject to withholding on interest that is not connected with a U.S. trade or business if it is from:

1. Deposits with persons carrying on the banking business,
2. Deposits or withdrawable accounts with savings institutions chartered and supervised under federal or state law as savings and loan or similar associations, such as credit unions, if the interest is or would be deductible by the institutions, or
3. Amounts left with an insurance company under an agreement to pay interest on them.

Deposits include certificates of deposit, open account time deposits, Eurodollar certificates of deposit, and other deposit arrangements.

The deposit interest exception does not require a Form W-8BEN. However, a Form W-8BEN may be required for purposes of Form 1099 reporting and backup withholding.

You may have to file Form 1042-S to report certain payments of interest on deposits. See Deposit interest paid to alien individuals who are residents of Canada under Returns Required, later.

Interest from foreign business arrangements. In general, interest received from a resident alien individual or a domestic corporation is not subject to NRA withholding if at least 80% of the payer's gross income from all sources has been from active foreign business for the 3 tax years of the payer before the year in which the interest is paid, or for the applicable part of those 3 years. Active foreign business income is gross income which is:

1. Derived from sources outside the United States, and
2. Attributable to the active conduct of a trade or business in a foreign country or possession of the United States by the individual or corporation.

However, limits apply if the recipient is considered to be a related person (see section 861(c) of the Internal Revenue Code). A foreign beneficial owner does not need to provide a Form W-8 or documentary evidence for this exception. However, documentation may be required for purposes of Form 1099 reporting and backup withholding.

Sales of bonds between interest dates. Amounts paid as part of the purchase price of an obligation sold or exchanged between interest payment dates is not subject to NRA withholding. This does not apply if the sale or exchange is part of a plan the principal purpose of which is to avoid tax and you have actual knowledge or reason to know of the plan. The exemption from NRA withholding applies even if you do not have any documentation from the payee. However, documentation may be required for purposes of Form 1099 reporting and backup withholding.

Short-term obligations. Interest and original issue discount paid on an obligation that was issued at a discount and that is payable 183 days or less from the date of its original issue (without regard to the period held by the taxpayer) is not subject to NRA withholding. This exemption applies even if you do not have any documentation from the payee. However, documentation may be required for purposes of Form 1099 reporting and backup withholding.

Income from U.S. Savings Bonds of residents of the Ryukyu Islands or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Interest from a Series E, Series EE, Series H, or Series HH U.S. Savings Bond is not subject to NRA withholding if the nonresident alien individual acquired the bond while a resident of the Ryukyu Islands or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

Dividends

The following types of dividends paid to foreign payees are generally subject to NRA withholding. A substitute dividend payment made to the transferor of a security in a securities lending transaction or a sale-repurchase transaction is treated the same as a distribution on the transferred security.

The address rule for dividends has been eliminated for all payments made after December 31, 2000. Therefore, you may not apply a reduced rate of withholding on dividends paid after that date to a foreign person unless you have a Form W-8BEN (or you have valid documentary evidence and any additional information required) that entitles a foreign beneficial owner to a reduced rate of withholding. If you do not have Form W-8BEN, documentary evidence or a Form W-9 from a payee, you should apply the applicable presumption rules.

See Notice 2001-4 under Important Changes, earlier.

Dividends paid by U.S. corporations -- general (Income Code 6). This category includes all distributions of domestic corporations (other than dividends qualifying for direct dividend rate--Income Code 7).

A corporation making a distribution with respect to its stock or any intermediary making a payment of such a distribution, is required to withhold on the entire amount of the distribution. However, a distributing corporation or intermediary may elect to reduce the amount withheld to the extent that the distribution:

1. Represents a nontaxable distribution payable in stock or stock rights,
2. Represents a distribution in part or full payment in exchange for stock,
3. Is not paid out of current or accumulated earnings and profits, based on a reasonable estimate of the anticipated amount of earnings and profits for the tax year of the distribution made at a time reasonably close to the date of the distribution.
4. Represents a capital gain dividend or an exempt interest dividend by a regulated investment company, or
5. Is subject to withholding under section 1445 of the Internal Revenue Code (withholding on dispositions of U.S. real property interests) and the distributing corporation is a U.S. real property holding corporation or a real estate investment trust (REIT).

The election is made by actually reducing the amount of withholding at the time the distribution is paid.

Dividends paid by a domestic corporation (an "80/20" company). Generally, a percentage of any dividend paid by a domestic corporation that received at least 80% of its gross income from the active conduct of a foreign business for a testing period is not subject to NRA withholding. The testing period is the 3 tax years before the year in which the dividends are declared, or shorter period if the corporation was not in existence for 3 years. The percentage is found by dividing the corporation's foreign gross income for the testing period by the corporation's total gross income for that period.

Main business in Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. Dividends paid by a domestic corporation that generally conducts its main business activities in Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands and that has chosen the Puerto Rico economic activity credit or the possession tax credit are not subject to NRA withholding.

Jointly-owned stock. If stock is jointly owned, you may treat the total amount of the dividend as paid to a U.S. person if any one of the owners gives you a Form W-9. If all the owners are foreign persons, you should withhold at the highest rate applicable. If all the owners provide documentation that permits them to receive the same reduced rate of withholding (for example, under an income tax treaty) you should apply the reduced rate of withholding. You are required, however, to report the payment on one Form 1042-S to the person whose status you rely upon to determine the withholding rate. If, however, any one of the owners requests its own Form 1042-S, you must furnish Form 1042-S to the person who requests it. If more than one Form 1042-S is issued for a single payment, the total amount paid and tax withheld reported on all Forms 1042-S cannot exceed the total amounts paid to joint owners.

Consent dividends. If you receive a Form 972, Consent of Shareholder To Include Specific Amount in Gross Income, from a nonresident alien individual or other foreign shareholder who agrees to treat the amount as a taxable dividend, you must pay and report on Form 1042 and Form 1042-S any withholding tax you would have withheld if the dividend had been actually paid.

Dividends qualifying for direct dividend rate (Income Code 7). A treaty may reduce the rate of withholding on dividends from that which generally applies under the treaty if the shareholder owns a certain percentage of the voting stock of the corporation. Generally, this preferential rate applies only if the shareholder directly owns the required percentage, although some treaties permit the percentage to be met by direct or indirect ownership. The preferential rate may apply to the payment of a deemed dividend under section 304(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code. Under some treaties, the preferential rate for dividends qualifying for the direct dividend rate applies only if no more than a certain percentage of the paying corporation's gross income for a certain period consists of dividends and interest other than dividends and interest from subsidiaries or from the active conduct of a banking, financing, or insurance business. A foreign person claiming the non-portfolio stock treaty rate should complete line 10 of Form W-8BEN regarding special rates and conditions.

Consent dividends. If you receive a Form 972 from a foreign parent corporation, which agrees to treat the amount as a taxable dividend, you must pay and report on Form 1042 and Form 1042-S any withholding tax you would have withheld if the dividend had been actually paid.

Dividends paid by foreign corporations (Income Code 8). Dividends paid by a foreign corporation are generally subject to NRA withholding if 25% or more of its gross income is effectively connected (or treated as effectively connected) with a U.S. trade or business for the 3 tax years (or shorter period) before the year in which the dividends are paid. Taxes should be withheld in the same ratio that the effectively connected gross income bears to the total gross income of the foreign corporation. If less than 25% of the corporation's gross income is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, then the dividends are not subject to NRA withholding. The payment to a foreign corporation by a foreign corporation of a deemed dividend under section 304(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code is subject to NRA withholding except to the extent it can be clearly determined to be from foreign sources.

Corporation subject to branch profits tax. If a foreign corporation is subject to branch profits tax for any tax year, withholding is not required on any dividends paid by the corporation out of its earnings and profits for that tax year. Dividends may be subject to NRA withholding if they are attributable to any earnings and profits when the branch profits tax is prohibited by a tax treaty.

A foreign person may claim a treaty benefit on dividends paid by a foreign corporation to the extent the dividends are paid out of earnings and profits in a year in which the foreign corporation was not subject to the branch profits tax. However, you may apply a reduced rate of withholding under an income tax treaty only under rules similar to the rules that apply to treaty benefits claimed on branch interest paid by a foreign corporation. You should check the specific treaty provision.

Certain Gains

Except as provided below, you generally do not need to do NRA withholding on gains from the sale of real or personal property because it is not FDAP income. However, you may be required to withhold if you purchase a U.S. real property interest, including stock of a U.S. real property holding company, from a foreign person. See U.S. Real Property Interest, later.

Capital gains (Income Code 9). Certain gains are subject to NRA withholding. You must withhold at 30%, or if applicable, a reduced treaty rate, on the gross amount of the following items:

1. Gains on disposal of timber, coal, or domestic iron ore with a retained economic interest, unless an election is made to treat those gains as income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business,
2. Gains on contingent payments received from the sale or exchange after October 4, 1966, of patents, copyrights, secret processes and formulas, good will, trade marks, trade brands, franchises, and other like property,
3. Gains on certain transfers of all substantial rights to, or an undivided interest in, patents if the transfers were made before October 5, 1966, and
4. Certain gains from the sale or exchange of original issue discount obligations issued after March 31, 1972. For more on withholding on original issue discount obligations, see Interest, earlier.

If you do not know the amount of the gain, you must withhold an amount necessary to assure that the tax withheld will not be less than 30% of the recognized gain. The amount to be withheld, however, must not be more than 30% of the amount payable because of the transaction.

Unless you have reason to believe otherwise, you may rely upon the written statement of the person entitled to the income as to the amount of gain. The statement, prepared according to regulations, must show the computation of the gain.

Tax treaties. Many tax treaties exempt certain types of gains from U.S. income tax. The conditions for allowing the exemptions vary under each treaty. For example, under some treaties, a nonresident alien individual may not be present in the United States for more than a specified period for the exemption to apply. Be sure to carefully check the provision of the treaty that applies before allowing an exemption from withholding.

Royalties

In general, you must withhold tax on the payment of royalties from sources in the United States. However, certain types of royalties are given reduced rates or exemptions under some tax treaties. Accordingly, these different types of royalties are treated as separate categories for withholding purposes.

Industrial royalties (Income Code 10). This category of income includes royalties for the use of, or the right to use, patents, trademarks, secret processes and formulas, goodwill, franchises, "know-how," and similar rights. It also may include rents for the use or lease of personal property. Under certain tax treaties, different rates may apply to royalties for information concerning industrial, commercial, and scientific know-how.

Motion picture or television copyright royalties (Income Code 11). This category refers to royalties paid for the use of motion picture and television copyrights.

Other royalties (e.g., copyright, recording, publishing) (Income Code 12). This category refers to the royalties paid for the use of copyrights on books, periodicals, articles, etc., except motion picture and television copyrights.

Real Property Income and Natural Resources Royalties (Income Code 13)

You must withhold tax on income (such as rents and royalties) from real property located in the United States and held for the production of income, unless the foreign payee elects to treat this income as effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. If the foreign payee chooses to treat this income as effectively connected, the payee must give you Form W-8ECI (discussed earlier). This real property income includes royalties from mines, wells, or other natural deposits, as well as ordinary rents for the use of real property. For withholding that applies to the disposition of U.S. real property interests, see U.S. Real Property Interest, later.

Pensions, Annuities, and Alimony (Income Code 14)

The following rules apply to withholding on pensions, annuities, and alimony of foreign payees.

Pensions and annuities. Generally, you must withhold tax on the gross amount of pensions and annuities that you pay that are from sources within the United States. However, most tax treaties provide that private pensions and annuities are exempt from withholding.

In the absence of a treaty exemption, you must withhold at the statutory rate of 30% on the entire distribution that is from sources within the United States. You may, however, apply withholding at graduated rates to the portion of a distribution that arises from the performance of services in the United States after December 31, 1986, provided you receive Form W-8ECI and can determine the portion of the distribution that constitutes income effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States. The withholding rules that apply to payments to foreign persons generally take precedence over any other withholding rules that would apply to distributions from qualified plans and other qualified retirement arrangements.

No withholding. Do not withhold tax on an annuity payment to a nonresident alien if at the time of the first payment from the plan, 90% or more of the employees eligible for benefits under the plan are citizens or residents of the United States and the payment is:

1. For the nonresident's personal services performed outside the United States, or
2. For personal services by a nonresident individual present in the United States for 90 days or less during each tax year, whose pay for those services does not exceed $3,000, and the personal services are performed for:
   1. A nonresident alien individual, foreign partnership, or foreign corporation not engaged in a trade or business in the United States, or
   2. An office or place of business of a U.S. resident or citizen which is maintained outside the United States.

If the payment otherwise qualifies under these rules, but less than 90% of the employees eligible for benefits are citizens or residents of the United States, you still need not withhold tax on the payment if:

1. The recipient is a resident of a country that gives a substantially equal exclusion to U.S. citizens and residents, or
2. The recipient is a resident of a beneficiary developing country under the Trade Act of 1974.

The foreign person entitled to the payments must provide you with a Form W-8BEN that contains the TIN of the foreign person.

Alimony payments. Generally, alimony payments made by U.S. residents to nonresident aliens are taxable and subject to NRA withholding whether the recipients are residing abroad or are temporarily present in the United States.

Many tax treaties, however, provide for an exemption from withholding for alimony payments. These treaties are shown in Table 1, by a footnote reference under Income code number 14.

Alimony payments made to a nonresident alien by a U.S. ancillary administrator of a nonresident alien estate are from foreign sources and are not subject to withholding.

Scholarships and Fellowship Grants

A scholarship or fellowship grant (Income Code 15) is an amount given to an individual to perform study, training, or research, and which does not constitute compensation for personal services. Whether a fellowship grant from U.S. sources is subject to NRA withholding depends on the nature of the payments and whether the recipient is a candidate for a degree.

Candidate for a degree. Do not withhold on a qualified scholarship from U.S. sources granted and paid to a candidate for a degree. A qualified scholarship means any amount paid to an individual as a scholarship or fellowship grant to the extent that, in accordance with the conditions of the grant, the amount is to be used for the following expenses:

1. Tuition and fees required for enrollment or attendance at an educational organization, and
2. Fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for courses of instruction at the educational organization.

The payment of a qualified scholarship to a nonresident alien is not reportable and is not subject to NRA withholding. However, the portion of a scholarship or fellowship paid to a nonresident alien which does not constitute a qualified scholarship is reportable on Form 1042-S and is subject to NRA withholding. For example, those portions of a scholarship devoted to travel, room, and board are subject to NRA withholding and are reported on Form 1042-S. The withholding rate is 14% on taxable scholarship and fellowship grants paid to nonresident aliens temporarily present in the United States in "F,""J,""M," or "Q" nonimmigrant status. Payments made to nonresident alien individuals in any other immigration status are subject to 30% withholding.

Nondegree candidate. If the person receiving the scholarship or fellowship grant is not a candidate for a degree, and is present in the United States in "F,""J,""M," or "Q" nonimmigrant status, you must withhold tax at 14% on the total amount of the grant that is from U.S. sources if the following requirements are met:

1. The grant must be for study, training, or research at an educational organization in the United States, and
2. The grant must be made by:
   1. A tax-exempt organization operated for charitable, religious, educational, etc. purposes,
   2. A foreign government,
   3. A federal, state, or local government agency, or
   4. An international organization, or a binational or multinational educational or cultural organization created or continued by the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (known as the Fulbright-Hays Act).

If the grant does not meet both (1) and (2) above, you must withhold at 30% on the amount of the grant that is from U.S. sources.

Reduced withholding. Nonresident alien students or grantees who receive U.S. source grants or scholarships may be entitled to reduced withholding on the taxable part of the grant or scholarship under an alternate withholding procedure. The students or grantees must have been admitted into the United States on an "F,""J,""M," or "Q" visa. This alternate withholding procedure is not mandatory, and does not have to be used by you.

Under this alternate withholding procedure, the student or grantee gives you a specially prepared Form W-4. The student or grantee must complete Form W-4 annually following the instructions given here and forward it to you, the payer of the scholarship, or your designated withholding agent. You may rely on the information on Form W-4 unless you know or have reason to know it is incorrect. You must file a Form 1042-S (discussed later) for each student or grantee who gives you, or your withholding agent, a Form W-4.

Each student or grantee who files a Form W-4 must file an annual U.S. income tax return to be allowed the exemptions and deductions claimed on that form. If the individual is in the United States during more than one tax year, he or she must attach a statement to the annual Form W-4 indicating that the individual has filed a U.S. income tax return for the previous year. If he or she has not been in the United States long enough to have to file a return, the individual must attach a statement to the Form W-4 saying that a timely U.S. income tax return will be filed.

A prorated portion of allowable personal exemptions based on the projected number of days he or she will be in this country is allowed. This is figured by multiplying the daily exemption amount ($7.95 for 2001) by the number of days the student or grantee expects to be in the United States during the year. The prorated exemption amount should be shown on line A of the Personal Allowances Worksheet that comes with Form W-4.

On line B, a student or grantee who qualifies under Article 21(2) of the United States--India Income Tax Treaty can enter the standard deduction if he or she does not claim away-from-home expenses or other itemized deductions (discussed later). All other nonresident aliens must enter "0."

Generally, zero (-0-) should be shown on lines C and D of the worksheet. But, an additional daily exemption amount may be allowed for the spouse and each dependent if the student or grantee is:

1. A resident of Canada, Mexico, Japan, or South Korea,
2. A U.S. national (a citizen of American Samoa, or a Northern Mariana Islander who chose to become a U.S. national), or
3. Eligible for the benefits of Article 21(2) of the United States--India Income Tax Treaty.

These additional amounts should be entered on lines C and D, as appropriate.

As lines E, F, and G of the worksheet do not apply to nonresident aliens subject to this procedure, there should be no entries on those lines.

The nonresident alien student or grantee may deduct away-from-home expenses (meals, lodging, and transportation) on Form W-4 if he or she expects to be away from his or her tax home for 1 year or less. The amount of the claimed expenses should be the anticipated actual amount, if known. If the amount of the expenses is not known at the time the W-4 is filed with you, the current per diem allowance in effect for participants in the Career Education Program under the Federal Travel Regulations may be claimed on Form W-4. The allowable amount is $18.00 per day.

The actual expenses or the per diem allowance should be shown on line A of the worksheet in addition to the personal exemption amount.

The student or grantee can claim other expenses that will be deductible on Form 1040NR. These include student loan interest, certain state and local income taxes, charitable contributions, casualty losses, and moving expenses. He or she should include these anticipated amounts on line A of the worksheet.

The student or grantee can also enter on line A of the worksheet, the part of the grant or scholarship that is tax exempt under the statute or a tax treaty.

Lines A through D of the Personal Allowances Worksheet are added and the total should be shown on line H.

The payer of the grant or scholarship must review the Form W-4 to make sure all the necessary and required information is provided. If the withholding agent knows or has reason to know that the amounts shown on the Form W-4 may be false, the withholding agent must reject the Form W-4 and withhold at the appropriate statutory rate (14% or 30%). However, if the only incorrect information is that the student or grantee's stay in the United States has extended beyond 12 months, the withholding agent may withhold under these rules, but without a deduction for away-from-home expenses.

After receipt and acceptance of the Form W-4, the payer must withhold at the graduated rates in Publication 15 (Circular E) as if the grant or scholarship income were wages. The gross amount of the income is reduced by the total amount of exemptions and deductions on the Form W-4 and the withholding tax is figured on the rest.

When completing Form 1042-S for the student or grantee, enter the gross scholarship or fellowship grant in box 2, enter the withholding allowance amount from line H of the Personal Allowances Worksheet of Form W-4 in box 3, and show the net of these two amounts in box 4.

Pay for services rendered. Pay for services rendered as an employee by an alien who also is the recipient of a scholarship or fellowship grant usually is subject to graduated withholding according to the rules discussed later in Wages Paid to Employees--Graduated Withholding. This includes taxable amounts an individual who is a candidate for a degree receives for teaching, doing research, and carrying out other part-time employment required as a condition for receiving the scholarship or fellowship grant.

Grants given to students, trainees, or researchers which require the performance of personal services as a necessary condition for disbursing the grant do not qualify as scholarship or fellowship grants. Instead, they are compensation for personal services considered to be wages. It does not matter what term is used to describe the grant (for example, stipend, scholarship, fellowship, etc.).

Withholding agents who pay grants that are in fact wages must report such grants on Forms 941 and W-2 and withhold income tax on them at the graduated rates. Withholding agents may not allow tax treaty exemptions which apply to scholarships and fellowships to be applied to grants which are really wages. It is the responsibility of the withholding agent to determine whether a grant is "wages" or a "scholarship or fellowship," and to report and withhold on the grant accordingly. An alien student, trainee, or researcher may not claim a scholarship or fellowship treaty exemption against income which has been reported to him on Form W-2 as wages.

Amounts of per diem for subsistence paid by the U.S. Government. Amounts of per diem for subsistence paid by the U.S. Government (directly or by contract) to a nonresident alien engaged in a training program in the United States under the Mutual Security Act of 1954 (grants funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development) are not subject to 14% or 30% withholding. This is true even though the alien may be subject to income tax on those amounts.

Tax treaties. The student articles of many of the income tax treaties contain exemptions from U.S. taxation for scholarships and fellowships. Although usually found in the student articles of the tax treaties, many of these exemptions also apply to research grants received by researchers who are not students. Table 2 of this publication shows a line entry entitled "Scholarship or fellowship grant" for those treaties which have such an exemption. The treaty provision usually exempts the entire scholarship or fellowship amount, regardless of whether the grant is a "qualified scholarship" under U.S. law.

An alien student, trainee, or researcher may claim a treaty exemption for a scholarship or fellowship by submitting Form W-8BEN to the payer of the grant. However, a scholarship or fellowship recipient who receives both wages and a scholarship or fellowship from the same institution, and who wishes to claim treaty exemptions on both kinds of income, may utilize Form 8233 for claiming both treaty exemptions.

For payments made on or after January 1, 2001, the scholarship or fellowship recipient who is claiming a treaty exemption must provide you with his or her TIN on Form W-8BEN or on Form 8233 or you cannot allow the treaty exemption. A Form W-7, showing that a TIN has been applied for, can be filed with a Form 8233.

Nonresident alien who becomes a resident alien. Generally, only a nonresident alien individual may use the terms of a tax treaty to reduce or eliminate U.S. tax on income from a scholarship or fellowship grant. A student (including a trainee or business apprentice) or researcher who has become a resident alien for U.S. tax purposes may be able to claim benefits under a tax treaty that apply to reduce or eliminate U.S. tax on scholarship or fellowship grant income. Most treaties contain a provision known as a "saving clause." Exceptions specified in the saving clause may permit an exemption from tax to continue for scholarship or fellowship grant income even after the recipient has otherwise become a U.S. resident alien for tax purposes. In this situation, the individual must give you a Form W-9 and an attachment that includes all the following information.

1. The individual's name.
2. The individual's U.S. identification number.
3. A statement that the individual is a resident alien under:
   1. The green card test,
   2. The substantial presence test, or
   3. The residency article of a tax treaty.

4. The tax treaty under which the individual is claiming a benefit.
5. The article number of the tax treaty under which the individual is claiming a benefit, and a description of the article.
6. A statement that the individual is relying upon an exception to the saving clause of the tax treaty to claim the benefit.

Example. Article 20 of the U.S.--China income tax treaty allows an exemption from tax for scholarship income received by a Chinese student temporarily present in the United States. Under the Internal Revenue Code, a student may become a resident alien for tax purposes if his or her stay in the United States exceeds 5 calendar years. However, the treaty allows the provisions of Article 20 to continue to apply even after the Chinese student becomes a resident alien of the United States.

Other Grants, Prizes, and Awards

Other grants, prizes, and awards made by grantors which reside in the United States are treated as income from sources within the United States. Those made for activities conducted outside the United States or by grantors which reside outside the United States are treated as income from foreign sources. These provisions do not apply to salaries or other pay for services.

Grant. The purpose of a grant must be to achieve a specific objective, produce a report or other similar product, or improve or enhance a literary, artistic, musical, scientific, teaching, or other similar capacity, skill, or talent of the grantee. A grant must also be an amount which does not qualify as a scholarship or fellowship. The grantor must not intend the amount to be given to the grantee for the purpose of aiding the grantee to perform study, training, or research.

Prizes and awards. Prizes and awards are amounts received primarily in recognition of religious, charitable, scientific, educational, artistic, literary, or civic achievement, or are received as the result of entering a contest. A prize or award is taxable to the recipient unless all of the following conditions are met:

1. The recipient was selected without any action on his or her part to enter the contest or proceeding,
2. The recipient is not required to render substantial future services as a condition to receive the prize or award, and
3. The prize or award is transferred by the payer to a governmental unit or tax-exempt charitable organization as designated by the recipient.

Targeted grants and achievement awards. Targeted grants and achievement awards received by nonresident aliens for activities conducted outside the United States are treated as income from foreign sources. Targeted grants and achievement awards are issued by exempt organizations or by the United States (or one of its instruments or agencies), a state (or a political subdivision of a state), or the District of Columbia for an activity (or past activity in the case of an achievement award) undertaken in the public interest.

Pay for Personal Services Performed

This section explains the rules for withholding tax from pay for personal services. You generally must withhold tax at the 30% rate on compensation you pay to a nonresident alien individual for labor or personal services performed in the United States, unless that pay is specifically exempted from withholding or subject to graduated withholding. This rule applies regardless of your place of residence, the place where the contract for service was made, or the place of payment.

Illegal aliens. Foreign agricultural workers or other foreign workers who are illegal aliens are subject to U.S. taxes in spite of their illegal status. U.S. employers or payers who hire illegal aliens may be subject to various fines, penalties, and sanctions imposed by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). If such employers or payers choose to hire illegal aliens, the payments made to those aliens are subject to the same tax withholding and reporting obligations that apply to other classes of aliens. Illegal aliens who are nonresident aliens and who receive income from performing independent personal services are subject to 30% withholding unless exempt under some provision of law or a tax treaty. Illegal aliens who are resident aliens and who receive income from performing dependent personal services are subject to the same reporting and withholding obligations which apply to U.S. citizens who receive the same kind of income.

Form 8233, Exemption From Withholding on Compensation for Independent (and Certain Dependent) Personal Services of a Nonresident Alien Individual, is used by a nonresident alien individual to claim exemption from withholding on some or all compensation paid for:

1. Independent personal services (self-employment), or
2. Dependent personal services provided by a student, professor/teacher, researcher, or business/vocational trainee.

Persons providing independent personal services should use Form 8233 to claim a tax treaty exemption and/or the personal exemption amount. Persons providing dependent personal services should use Form 8233 to claim a tax treaty exemption for any part of their compensation that is exempt from withholding. A student or teacher receiving scholarship income and compensation for personal services from the same withholding agent may use the form to claim treaty benefits on the scholarship income.

Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate, is used by a person providing dependent personal services to claim the personal exemption amount. Nonresident alien individuals are subject to special instructions for completing the Form W-4. See the discussion under Wages Paid to Employees--Graduated Withholding, later.

Pay for independent personal services (Income Code 16). Independent personal services (a term commonly used in tax treaties) are personal services performed by an independent nonresident alien contractor as contrasted with those performed by an employee. This category of pay includes payments for professional services, such as fees of an attorney, physician, or accountant made directly to the person performing the services. It also includes honoraria paid by colleges and universities to visiting teachers, lecturers, and researchers.

Pay for independent personal services is subject to NRA withholding and reporting as follows.

30% rate. You must withhold at the statutory rate of 30% on all payments unless the alien enters into a withholding agreement or receives a final payment exemption (discussed later).

The amount of pay subject to 30% withholding may be reduced by the personal exemption amount ($2,900 for 2001) if the alien gives you a properly completed Form 8233. A nonresident alien is allowed only one personal exemption. However, individuals who are residents of Canada, Mexico, Japan, or South Korea, or are U.S. nationals (defined below) are generally entitled to the same exemptions as U.S. citizens.

Students and business apprentices covered by Article 21(2) of the United States--India Income Tax Treaty may claim an additional exemption for their spouse if a joint return is not filed, and if the spouse has no gross income for the year and is not the dependent of another taxpayer. They may also claim additional exemptions for children who reside with them in the United States at any time during the year, but only if the dependents are U.S. citizens or nationals or residents of the United States, Canada, or Mexico. They may not claim exemptions for dependents who are admitted to the United States on "F-2," "J-2," or "M-2" visas unless such dependents have become resident aliens.

Each allowable exemption must be prorated according to the number of days during the tax year during which the alien performs services in the United States. Multiply the number of these days by $7.95 (the daily exemption amount for 2001) to figure the prorated amount. Residents of Japan and South Korea must make a further proration of their additional exemptions based on their gross income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. The rules for this proration are discussed in detail in Publication 519.

A U.S. national is an individual who owes his sole allegiance to the United States, but who is not a U.S. citizen. Such an individual is usually a citizen of American Samoa, or a Northern Mariana Islander who chose to become a U.S. national.

Example 1. Hans Schmidt, who is a resident of Germany, worked (not as an employee) for a U.S. company in the United States for 100 days during 2001 before returning to his country. He earned $6,000 for the services performed (not considered wages) in the United States. Hans is married and has three dependent children. His wife did not work and had no income subject to U.S. tax. Hans is allowed $795 as a deduction against the payments for his personal services performed in the United States (100 days x $7.95). Tax must be withheld at 30% on the rest of his earnings, $5,205 ($6,000 - $795). A tax of $1,561.50 must be withheld from Hans' earnings (30% of $5,205).

Example 2. If, in Example 1, Hans were a resident of Canada or Mexico or a national of the United States, working under contract with a domestic corporation, $3,975 (100 days x $7.95 per day for each of five exemptions) would be allowed against the payments for personal services performed in the United States. Tax must be withheld at 30% on $2,025 ($6,000 - $3,975), the rest of his earnings. A tax of $607.50 must be withheld from Hans' earnings (30% of $2,025).

Withholding agreements. Pay for personal services of a nonresident alien who is engaged during the tax year in the conduct of a U.S. trade or business may be wholly or partially exempted from withholding at the statutory rate if an agreement has been reached between the Commissioner or his delegate and the alien individual as to the amount of withholding required. This agreement will be effective for payments covered by the agreement that are made after the agreement is executed by all parties. The alien individual must agree to timely file an income tax return for the current tax year.

Final payment exemption. The final payment of compensation for independent personal services may be wholly or partially exempt from withholding at the statutory rate. This exemption does not apply to wages paid to an employee. The nonresident alien must have been engaged during the tax year in the conduct of a U.S. trade or business. This exemption is available only once during an alien individual's tax year. It applies to the last payment of compensation, other than wages, for personal services rendered in the United States that the individual expects to receive from any withholding agent during the tax year.

To obtain the final payment exemption, the nonresident alien, or the alien's agent, must file the forms and provide the information required by the Commissioner or his delegate. This information includes, but is not limited to, the following items.

1. A statement by each withholding agent from whom amounts of gross income effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business have been received by the alien individual during the tax year. It must show the amount of income paid and the amount of tax withheld. The withholding agent must sign each statement and include a declaration that it is made under penalties of perjury.
2. A statement by the withholding agent from whom the final payment of compensation for personal services will be received showing the amount of final payment and the amount that would be withheld if a final payment exemption is not granted. The withholding agent must sign the statement and include a declaration that it is made under penalties of perjury.
3. A statement by the individual that he or she does not intend to receive any other amounts of gross income effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business during the current tax year.
4. The amount of tax that has been withheld (or paid) under any other provision of the Code or regulations for any income effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business during the current tax year.
5. The amount of any outstanding tax liabilities, including any interest and penalties, from the current tax year or prior tax periods.
6. The provision of any income tax treaty under which a partial or complete exemption from withholding may be claimed, the country of the individual's residence, and a statement of sufficient facts to justify an exemption under that treaty.

The alien individual must give a statement, signed and verified by a declaration that it is made under the penalties of perjury, that all the information provided is true, and that to his or her knowledge no relevant information has been omitted.

If satisfied with the information provided, the Commissioner or his delegate will determine the amount of the alien individual's tentative income tax for the tax year on gross income effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business. Ordinary and necessary business expenses may be taken into account if proved to the satisfaction of the Commissioner or his delegate.

The Commissioner or his delegate will provide the individual with a letter to you, the withholding agent, stating the amount of the final payment of compensation for personal services that is exempt from withholding, and the amount that would otherwise be withheld that may be paid to the individual due to the exemption. The amount of pay exempt from withholding cannot be more than $5,000. The alien individual must give two copies of the letter to you and must also attach a copy of the letter to his or her income tax return for the tax year for which the exemption is effective.

Travel expenses. If you pay or reimburse the travel expenses of a nonresident alien, the payments are not reportable to the IRS and are not subject to NRA withholding if the payments are made under an accountable plan as described in section 1.62-2 of the regulations. This treatment applies only to that portion of a payment that represents the payment of travel and lodging expenses and not to that portion that represents compensation for his independent personal services.

Tax treaties. Under most tax treaties, pay for independent personal services performed in the United States is exempt from U.S. income tax only if the independent nonresident alien contractor performs the services during a period of temporary presence in the United States (usually not more than 183 days) and is a resident of the treaty country. Thus, the pay is not exempt from U.S. tax if the contractor is a U.S. resident.

Independent nonresident alien contractors use Form 8233 to claim an exemption from withholding under a tax treaty. For more information, see Form 8233, earlier.

Often, you must withhold under the statutory rules on payments made to a treaty country resident contractor for services performed in the United States. This is because the factors on which the treaty exemption is based may not be determinable until after the close of the tax year. The treaty country resident contractor must then file a U.S. income tax return (Form 1040NR or Form 1040NR-EZ) to recover any overwithheld tax and to provide the IRS with proof that he or she is entitled to a treaty exemption.

Wages Paid to Employees-- Graduated Withholding

Salaries, wages, or any other pay for personal services (referred to collectively as wages) paid to nonresident alien employees are subject to graduated withholding in the same way as for U.S. citizens and residents if the wages are effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business. Any wages paid to a nonresident alien individual for personal services performed as an employee for an employer are generally exempt from the 30% withholding if the wages are subject to graduated withholding.

Also exempt from the 30% withholding is pay for personal services performed as an employee for an employer if it is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business and is specifically excepted from wages. See Pay that is not wages, later.

Employer-employee relationship. For pay for personal services to qualify as wages, there must be an employer-employee relationship.

Under the common law rules, every individual who performs services subject to the will and control of an employer, both as to what shall be done and how it shall be done, is an employee. It does not matter that the employer allows the employee considerable discretion and freedom of action, as long as the employer has the legal right to control both the method and the result of the services.

If an employer-employee relationship exists, it does not matter what the parties call the relationship. It does not matter if the employee is called a partner, coadventurer, agent, or independent contractor. It does not matter how the pay is measured, how the individual is paid, or what the payments are called. Nor does it matter whether the individual works full- or part-time.

The existence of the employer-employee relationship under the usual common law rules will be determined, in doubtful cases, by an examination of the facts of each case.

Employee. An employee generally includes any individual who performs services if the relationship between the individual and the person for whom the services are performed is the legal relationship of employer and employee. This includes an individual who receives a supplemental unemployment pay benefit that is treated as wages.

No distinction is made between classes of employees. Superintendents, managers, and other supervisory personnel are employees. Generally, an officer of a corporation is an employee, but a director acting in this capacity is not. An officer who does not perform any services, or only minor services, and neither receives nor is entitled to receive any pay is not considered an employee.

Employer. An employer is any person or organization for whom an individual performs or has performed any service, of whatever nature, as an employee. The term "employer" includes not only individuals and organizations in a trade or business, but organizations exempt from income tax, such as religious and charitable organizations, educational institutions, clubs, social organizations, and societies. It also includes the governments of the United States, the states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, as well as their agencies, instrumentalities, and political subdivisions.

Two special definitions of employer that may have considerable application to nonresident aliens are:

1. An employer includes any person paying wages for a nonresident alien individual, foreign partnership, or foreign corporation not engaged in trade or business in the United States (including Puerto Rico as if a part of the United States), and
2. An employer includes any person who has control of the payment of wages for services that are performed for another person who does not have that control.

For example, if a trust pays wages, such as certain types of pensions, supplemental unemployment pay, or retired pay, and the person for whom the services were performed has no legal control over the payment of the wages, the trust is the employer.

These special definitions have no effect upon the relationship between an alien employee and the actual employer when determining whether the pay received is considered to be wages.

If an employer-employee relationship exists, the employer ordinarily must withhold the income tax from wage payments by using the percentage method or wage-bracket tables as shown in Publication 15, (Circular E).

Pay that is not wages. Employment for which the pay is not considered wages (for graduated income tax withholding) includes, but is not limited to, the following items.

1. Agricultural labor if the total cash wages paid to an individual worker during the year is less than $150 and the total paid to all workers during the year is less than $2,500. But even if the total amount paid to all workers is $2,500 or more, wages of less than $150 per year paid to a worker are not subject to income tax withholding if certain conditions are met. For these conditions, see Publication 51 (Circular A), Agricultural Employer's Tax Guide.
2. Services of a household nature performed in or about the private home of an employer, or in or about the clubrooms or house of a local college club, fraternity, or sorority. A local college club, fraternity, or sorority does not include an alumni club or chapter and may not be operated primarily as a business enterprise. Examples of these services include those performed as a cook, janitor, housekeeper, governess, gardener, or houseparent.
3. Certain services performed outside the course of the employer's trade or business for which cash payment is less than $50 for the calendar quarter.
4. Services performed as an employee of a foreign government, without regard to citizenship, residence, or where services are performed. These include services performed by ambassadors, other diplomatic and consular officers and employees, and nondiplomatic representatives. They do not include services for a U.S. or Puerto Rican corporation owned by a foreign government.
5. Services performed within or outside the United States by an employee or officer (regardless of citizenship or residence) of an international organization designated under the International Organizations Immunities Act.
6. Services performed by a duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed minister of a church, but only if performed in the exercise of the ministry and not as an employee of the United States, a U.S. possession, or a foreign government, or any of their political subdivisions. These also include services performed by a member of a religious order in carrying out duties required by that order.
7. Tips paid to an employee if they are paid in any medium other than cash or, if in cash, they amount to less than $20 in any calendar month in the course of employment.

Services performed outside the United States. Compensation paid to a nonresident alien (other than a resident of Puerto Rico, discussed later) for services performed outside the United States is not considered wages and is not subject to graduated withholding or 30% withholding.

See Notice 2001-4 under Important Changes, earlier.

Withholding exemptions. The amount of wages subject to graduated withholding may be reduced by the personal exemption amount ($2,900 for 2001). The personal exemptions allowed in figuring wages subject to graduated withholding are the same as those discussed earlier under Pay for independent personal services, except that an employee must claim them on Form W-4.

Special instructions for Form W-4. A nonresident alien subject to wage withholding must give the employer a completed Form W-4 to enable the employer to figure how much income tax to withhold. In completing the form, nonresident aliens should use the following instructions instead of the instructions on Form W-4.

1. Check only "Single" marital status on line 3 (regardless of actual marital status).
2. Claim only one withholding allowance on line 5, unless a resident of Canada, Mexico, Japan, or South Korea, or a U.S. national.
3. Request that additional tax of $7.60 per week be withheld on line 6. If the pay period is two weeks, request that $15.30 be withheld instead. For other payroll periods, see the amounts in Publication 15 (Circular E).
4. Do not claim "Exempt" withholding status on line 7.

These instructions restrict a nonresident alien's filing status, generally limit the number of allowable exemptions, and require additional tax to be withheld because a nonresident alien cannot claim the standard deduction.

Students and business apprentices from India. Students and business apprentices who are eligible for the benefits of Article 21(2) of the United States--India Income Tax Treaty can claim additional withholding allowances on line 5 for the standard deduction and their spouses. In addition, they can claim an additional withholding allowance for each dependent who has become a resident alien. Furthermore, they do not have to request additional withholding on line 6 of Form W-4.

Reporting requirements for wages and withheld taxes paid to nonresident aliens. The employer must report the amount of wages and deposits of withheld income and social security and Medicare taxes by filing Form 941. Household employers should see Publication 926, Household Employer's Tax Guide, for information on reporting and paying employment taxes on wages paid to household employees.

Form W-2. The employer must also report on Form W-2 the wages subject to NRA withholding and the withheld taxes. You must give copies of this form to the employee. Wages exempt from tax under a tax treaty are reported on Form 1042-S and not in block 1 of Form W-2. Wages exempt under a tax treaty may still be reported in the state and local wages blocks of Form W-2 if such wages are subject to state and local taxation. For more information, see the instructions for these forms.

Trust fund recovery penalty. If you are a person responsible for withholding, accounting for, or depositing or paying employment taxes, and willfully fail to do so, you can be held liable for a penalty equal to the full amount of the unpaid trust fund tax, plus interest. A responsible person for this purpose can be an officer of a corporation, a partner, a sole proprietor, or an employee of any form of business. A trustee or agent with authority over the funds of the business can also be held responsible for the penalty.

"Willfully" in this case means voluntarily, consciously, and intentionally. You are acting willfully if you pay other expenses of the business instead of the withholding taxes.

Federal unemployment tax (FUTA). The employer must pay FUTA and file Form 940 or 940-EZ, Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return. Only the employer pays this tax; it is not deducted from the employee's wages. In certain cases, wages paid to students and railroad and agricultural workers are exempt from FUTA tax. For more information, see the instructions for these forms.

Wages paid to nonresident alien students, teachers, researchers, trainees, and other nonresident aliens in "F-1," "J-1," "M-1," or "Q" nonimmigrant status are not subject to FUTA tax.

Pay for dependent personal services (Income Code 17). Dependent personal services are personal services performed in the United States by a nonresident alien individual as an employee rather than as an independent contractor.

Pay for dependent personal services is subject to NRA withholding and reporting as follows.

Graduated rates. Ordinarily, you must withhold on pay (wages) for dependent personal services using graduated rates. The nonresident alien must complete Form W-4 as discussed earlier under Special instructions for Form W-4, and you must report wages and income tax withheld on Form W-2. However, the nonresident alien may be exempt from tax or withholding of tax if any of the following four exceptions applies.

Exception 1. Compensation paid for labor or personal services performed in the United States is deemed not to be income from sources within the United States and is exempt from U.S. income tax if:

1. The labor or services are performed by a nonresident alien temporarily present in the United States for a period or periods not exceeding a total of 90 days during the tax year,
2. The total pay does not exceed $3,000, and
3. The pay is for labor or services performed as an employee of, or under a contract with:
   1. A nonresident alien individual, foreign partnership, or foreign corporation that is not engaged in a trade or business in the United States, or
   2. A U.S. citizen or resident alien individual, a domestic partnership, or a domestic corporation, if the labor or services are performed for an office or place of business maintained in a foreign country or in a possession of the United States by this individual, partnership, or corporation.

If the total pay is more than $3,000, the entire amount is income from sources in the United States and is subject to U.S. tax.

Also, compensation paid for labor or services performed in the United States by a nonresident alien in connection with the individual's temporary presence in the United States as a regular member of the crew of a foreign vessel engaged in transportation between the United States and a foreign country or a U.S. possession is not income from sources within the United States. However, this income will be treated as U.S. source income for purposes of the rules relating to pension, profit-sharing, and stock bonus plans, including the minimum participation rules. Amounts includible in the employee's income for the cost of group-term life insurance coverage provided by the employer and amounts received under an employer's accident and health plan will also be treated as U.S. source income.

Exception 2. Compensation paid by a foreign employer to a nonresident alien for the period the alien is temporarily present in the United States on an "F,""J," or "Q" visa is exempt from U.S. income tax. For this purpose, a foreign employer means:

1. A nonresident alien individual, foreign partnership, or foreign corporation, or
2. An office or place of business maintained in a foreign country or in a U.S. possession by a domestic corporation, a domestic partnership, or an individual U.S. citizen or resident.

You can exempt the payment from withholding if you can reliably associate the payment with a Form W-8BEN containing the taxpayer identification number of the payee.

Exception 3. Compensation paid to certain residents of Canada or Mexico who enter or leave the United States at frequent intervals is not subject to graduated income tax withholding or 30% withholding. These aliens must either:

1. Perform duties in transportation services (such as a railroad, bus, truck, ferry, steamboat, aircraft, or other type) between the United States and Canada or Mexico, or
2. Perform duties connected with an international project, relating to the construction, maintenance, or operation of a waterway, viaduct, dam, or bridge crossed by, or crossing, the boundary between the United States and Canada or the boundary between the United States and Mexico.

To qualify for the exemption from withholding during a tax year, a Canadian or Mexican resident must give the employer a statement with name, address, and identification number, and certifying that the resident:

1. Is not a U.S. citizen or resident,
2. Is a resident of Canada or Mexico, whichever applies, and
3. Expects to perform the described duties during the tax year in question.

The statement can be in any form, but it must be dated and signed by the employee, and must include a written declaration that it is made under penalties of perjury.

Canadian and Mexican residents employed entirely within the United States. Neither the transportation service exception nor the international projects exception applies to the pay of a resident of Canada or Mexico who is employed entirely within the United States and who commutes from a home in Canada or Mexico to work in the United States. If an individual works at a fixed point or points in the United States (such as a factory, store, office, or designated area or areas), the wages for services performed as an employee for an employer are subject to graduated withholding.

Exception 4. Compensation paid for services performed in Puerto Rico by a nonresident alien who is a resident of Puerto Rico for an employer (other than the United States or one of its agencies) is not subject to NRA withholding of U.S. federal income tax.

Compensation paid for either of the following types of services is not subject to wage withholding if the alien does not expect to be a resident of Puerto Rico during the entire tax year.

1. Services performed outside the United States but not in Puerto Rico by a nonresident alien who is a resident of Puerto Rico for an employer other than the United States or one of its agencies, or
2. Services performed outside the United States by a nonresident alien who is a resident of Puerto Rico, as an employee of the United States or any of its agencies.

To qualify for the exemption from withholding for any tax year, the employee must give the employer a statement showing the employee's name and address and certifying that the employee:

1. Is not a citizen or resident of the United States, and
2. Is a resident of Puerto Rico who does not expect to be a resident for that entire tax year.

The statement must be signed and dated by the employee and contain a written declaration that it is made under penalties of perjury.

Tax treaties. Pay for dependent personal services under some tax treaties is exempt from U.S. income tax only if both the employer and the employee are treaty country residents and the nonresident alien employee performs the services while temporarily living in the United States (usually for not more than 183 days). Other treaties provide for exemption from U.S. tax on pay for dependent personal services if the employer is any foreign resident and the employee is a treaty country resident, and the nonresident alien employee performs the services while temporarily in the United States.

Pay for teaching (Income Code 18). This category is given a separate income code number because most tax treaties provide at least partial exemption from withholding and from U.S. tax. Pay for teaching means payments to a nonresident alien professor, teacher, or researcher by a U.S. university or other accredited educational institution for teaching or research work at the institution.

Graduated rates. Graduated withholding of income tax usually applies to all wages, salaries, and other pay for teaching and research paid by a U.S. educational institution during the period the nonresident alien is teaching or performing research at the institution.

A nonresident alien temporarily in the United States as a nonimmigrant on an "F-1,""J-1,""M-1," or "Q-1" visa is not subject to social security and Medicare taxes on pay for services performed to carry out the purpose for which the alien was admitted to the United States. Social security and Medicare taxes should not be withheld or paid on this amount. However, if an alien is considered a resident alien, as discussed earlier, that pay is subject to social security and Medicare taxes even though the alien is still in one of the nonimmigrant statuses mentioned above. This rule also applies to FUTA (unemployment) taxes paid by the employer. Alien teachers, researchers, and other alien employees temporarily present in the United States in "H-1a," "H-1b," "L-1," "O-1," "O-2," "P-1," "P-2," "P-3," "TC," "TN," refugee, or asylee immigration status are fully liable for social security and Medicare taxes unless an exemption applies from one of the Totalization Agreements in force between the United States and several other nations.

The Social Security Administration publishes the complete texts and explanatory pamphlets of the Totalization Agreements which are available by calling 1-800-772-1213 or by visiting the Social Security Administration web site at: www.ssa.gov/international/inter_intro.html.

Tax treaties. Under most tax treaties, pay for teaching or research is exempt from U.S. income tax and from withholding for a specified period of time when paid to a professor, teacher, or researcher, who was a resident of the treaty country immediately prior to his entry into the United States and who is not a citizen of the United States (see Table 2). The U.S. educational institution paying the compensation must report the amount of compensation paid each year which is exempt from tax under a tax treaty on Form 1042-S. The employer should also report the compensation in the state and local wages blocks of Form W-2 if the wages are subject to state and local taxes, or in the social security and Medicare wages blocks of Form W-2 if the wages are subject to social security and Medicare taxes.

Claimants must give you either Form W-8BEN or 8233, as applicable, to obtain these treaty benefits.

Pay during studying and training (Income Code 19). This category refers to pay (as contrasted with remittances, allowances, or other forms of scholarships or fellowship grants--see Scholarships and Fellowship Grants, earlier) for personal services performed while a nonresident alien is temporarily in the United States as a student, trainee, or apprentice, or while acquiring technical, professional, or business experience.

Graduated rates. Wages, salaries, or other compensation paid to a nonresident alien student, trainee, or apprentice for labor or personal services performed in the United States are subject to graduated withholding.

A nonresident alien temporarily in the United States as a nonimmigrant on an "F-1,""J-1,""M-1," or "Q-1" visa is not subject to social security and Medicare taxes on pay for services performed to carry out the purpose for which the alien was admitted to the United States. Social security and Medicare taxes should not be withheld or paid on this amount. This exemption from social security and Medicare taxes also applies to employment performed under Curricular Practical Training and Optional Practical Training, on or off campus, by foreign students in "F-1," "J-1," "M-1" or "Q" nonimmigrant status as long as the employment is authorized by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. However, if an alien is considered a resident alien, as discussed earlier, that pay is subject to social security and Medicare taxes even though the alien is still in one of the nonimmigrant statuses mentioned above. This rule also applies to FUTA (unemployment) taxes paid by the employer.

Any student who is enrolled and regularly attending classes at a school may be exempt from social security, Medicare, and FUTA taxes on pay for services performed for that school. See Publication 15 (Circular E).

Tax treaties. Many tax treaties provide an exemption from U.S. income tax and from withholding on compensation paid to nonresident alien students or trainees during training in the United States for a limited period. In addition, some treaties provide an exemption from tax and withholding for compensation paid by the U.S. Government or its contractor to a nonresident alien student or trainee who is temporarily present in the United States as a participant in a program sponsored by the U.S. Government (see Table 2). However, a withholding agent who is a U.S. resident, a U.S. Government agency, or its contractor must report the amount of pay on Form 1042-S.

Claimants must give you either Form W-8BEN or 8233, as applicable, to obtain these treaty benefits.

Artists and Athletes

Because many tax treaties contain a provision for pay to artists and athletes, a separate category--Earnings as an artist or athlete (Income Code 20)--is assigned these payments for withholding purposes. This category includes payments made for performances by public entertainers (such as theater, motion picture, radio, or television artists, or musicians) or athletes.

Withholding rate. You must withhold tax at a 30% rate on payments to artists and athletes for services performed as independent contractors. See Pay for independent personal services, earlier, for more information. You must withhold tax at graduated rates on payments to artists and athletes for services performed as employees. See Pay for dependent personal services, earlier, for more information. However, in any situation where the nature of the relationship between the payor of the income and the artist or athlete is not ascertainable, you should withhold at a rate of 30%.

Central withholding agreements. Nonresident alien entertainers or athletes performing or participating in athletic events in the United States may be able to enter into a withholding agreement with the IRS for reduced withholding provided certain requirements are met. Under no circumstances will a withholding agreement reduce taxes withheld to less than the alien's anticipated income tax liability.

Nonresident alien entertainers or athletes requesting a central withholding agreement must provide the following information.

1. A list of the names and addresses of the nonresident aliens to be covered by the agreement.
2. Copies of all contracts that the aliens or their agents and representatives have entered into regarding the time period and performances or events to be covered by the agreement including, but not limited to, contracts with:
   1. Employers, agents, and promoters,
   2. Exhibition halls,
   3. Persons providing lodging, transportation, and advertising, and
   4. Accompanying personnel, such as band members or trainers.

3. An itinerary of dates and locations of all events or performances scheduled during the period to be covered by the agreement.
4. A proposed budget containing itemized estimates of all gross income and expenses for the period covered by the agreement, including any documents to support these estimates.
5. The name, address, and telephone number of the person the IRS should contact if additional information or documentation is needed.
6. The name, address, and employer identification number of the agent or agents who will be the central withholding agents for the aliens and who will enter into a contract with the IRS. A central withholding agent ordinarily receives contract payments, keeps books of account for the aliens covered by the agreement, and pays expenses (including tax liabilities) for the aliens during the period covered by the agreement.

When the IRS approves the estimated budget and the designated central withholding agents, the Associate Chief Counsel (International) will prepare a withholding agreement. The agreement must be signed by each withholding agent, each nonresident alien covered by the agreement, and the Commissioner or his delegate.

Generally, each withholding agent must agree to withhold income tax from payments made to the nonresident alien; to pay over the withheld tax to the IRS on the dates and in the amounts specified in the agreement; and to have the IRS apply the payments of withheld tax to the withholding agent's Form 1042 account. Each withholding agent will have to file Form 1042 and Form 1042-S for each tax year in which income is paid to a nonresident alien covered by the withholding agreement. The IRS will credit the withheld tax payments, posted to the withholding agent's Form 1042 account, in accordance with the Form 1042-S. Each nonresident alien covered by the withholding agreement must agree to file Form 1040NR or, if he or she qualifies, Form 1040NR-EZ.

A request for a central withholding agreement should be sent to the following address at least 90 days before the agreement is to take effect: Compliance Area Director, Area 15 950 L'Enfant Plaza South, SW S:C:15 Washington, DC 20024.

Tax treaties. Under many tax treaties, compensation paid to public entertainers or athletes for services performed in the United States is exempt from U.S. income tax only when the services are performed during a limited period of temporary presence in the United States and the pay is within limits provided in the tax treaty that applies (see Table 2).

Independent contractors may claim an exemption from withholding under a tax treaty by filing Form 8233. Employees may claim an exemption from withholding under a tax treaty by filing Form 8233 (if the employee is a student or teacher) or a Form W-8BEN with their employers.

Often, however, you will have to withhold at the statutory rates on the total payments to the entertainer or athlete. This is because the exemption may be based upon factors that cannot be determined until after the end of the year.

Other Income

For the discussion of Income Codes 24, 25, and 26, see U.S. Real Property Interest, later. For the discussion of Income Code 27, see Publicly Traded Partnerships, later.

Gambling winnings (Income Code 28). Use this code to report gambling winnings and any tax withheld on those winnings. In general, nonresident aliens are subject to NRA withholding at 30% on the gross proceeds from gambling won in the United States if that income is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business and is not exempted by treaty. The tax withheld and winnings are reportable on Forms 1042 and 1042-S. No tax is imposed on nonbusiness gambling income of a nonresident alien playing blackjack, baccarat, craps, roulette, or big-6 wheel in the United States. A Form W-8BEN is not required to obtain the exemption from withholding, but a Form W-8BEN may be required for purposes of Form 1099 reporting and backup withholding. Gambling income that is not subject to NRA withholding is not subject to reporting on Form 1042-S.

Nonresident aliens are taxed at graduated rates on gambling income won in the U.S. that is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business.

Tax treaties. Gambling income won in the United States by residents (as defined by treaty) of the following foreign countries is not taxable by the United States: Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Russian Federation, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.

Claimants must give you a Form W-8BEN (with a TIN) to claim treaty benefits on gambling income, from other than blackjack, baccarat, craps, roulette, or big-6 wheel, that is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business.

Transportation income. U.S. source gross transportation income is generally not subject to NRA withholding.

Transportation income is income from the use of a vessel or aircraft, whether owned, hired, or leased, or from the performance of services directly related to the use of a vessel or aircraft. U.S. source gross transportation income includes 50% of all transportation income from transportation that either begins or ends in the United States.

For personal service income other than income derived from, or in connection with, a vessel, the use must be between the United States and a U.S. possession. The recipient of U.S. source gross transportation income must pay tax at the rate of 4% unless the income is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business. However, the income is not subject to NRA withholding. If the income is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, it is taxed on a net basis at a graduated rate of tax.

Other income (Income Code 50). Use this category to report U.S. source FDAP income that is not reportable under any of the other income categories. Examples of income that may be reportable under this category are commissions, insurance proceeds, patronage distributions, prizes, and racing purses.

As discussed earlier under Income Subject to NRA Withholding, every kind of FDAP income from U.S. sources that is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business is subject to NRA withholding unless the income is specifically exempt under the Code or a tax treaty. You generally must withhold at the 30% rate on this income.

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