Generally, U.S. payers of income other than wages, such as dividends and royalties, are required to withhold tax at a flat 30% (or lower treaty) rate on nonwage income paid to nonresident aliens. If you are a U.S. citizen or resident and this tax is withheld in error from payments to you because you have a foreign address, you should notify the payer of the income to stop the withholding. Use Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification, to notify the payer.

You can claim the tax withheld in error as a withholding credit on your tax return if the amount is not adjusted by the payer.

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