what is a w 8ben 
form w 8ben is submitted by foreign individuals who receive income in the u s the form establishes that the person is a foreign individual and owner of said business the w 8ben is referred to as the certificate of foreign status 16who needs to fill out form w 8ben form w 8ben is used by foreign individuals who receive income from sources in the u s only non u s persons file form w 8ben not u s persons 16