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sushil_verghese
Community Member

W-8BEN tax information for Indian citizens living in India?

Hi,

 

I'm new to Upwork. The site mentions that if you are not a US person you have to supply your W-8BEN tax information in order to get paid. Does this hold true for Indian citizens living in India (Bangalore)? If so, where will we get this information from and is there an Indian equivalent?

 

I have currently linked my bank account for direct deposit using my IFSC code. Will I still need to submit W-8BEN or just pay my taxes here in India?

 

Please help.

39 REPLIES 39
juvy_ann-palma
Community Member


@Sushil V wrote:

Hi,

 

I'm new to Upwork. The site mentions that if you are not a US person you have to supply your W-8BEN tax information in order to get paid. Does this hold true for Indian citizens living in India (Bangalore)? If so, where will we get this information from and is there an Indian equivalent?

 

I have currently linked my bank account for direct deposit using my IFSC code. Will I still need to submit W-8BEN or just pay my taxes here in India?

 

Please help.


That form is for non-US citizens, Sushil.  If you click on "Settings" under your profile picture, you'll be re-directed to a page where you get to provide your legal name and address (which must match with your bank account details so as to avoid future payment problems).

 

W-8BEN does not imply that you are a taxpayer.  Choosing to register as a taxpayer is the call for a few I think.

Hi Juvy Ann, 

 

Thank you for the quick reply.

 

I have added my legal name and address that correlates with my bank information. However, I am still required to choose between 'I am not a US person' and 'I am a US person'. Currently, I have selected 'I am not a US person' as I am an Indian citizen living in India. However, on selecting 'I am not a US person' I still see the message, 'Before withdrawing funds, all non-U.S. persons must provide their W-8BEN tax information.' Am I to disregard this? 

 

I only ask because when I do receive a payment I don't want this to become a complication in releasing funds. 

 

Could you please confirm that I will definitely not be required to submit W-8BEN tax information?

 

Thanks for the assistance.

 

Sushil

Hi Sushil, 


You just need to fill in the form with your legal name, and your address and submit the form. That should notify the system that you are not a US citizen. 

If you've tried doing this and the prompt still shows (after several tries), let me know so that we can check your profile.


~ Avery
Upwork

Hi Avery, 

 

Tried many times. It's still showing. PFA screenshot.

 

 

 

nagpalg
Community Member

From Where will I get this form?

 

Thanks!

VladimirG
Community Manager
Community Manager

Hi Gautam,

 

Please go to your account and select Settings > Tax Information and add your full, legal name and address in the appropriate fields on the page in order to complete the W8 form. You can read find more details here.

~ Vladimir
Upwork

It says Legal Business name on the form. 

Am I supposed to enter my name or do I have to have a business and enter that business's name. 

Hi Krunal,

 

You can enter your full legal name in that field as it appears in your passport or other official documents.

 

Thank you.

~ Aleksandar
Upwork

Hi. I am from India and I am not a taxpayer. Then, what shall I write in "Legal Name of Taxpayer" field in the W-8BEN form?

Hi Swarnima,

 

You can enter your full legal name in that field as it appears in your passport or other official documents along with your personal address. Feel free to check this help article for more information.

 

~ Nikola
Upwork

Okay. Thank you so much!
vin005
Community Member

Thanks Avery, 

 

But where do i fill this form the one on Upwork just asking for my legal name thats it or do i hire my local tax professional and submit it to him or my direct bank account which i have updated here?

ab27c710
Community Member

Hey,

I don't have W-8BEN tax information. I'm an Indian citizen and I have submitted all details correctly. On my tax information page, I can see under W-8BEN that before withdrawing funds, non US citizens must provide W8BEN tax information. Is this going to create a problem while I receive or withdraw payments?
Also, my verified name and the bank account holder's name is not the same since it's my parent's account. How do I sort this?

Hi Matrena,

 

On the W-8BEN form help article you will the detailed steps on how to fill out your form. Rest assured, you won't have any problems with withdrawing your funds. 

Regarding your payment method, could you please confirm if your name is listed as a beneficiary name? Thank you.

~ Goran
Upwork

Hey Goran,

thanks for replying. No i'm not listed as a beneficiary.

 

Hi Matrena,


In this case, you will not be able to complete the verification process for the payment method you`re referring to. 
In order to be able to add a payment method on your account, it will need to be issued on your name or your name to be listed as a beneficiary name. Thank you.

~ Goran
Upwork

Can I directly link my paypal in this scenario which is connected to the bank account.

 

Hi Matrena,

 

You can only add a payment method that is issued under your name or if your name is listed as a beneficiary name.
To learn more about our accepted payment methods and how to add one, click Here. Thank you.

~ Goran
Upwork

Hi Avery.

The w-8BEN section is asking me for a legal business name which I don't have
I am a single entity without any business name.
Pls tell me how might I go about that?

Thanks
Jivin

Hi Jivin,

 

You can enter your full legal name in that field as it appears in your passport or other official documents along with your personal address. You can check this help article for more information.

 

Thank you.

~ Aleksandar
Upwork
awesomeeo
Community Member

What to add in the business name if I am Freelance indiviual.

Hi Abhishek,

 

You can use your legal name.

 

Thanks!

~Andrea
Upwork


@Sushil V wrote:

 

 

I have added my legal name and address that correlates with my bank information. However, I am still required to choose between 'I am not a US person' and 'I am a US person'.


 

Hi Sushil,

 

The message you're seeing is displayed by design and I can confirm you completed your Tax Information details correctly.

~ Vladimir
Upwork

Thank you, Vladimir.

Hi Sushil,

I am new to the upwork community.
I am a Concept Artist from Mumbai looking to work as a freelancer for companies outside my country. 
Who do I need to give the W8BEN form to after I fill it?
I have found the form on google but don't know how to move forward once I fill it. 
Also do I need an EIN number ?
All these technicalities have me very confused and nobody in my community seems to know the answer. 
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Jonathan. 


Hi Jonathan,

 

You need to complete W-8BEN form on Upwork site. Please, go to your Settings> Tax Information to complete it.

 

Also, you may need to update your profile picture with an actual clear photo of you.

 

Thanks!

~ Valeria
Upwork

Hi, Valeria.

So it is basically that, once we provide the Legal name and address, upwork fills the W8BEN form on our behaf.
And as and when these details change we have to update them?

Also I have updated my profile picture to a passport photograph. Sorry my previous photo was a goofy look. 

Thanks you for the help.
Regards. 

Jonathan,

 

Yes, that's correct. You can let us know if you need to update the information on your W-8BEN form.

 

Thanks for updating your profile!

~ Valeria
Upwork
vin005
Community Member

hi Valdimir, 

 

Could also check my tax information is accepted i just filled and i am from india working from bangalore india...

BojanS
Community Manager
Community Manager

Hi Vinay,

 

On the W-8BEN form, you can use your own legal name as it appears in your passport or other official documents. I checked and saw that you submitted a name change request. Please, allow 48h for the process to be completed and our team will follow up with you regarding its outcome.

 

Thank you.

~ Bojan
Upwork
artee20
Community Member

HI Sushil,

 

I recently enrolled for Upwork. I am also facing the same issue. I am already full time working and tax payer. Can i use upwork for feelancing while working full time. Any idea. 

 

Thanks

Artee

g_vasilevski
Retired Team Member
Retired Team Member

Hi Artee, 

 

You just need to fill in the form with your legal name, and your address and submit the form. That should notify the system that you are not a US citizen. 

 

~ Goran
Upwork

i signedup as freelancer, i have few questions in my mind.

 

1) i want to know how the payment will get transfered after the work.. in the bank account directly? or how..Will there be any processing charges? Or is there any other mode of payment by upwork .

2) What is the tax liability on such amount in India.

3) Also, i am working as a full time employee in india.. Can i do freelancing side by side or not. pls clarify.

 

Thanks

g_vasilevski
Retired Team Member
Retired Team Member

Hi Artee, 

Check out our Get Paid Options and the fees for each withdrawal method you will use, you can use the one that best fits your needs. 
You should consult with a tax specialist in your country on how to report your earnings and pay the tax for your earnings from Upwork.

Yes you can work part time or full time, it`s up to you to fit the projects in your weekly schedule.

~ Goran
Upwork
pranavnath87
Community Member

Hi,

You can check out this article “ Everything to know about affiliate tax form ” for more information regarding tax form.

kamalhmehta
Community Member

Hi,

I have two profiles on Upwork (Freelancer, and Agency). However, Agency is not yet earning anything. But my freelancer profile has active projects. I want to withdraw my freelancer earnings into my agency account.

What should I do?

Thanks!

Hi Kamal,

 

Thank you for reaching out to us. I would like to clarify that by design you can't transfer your funds from your freelancer account to your agency account. 

 

~ Nikola
Upwork

Thanks! Nikola for your valuable guidance.

What if I update my company account PAN in my freelancer profile and withdraw in the Company bank account?

My sole purpose is to avoid individual taxes. And take my freelance income as company business.

Let me know.

Hi Kamal,

 

Thank you for your message. You can add your company bank account details to your freelancer account. Our team may reach out to request additional details to approve your company payment method. Once your payment method is approved, you can update your company PAN number as well. Feel free to message us if you need further assistance.

 

Thank you,

Pradeep

Upwork
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