# What is a W-8 form?

## **A W-8 form allows non-US individuals and businesses to confirm they are not US taxpayers.**
A W-8 form from the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows non-US [individuals](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw8ben.pdf) and [businesses](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw8bene.pdf) to confirm they are not a US taxpayer. There are different variations to the [W-8 form](https://www.irs.gov/prior-year-forms-and-instructions?find=W-8&items_per_page=200), each of which serves a different purpose. When you opt to complete a W-8 form via Stripe Express, a suggested form will be selected and pre-filled for you based on the information you have already provided about your business.
If you are not a [US taxpayer](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/classification-of-taxpayers-for-us-tax-purposes) and do not have a distinct US entity (with Employer Identification Number) for your business, a W-8 form may be the correct form choice for your business. We recommend confirming this choice with your tax advisor before finalizing your decision.
## **Why is this form being requested now?**
Stripe collects W-8 forms at the request of platforms that you work with. Your platform may request a W-8 for a number of reasons, including when a previously-submitted W-8 will soon expire or if there’s a change in information on your account.
Reach out to the platform that is requesting the W-8 form if you have additional questions about why this form is being requested.
*This article is neither legal advice nor tax advice. We recommend that you speak to your tax advisor with any questions or concerns around tax reporting.*