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# What is W-8/W-9 certification?

**Why do I have to complete this form?**

ElevenLabs is required by U.S. tax law to collect W-8/W-9 certification from anyone who receives payments from us. If you're a U.S. tax resident, you're required to submit W-9 certification. If you're not a U.S. tax resident, you're required to submit W-8 certification.

W-8/W-9 certification helps determine whether a reduced rate of tax withholding under a tax treaty applies to your payments.



**How do I complete the form?**

The form is processed via Stripe, which walks you through the steps. We also have a detailed guide available [here](/docs/help-center/product/monetization-business/payouts/how-do-i-complete-my-w-8-w-9-certification).



**Why are you withholding tax on payments to me?**

By default, the U.S. requires a 30% withholding tax on certain types of payments to non-U.S. persons — including royalties. However, if your country has a tax treaty with the U.S., you may be eligible for a reduced withholding rate, which you can claim on the W-8 form. If you do not claim a treaty benefit, the 30% default rate applies.

We will withhold U.S. taxes on earnings from U.S. customer usage only (not your entire payout). Earnings from non-U.S. customer usage will not be included in withholdings.

Your payout dashboard will now include a column showing tax withheld for each past payout.



**What will I receive from you?**

Each year, we will issue a **Form 1042-S** showing the total amount we paid you and any U.S. tax we withheld. This form is sent by **March 15 of the following calendar year** and can be used when filing a U.S. tax return, if needed.



**I already pay taxes in my own country why should I also pay U.S. tax?**

Because the income you're earning is **U.S.-sourced** (we are a U.S.-based company), we’re required to apply U.S. tax rules. You may still be able to **claim a credit or deduction** in your own country for the tax paid to the U.S., depending on your local laws.



**Can I skip the form if I don’t live in the U.S?**

No — if you're receiving payments from us and you're not a U.S. tax resident, we are still required to collect this form to properly apply U.S. tax rules. If we don’t receive a completed W-8, we may not be able to pay you or may have to apply maximum withholding (30%).



**How do I know if my country has a tax treaty with the U.S.?**

Stripe may also help you identify treaty eligibility as you complete the form, but you are responsible for verifying that you meet the conditions via the IRS website or a tax professional.



**What happens if I don’t complete the form?**

If you don’t submit a completed W-8 form, we may be required to withhold the full 30% of your earnings from US customer usage until the form is received.