# How connected accounts submit W-8 and W-9 forms

Guide your connected accounts how to complete the W-8 or W-9 form.

After you [request a W-8 or W-9 form](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/enable-w8-w9-tax-forms.md), the form becomes a requirement on the connected account. You and your support team can help your connected accounts complete the form.

## Tell your connected accounts 

Don’t rely on Stripe to tell your connected accounts about a request. Notify them that you need a W-8 or W-9 form, why you need it, and where they can complete it. Provide a link to [W-8 and W-9 tax forms](https://support.stripe.com/express/topics/w-8-w-9-tax-forms) on the Stripe support site.

## Where connected accounts complete the form 

Direct your connected accounts to one of the following Dashboard access points to complete a requested form:

- [Express Dashboard](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/express-dashboard.md): Connected accounts with access can see the form as an outstanding requirement on the **Tax forms** page. The **W-8/W-9** table shows **Sign W-8/W-9 to avoid paused payouts** until they submit the form. After they submit it, they can download it from the same page.
- **Stripe-hosted onboarding**: Send the connected account a hosted onboarding [Account Link](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/hosted-onboarding.md). The form appears as a requirement on the onboarding summary as **W-8/W-9 Form**.
- **Connect embedded components**: Embed the following components in your own site to render the following Stripe content:
  - The [account onboarding](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/supported-embedded-components/account-onboarding.md) lists the form in its summary step.
  - The [notification banner](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/supported-embedded-components/notification-banner.md) component prompts the connected account to complete outstanding requirements, including the form.
  - The [account management](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/supported-embedded-components/account-management.md) component allows the connected account to update its **W-8/W-9 tax form certification**.

To show only the W-8 or W-9 form in the account onboarding component, set `collectionOptions` with the `only` [requirement restriction](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/supported-embedded-components/account-onboarding.md#requirement-restrictions) for `us_w8_or_w9_tax_form` to filter the connected account’s outstanding requirements:

```js
const accountOnboarding = stripeConnectInstance.create('account-onboarding');
accountOnboarding.setCollectionOptions({
  fields: 'currently_due',
  requirements: {
    only: ['us_w8_or_w9_tax_form'],
  },
});
container.appendChild(accountOnboarding);
```

## How a connected account completes the form 

Advise your connected account to complete the following steps:

1. **Choose a form**: The connected account answers whether it’s considered a US person for federal tax purposes. US persons complete a W-9, and other connected accounts complete a W-8. If you [require one form type](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/enable-w8-w9-tax-forms.md#new-accounts), the form pre-selects that option, and disables the other answer with a message asking the connected account to contact you.
2. **Review the prefilled details**: Stripe prefills the form with information from the connected account’s Stripe account, and the connected account can correct any details that are wrong. For a W-9, Stripe doesn’t prefill the TIN, but uses it if the connected account doesn’t enter one.
3. **Provide any missing details**: For a [standard W-8](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/enable-w8-w9-tax-forms.md#new-accounts), an individual completes Form W-8BEN. An entity completes Form W-8BEN-E. To claim a reduced withholding rate under a tax treaty, the connected account selects the treaty country, the income type, and the rate.
4. **Sign the form**: The connected account certifies the form under penalties of perjury and signs it electronically. An individual must sign with their legal name exactly as it appears on the form.

The name, TIN, entity type, country, and address on the form must match the connected account’s details. A W-8 can’t list the US as the connected account’s country, or a permanent or mailing address in the US.

After a connected account that uses the Express Dashboard submits a form in live mode, Stripe emails it a link to view the signed form. Connected accounts without access to the Express Dashboard don’t get this email.

## Verification process 

Stripe checks each submitted form before accepting it:

- **W-8 forms, and W-9 forms from connected accounts outside the US**: Stripe accepts the form when the connected account submits it.
- **W-9 forms from US connected accounts**: The name and TIN on the W-9 must match the connected account’s details, and Stripe checks the connected account’s name and TIN against IRS records. Stripe accepts forms with matching values. If they don’t match, the Tax forms page displays **Name and tax ID need review** in the form’s details while keeping the form in the **Submitted** stage. The connected account must update its Stripe account’s legal name or tax ID to match IRS records, then also [update the form](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/w8-w9-tax-forms/connected-accounts.md#update).

If Stripe asks the connected account to correct a submitted form, the form changes to **Needs attention**, and the connected account must submit it again.

If the connected account doesn’t satisfy the request within the limit in your [configured enforcement](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/enable-w8-w9-tax-forms.md#new-accounts), Stripe pauses its payouts, or its payouts and payments. Submitting a W-8, or a W-9 from a connected account outside the US, satisfies the request. A W-9 from a US connected account satisfies it only after TIN matching confirms the name and TIN, so Stripe can apply the enforcement while the form is still **Submitted**.

## Update a submitted form 

A connected account can update a submitted or accepted form, for example after its name or address changes. Stripe creates a new request for the updated form and verifies it again. A connected account can update its form up to five times in 24 hours.

## See also

- [Manage W-8 and W-9 forms](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/w8-w9-tax-forms/manage.md)