W-8BEN-E form and a foreign tax number

[Catalina]

Hello everyone. I work for a charity here in London and one of our regular donor wrote a book that has been sold only in US. This person wants donate all the royalties to us. I know that we need to have a W-8BEN-E form and a 9 digit foreign tax number. The problem is: we don't have none of this and I don't know how we can get it. Please, if anyone can help with this I would be very grateful. Thanks in advanced!

[darthblingbling]

IRS gives guidance for foreign corporations. You should apply for an EIN via the form known as SS-4. The help is actually surprisingly thorough for the IRS:
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/interna ... umbers-tin - Near the bottom of the page.

You're basically applying for an EIN for the sole purposes of filling in your W8-BEN. Once you have this number you would put it in box 5 of the W8-BEN and leave box 6 empty.

[Catalina]

Hi darthblingbling, thanks for your answer.

Is this SS-4 form for companies or individuals?

This donor is an individual. I do think that I got the wrong form, the form should be W-BEN.

I'm very confusing with all this US tax. Could you help me sort out this matter, please?

Thanks so much!

[darthblingbling]

SS-4 is for applying for an EIN (companies basically).

As you (your company/charity) are the one being paid, it's you that will need this.

Once you have your EIN you can fill out the rest of the W8-BEN form.