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.
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.
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 and may not be able to pay you until the form is received.