Foreign Shares tax withholding

Hi I have been sent a form W-8BEN
Substitute form W-8BEN certificate of foreign status of beneficial owner for United States tax withholding.
Purpose of form foreign persons is subject to US tax at a 30% rate on income they receive from US SOURCES.
I’ve got about 100 shares in Smurfit stone container corporation.
Is anyone familiar with this form .
I am retired now on pension?
Shares were originally Smurfit shares that when sold these shares were given to me there worth now is negligible .

It is a US tax form designed to make sure that the correct rate of witholding tax is applied to dividends received from US corporations.

If you fill it in and return it, I think you will receive the dividend income with a lower rate of tax withheld, as specified in the Double taxation treaty between Ireland and the US

jpd said:

It is a US tax form designed to make sure that the correct rate of witholding tax is applied to dividends received from US corporations.

If you fill it in and return it, I think you will receive the dividend income with a lower rate of tax withheld, as specified in the Double taxation treaty between Ireland and the US

Click to expand...

Ok thanks for reply

If you return it the US government will not charge you any taxes on your gain which can be up to 30%