Tax Information Reporting Form W-8 & W-9

The IRS requires FastSpring to collect tax information from sellers earning revenue on our platform. All sellers are required to complete and update a W-9 or W-8 form within the App.

  • Form W-9: Required for all US persons.
  • Form W-8: Required for all persons residing outside the US.

FastSpring will use the information you provide to collect and populate the appropriate form. 

In the Account Management page, access the electronic questionnaire to fill out or update your form. The questionnaire only accepts English characters; fill this form out based on treatment under US tax laws. 

Form W-8

FastSpring requires sellers outside of the US to submit their tax status through the tax questionnaire. The tax questionnaire will identify US tax treaty benefits that you are eligible to claim in order to reduce your tax liability. 

Within the App, FastSpring will walk you through the W-8 form process to ensure accurate reporting. You should update your form each time information changes. 

For information regarding taxable products and your country’s withholding rates, see US Tax Withholding for Downloadable Subscription Software.

Electronic Form W-8 Questionnaire

Only Company Administrators will have access to fill out the W-8 form. Follow the steps below to ensure optimal accuracy. 

  1. In the FastSpring App, navigate to the Accounts page. Under Tax Information, click Manage Tax Information.
  2. In the Tax Information page, click Add Tax Info.
  3. In the Tax Residency popup, enter your Country of Tax Residence.
    • For entities, this is the country of incorporation, organization, or formation where you maintain your permanent tax residence.
    • For individuals, this is where you maintain citizenship.
  4. In the Do you have US based activities? field, select Yes if your business performs services in the United States. Otherwise, select No.
US-based activitiesNot US-based activities
Employing US engineersEmploying US sales/marketing
Owning property or smart serversRenting property or smart servers
Having US customers
Using a US merchant of record
  1. Click Start form W-8.
  2. In the Set Up Tax Information dialog, fill out the following fields:
    • Organization or Individual Name: Enter your or your organization’s name, as it is shown on your existing tax documents.
    • Disregarded Entity or Doing Business Name: If your legal entity name differs from your business name, enter the legal entity name.
    • Tax Classification: Select the most appropriate tax classification for your business. If you did not form a corporation or business entity, select Individual / Sole Proprietor.
  3. In the W-8 Information window, enter your Permanent Mailing Address and your Tax Identification Number. Click Next.
    • The Tax Identification Number is the ID number issued to you by the jurisdiction in which you reside. This is usually an income tax ID and used to file and report income taxes in your local jurisdiction.
  4. In the Withholdings & Treaty Benefits page, select the drop-down if you are eligible to claim a reduced treaty rate on your US-sourced income. Select the eligibility criteria most applicable to your status.
    • Note: This is the royalty rate agreed upon in the country tax treaty with the US. See IRS tax treaty listing for more information. Payments for term or downloadable subscription software can be treated as royalty payments and subject to withholding tax.
  5. Click Next. The Confirmation page appears, containing your tax information and withholding rate. In the Legal Name field, type your legal name to sign the W-8 form.

Form W-9

To comply with the IRS, FastSpring will collect a general Form W-9 from all US-based sellers. You should update the W-9 form each time your information changes. 

Electronic Form W-9 Questionnaire

Only Company Administrators will have access to fill out the W-9 form. Follow the steps below to ensure optimal accuracy. 

  1. In the FastSpring App, navigate to the Accounts page. Under Tax Information, click Manage Tax Information.
  2. In the Tax Information page, click Add Tax Info.
  3. In the Tax Residency popup, select United States.
  4. In the Set Up Tax Information dialog, fill out the applicable fields:
    • Taxpayer Name: Make sure the pre-filled information matches the name shown on your tax return. Use the legal entity name if you are filing as a business. Use your legal first and last name if you are filing as an individual.
    • Disregarded Entity or Doing Business Name: If your FastSpring payouts are received by a separate entity or branch, or if your Doing Business Name differs from your Organization or Individual Name, enter the name of the entity receiving the payouts, or the Doing Business Name. If this does not apply to you, leave it blank.
    • Federal Tax Classification: Select the most appropriate tax classification. If you select Other, specify your classification below.
  5. In the Exempt Payee Code page, select any tax exemption classifications that you are eligible for. If none apply, select N/A.
    • In most instances, the answer is N/A.
  6. In the W-9 Form page, enter your Business Address and Tax Identification Number. This information must match the
    • Individual: Enter your personal address and Social Security Number.
    • Business / Entity: Enter your business address and Employer Identification Number.
  7. In the Confirmation Page, double check that the information is correct. Type your Legal Name in the field below to sign the W-9 form.