Non US Citizen, No Listing in the US - required to fill out taxpayers info

[Agon38]

Hi all,

I need clarification with the latest Airbnb Request of Taxpayers info Needed by Dec 1 Email. I'm super confused.

I'm a non-US Citizen, I don't have a listing in the US (and never had), I've never stepped foot in the US, and am required to fill in the forms. The only thing I have is a Payoneer account in USD as currency for my payouts. I have chosen this way back, as being from Kosovo there were no possibilities for other payout methods with local banks or even Airbnb options.

I tried to explain it to Airbnb support, but they told me that W-8BEN is the form for me. Still don't understand why I should fill them.

Any help or explanation is very welcome.

Thank you.

Agon

[Patricia3972]

Hi 

Did you get any info about this , I am in the same boat? 

[Agon38]

Hi @Patricia3972 ,

No I didn't. I was kindly forced to sign the form or else receive no payouts.

[Rania82]

Dear Agon, 

Is this still the case? It's strange since we (noncitizens, nonresidents) should be exempt from filing this unless we have a US listing. Has Airbnb clarified further anything?

[Rania82]

I found this helpful article, https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/3166#:~:text=If%20you%20are%20a%20non,receive%20payouts%20from%2.... mentioning:

Note that not every non-US individual who hosts will be prompted to provide Forms W-8BEN or Form W-8ECI. Generally speaking, Airbnb will request these forms from non-US individuals who host with certain indicia of US tax status, including, but not limited to:

• Having one or more US listings (applicable to listing owners)
• Instructing Airbnb to make a payout to a US bank account
• Providing Airbnb a US telephone number for contact purposes
• Providing Airbnb a US residence or mailing address
• Other certain indicia of US status (ex: uploading US government-issued identification) 

[Agon38]

Hi,

I used a virtual bank and my card used USD. Therefore, I had to sign it as there was no other way.