Pathway
Get foreign payees documented correctly for U.S. withholding.
15 hr 35 min · 2 courses · 0 live classes · 1 optional extra
Any U.S. business paying someone outside the United States has to decide whether to withhold U.S. tax, and at what rate. The answer depends almost entirely on documentation: the right Form W-8, completed correctly, with a valid treaty claim where one applies. Freelancers, creators, software companies and investment funds outside the U.S. meet these forms constantly, and errors cost money. A missing treaty claim can mean 30% withheld instead of 0% or 15%.
This pathway teaches you to choose and complete the right W-8 form for individuals and entities, apply the default 30% Chapter 3 withholding regime and treaty reductions, and classify entities under FATCA (Chapter 4), including active and passive NFFEs and financial institutions under the intergovernmental agreements.
You'll practise reviewing completed forms the way a U.S. withholding agent does, so you can catch the problems before your client's payments are delayed or over-withheld.
Professionals advising freelancers, creators, companies and funds outside the U.S. that receive U.S.-source payments and must complete W-8 forms or answer FATCA status questions.
Basic understanding of cross-border payments. No prior U.S. tax experience required.
Complete the required courses and classes to earn the XCAPE Certificate in Cross-Border Withholding.
Every step of this pathway in order, from your first call to your certificate.
Step 01
A group call for this pathway. We walk through the curriculum, payments and live classes, and answer your questions.
See upcoming calls →Start with a free group call: we walk you through the pathway, how payments and classes work, and answer your questions.
Step 02
Send a short application. When we approve it, your prices are locked in.
Apply now →Step 03
7 hr 2 min in
Step 03 Recorded course· Required· 7 hr 2 min
$500
Which form applies when, line-by-line completion for individuals and entities, and claiming reduced treaty rates.
Step 04
From here you have the skills for supervised paid work, while you finish the rest of the pathway.
Step 05
Step 05 Live class· Optional· 30 min
$120
A live session to work through treaty claims and client questions with your instructor.
Step 06
15 hr 35 min in
Step 06 Recorded course· Required· 8 hr 33 min
$700
How FATCA works, the Chapter 4 status categories, and classifying common entity types correctly on the W-8BEN-E.
Step 07
Issued automatically when you finish the required items, with a public verification link.
No account needed. Sign in if you have one.
New orientation calls are added regularly. Check back soon, or apply to enroll and we'll be in touch.
