Question? Should we merge Foreign vendors and payment to non residents-aliens? The content look almost the same Evelyn. (to be discussed with Laurie)
New vendors must provide SPU with a completed W-8BEN for our records: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw8ben.pdf.
This is because the University is required to establish the tax status of foreign entities with which it conducts business. The W-8 submitted by a foreign entity indicates whether taxes need to be withheld when payments are processed.
Transactions that may trigger tax withholding include services performed in the US, and US-sourced royalties and rents. A foreign entity from a country that has negotiated a tax treaty may be exempt from tax on certain types of transactions. If they are from a country with no treaty benefits, or the activity is not covered by the treaty, payment to the vendor is subject to 30% tax withholding. Probably delete - useful for departments?
Foreign vendors are placed on a payment "hold" to ensure that all requests for payments are reviewed for compliance prior to payment being processed.
Each W-8 is reviewed for tax status determination, and each invoice submitted for payment is reviewed by Accounts Payable for taxable-type transactions.
Payments to foreign vendors are made via U.S dollar checks, and by electronic funds transfer in U.S. dollars or the foreign currency.
Form W-8 Ben