If you sell WordPress products on WPBay Market and you’re not a US person, WPBay will ask you to submit your tax information. This matters because US and EU laws oblige us to gather this information from sellers, because they can be allowed to withdraw funds from WPBay.

This WPBay guide explains what WPBay is asking for, which W-form you need, and why your Foreign Tax ID (TIN) matters.

Which tax form do you need?

Your situation determines the form:

• US persons complete Form W-9.
• Non-US individuals complete Form W-8BEN.
• Non-US organizations / companies complete Form W-8BEN-E.

This article focuses only on the W-8BEN process for non-US sellers on WPBay. We provide separate guides for W-9 (for US sellers).

WPBay can’t give tax advice. What we can do is explain the workflow and what the fields are used for, so you can complete it correctly (or take it to your accountant if you want a clean sign-off).

What’s required (and why WPBay asks for it)

US law requires non-US sellers to submit a form (W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E) with basic identity and residency information, including your country of residence and a Foreign Tax Identification Number (Foreign TIN).

The purpose of the W-8 forms is to establish that you are a non-US person. If you don’t submit tax information, WPBay will not allow withdrawals from your account, until form this is submitted and approved.

Account ownership rules that trip people up

An WPBay seller account has one owner. The tax details you submit must match that owner.

• The owner can be an individual or a corporation / other entity.
• The owner cannot be a partnership on the account level. If there are partners, one partner must be nominated to submit tax info and withdrawals go to that nominated partner.

Where to submit your tax information on WPBay Market

WPBay provides the W-form flow inside your Market account. You’ll find it under Seller Dashboard → Tax Profile.

How to complete Form W-8BEN (Non-US Individuals)

In WPBay’s tax info screen:

• Select ‘No’ in the Are you a US person for tax purposes settings field.
• For “W-8 Form Type”, choose W-8BEN (Individual).

Part I: Your personal details

Enter your name, country of citizenship and your full postal address in your country of residence. Make it complete and correct.

You’ll also be asked for your tax identification type and number. If you want to claim treaty benefits, you generally need to provide your Foreign Tax ID (Foreign TIN) – the number you use when filing taxes in your own country.

Part II: Treaty benefits (only if your country has a treaty)

If your country has a tax treaty with the US, you will automatically be granted reduced royalty rates, based on the treaty.

Part III: Certification

You must certify the information is correct. The W-8 is a legal declaration about your status and beneficial ownership of the income. Providing false information can involve penalties under perjury. You’ll acknowledge the certification and sign electronically with your name.

After submission, WPBay shows a success message. If you don’t see it, double-check the form for missing fields or formatting issues and resubmit. Your submission will be reviewed by our staff and approved or rejected.

If the submission is rejected, you need to revoke it and resubmit it for review, with correct data.

How to complete Form W-8BEN-E (Non-US Organizations / Companies)

In WPBay’s tax info screen:

• Select I am not a US person.
• For “W-8 Form Type”, choose W-8BEN-E (Entity).

Part I: Organization details

Provide your organization’s legal name, country of incorporation and full address.

Part II: Treaty claim (if applicable)

If you are claiming a reduced rate, you generally certify that the entity is resident in the treaty country, derives the income for which the benefit is claimed and meets limitation-of-benefits rules if the treaty contains them.

If your country has no treaty, WPBay typically won’t require this part and it may be hidden.

Part III: Certification

As with W-8BEN, you certify the information is correct and sign electronically. The purpose is to establish non-US status and beneficial ownership.

FAQ-style answers

Does this apply to US sellers?

No. US persons generally use Form W-9 and this W-8 process is specifically for non-US persons.

WPBay notes for WordPress sellers

On WPBay we mostly see sellers who sell WordPress themes, plugins and scripts. These are commonly treated as royalties in the US law, which is why the W-8BEN forms matter even if you never set foot in the US.

If you want the practical checklist: submit the correct W-form, make sure the account owner details match, provide a valid Foreign TIN if you’re treaty-eligible.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not tax or legal advice. Tax rules and treaty eligibility can be fact-specific. If you’re unsure, consult a qualified tax professional.