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Introduction

SECTION 4. DOCUMENTATION

Internal Revenue Bulletin 2002-24 · 2026-10-03 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · United States

REQUIREMENTS

Sec. 4.01. Documentation Require- ments . WP agrees to obtain, review, and maintain Forms W-8 and W-9 in accordance with this section 4. WP must obtain a Form W-8 or W-9 from every direct partner prior to the time that withholding is required. WP agrees to make documentation (together with any associated withholding statements and other documents or information) available upon request for inspection by WP’s external auditor. WP represents that none of the laws to which it is subject prohibits disclosure of the identity of any partner or corresponding partner information to WP’s external auditor. WP may rely on the Forms W-8 and W-9 it obtains under this section 4 as the basis for determining its withholding and reporting obligations.

Sec. 4.02. Documentation for For- eign Partners . WP may treat a direct partner as a foreign beneficial owner if the direct partner provides a Form W-8 that supports such status. WP may treat a direct partner that has provided a Form W-8 as entitled to a reduced rate of NRA withholding if all the requirements for a reduced rate are met and the Form W-8 provided by the direct partner supports entitlement to a reduced rate. Sections 4.03 through 4.06 of this Agreement describe the specific documentation requirements necessary for obtaining a reduced rate of withholding in certain circumstances.

Sec. 4.03. Treaty Claims . WP may not reduce the rate of withholding based on a direct partner’s claim of treaty benefits unless WP obtains from the partner a Form W-8BEN with Part II of the form properly completed, including the appropriate limitation on benefits and section 894 certifications. Sec. 4.04. Documentation for Inter- national Organizations . WP may not treat a direct partner as an international organization entitled to an exemption from withholding under section 892 of the Code unless WP obtains a Form

June 17, 2002 1160 2002–24 I.R.B.

W-8EXP from the international organization and the name provided on the Form W-8EXP is the name of an entity designated as an international organization by executive order pursuant to 22 United States Code 288 through 288(f). If an international organization is not claiming benefits under section 892 of the Code but under another Code exception, the provisions of sections 4.02 of this Agreement apply rather than the provisions of this section 4.04.

Sec. 4.05. Documentation for For- eign Governments and Foreign Central Banks of Issue .

( A ) Documentation For a Foreign Government or Foreign Central Bank of Issue Claiming an Exemption From Withholding Under Section 892 or Sec- tion 895 . WP may not treat a direct partner as a foreign government or foreign central bank of issue exempt from withholding under section 892 or 895 of the Code unless—

( 1 ) WP receives from the direct partner a Form W-8EXP establishing that the direct partner is a foreign government or foreign central bank of issue;

( 2 ) The income distributed to, or included in the distributive share of, the direct partner is the type of income that qualifies for an exemption from withholding under section 892 or 895; and

( 3 ) WP does not know, or have reason to know, that the direct partner is a controlled commercial entity, that the income owned by the foreign government or foreign central bank of issue is being received from a controlled commercial entity, or that the income is from the disposition of an interest in a controlled commercial entity.

( B ) Treaty Exemption . WP may not treat a direct partner as a foreign government or foreign central bank of issue entitled to a reduced rate of withholding under an income tax treaty unless it obtains a Form W-8BEN that, under section 4.03 of this Agreement, is sufficient to obtain a reduced rate of withholding under a treaty.

( C ) Other Code Exception . If a foreign government or foreign central bank of issue is not claiming benefits under section 892 or section 895 of the Code but under another Code exception ( e.g., the portfolio interest exception under sections 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code), the

provisions of section 4.02 of this Agreement apply rather than the provisions of this section 4.05.

Sec. 4.06. Documentation for For- eign Tax-Exempt Organizations .

( A ) Reduced Rate of Withholding Under Section 501 . WP may not treat a direct partner as a foreign organization described under section 501(c) of the Code, and therefore exempt from withholding (or, if the direct partner is a foreign private foundation, subject to withholding at a 4-percent rate under section 1443(b) of the Code) unless WP obtains a valid Form W-8EXP on which Part III of the form is completed.

( B ) Treaty Exemption . WP may not treat a direct partner as a foreign organization that is tax exempt or entitled to a reduced rate of withholding under an income tax treaty unless WP obtains a Form W-8BEN that, under section 4.03 of this Agreement, is sufficient to obtain a reduced rate of withholding under a treaty.

( C ) Other Exceptions . If a tax-exempt entity is not claiming a reduced rate of withholding because it is an organization described under section 501(c) of the Code or under an income tax treaty, but is claiming a reduced rate of withholding under another Code exception, the provisions of section 4.02 of this Agreement apply rather than the provisions of this section 4.06.

Sec. 4.07. Documentation for Passthrough Partners . WP shall not act as a withholding foreign partnership with respect to an amount subject to withholding distributed to, or included in the distributive share of, a passthrough partner. WP must forward that passthrough partner’s documentation (and associated withholding statement and documentation of indirect partners) to the withholding agent from whom WP receives the amount subject to withholding. WP may act as a withholding foreign partnership for payments made to partners that are themselves withholding foreign partnerships or withholding foreign trusts.

Sec. 4.08. Documentation for U.S. Exempt Recipients . WP shall not treat a partner as a U.S. exempt recipient unless WP obtains a Form W-9 from the partner on which the partner writes “Exempt” in Part II of the Form.

Sec. 4.09. Documentation for U.S. Non-Exempt Recipients . WP shall not treat a partner as a U.S. non-exempt recipient unless WP obtains a Form W-9 from the partner.

Sec. 4.10. Documentation Validity . WP may not rely on Forms W-8 or W-9 if WP has actual knowledge or reason to know that the information or statements contained in the forms are unreliable or incorrect. Once WP knows, or has reason to know, that a Form W-8 or W-9 provided by a direct partner is unreliable or incorrect, WP must obtain a new Form W-8 or W-9 prior to the time withholding is required.

Sec. 4.11. Documentation Validity Period .

( A ) Form W-8 . WP may rely on a properly completed Form W-8 until its validity expires under Treas. Reg. § 1.1441–1(e)(4)(ii).

( B ) Form W-9 . WP may rely on a properly completed Form W-9 as long as it has not been informed by the IRS or another withholding agent that the form is unreliable.

Sec. 4.12. Maintenance and Reten- tion of Documentation .

( A ) Maintaining Documentation . WP shall maintain Forms W-8 and W-9 by retaining the original documentation, a certified copy, a photocopy, a microfiche, or by electronic storage or similar means of record retention.

( B ) Retention Period . WP shall retain a direct partner’s Form W-8 or W-9 obtained under this section 4 for as long as it may be relevant to the determination of WP’s tax liability under this agreement.

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