What Is Form W-8IMY?
The foreign intermediary withholding certificate is an IRS form under which intermediaries, flow-through entities and certain US branches document status for US withholding purposes.
Also known as: Certificate of Foreign Intermediary or Flow-Through Entity, W-8IMY form.
How Form W-8IMY works
Form W-8IMY is given to a US withholding agent by a foreign intermediary, foreign partnership, certain foreign trusts, another flow-through entity or certain US branches receiving US-source payments on behalf of others, to establish foreign status for sections 1441, 1442 and 1446 without claiming beneficial ownership. The applicable withholding is then decided by the documentation behind the form, since a withholding statement allocating payments among owners forms an integral part of the certificate. Flow-through entities and nonqualified intermediaries generally transmit owners' withholding certificates or other documentary evidence, while qualified intermediaries certify their own QI status. Beneficial owners use Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E instead, and the form is not sent to the IRS.
Form W-8IMY vs Form W-8BEN-E
Unlike Form W-8BEN-E, which a foreign entity gives as beneficial owner of the income, Form W-8IMY is given by an entity acting as intermediary or flow-through, so the owners' documentation drives the withholding result.
Example
Illustrative example: A partnership formed in Country A, treated as fiscally transparent, receives US dividends for two partners resident in Country B and Country C. The partnership gives Form W-8IMY with a withholding statement and each partner's Form W-8BEN, and the US payer applies rates by partner rather than by partnership.
Common misconception
Myth: A foreign partnership claims treaty benefits for its partners by filing its own Form W-8BEN-E.
Reality: A foreign partnership acting as a flow-through entity generally provides Form W-8IMY, and treaty claims rest on each partner's own Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E.
Frequently asked questions
Who needs to fill out Form W-8IMY?
Form W-8IMY is completed by qualified or nonqualified intermediaries, withholding foreign partnerships and trusts, other foreign flow-through entities and certain US branches receiving US-source payments for others.
What is a withholding statement on Form W-8IMY?
The withholding statement attached to Form W-8IMY allocates payments among the underlying owners or pools and forms an integral part of the certificate under IRS instructions.
Related terms
- Form W-8BEN-E — Beneficial-owner form often confused with W-8IMY
- Qualified Intermediary (QI) — Intermediary type with IRS agreement using W-8IMY
- Beneficial Ownership — Concept separating intermediaries from owners
- Withholding Certificate — Generic category covering the W-8 forms
Related guides
- Tax treaties and international taxation — Treaty rates applied through owner documentation
- Incorporation options for location-independent entrepreneurs — Entity choices which may be fiscally transparent
Sources
Last verified: 2026-10-08. This entry is general information, not tax or legal advice; rules vary by country and change over time.
