The main purpose of Form W-8BEN is for individuals to certify that they are not a U.S. citizen (or other U.S. person, such as a resident alien individual). Therefore, Form W-8BEN should be used by foreign (i.e. non-U.S.) individuals to document their foreign status. If you are a U.S. citizen, you should use Form W-9 to document your status.
If you have any questions about Form W-8BEN, Form W-9, or Form W-BEN-E, please don’t hesitate to contact us.