Publication 519
taxmap/pubs/p519-038.htm#en_us_publink1000222636This chapter discusses how to pay your U.S. income tax as you
earn or receive income during the year. In general, the federal income tax is a
pay as you go tax. There are two ways to pay as you go.
- Withholding.
If you are an employee, your employer probably withholds income tax from your
pay. Tax may also be withheld from certain other income—including
pensions, bonuses, commissions, and gambling winnings. In each case, the amount
withheld is paid to the U.S. Treasury in your name.
- Estimated tax.
If you do not pay your tax through withholding, or do not pay enough tax that
way, you might have to pay estimated tax. People who are in business for
themselves generally will have to pay their tax this way. You may have to pay
estimated tax if you receive income such as dividends, interest, rent, and
royalties. Estimated tax is used to pay not only income tax, but self-employment
tax and alternative minimum tax as well.
Useful items
You may want to see:
Publication 515 Withholding of Tax on Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities 901 U.S. Tax Treaties Form (and Instructions) W-4:
Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate W-8BEN:
Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United
States Tax Withholding W-8ECI:
Certificate of Foreign Person's Claim That Income Is Effectively
Connected With the Conduct of a Trade or Business in the United States W-9:
Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification 1040-ES (NR):
U.S. Estimated Tax for Nonresident Alien Individuals 8233:
Exemption From Withholding on Compensation for Independent (and
Certain Dependent) Personal Services of a Nonresident Alien Individual 8288-B:
Application for Withholding Certificate for Dispositions by
Foreign Persons of U.S. Real Property Interests
13930:
Application for Central Withholding Agreement See
chapter 12 for information about getting these publications and forms.
You must let your employer know whether you are a resident or
a nonresident alien so your employer can withhold the correct amount of tax from
your wages.
If you are a resident alien under the rules discussed in chapter
1, you must file Form W-9 or a similar statement with your employer. If you are
a nonresident alien under those rules, you must furnish to your employer Form
8233 or Form W-8BEN, establishing that you are a foreign person, or Form W-4,
establishing that your compensation is subject to graduated withholding at the
same rates as resident aliens or U.S. citizens.
If you are a resident alien and you receive income other than
wages (such as dividends and royalties) from sources within the United States,
file Form W-9 or similar statement with the withholding agent (generally, the
payer of the income) so the agent will not withhold tax on the income at the 30%
(or lower treaty) rate. If you receive this type of income as a nonresident
alien, file Form W-8BEN with the withholding agent so that the agent will
withhold tax at the 30% (or lower treaty) rate. However, if the income is
effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, file Form W-8ECI instead.
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