Upwork and Fiverr withhold from your payments if you haven't submitted Form W-8BEN with a US ITIN. As a non-US freelancer providing services outside the USA, your income is generally 0% withholding — but you need an ITIN to document that. Get your ITIN for $99 and stop losing money to unnecessary withholding.
Apply Now — Only $99 →Upwork and Fiverr apply backup withholding if you have not submitted Form W-8BEN with an ITIN. Freelancing service income (work performed outside the USA) is generally 0% US withholding — it is not passive income. Get your ITIN ($99), submit W-8BEN on each platform, and stop the withholding. 7–11 weeks.
Upwork and Fiverr are US companies required by the IRS to collect tax information from all payment recipients. When a non-US freelancer has not submitted Form W-8BEN, the platform applies "backup withholding" — the IRS-required default holdback when tax status is unverified.
Backup withholding rates: Upwork applies 24% backup withholding on applicable payments to non-US freelancers without W-8BEN. Fiverr applies similar withholding rates. Once you submit W-8BEN with your ITIN and certify your non-US status, these platforms stop the withholding on service income.
Understanding this distinction saves you thousands:
| Type | Example | US Withholding | Treaty Reduces It? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service income | Upwork dev work, Fiverr design, consulting | 0% (if performed outside USA) | N/A — already 0% |
| Royalty income | KDP royalties, YouTube AdSense, patents | 30% (or treaty rate) | Yes — 0–15% with ITIN |
Freelancing on Upwork and Fiverr is service income — you are providing a service (software development, design, writing, VA work) from your home country to a US client. The work is performed outside the USA. Under US tax law, this is generally not subject to US withholding. But Upwork and Fiverr need you to certify your non-US status via W-8BEN — which requires your ITIN.
Upwork.com → Settings (top right) → Tax information → "I am not a US person" → Non-US Tax Information.
Enter your full legal name, country, address. Select "Individual." Enter your ITIN in the TIN field (format: 9XX-XX-XXXX).
Check the certification box — you are certifying that you are not a US person and the information is correct.
Upwork reviews and approves W-8BEN within 1–5 business days. Once approved, backup withholding stops on service income payments.
Fiverr.com → Account (top right) → Settings → Tax Information → "I am not a US person."
Fill in your name, country, address. Enter your ITIN in the TIN field. Select "Individual."
Digitally sign and submit. Fiverr processes your W-8BEN and stops backup withholding on your service income payments.
The same W-8BEN process applies across all major US-based freelancing platforms. Submit your ITIN-backed W-8BEN to each platform separately:
One ITIN covers all platforms. Submit W-8BEN to each one separately — each platform needs its own form on file.
Get your ITIN, submit W-8BEN on every platform, and keep 100% of your service income.
Apply for Your ITIN — $99 →Apply at itinplus.com. Supporting documents for freelancers: Upwork or Fiverr payment history showing US-source income, a screenshot of platform withholding, or a 1099/1042-S if issued. Our IRS CAA certifies your passport remotely and files Form W-7. ITIN arrives in 7–11 weeks. Then submit W-8BEN on every platform immediately.