Amazon’s tax interview asks non-US sellers to confirm who they are for US tax purposes, and the form you complete usually depends on whether the seller is an individual or an entity. In general, W-8BEN is the form for individuals and W-8BEN-E is the form for entities, but the answer can get less obvious with a single-member LLC, so check the IRS instructions or ask a tax professional. This guide explains the difference, how to keep your details consistent, and what to prepare before you start.
What the tax interview is and why Amazon asks for it
When you register a seller account, Amazon collects tax information as part of onboarding. For sellers outside the US, this step is an online questionnaire, often called the tax interview, inside Seller Central. Its purpose is to establish your status for US tax reporting and to collect the right certificate, so Amazon knows how to treat payments to you.
The wording and flow of the interview are Amazon’s, and they can change. Always rely on the current screens and the Amazon Seller Central help pages for what is asked. This article gives you the background so the questions make sense; it is not tax advice, and it does not tell you what you owe.
W-8BEN for individuals, W-8BEN-E for entities: where the line is
The two forms exist for different kinds of taxpayers. The IRS publishes each of them, with instructions, on its own pages: Form W-8BEN and Form W-8BEN-E.
| Point | W-8BEN | W-8BEN-E |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is generally for | Individuals who are not US persons | Entities such as foreign companies |
| Typical Amazon scenario | A sole proprietor selling under their own name | A seller account registered to a company |
| What it is about | The individual’s identity, country of residence and, where relevant, treaty claims | The entity’s status, country of organization and, where relevant, treaty claims |
| Where to read the rules | IRS Form W-8BEN page and instructions | IRS Form W-8BEN-E page and instructions |
The practical rule is to match the form to the legal identity on your seller account. If the account is registered to you personally, you complete the individual path. If it is registered to a company, you complete the entity path. Mixing them, for example entering a company name on an individual form, is one of the most common reasons an interview is rejected or later questioned.
A US LLC owned by a non-US person is where sellers tend to get stuck. How an LLC is classified for US tax purposes can change which form applies, and the IRS page on limited liability companies explains the classification rules. We cannot tell you which form is right for your structure. A US-qualified tax professional can.
Matching your details to your Seller Central records
The tax interview compares what you type with what is already on the account. Small differences can cause friction, so line up the following before you begin:
- Your legal name or company name exactly as it appears on official documents, including suffixes such as LLC or Ltd
- Your address of residence or the company’s registered address
- Your country of tax residence or organization
- The business type chosen during registration
- The name on the bank account that receives your payouts
If something in your Seller Central profile is wrong, correct it first and then complete the interview. Doing it in the other order often creates a mismatch that you then have to untangle.
The EIN and foreign tax ID question
The forms ask for tax identification numbers, and this is where sellers wonder whether they need a US EIN. The EIN is a US tax number issued by the IRS to businesses, and the IRS page on employer identification numbers explains who can get one and why. Whether you must provide a US number, a foreign tax identification number from your home country, or both depends on your status and on the form instructions.
If your company is a US LLC, you will already have gone through the process of obtaining an EIN, and our page on a US LLC for Amazon sellers explains how the company relates to the seller account. Our page on USA company formation services describes how that fits into setting up a company. If you sell as an individual from another country, read the form instructions to see which foreign tax ID field applies to you, and keep the certificate from your home tax authority handy.
What to expect if details are wrong or missing
If the interview cannot be validated, Amazon can ask you to correct and resubmit it, and it may limit certain account features until the tax information is complete. The consequences and the timing are determined by Amazon, so we do not describe them as fixed. Read any message from Seller Central carefully, correct exactly what it identifies, and keep a record of the date you resubmitted.
Do not guess at a field you do not understand. An incorrect entry on a signed tax certificate is harder to fix than a blank field you asked about first.
Your tax liability is a separate question
Completing the interview establishes your status. It does not calculate or settle what you owe, in the US or at home. Whether withholding applies, whether a tax treaty matters, and how the income is taxed where you live are all questions for an accountant who knows both your situation and the relevant country. Bring the forms you plan to submit and the structure of your business to that conversation.
For the Amazon side of your setup, such as account registration and verification, you can see what we offer on the Amazon seller services page. We help with the process; we do not provide tax advice.
Preparation checklist before filling in the forms
- Decide whether your Seller Central account is registered to you as an individual or to a company.
- Gather your passport or ID and, for a company, its registration documents.
- Check that names and addresses match across the documents and the account.
- Locate your EIN if you have one, and your home country tax ID if the forms ask for it.
- Read the current IRS instructions for the form you expect to use.
- Write down questions about treaty claims or withholding for your accountant.
- Save a copy of what you submit and the date you submitted it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use W-8BEN if I own a US LLC?
It depends on how the LLC is classified and how the seller account is registered. This is a question for a tax professional, and the IRS instructions for each form explain the rules.
Do I need an EIN to complete the tax interview?
Not in every case. The requirement depends on your status and on the form instructions, so read them before assuming either way.
Can I change my answers after submitting?
Amazon provides ways to update tax information in Seller Central, but the process is theirs and can change. Check the help pages for the current steps.
Does the tax interview tell me how much tax I will pay?
No. It identifies your tax status for reporting purposes. Your actual liability is a separate matter for your accountant.
If you would like a second opinion on your setup
If you are unsure how your account and company are set up, you can describe your situation through the Amazon services application form. There is no obligation, and tax questions will still need your accountant.