Some Hover customers who purchase domains or email services for a company are asked by their accounting department or tax authority to provide a W-8BEN, W-9, or certificate of tax residency. This article explains what each form is for and how to find out which one applies to you.
Note: W-8BEN and W-9 forms are typically only relevant to businesses in the United States.
Which Tax Form Applies to You
The table below is a quick reference for the most common questions about these forms.
Question | Answer |
|---|---|
What is a W-8BEN? | This form declares that Hover is a company located in another country (Canada), conducting business from Canada, not collecting taxes from you, and not submitting any taxes on your behalf to the IRS. |
What is a W-9? | This form is a declaration of income received from Hover by an independent contractor. |
What is a certificate of tax residency? | It may be needed if your company operates outside Canada and there is a double taxation agreement between your country and Canada. |
Do I need a W-9 to purchase a domain or email for my company? | No. A W-9 is used to declare income received from Hover to the IRS — it doesn't apply to a standard purchase. |
My company is in the United States — will I need both forms? | No. The W-8BEN is the only form you're likely to need for retail purchases with Hover, and only if your accounting department requests it. |
Before you begin
- Check with your accounting department first: confirm which specific form they need before reaching out to Hover Support, since the right form depends on your situation.
- Confirm your relationship to Hover: these forms apply differently depending on whether you're purchasing services as a customer or receiving payments as an independent contractor or affiliate.
Step 1: Determine Whether You Need a W-8BEN
Companies in the United States that purchase services from a company in another country sometimes need a W-8BEN form for their own tax records. Hover can provide this form to confirm that Hover is a Canadian company, is not collecting taxes from you, and is not submitting taxes on your behalf to the IRS.
If your accounting department asks you to submit expense forms for Hover services, they may ask for a W-8BEN alongside those expenses. You can request one at any time — before or after purchasing services from Hover.
Step 2: Determine Whether You Need a W-9
A W-9 applies to independent contractors and affiliates who receive payments from Hover, not to customers purchasing Hover services. The W-9 form is a declaration of the income you received.
If you're located in the United States and earned income from Hover as an independent contractor or affiliate — for example, more than the IRS reporting threshold of $600 in a year — you may need to request this form.
Tip: If you need a W-9 form, contact Hover Support directly and they can help you obtain one.
Step 3: Determine Whether You Need a Certificate of Tax Residency
A certificate of tax residency is used to claim tax relief in another country when your company pays tax on its foreign income. It may be required if your company operates outside Canada and there's a double taxation agreement between your country and Canada.
The tax authority handling your claim will require this certificate and will decide whether tax relief is granted. Hover can assist with obtaining this certificate — contact Hover Support to get started.
Next steps
- Reach out to Hover Support: if you've confirmed which form you need, contact Hover Support to request it.
- Review your billing details: see Managing Payments for more on how Hover handles fees, currency, and taxes like GST/HST.
Questions? Contact Hover Support.
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