[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 26, Volume 12]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 26CFR1.1441-4]

[Page 118-126]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
    CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 1_INCOME TAXES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1.1441-4  Exemptions from withholding for certain effectively 
connected income and other amounts.

    (a) Certain income connected with a U.S. trade or business--(1) In 
general. No withholding is required under section 1441 on income 
otherwise subject to withholding if the income is (or is deemed to be) 
effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the 
United States and is includible in the beneficial owner's gross income 
for the taxable year. For purposes of this paragraph (a), an amount is 
not deemed to be includible in gross income if the amount is (or is 
deemed to be) effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or 
business within the United States and the beneficial owner claims an 
exemption from tax under an income tax treaty because the income is not 
attributable to a permanent establishment in the United States. To claim 
a reduced rate of withholding because the income is not attributable to 
a permanent establishment, see Sec. 1.1441-6(b)(1). This paragraph (a) 
does not apply to income of a foreign corporation to which section 
543(a)(7) applies for the taxable year or to compensation for personal 
services performed by an individual. See paragraph (b) of this section 
for compensation for personal services performed by an individual.
    (2) Withholding agent's reliance on a claim of effectively connected 
income--(i) In general. Absent actual knowledge or reason to know 
otherwise, a withholding agent may rely on a claim of exemption based 
upon paragraph (a)(1) of this section if, prior to the payment to the 
foreign person, the withholding agent can reliably associate the payment 
with a Form W-8 upon which it can rely to treat the payment as made to a 
foreign beneficial owner in accordance with Sec. 1.1441-1(e)(1)(ii). 
For purposes of this paragraph (a), a withholding certificate is valid 
only if, in addition to other applicable requirements, it includes the 
taxpayer identifying number of the person whose name is on the Form W-8 
and represents, under penalties of perjury, that the amounts for which 
the certificate is furnished are effectively connected with the conduct 
of a trade or business in the United States and is includable in the 
beneficial owner's gross income for the taxable year. In the absence of 
a reliable claim that the income is effectively connected with the 
conduct of a trade or business in the United States, the income is 
presumed not to be effectively connected, except as otherwise provided 
in paragraph (a) (2)(ii) or (3) of this section. See Sec. 1.1441-
1(e)(4)(ii)(C) for the period of validity applicable to a certificate 
provided under this section and Sec. 1.1441-1(e)(4)(ii)(D) for changes 
in circumstances arising during the taxable year indicating that the 
income to which the certificate relates is not, or is no longer expected 
to be, effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business 
within the United States. A withholding certificate shall be effective 
only for the item or items of income specified therein. The provisions 
of Sec. 1.1441-1(b)(3)(iv) dealing with a 90-day grace period shall 
apply for purposes of this section.
    (ii) Special rules for U.S. branches of foreign persons--(A) U.S. 
branches of certain foreign banks or foreign insurance companies. A 
payment to a U.S. branch described in Sec. 1.1441-1(b)(2)(iv)(A) is 
presumed to be effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or 
business in the United States without the need to furnish a certificate, 
unless the U.S. branch provides a U.S. branch withholding certificate 
described in Sec. 1.1441-1(e)(3)(v) that represents otherwise. If no 
certificate is furnished but the income is not, in fact, effectively 
connected income, then the branch must withhold whether the payment is 
collected on behalf of other persons or on behalf of another branch of 
the same entity. See Sec. 1.1441-1(b) (2)(iv) and (6) for general rules 
applicable to payments to U.S. branches of foreign persons.

[[Page 119]]

    (B) Other U.S. branches. See Sec. 1.1441-1(b)(2)(iv)(E) for similar 
procedures for other U.S. branches to the extent provided in a 
determination letter from the district director or the Assistant 
Commissioner (International).
    (3) Income on notional principal contracts--(i) General rule. A 
withholding agent that pays amounts attributable to a notional principal 
contract described in Sec. 1.863-7(a) or 1.988-2(e) shall have no 
obligation to withhold on the amounts paid under the terms of the 
notional principal contract regardless of whether a withholding 
certificate is provided. However, a withholding agent must file returns 
under Sec. 1.1461-1(b) and (c) reporting the income that it must treat 
as effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the 
United States under the provisions of this paragraph (a)(3). Except as 
otherwise provided in paragraph (a)(3)(ii) of this section, a 
withholding agent must treat the income as effectively connected with 
the conduct of a U.S. trade or business if the income is paid to, or to 
the account of, a qualified business unit of a foreign person located in 
the United States or, if the payment is paid to, or to the account of, a 
qualified business unit of a foreign person located outside the United 
States, the withholding agent knows, or has reason to know, the payment 
is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within 
the United States. Income on a notional principal contract does not 
include the amount characterized as interest under the provisions of 
Sec. 1.446-3(g)(4).
    (ii) Exception for certain payments. A payment shall not be treated 
as effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within 
the United States for purposes of paragraph (a)(3)(i) of this section 
even if no withholding certificate is furnished if the payee provides a 
representation in a master agreement that governs the transactions in 
notional principal contracts between the parties (for example an 
International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) Agreement, 
including the Schedule thereto) or in the confirmation on the particular 
notional principal contract transaction that the payee is a U.S. person 
or a non-U.S. branch of a foreign person.
    (b) Compensation for personal services of an individual--(1) 
Exemption from withholding. Withholding is not required under Sec. 
1.1441-1 from salaries, wages, remuneration, or any other compensation 
for personal services of a nonresident alien individual if such 
compensation is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or 
business within the United States and--
    (i) Such compensation is subject to withholding under section 3402 
(relating to withholding on wages) and the regulations under that 
section;
    (ii) Such compensation would be subject to withholding under section 
3402 but for the provisions of section 3401(a) (not including section 
3401(a)(6)) and the regulations under that section. This paragraph 
(b)(1)(ii) does not apply to payments to a nonresident alien individual 
from any trust described in section 401(a), any annuity plan described 
in section 403(a), any annuity, custodial account, or retirement income 
account described in section 403(b), or an individual retirement account 
or individual retirement annuity described in section 408. Instead, 
these payments are subject to withholding under this section to the 
extent they are exempted from the definition of wages under section 
3401(a)(12) or to the extent they are from an annuity, custodial 
account, or retirement income account described in section 403(b), or an 
individual retirement account or individual retirement annuity described 
in section 408. Thus, for example, payments to a nonresident alien 
individual from a trust described in section 401(a) are subject to 
withholding under section 1441 and not under section 3405 or section 
3406.
    (iii) Such compensation is for services performed by a nonresident 
alien individual who is a resident of Canada or Mexico and who enters 
and leaves the United States at frequent intervals;
    (iv) Such compensation is, or will be, exempt from the income tax 
imposed by chapter 1 of the Code by reason of a provision of the 
Internal Revenue Code or a tax treaty to which the United States is a 
party;

[[Page 120]]

    (v) Such compensation is paid after January 3, 1979 as a commission 
or rebate paid by a ship supplier to a nonresident alien individual, who 
is employed by a nonresident alien individual, foreign partnership, or 
foreign corporation in the operation of a ship or ships of foreign 
registry, for placing orders for supplies to be used in the operation of 
such ship or ships with the supplier. See section 162(c) and the 
regulations thereunder for denial of deductions for illegal bribes, 
kickbacks, and other payments; or
    (vi) Compensation that is exempt from withholding under section 3402 
by reason of section 3402(e), provided that the employee and his 
employer enter into an agreement under section 3402(p) to provide for 
the withholding of income tax upon payments of amounts described in 
Sec. 31.3401(a)-3(b)(1) of this chapter. An employee who desires to 
enter into such an agreement should furnish his employer with Form W-4 
(withholding exemption certificate) (or such other form as the Internal 
Revenue Service (IRS) may prescribe). See section 3402(f) and the 
regulations thereunder and Sec. 31.3402(p)-1 of this chapter.
    (2) Manner of obtaining withholding exemption under tax treaty--(i) 
In general. In order to obtain the exemption from withholding by reason 
of a tax treaty, provided by paragraph (b)(1)(iv) of this section, a 
nonresident alien individual must submit a withholding certificate 
(described in paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section) to each withholding 
agent from whom amounts are to be received. A separate withholding 
certificate must be filed for each taxable year of the alien individual. 
If the withholding agent is satisfied that an exemption from withholding 
is warranted (see paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of this section), the 
withholding certificate shall be accepted in the manner set forth in 
paragraph (b)(2)(iv) of this section. The exemption from withholding 
becomes effective for payments made at least ten days after a copy of 
the accepted withholding certificate is forwarded to the Assistant 
Commissioner (International). The withholding agent may rely on an 
accepted withholding certificate only if the IRS has not objected to the 
certificate. For purposes of this paragraph (b)(2)(i), the IRS will be 
considered to have not objected to the certificate if it has not 
notified the withholding agent within a 10-day period beginning from the 
date that the withholding certificate is forwarded to the IRS pursuant 
to paragraph (b)(2)(v) of this section. After expiration of the 10-day 
period, the withholding agent may rely on the withholding certificate 
retroactive to the date of the first payment covered by the certificate. 
The fact that the IRS does not object to the withholding certificate 
within the 10-day period provided in this paragraph (b)(2)(i) shall not 
preclude the IRS from examining the withholding agent at a later date in 
light of facts that the withholding agent knew or had reason to know 
regarding the payment and eligibility for a reduced rate and that were 
not disclosed to the IRS as part of the 10-day review process.
    (ii) Withholding certificate claiming withholding exemption. The 
statement claiming an exemption from withholding shall be made on Form 
8233 (or an acceptable substitute or such other form as the IRS may 
prescribe). Form 8233 shall be dated, signed by the beneficial owner 
under penalties of perjury, and contain the following information--
    (A) The individual's name, permanent residence address, taxpayer 
identifying number (or a copy of a completed Form W-7 or SS-5 showing 
that a number has been applied for), and the U.S. visa number, if any;
    (B) The individual's current immigration status and visa type;
    (C) The individual's original date of entry into the United States;
    (D) The country that issued the individual's passport and the number 
of such passport, or the individual's permanent address if a citizen of 
Canada or Mexico;
    (E) The taxable year for which the statement is to apply, the 
compensation to which it relates, and the amount (or estimated amount if 
exact amount not known) of such compensation;
    (F) A statement that the individual is not a citizen or resident of 
the United States;
    (G) The number of personal exemptions claimed by the individual;

[[Page 121]]

    (H) A statement as to whether the compensation to be paid to him or 
her during the taxable year is or will be exempt from income tax and the 
reason why the compensation is exempt;
    (I) If the compensation is exempt from withholding by reason of an 
income tax treaty to which the United States is a party, the tax treaty 
and provision under which the exemption from withholding is claimed and 
the country of which the individual is a resident;
    (J) Sufficient facts to justify the claim in exemption from 
withholding; and
    (K) Any other information as may be required by the form or 
accompanying instructions in addition to, or in lieu of, the information 
described in this paragraph (b)(2)(ii).
    (iii) Review by withholding agent. The exemption from withholding 
provided by paragraph (b)(1)(iv) of this section shall not apply unless 
the withholding agent accepts (in the manner provided in paragraph 
(b)(2)(iv) of this section) the statement on Form 8233 supplied by the 
nonresident alien individual. Before accepting the statement the 
withholding agent must examine the statement. If the withholding agent 
knows or has reason to know that any of the facts or assertions on Form 
8233 may be false or that the eligibility of the individual's 
compensation for the exemption cannot be readily determined, the 
withholding agent may not accept the statement on Form 8233 and is 
required to withhold under this section. If the withholding agent 
accepts the statement and subsequently finds that any of the facts or 
assertions contained on Form 8233 may be false or that the eligibility 
of the individual's compensation for the exemption can no longer be 
readily determined, then the withholding agent shall promptly so notify 
the Assistant Commissioner (International) by letter, and the 
withholding agent is not relieved of liability to withhold on any 
amounts still to be paid. If the withholding agent is notified by the 
Assistant Commissioner (International) that the eligibility of the 
individual's compensation for the exemption is in doubt or that such 
compensation is not eligible for the exemption, the withholding agent is 
required to withhold under this section. The rules of this paragraph are 
illustrated by the following examples.

    Example 1. C, a nonresident alien individual, submits Form 8233 to 
W, a withholding agent. The statement on Form 8233 does not include all 
the information required by paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section. 
Therefore, W has reason to know that he or she cannot readily determine 
whether C's compensation for personal services is eligible for an 
exemption from withholding and, therefore, W must withhold.
    Example 2. D, a nonresident alien, is performing services for W, a 
withholding agent. W has accepted a statement on Form 8233 submitted by 
D, according to the provisions of this section. W receives notice from 
the Internal Revenue Service that the eligibility of D's compensation 
for a withholding exemption is in doubt. Therefore, W has reason to know 
that the eligibility of the compensation for a withholding exemption 
cannot be readily determined, as of the date W receives the 
notification, and W must withhold tax under section 1441 on amounts paid 
after receipt of the notification.
    Example 3. E, a nonresident alien individual, submits Form 8233 to 
W, a withholding agent for whom E is to perform personal services. The 
statement contains all the information requested on Form 8233. E claims 
an exemption from withholding based on a personal exemption amount 
computed on the number of days E will perform personal services for W in 
the United States. If W does not know or have reason to know that any 
statement on the Form 8233 is false or that the eligibility of E's 
compensation for the withholding exemption cannot be readily determined, 
W can accept the statement on Form 8233 and exempt from withholding the 
appropriate amount of E's income.

    (iv) Acceptance by withholding agent. If after the review described 
in paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of this section the withholding agent is 
satisfied that an exemption from withholding is warranted, the 
withholding agent may accept the statement by making a certification, 
verified by a declaration

that it is made under the penalties of perjury, on Form 8233. The 
certification shall be--
    (A) That the withholding agent has examined the statement,
    (B) That the withholding agent is satisfied that an exemption from 
withholding is warranted, and
    (C) That the withholding agent does not know or have reason to know 
that the individual's compensation is not

[[Page 122]]

entitled to the exemption or that the eligibility of the individual's 
compensation for the exemption cannot be readily determined.
    (v) Copies of Form 8233. The withholding agent shall forward one 
copy of each Form 8233 that is accepted under paragraph (b)(2)(iv) of 
this section to the Assistant Commissioner (International), within five 
days of such acceptance. The withholding agent shall retain a copy of 
Form 8233.
    (3) Withholding agreements. Compensation for personal services of a 
nonresident alien individual who is engaged during the taxable year in 
the conduct of a trade or business within the United States may be 
wholly or partially exempted from the withholding required by Sec. 
1.1441-1 if an agreement is reached between the Assistant Commissioner 
(International) and the alien individual with respect to the amount of 
withholding required. Such agreement shall be available in the 
circumstances and in the manner set forth by the Internal Revenue 
Service, and shall be effective for payments covered by the agreement 
that are made after the agreement is executed by all parties. The alien 
individual must agree to timely file an income tax return for the 
current taxable year.
    (4) Final payment exemption--(i) General rule. Compensation for 
independent personal services of a nonresident alien individual who is 
engaged during the taxable year in the conduct of a trade or business 
within the United States may be wholly or partially exempted from the 
withholding required by Sec. 1.1441-1 from the final payment of 
compensation for independent personal services. This exemption does not 
apply to wages. This exemption from withholding is available only once 
during an alien individual's taxable year and is obtained by the alien 
individual presenting to the withholding agent a letter in duplicate 
from a district director stating the amount of compensation subject to 
the exemption and the amount that would otherwise be withheld from such 
final payment under section 1441 that shall be paid to the alien 
individual due to the exemption. The alien individual shall attach a 
copy of the letter to his or her income tax return for the taxable year 
for which the exemption is effective.
    (ii) Final payment of compensation for personal services. For 
purposes of this paragraph, final payment of compensation for personal 
services means the last payment of compensation, other than wages, for 
personal services rendered within the United States that the individual 
expects to receive from any withholding agent during the taxable year.
    (iii) Manner of applying for final payment exemption. In order to 
obtain the final payment exemption provided by paragraph (b)(4)(i) of 
this section, the nonresident alien individual (or his or her agent) 
must file the forms and provide the information required by the district 
director. Ordinary and necessary business expenses may be taken into 
account if substantiated to the satisfaction of the district director. 
The alien individual must submit a statement, signed by him or her and 
verified by a declaration that it is made under the penalties of 
perjury, that all the information provided is true and that to his or 
her knowledge no relevant information has been omitted. The information 
required to be submitted includes, but is not limited to--
    (A) A statement by each withholding agent from whom amounts of gross 
income effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business 
within the United States have been received by the alien individual 
during the taxable year, of the amount of such income paid and the 
amount of tax withheld, signed and verified by a declaration that it is 
made under penalties of perjury;
    (B) A statement by the withholding agent from whom the final payment 
of compensation for personal services will be received, of the amount of 
such final payment and the amount which would be withheld under Sec. 
1.1441-1 if a final payment exemption under paragraph (b)(4)(i) of this 
section is not granted, signed and verified by a declaration that it is 
made under penalties of perjury;
    (C) A statement by the individual that he or she does not intend to 
receive any other amounts of gross income effectively connected with the

[[Page 123]]

conduct of a trade or business within the United States during the 
current taxable year;
    (D) The amount of tax which has been withheld (or paid) under any 
other provision of the Code or regulations with respect to any income 
effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the 
United States during the current taxable year;
    (E) The amount of any outstanding tax liabilities (and interest and 
penalties relating thereto) from the current taxable year or prior 
taxable periods; and
    (F) The provision of any income tax treaty under which a partial or 
complete exemption from withholding may be claimed, the country of the 
individual's residence, and a statement of sufficient facts to justify 
an exemption pursuant to such treaty.
    (iv) Letter to withholding agent. If the district director is 
satisfied that the information provided under paragraph (b)(4)(iii) of 
this section is sufficient, the district director will, after 
coordination with the Director of the Foreign Operations District, 
ascertain the amount of the alien individual's tentative income tax for 
the taxable year with respect to gross income that is effectively 
connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United 
States. After the tentative tax has been ascertained, the district 
director will provide the alien individual with a letter to the 
withholding agent stating the amount of the final payment of 
compensation for personal services that is exempt from withholding, and 
the amount that would otherwise be withheld under section 1441 that 
shall be paid to the alien individual due to the exemption. The amount 
of compensation for personal services exempt from withholding under this 
paragraph (b)(4) shall not exceed $5,000.

    Example 1. On July 15, 1983, B, a non-resident alien individual, 
appears before a district director with the information required by 
paragraph (b)(4)(iii) of this section. B has received personal service 
income in 1983 from which $3,000 has been withheld under section 1441. 
On August 1, 1983, B will receive $5,000 in personal service income from 
W. B does not intend to receive any other income subject to U.S. tax 
during 1983. Taking into account B's substantiated deductible business 
expenses, the district director computes the tentative tax liability on 
B's income effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business 
in the United States during 1983 (including the $5,000 payment to be 
made on August 1, 1983) to be $3,300. B does not owe U.S. tax for any 
other taxable periods. The amount of B's final payment exemption is 
determined as follows:
    (1) The amount of total withholding is $4,500 ($3,000 previously 
withheld plus $1,500, 30% of the $5,000 final payment);
    (2) The amount of tentative excess withholding is $1,200 (total 
withholding of $4,500 minus B's tentative tax liability of $3,300); and
    (3) To allow B to receive $1,200 of the amount which would otherwise 
have been withheld from the final payment, the district director allows 
a withholding exemption for $4,000 of B's final payment. W must withhold 
$300 from the final payment.
    Example 2. The facts are the same as in Example 1 except B will 
receive a final payment of compensation on August 1, 1983, in the amount 
of $10,000 and B's tentative tax liability is $3,900. The amount of B's 
final payment exemption is determined as follows:
    (1) The amount of total withholding is $6,000 ($3,000 previously 
withheld plus $3,000, 30% of the $10,000 final payment);
    (2) The amount of tentative excess withholding is $2,100 (total 
withholding of $6,000 minus B's tentative tax liability of $3,900); and
    (3) To allow B to receive $2,100 of the amount which would otherwise 
be withheld from the final payment, $7,000 of the final payment would 
have to be exempt from withholding; however, as no more than $5,000 of 
the final payment can be exempt from withholding under this paragraph 
(b)(4), the district director allows a withholding exemption for $5,000 
of B's final payment. B must file a claim for refund at the end of the 
taxable year to obtain a refund of $600. W must withhold $1,500 from the 
final payment.

    (5) Requirement of return. The tentative tax determined by the 
district director under paragraph (b)(4)(iv) of this section or by the 
Director of the Foreign Operations District under the withholding 
agreement procedure of paragraph (b)(3) of this section shall not 
constitute a final determination of the income tax liability of the 
nonresident alien individual, nor shall such determination constitute a 
tax return of the nonresident alien individual for any taxable period. 
An alien individual who applies for or obtains an exemption from 
withholding under the procedures of paragraphs (b) (2), (3), or (4) of 
this section is not relieved of the

[[Page 124]]

obligation to file a return of income under section 6012.
    (6) Personal exemption--(i) In general. To determine the tax to be 
withheld at source under Sec. 1.1441-1 from remuneration paid for 
personal services performed within the United States by a nonresident 
alien individual and from scholarship and fellowship income described in 
paragraph (c) of this section, a withholding agent may take into account 
one personal exemption pursuant to sections 873(b)(3) and 151 regardless 
of whether the income is effectively connected. For purposes of 
withholding under section 1441 on remuneration for personal services, 
the exemption must be prorated upon a daily basis for the period during 
which the personal services are performed within the United States by 
the nonresident alien individual by dividing by 365 the number of days 
in the period during which the individual is present in the United 
States for the purpose of performing the services and multiplying the 
result by the amount of the personal exemption in effect for the taxable 
year. See Sec. 31.3402(f)(6)-1 of this chapter.
    (ii) Multiple exemptions. More than one personal exemption may be 
claimed in the case of a resident of a contiguous country or a national 
of the United States under section 873(b)(3). In addition, residents of 
a country with which the United States has an income tax treaty in 
effect may be eligible to claim more than one personal exemption if the 
treaty so provides. Claims for more than one personal exemption shall be 
made on the withholding certificate furnished to the withholding agent. 
The exemption must be prorated on a daily basis in the same manner as 
described in paragraph (b)(6)(i) of this section.
    (iii) Special rule where both certain scholarship and compensation 
income are received. The fact that both non-compensatory scholarship 
income and compensation income (including compensatory scholarship 
income) are received during the taxable year does not entitle the 
taxpayer to claim more than one personal exemption amount (or more than 
the additional amounts permitted under paragraph (b)(6)(ii) of this 
section). Thus, if a nonresident alien student receives non-compensatory 
taxable scholarship income from one withholding agent and compensation 
income from another withholding agent, no more than the total personal 
exemption amount permitted under the Internal Revenue Code or under an 
income tax treaty may be taken into account by both withholding agents. 
For this purpose, the withholding agent may rely on a representation 
from the beneficial owner that the exemption amount claimed does not 
exceed the amount permissible under this section.
    (c) Special rules for scholarship and fellowship income--(1) In 
general. Under section 871(c), certain amounts paid as a scholarship or 
fellowship for study, training, or research in the United States to a 
nonresident alien individual temporarily present in the United States as 
a nonimmigrant under section 101(a)(15) (F), (J), (M), or (Q) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act are treated as income effectively 
connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United 
States. The amounts described in the preceding sentence are those 
amounts that do not represent compensation for services. Such amounts 
(as described in the second sentence of section 1441(b)) are subject to 
withholding under section 1441, but at the lower rate of 14 percent. 
That rate may be reduced under the provisions of an income tax treaty. 
Claims of a reduced rate under an income tax treaty shall be made under 
the procedures described in Sec. 1.1441-6(b)(1). Therefore, claims for 
reduction in withholding under an income tax treaty on amounts described 
in this paragraph (c)(1) may not be made on a Form 8233. However, if the 
payee is receiving both compensation for personal services (including 
compensatory scholarship income) and non-compensatory scholarship income 
described in this paragraph (c)(1) from the same withholding agent, 
claims for reduction of withholding on both types of income may be made 
on Form 8233.
    (2) Alternate withholding election. A withholding agent may elect to 
withhold on the amounts described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section at 
the rates applicable under section 3402, as if the income were wages. 
Such election shall be made by obtaining a Form W-4 (or an acceptable 
substitute or such other

[[Page 125]]

form as the IRS may prescribe) from the beneficial owner. The fact that 
the withholding agent asks the beneficial owner to furnish a Form W-4 
for such fellowship or scholarship income or to take such income into 
account in preparing such Form W-4 shall serve as notice to the 
beneficial owner that the income is being treated as wages for purposes 
of withholding tax under section 1441.
    (d) Annuities received under qualified plans. Withholding is not 
required under section Sec. 1.1441-1 in the case of any amount received 
as an annuity if the amount is exempt from tax under section 871(f) and 
the regulations under that section. The withholding agent may exempt the 
payment from withholding if, prior to payment, it can reliably associate 
the payment with documentation upon which it can rely to treat the 
payment as made to a beneficial owner in accordance with Sec. 1.1441-
1(e)(1)(ii). A beneficial owner withholding certificate furnished for 
purposes of claiming the benefits of the exemption under this paragraph 
(d) is valid only if, in addition to other applicable requirements, it 
contains a taxpayer identifying number.
    (e) Per diem of certain alien trainees. Withholding is not required 
under section 1441(a) and Sec. 1.1441-1 on per diem amounts paid for 
subsistence by the United States Government (directly or by contract) to 
any nonresident alien individual who is engaged in any program of 
training in the United States under the Mutual Security Act of 1954, as 
amended (22 U.S.C. chapter 24). This rule shall apply even though such 
amounts are subject to tax under section 871. Any exemption from 
withholding pursuant to this paragraph (e) applies without a requirement 
that documentation be furnished to the withholding agent. However, 
documentation may have to be furnished for purposes of the information 
reporting provisions under section 6041 and backup withholding under 
section 3406. The exemption from withholding granted by this paragraph 
(e) is not a determination that the amounts are not fixed or 
determinable annual or periodical income.
    (f) Failure to receive withholding certificates timely or to act in 
accordance with applicable presumptions. See applicable procedures 
described in Sec. 1.1441-1(b)(7) in the event the withholding agent 
does not hold an appropriate withholding certificate or other 
appropriate documentation at the time of payment or does not act in 
accordance with applicable presumptions described in paragraph (a) 
(2)(i), (2)(ii), or (3) of this section.
    (g) Effective date--(1) General rule. This section applies to 
payments made after December 31, 2000.
    (2) Transition rules. The validity of a Form 4224 or 8233 that was 
valid on January 1, 1998, under the regulations in effect prior to 
January 1, 2001 (see 26 CFR part 1, revised April 1, 1999) and expired, 
or will expire, at any time during 1998, is extended until December 31, 
1998. The validity of a Form 4224 or 8233 that is valid on or after 
January 1, 1999, remains valid until its validity expires under the 
regulations in effect prior to January 1, 2001 (see 26 CFR part 1, 
revised April 1, 1999) but in no event will such form remain valid after 
December 31, 2000. The rule in this paragraph (g)(2), however, does not 
apply to extend the validity period of a Form 4224 or 8223 that expires 
solely by reason of changes in the circumstances of the person whose 
name is on the certificate. Notwithstanding the first three sentences of 
this paragraph (g)(2), a withholding agent may choose to not take 
advantage of the transition rule in this paragraph (g)(2) with respect 
to one or more withholding certificates valid under the regulations in 
effect prior to January 1, 2001 (see 26 CFR part 1, revised April 1, 
1999) and, therefore, to require withholding certificates conforming to 
the requirements described in this section (new withholding 
certificates). For purposes of this section, a new withholding 
certificate is deemed to satisfy the documentation requirement under the 
regulations in effect prior to January 1, 2001 (see 26 CFR part 1, 
revised April 1, 1999). Further, a new withholding certificate remains 
valid for the period specified in Sec. 1.1441-1(e)(4)(ii), regardless 
of when the certificate is obtained.

[T.D. 6500, 25 FR 12075, Nov. 26, 1960]

    Editorial Note: For Federal Register citations affecting Sec. 
1.1441-4, see the List of

[[Page 126]]

Sections Affected in the Finding Aids section of this volume.