What documents do you need to get paid by a US company from abroad?
To be paid by a US company from abroad you generally need a US tax form (W-8BEN for individuals, W-8BEN-E for entities), your home-country tax details, verified bank information and any invoice the program terms require. Prepare them before a SourceX reward becomes payable, which happens only after the buyer pays.
Why have a paperwork checklist before the first payout?
A reward is not paid until the buyer pays and SourceX receives its fee, which depends on the deal timeline rather than on your introduction. Missing paperwork is the avoidable delay on your side of that timeline. This checklist lets you prepare in one sitting, so a payable reward is not held up by a form.
The checklist covers both sides: the US tax form a payer asks for, the registrations and records in your home country, and the payment details. Payout methods and any invoicing step are whatever the program terms and your signed agreement state; where they say something different from this page, they win.
The checklist
US tax documentation
- Work out whether you are paid as an individual or as an entity (company, partnership, practice). The form depends on this.
- Individuals outside the US: prepare a Form W-8BEN. The IRS explains it on its page about Form W-8BEN.
- Entities outside the US: prepare a Form W-8BEN-E, described on the IRS page for Form W-8BEN-E. Our walkthrough of filling out a W-8BEN-E for a consulting firm covers the entity version.
- If you are a US person, a Form W-9 applies instead; the IRS describes it on its page about Form W-9.
- Note your home-country tax identification number, and whether a treaty claim is relevant. Ask a tax adviser; do not guess.
- Put a reminder in your calendar to refresh the form before it expires or your details change.
Home-country registration and tax
- Confirm whether you need a business registration, trade license or tax registration to receive referral income.
- Ask your adviser whether sales tax, VAT or GST questions arise on a cross-border fee.
- Decide which entity receives the reward, and keep that entity consistent from sign-up to payout.
- If you hold a professional license, read your professional body's current guidance on referral rewards and disclosure.
Invoice and payment details
- Ask what the terms require: an invoice, a self-billing arrangement, or neither. Do not assume.
- Prepare legal name, address and account holder name exactly as on your bank records.
- Confirm the bank account can receive international transfers in the payout currency named in the agreement.
- Verify bank details with a second pair of eyes; a transposed digit can delay a payment.
Records to keep
- The signed partner agreement and the version of the terms in force when you registered.
- Your referral link or the confirmation of the referral form you submitted, with dates.
- Introduction emails, with the company contact's consent to be introduced.
- Copies of any tax form you submitted and the date you did so.
How to use the results
| Result | What it means | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| All US tax items done | You can respond to a payer request quickly | Keep copies; set a refresh date |
| Form chosen but unsure about treaty or withholding | The facts, not the form, drive the outcome | Book a short call with a tax adviser |
| Entity not yet decided | Forms and payout details may need redoing later | Decide before you register |
| Terms unclear on invoicing | You may prepare the wrong document | Ask SourceX before the first payout |
The consequences of not providing the form are covered in what happens if you do not provide a W-8BEN.
Red flags
Stop and verify through the portal or the contact details in the terms if a message claiming to come from SourceX does any of the following:
- Asks for a tax form or bank details outside the channel your agreement names.
- Asks for a login, password or one-time code rather than account details.
- Asks you to pay something before a reward is released.
The page on where to send your W-8BEN explains what a genuine request looks like.
This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Confirm with your own counsel, tax adviser or professional body before acting.
What this checklist does not do
It does not decide how much you earn, how your country taxes it, or when payment arrives. Partners earn 25% of the eligible platform fees SourceX actually collects, capped at $100,000 per referred company, and the reward is payable only after the buyer pays and SourceX receives its fee. No reward is guaranteed. The referral earnings calculator shows how the formula works, and the guide to explaining payout milestones before a company applies covers the sequence.
Partners in specific markets will find extra detail in the UK partner guide and the page for nearshore software firms. Whether you can join at all is answered in can non-US residents join.
Next step
Work through the first section today, then register as a partner with the entity you decided on.
- Step 1Share your linkSend your personal link to a company you know.
- Step 2Company appliesThe company applies itself at /apply.
- Step 3Buyer selects and paysThe buyer selects and pays for the data and SourceX receives its fee.
- Step 4You get your rewardYour share of SourceX fees becomes payable.
Common questions
When should I prepare these documents?
Before you register is ideal, and certainly before your first reward is close to payable. A reward only becomes payable after the buyer pays and SourceX receives its fee, so you usually have time. Preparing early avoids delays caused by an expired form, a mismatched name or bank details that cannot receive the payout currency.
Do I need a business entity to receive a reward?
Not necessarily. Many partners are individuals and some operate through a firm. What matters is that the name on your tax form, agreement and bank account match, and that you chose the receiving party deliberately. Ask a tax adviser in your home country which structure suits you before registering.
Do I need to issue an invoice?
That depends on the program terms and your signed agreement, which state how payouts are processed. Do not assume either way. If the terms are silent or unclear, ask SourceX before the first payout so you do not prepare the wrong document or delay the payment.
How long should I keep these records?
Keep them as long as your own tax and professional rules require, which your adviser can tell you, and at least until all rewards under the agreement have been paid. The agreement, tax forms, referral confirmations and dated introductions are the core set and cost almost nothing to store.
Is a W-9 ever relevant to a non-US partner?
A Form W-9 is for US persons, including resident aliens, while non-US individuals and entities use W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E. If your status is unclear, for instance a US citizen living abroad, ask a tax adviser which form applies to you rather than choosing one yourself.
Related pages
- How to fill out a W-8BEN-E for an advisory or consulting firm
- What happens if you do not provide a W-8BEN before a payout?
- Referral Earnings Calculator
- How to explain payout milestones before a US company applies
- How UK advisers can refer US companies and what to check first
- A referral program for nearshore software firms with US clients
Free resources
- IRR calculator — Internal rate of return on annual cash flows.
- Business valuation calculator — Enterprise and equity value from EBITDA, your multiple, cash and debt.
- Portfolio data opportunity scanner — Screen several companies in one session.
- All free tools · MCP resource center
By SourceX Partnerships Team · Published 2026-10-09 · Updated 2026-10-09
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