“Three years of dividends taxed at 30% when the treaty says 15%. The ITIN let me claim it all back.”
Background
Claire holds U.S. equities through a European broker. Her W-8BEN had no taxpayer number, so dividends were withheld at the statutory 30% rather than the 15% treaty rate. Refunds of the difference can only be claimed on a U.S. return.
What we did
We filed the W-7 together with a 1040-NR for the most recent year, verified her passport on video from Lyon, and prepared the two prior-year returns to follow once the number was issued.
Outcome
The ITIN arrived in nine weeks. All three refund claims were accepted and Claire’s broker now applies the treaty rate at source.
