A Foreign Tax Identification Number (FTIN) is a unique number assigned to you by the tax authority in your home country (Not the United States). It's used to identify you for tax purposes in that country.
When you submit your Tax Form to Catapult, you will be asked for your FTIN as part of our tax reporting obligations under U.S. law or international tax agreements. Providing your FTIN helps us:
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Verify your tax identity in your country.
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Ensure accurate reporting to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), if required.
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Comply with rules like the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) or tax treaties that may affect how your payments are taxed.
We will request your FTIN on either form W-8BEN (for individuals) or W-8BEN-E (for businesses) to process your payments. If you don't have an FTIN or your country doesn't issue one, you can leave this field blank on your W8. However, most countries issue Tax Identification Numbers to their citizens which are used as FTINs and without it you may not be able to claim any beneficial tax treatment (ie: A lower tax withholding rate). If your country issues Tax Identification Numbers to be used as an FTIN, you are required to submit it.
Below is a table listing examples of Foreign Tax Identification Numbers (FTINs) for some countries. The format, name, and applicability of these numbers vary by country. This list includes some common examples, but it's not exhaustive, as tax systems differ widely, and some countries may not issue FTINs to all residents or have unique rules for issuance. You can search for additional countries and their FTIN formats here.
Examples of FTINs for Individuals and Businesses (W-8BEN & W-8BEN-E):
| Country | Individual FTIN | Business FTIN | OECD TIN Document |
|---|---|---|---|
 Australia |
Tax File Number (TFN): 8 or 9 digits | Australian Business Number (ABN): 11 digits | View PDF |
 Austria |
Tax Identification Number (TIN): 9 digits | VAT Identification Number: 9 characters (AT + 8 digits, e.g., ATU12345678) | View PDF |
 Belgium |
National Register Number: 11 digits | Enterprise Number: 10 digits, formatted as XXXX.XXX.XXX | View PDF |
 Brazil |
Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas (CPF): 11 digits, formatted as XXX.XXX.XXX-XX | Cadastro Nacional da Pessoa Jurídica (CNPJ): 14 digits, formatted as XX.XXX.XXX/XXXX-XX | View PDF |
 Bulgaria |
Personal Identity Number: 10 digits | VAT Identification Number: 9 or 10 digits (BG + 9/10 digits, e.g., BG123456789) | View PDF |
 Canada |
Social Insurance Number (SIN): 9 digits, formatted as XXX-XXX-XXX | Business Number (BN): 9 digits followed by a 4-character program identifier | View PDF |
 Chile |
Rol Único Tributario (RUT): 8 or 9 digits followed by a check digit or letter, formatted as XX.XXX.XXX-Y | Rol Único Tributario (RUT): Same as individual, 8 or 9 digits followed by a check digit or letter | View PDF |
 China |
Taxpayer Identification Number: 15, 18, or 20 digits (varies by region) | Unified Social Credit Code: 18 digits | View PDF |
 Colombia |
Número de Identificación Tributaria (NIT): 9 digits with a check digit, formatted as XXX.XXX.XXX-Y | Número de Identificación Tributaria (NIT): Same as individual, 9 digits with a check digit | View PDF |
 Croatia |
Personal Identification Number (OIB): 11 digits | VAT Identification Number: 11 digits (HR + 11 digits, e.g., HR12345678901) | View PDF |
 Cyprus |
Tax Identification Number (TIN): 8 digits followed by 1 letter | VAT Identification Number: 9 characters (CY + 8 digits + 1 letter) | View PDF |
 Czech Republic |
Personal Identity Number (Rodné číslo): 10 digits, formatted as YYMMDD/XXXX | Tax Identification Number (DIČ): 8-10 digits (CZ + 8-10 digits, e.g., CZ12345678) | View PDF |
 Denmark |
Personal Identity Number (CPR-nummer): 10 digits, formatted as DDMMYY-XXXX | CVR Number: 8 digits | View PDF |
 Estonia |
Personal Identification Code: 11 digits | VAT Identification Number: 9 digits (EE + 9 digits, e.g., EE123456789) | View PDF |
 Finland |
Personal Identity Code: 11 characters, formatted as DDMMYY-XXXXX | Business ID: 8 digits, formatted as XXXXXXX-X | View PDF |
 France |
Numéro de Sécurité Sociale (NIR): 13 digits, sometimes with a 2-digit control key | SIRET Number: 14 digits | View PDF |
 Germany |
Steueridentifikationsnummer (Tax ID): 11 digits | VAT Identification Number: 9 characters (DE + 8 digits, e.g., DE123456789) | View PDF |
 Greece |
Tax Identification Number (AFM): 9 digits | VAT Identification Number: 9 digits (EL + 9 digits, e.g., EL123456789) | View PDF |
 Hong Kong |
Hong Kong Identity Card (HKID) Number: 8 or 9 characters (e.g., X123456(7)) | Business Registration Number: 9 digits | View PDF |
 Hungary |
Tax Identification Number: 10 digits | VAT Identification Number: 8 digits (HU + 8 digits, e.g., HU12345678) | View PDF |
 Iceland |
Personal Identity Number (Kennitala): 10 digits, formatted as DDMMYYXXXX | VAT Number (VSK): 6 digits | View PDF |
 India |
Permanent Account Number (PAN): 10 characters (5 letters, 4 digits, 1 letter, e.g., ABCDE1234F) | Permanent Account Number (PAN): Same as individual, 10 characters | View PDF |
 Indonesia |
Nomor Pokok Wajib Pajak (NPWP): 15 digits, formatted as XX.XXX.XXX.X-XXX.XXX | Nomor Pokok Wajib Pajak (NPWP): Same as individual, 15 digits | View PDF |
 Ireland |
Personal Public Service Number (PPS Number): 7 digits followed by 1 or 2 letters | VAT Identification Number: 8 or 9 characters (IE + 7/8 digits + letters) | View PDF |
 Israel |
Identity Number: 9 digits | VAT Identification Number: 9 digits | View PDF |
 Italy |
Codice Fiscale: 16 characters (letters and digits, e.g., XXXYYYZZZ99A999X) | VAT Identification Number: 11 digits (IT + 11 digits, e.g., IT12345678901) | View PDF |
 Japan |
My Number: 12 digits | Corporate Number: 13 digits | View PDF |
 Latvia |
Personal Identity Number: 11 digits, formatted as DDMMYY-XXXXX | VAT Identification Number: 11 digits (LV + 11 digits, e.g., LV12345678901) | View PDF |
 Lithuania |
Personal Identity Number: 11 digits | VAT Identification Number: 9 or 12 digits (LT + 9/12 digits) | View PDF |
 Luxembourg |
Personal Identification Number: 13 digits | VAT Identification Number: 8 digits (LU + 8 digits, e.g., LU12345678) | View PDF |
 Malaysia |
Tax Identification Number (Nombor Cukai Pendapatan): 11 or 12 digits, prefixed with SG or OG | Tax Identification Number: Same as individual, 11 or 12 digits | View PDF |
 Malta |
Identity Card Number: 7 digits followed by 1 letter | VAT Identification Number: 8 digits (MT + 8 digits, e.g., MT12345678) | View PDF |
 Mexico |
Registro Federal de Contribuyentes (RFC): 13 characters (4 letters, 6 digits, 3 alphanumeric) | Registro Federal de Contribuyentes (RFC): 12 characters (3 letters, 6 digits, 3 alphanumeric) | View PDF |
 Netherlands |
Burgerservicenummer (BSN): 9 digits | VAT Identification Number: 9 digits (NL + 9 digits, e.g., NL123456789) | View PDF |
 New Zealand |
Inland Revenue Department (IRD) Number: 8 or 9 digits | GST Number: 9 digits | View PDF |
 Norway |
Personal Identity Number (Fødselsnummer): 11 digits, formatted as DDMMYYXXXXX | Organization Number: 9 digits | View PDF |
 Philippines |
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN): 12 digits, formatted as XXX-XXX-XXX-XXX | Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN): Same as individual, 12 digits | Not Available |
 Poland |
PESEL Number: 11 digits | Tax Identification Number (NIP): 10 digits, formatted as XXX-XXX-XX-XX | View PDF |
 Portugal |
Número de Identificação Fiscal (NIF): 9 digits | VAT Identification Number: 9 digits (PT + 9 digits, e.g., PT123456789) | View PDF |
 Romania |
Personal Numerical Code (CNP): 13 digits | VAT Identification Number: 8-10 digits (RO + 8-10 digits, e.g., RO12345678) | View PDF |
 Singapore |
National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) Number: 9 characters (1 letter, 7 digits, 1 letter, e.g., S1234567A) | Unique Entity Number (UEN): 9 or 10 characters (digits or letters) | View PDF |
 Slovakia |
Personal Identity Number (Rodné číslo): 10 digits, formatted as YYMMDD/XXXX | Tax Identification Number (DIČ): 10 digits (SK + 10 digits for VAT, e.g., SK1234567890) | View PDF |
 Slovenia |
Tax Identification Number: 8 digits | VAT Identification Number: 8 digits (SI + 8 digits, e.g., SI12345678) | View PDF |
 South Africa |
Tax Reference Number: 10 digits | VAT Number: 10 digits, starting with 4 | View PDF |
 South Korea |
Resident Registration Number: 13 digits, formatted as YYMMDD-XXXXXXX | Business Registration Number: 10 digits, formatted as XXX-XX-XXXXX | View PDF |
 Spain |
Número de Identificación Fiscal (NIF): 9 characters (8 digits and 1 letter, or 1 letter, 7 digits, 1 letter) | VAT Identification Number: 9 characters (ES + 8 digits/letters, e.g., ESX1234567X) | View PDF |
 Sweden |
Personal Identity Number (Personnummer): 10 or 12 digits, formatted as YYMMDD-XXXX or YYYYMMDD-XXXX | Organization Number: 10 digits, formatted as XXXXXX-XXXX | View PDF |
 Switzerland |
Social Security Number (AHV Number): 13 digits, formatted as XXX.XXX.XXX.XX | VAT Number: 9 digits (CHE + 9 digits, e.g., CHE123456789) | View PDF |
 Taiwan |
National Identification Number: 10 characters (1 letter followed by 9 digits) | Unified Business Number: 8 digits | Not Available |
 Thailand |
Tax Identification Number: 13 digits | Tax Identification Number: Same as individual, 13 digits | View PDF |
 Turkey |
Tax Identification Number: 10 digits | Tax Identification Number: Same as individual, 10 digits | View PDF |
 United Kingdom |
National Insurance Number (NINO): 9 characters (2 letters, 6 digits, 1 letter, e.g., AB123456C) | Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR): 10 digits | View PDF |
 United States |
Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN): 9 digits, formatted as XXX-XX-XXXX | Employer Identification Number (EIN): 9 digits, formatted as XX-XXXXXXX | View PDF |
You can search for additional countries and their FTIN formats here.
Disclaimer
This information is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Tax rules can vary based on individual circumstances, and we are not responsible for any decisions or outcomes resulting from this guidance. For personalized advice, please consult a qualified tax professional or attorney familiar with U.S. and international tax laws.