Non-US citizens writing for US companies?

I've been offered a freelance contract with a US based company. They've sent me a W9 to fill out, but because I'm a UK citizen (which was clear from the resume I sent), it doesn't apply to me.

Have any other non-US writers had this issue and if so, is it resolvable?

What is the issue then? There are writers who are both UK and US citizens (or who live in the UK, but are US citizens) - in that case legitimate companies require them to submit the W9 (Independent Contractor / Taxpayer identification) form.

The issue is that the W9 they sent me was for US citizens only. However, since my post they seem to have resolved it.

I guess the W9 applies only to US citizens / legal residents (who may or may not live in the United States). Maybe they didn't know your legal status so, to be on the safe side, they sent it to you just in case.

You need the form W-8BEN. It is available online.

Under part 2 section 9 where us asks which country you complete United Kingdom (Not UK, England etc.),

Under question 10, it is article 12(2). Later in the same question where is says explain the reason, you state "beneficial owner is resident of the United Kingdom"

*I am not a tax lawyer, but have undertaken work for US companies, and had to complete these forms.

A few days before my friend also faced this kind of issue. At that time he contacted them and rectify it.

Do you know if all writers residing outside of the US have to fill it out?

As far as I know, the tax part is handled on the writers end independently.

The companies that I worked for made it clear that they do not do the withholding tax thing but that they would assist the writer in cases when tax payments would be necessary.

The inclusion of the form in the documents sent to you were probably part of that. No need to worry, you don't have to pay for taxes if you are physically working in the United States.

I don't believe that there is double taxation for online workers because you basically still work in your home country, regardless of the currency you are paid in.

You just have to be sure that you set aside your tax money for payment of personal income tax every year.

Keep track of your salary via the Paypal statements or whatever documents are used as proof of salary so that you can present the required paperwork with your tax papers when the taxman cometh in the UK.

The US taxman doesn't have anything to do with it.

Freelance writers either fill out 1099 form (I think that's the name) or file taxes in their respective countries. On my end, I have a sole proprietorship (the equivalent) and I pay taxes on whatever I make. It's a bit tricky to file but it beats having the IRS knock on my door every year. I don't think there's a single legitimate writer or a company that avoids taxation - it's the unfortunate side-effect of the world we live in (although I am of the conviction that tax is theft under the threat of weapons - with the exception of municipal taxes and some rudimentary sales taxes, everything else just serves to grow the state until it's so big it can't see it's own pecker).

An independent writer who is contracted by a US company is not bound by the US tax code. All taxes to be paid by the writer will depend upon what the tax code of the writer's country is. That means, the form that was given to the writer does not apply, since the writer is UK based. As such, the writer will have to fill out the proper tax forms for an independent worker / self-employed/single proprietorship company, whatever the writer has registered his freelance writing business as in his country. There is no issue to resolve in this case because the writer does not need to pay any U.S. taxes, just the taxes that his country charges on income from its citizens. Don't worry about it. Just ignore the form. It was probably given to you as part of the standard hiring package. That doesn't mean you have to use it.

A good reminder for writers. Wherever you are located as a freelancer, you are bounded and obligated to fulfill your own legal duties as a contractor. Companies that hire you do not have the responsibility to do this at all costs. The most they can do is remind you of your responsibilities - the rest is, of course, up to you to fulfill in the long-run.

In this country, a company must provide a 1099 to every independent contractor who earns $600 or more that year and a corresponding 1096 to the IRS, both by January 31st.

From what I've heard, there are some companies that use the W9 form to figure out whether an applicant is based in the US or not. Some third world writers, with relatives overseas often borrow the address of their relative during the application process. That is because some companies do hire only US based writers. The W9 form is meant to weed out the pretenders. If they do not know what to do with the W9 form or do not return it, then the company knows the writer lied about his actual location and the application stops at that point. It has worked for several of the companies that I know of. They were able to weed out their "undesirables" simply by mailing the forms and never having it received by the applicant.