The IRS has issued revised instructions (Rev. August 2001) for Forms W-8BEN, W-8ECI, W-8 EXP, and W-8IMY, as well as new instructions for the requester of such forms. The instructions on the top of each form state: (Use with the December 2000 revision of Form W-8...).

The changes were made to reflect recent revisions to the backup withholding rate. The instructions for the Form W-8 series no longer refer to a specific backup withholding rate of 31 percent. Instead, they only refer generically to the "backup withholding rate".

The instructions for the Requester of the Form W-8 series include a detailed chart showing the effective dates of various backup withholding rates. Note: due to a typographical error, the chart shows an August 6, 2001 effective date for the 30.5 % rate. The effective date for the 30.5% rate is for payments after August 6, 2001.

IRS forms and instructions are available at: http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/prod/forms_pubs/forms.html

P.S. The revisions to Form W-9, and the Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9, are scheduled to occur in December 2001 to reflect the rate for amounts paid after 2001.