Person in NZ that earned ~$1500 from a US company being asked to send a W-9 form

[japo32]

Hi all,
The US company I did a side gig for is asking for a W-9 form for tax purposes. By my research that form is for US persons and the W-8BEN is more applicable for foreign individuals.
I'm not 100% sure if this is correct and I don't know how much tax there is to pay.
The amount I was paid was around $1500 in total and the last payment was early last year.
Does anybody have any experience with this?

[Wile E. Coyote]

As long as you are not a "US Person" (i.e., citizen, green card holder, resident) then the Form W-9 is not the right form.  If you are being paid as an foreign (non-US) person, you should provide a Form W-8BEN.  If you are being paid as a foreign entity, you should provide Form W-8BEN-E. 

As long as the work was done outside the US and not connected with a US trade or business (or permanent establishment in the US), there should be no tax withheld or due.  But you will need to provide the form, or they will be required to withhold taxes.