Wife received w9 form from Citibank, no SNN no TIN

[dalox303 2]

My wife opened a Citibank checking account last month. We just recently received a packet in the mail from Citibank stating she needs to fill out a w-9 form.  
 

My question is does she need to fill this out? And if she doesnt will she be considered a public charge?  What can happen to her if the W-9 is not filed? 
 

The reason I’m asking is because of covid and covid related restrictions, we havent been able to get her SNN yet, and we are still currently filling out her AOS application.  So she does not have a SNN, TIN or EAD. She has not been working, and assume isnt going to receive any interest (she only has a checking, not savings). The only reason she opened a checking account with citi is to transfer money from her country that she had saved. 
 

Similarly related, she also joined my BOA account last year before we were married, never received a W-9 form for her or any other tax related documents. I hold a checking and savings and have been receiving interest, unemployment checks (pandemic relief stuff, now working), and stimulus check. Does her being a joint holder make her a public charge? Im technically receiving all of this, unemployment and stimulus check were in my name not hers. Just curious if her being a joint holder makes her eligible to be a public charge. 
 

Thanks VJ!

[Lemonslice 4,922]

It has nothing to do with being considered a public charge, but the bank might close her account.  Call them and explain what is happening - might need to switch to another type of account, or fill another form.  Call them.

[Wafflebot 21]

Never ask the internet tax questions, you will most definitely get a wrong answer. Form W-9 is an IRS form, so this is a tax question and is unrelated to immigration.

 

Take a look at the instructions for Form W-9, they pretty clear: https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iw9

[dalox303 2]

7 hours ago, Wafflebot said:

 

Never ask the internet tax questions, you will most definitely get a wrong answer. Form W-9 is an IRS form, so this is a tax question and is unrelated to immigration.

 

Take a look at the instructions for Form W-9, they pretty clear: https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iw9

 

Good advice, and I appreciate the link, but my question wasnt directly related to taxes (didnt ask advice on taxes or ask how to fill out the w9) and this is the tax and finance during immigration thread no? 

[dalox303 2]

9 hours ago, Lemonslice said:

 

It has nothing to do with being considered a public charge, but the bank might close her account.  Call them and explain what is happening - might need to switch to another type of account, or fill another form.  Call them.

 

Thank you! Just strange how she can open an account without a ssn or tin and then they might possibly close her account without the w9. 
 

Will contact them again and better explain the situation, when i called the first time they said contact the irs, which right now is next to impossible!

[Wafflebot 21]

2 hours ago, dalox303 said:

Good advice, and I appreciate the link, but my question wasnt directly related to taxes (didnt ask advice on taxes or ask how to fill out the w9) and this is the tax and finance during immigration thread no? 

There’s a reason they suggested that you call the IRS. You asked if she should complete the form, which is a tax question. Whether or not she needs to complete Form W-9 vs W-8BEN is based on her US tax residency, but she’ll need to complete one of those. US financial institutions are required to collect one of these forms from all customers. If she is a US tax resident, then follow the instructions for W-9. The instructions state what to do when you don’t yet have a US tax identification number.

 

Regardless of which form she completes or whether she completes it makes no difference from an immigration perspective. The topic of public charge isn’t relevant. 

 

 

 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

17 hours ago, dalox303 said:

Good advice, and I appreciate the link, but my question wasnt directly related to taxes (didnt ask advice on taxes or ask how to fill out the w9) and this is the tax and finance during immigration thread no? 

W-9 is related to taxes. They don’t have to hold back any interest earned on an account and send to the IRS because she qualifies as a “US person” or resident alien for tax purposes. A W-8BEN identifies her  as a foreigner and the bank has to do withholding. If she’s getting no interest anyway, send them a W8-BEN. Even if she got interest it wouldn’t be much so only pennies would be held back. The bank is required by the government to classify her. When she gets a SSN, send them a W-9 to switch her.