this is my first time a received a W-8BEN form I have an EZ checking account from citibank so I have a savings and checking account ? is there a reason why I am getting this form to fill out, I have 2,000 dollars in the account, the letter says i have to fill it out or they will take 28% out of my account,I have been unemployed for a couple of months and I can't afford to loose money at the moment, last year a filed for taxes using an ITIN number issued by the IRS and paid $440 in fines to the government and havent filed since because i have been unemployed, do i have to pay a fine in order to have money in the bank or should i just cancel my account? and is there a number where i can talk to some one so they can tell me how to fill out this form, some words are very confussing and i don't know what they mean. and i need help filling out this form is there such thing as a sample form so I can use as a guideline?... Thanks for your help..

Please call our service center at (210) 677-6500, or visit your local Financial Center and discuss why you need to complete this form. In so doing, you can avoid having taxes taken out as prescribed by law. There is no fine for keeping money in the bank.

Here is a link IRS' instructions for W-8 BEN

Even if it determined that the withholding is necessary, it is 30% of income (any interest earned) not on the account balance.

what do you mean by 30% income (any interest earned) does that mean my account balanced won't be effected?

It only takes 30% of the taxable interest, it does not affect your principal balance.

thanks for the info, i appreciated