2
Form 8288 (Rev. 8-2000)
Page
General Instructions
Withholding, to report and pay over the withheld
Transferor. For purposes of this withholding,
amounts. Do not use Forms 8288 and 8288-A
this means any foreign person that disposes of a
Section references are to the Internal Revenue
for these distributions. See Regulations section
U.S. real property interest by sale, exchange,
Code unless otherwise noted.
1.1445-8.
gift, or any other disposition.
Withholding agent. For purposes of this return,
Purpose of Form
When To File
this means the buyer or other transferee who
acquires a U.S. real property interest from a
A withholding obligation is generally imposed on
A transferee must file Form 8288 and transmit
the buyer or other transferee (withholding agent)
foreign person.
the tax withheld to the IRS by the 20th day after
when a U.S. real property interest is acquired
the date of transfer.
Foreign person. A nonresident alien individual, a
from a foreign person. The withholding obligation
foreign corporation that does not have a valid
You must withhold even if an application for a
also applies to certain partnerships, foreign and
election under section 897(i) to be treated as a
withholding certificate is or has been submitted
domestic corporations, and the fiduciary of
domestic corporation, a foreign partnership, a
to the IRS on the date of transfer. However, you
certain trusts and estates. This withholding
foreign trust, or a foreign estate. A resident alien
do not have to file Form 8288 and transmit the
serves to collect tax that may be owed by the
individual is not a foreign person.
withholding until the 20th day after the day the
foreign person. Use this form to report and
IRS mails you a copy of the withholding
U.S. real property interest. Any interest, other
transmit the amount withheld.
certificate or notice of denial. But if the principal
than an interest solely as a creditor, in:
Note: You are not required to withhold if any of
purpose for filing the application for a
1. Real property located in the United States
the Exceptions (which begin on this page) apply.
withholding certificate was to delay paying the
or the Virgin Islands.
IRS the amount withheld, interest and penalties
Amount To Withhold
2. Certain personal property associated with
will apply to the period after the 20th day after
the use of real property.
the date of transfer.
Generally, you must withhold 10% of the amount
3. A domestic corporation, unless it is shown
Installment payments. You must withhold the
realized on the disposition by the transferor (see
that the corporation was not a U.S. real property
Definitions on this page).
full amount at the time of the first installment
holding corporation during the previous 5 years
payment. If you cannot because the payment
See Corporations, Partnerships, Trusts, and
(or during the period in which the transferor held
does not involve sufficient cash or other liquid
Estates Subject to Section 1445(e) on page 3
the interest, if shorter).
assets, you may obtain a withholding certificate
for information about when withholding at 35%
A U.S. real property interest does not include:
from the IRS. See the instructions for Form
is required. Also see Withholding certificate
8288-B, Application for Withholding Certificate
1. An interest in a domestically controlled real
issued by the IRS on page 3 for information
for Dispositions by Foreign Persons of U.S. Real
estate investment trust (REIT).
about applying for reduction or elimination of
Property Interests, for more information.
withholding.
2. An interest in a corporation that has
disposed of all its U.S. real property interests in
Joint transferors. If one or more foreign persons
Where To File
transactions in which the full amount of any gain
and one or more U.S. persons jointly transfer a
Send Form 8288 with the amount withheld, and
was recognized as provided in section
U.S. real property interest, you must determine
Copies A and B of Form(s) 8288-A to the Internal
897(c)(1)(B).
the amount subject to withholding in the
Revenue Service Center, P.O. Box 21086, DP
following manner.
3. An interest in certain publicly traded
8731 FIRPTA Unit, Philadelphia, PA 19114-0586.
corporations, partnerships, and trusts.
1. Allocate the amount realized from the
transfer among the transferors based on their
See Regulations sections 1.897-1 and -2 for
Forms 8288-A Must Be Attached
capital contribution to the property. For this
more information. Also see Transferred
purpose, a husband and wife are treated as
Anyone who completes Form 8288 must
property that is not a U.S. real property
having contributed 50% each.
also complete a Form 8288-A, Statement of
interest on page 3.
Withholding on Dispositions by Foreign Persons
2. Withhold on the total amount allocated to
Amount realized. The sum of the cash paid or
of U.S. Real Property Interests, for each person
foreign transferors.
to be paid (not including interest or original issue
subject to withholding. Copies A and B of Form
discount), the fair market value of other property
3. Credit the amount withheld among the
8288-A must be attached to Form 8288. Copy C
transferred or to be transferred, and the amount
foreign transferors as they mutually agree. The
is for your records.
of any liability assumed by the transferee or to
transferors must request that the withholding be
After receipt of Form 8288 and Form(s)
which the U.S. real property interest is subject
credited as agreed upon by the 10th day after
8288-A, the IRS will stamp Copy B of Form
immediately before and after the transfer.
the date of transfer. If no agreement is reached,
8288-A to show receipt of the withholding and
Generally, the amount realized for purposes of
credit the withholding by evenly dividing it
will forward the stamped copy to the foreign
this withholding is the sales or contract price.
among the foreign transferors.
person subject to withholding at the address
Date of transfer. The first date on which
shown on Form 8288-A.
Who Must File
consideration is paid or a liability is assumed by
You are not required to furnish a copy of Form
the transferee. However, for purposes of
A buyer or other transferee of a U.S. real
8288 or 8288-A directly to the transferor. To
sections 1445(e)(2), (3), and (4), and Regulations
property interest, and a corporation, partnership,
receive credit for the withheld amount, the
sections 1.1445-5(c)(1)(iii) and 1.1445-5(c)(3), the
or fiduciary that is required to withhold tax, must
transferor generally must attach the stamped
date of transfer is the date of distribution that
file Form 8288 to report and transmit the amount
Copy B of Form 8288-A to a U.S. income tax
creates the obligation to withhold. Payment of
withheld. If two or more persons are joint
return (e.g., Form 1040NR or 1120-F) or
consideration does not include the payment
transferees, each is obligated to withhold.
application for early refund filed with the IRS.
before passage of legal or equitable title of
However, the obligation of each will be met if
earnest money (other than pursuant to an initial
one of the joint transferees withholds and
Penalties
purchase contract), a good-faith deposit, or any
transmits the required amount to the IRS.
similar amount primarily intended to bind the
Under section 6651, penalties apply for failure to
Publicly traded partnerships, publicly traded
parties to the contract and subject to forfeiture.
file Form 8288 when due and for failure to pay
trusts, and REITs. Distributions from a publicly
A payment that is not forfeitable may also be
the withholding when due. In addition, if you are
traded partnership are generally subject to the
considered earnest money, a good-faith deposit,
required to but do not withhold tax under section
withholding requirements of section 1446 and
or a similar sum.
1445, the tax, including interest, may be
are not subject to the withholding requirements
collected from you. Under section 7202, you
of section 1445. See Rev. Proc. 89-31, 1989-1
Exceptions
may be subject to a penalty of up to $10,000 for
C.B. 895. Distributions from a trust that is
willful failure to collect and pay over the tax.
You are not required to withhold if any of the
regularly traded on an established securities
Corporate officers or other responsible persons
following applies:
market and distributions from a real estate
may be subject to a penalty under section 6672
investment trust (REIT) are subject to section
1. Purchase of residence for $300,000 or
equal to the amount that should have been
1445 and its regulations. However, for such
less. One or more individuals acquire U.S. real
withheld and paid over to the IRS.
partnerships and trusts, generally the method of
property for use as a residence and the amount
paying over and reporting the withholding to the
realized (sales price) is not more than $300,000.
Definitions
IRS is governed by section 1461 and its
A U.S. real property interest is acquired for use
regulations and the deposit rules in Regulations
as a residence if you or a member of your family
Transferee. Any person, foreign or domestic,
section 1.6302-2. Use Form 1042, Annual
has definite plans to reside in the property for at
that acquires a U.S. real property interest by
Withholding Tax Return for U.S. Source Income
least 50% of the number of days the property is
purchase, exchange, gift, or any other
of Foreign Persons, and Form 1042-S, Foreign
used by any person during each of the first two
disposition.
Person’s U.S. Source Income Subject to
12-month periods following the date of transfer.
Do not take into account the number of days the