Submitting Tax Forms: Instructor Frequently Asked Questions – Udemy

This article includes answers to frequently asked questions we receive, regarding what tax forms instructors need to submit to Udemy.

Please note: Udemy is not able to provide tax help or give any advice about what to include in your tax form submission. This guide is intended to help answer common questions that Udemy instructors might have about their obligation to submit tax documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all instructors have to submit their tax forms? Regardless of their country of citizenship?
How do I submit my tax forms?
When would I not need to submit a tax form?
Which forms should I expect to receive?
How do I know which form to submit?
What happens if I don’t submit a form?
When will I receive my tax forms?
I previously submitted my tax forms to Udemy. Do I need to complete this process again?
How does Udemy handle VAT/GST?
Where can I find more information on tax forms?

Do all instructors have to submit their tax forms? Regardless of their country of citizenship?

Yes. Udemy is based in the United States, which means Udemy instructors have certain tax obligations to the U.S. Government.

Once you begin the submission flow you will see the option to choose whether you are a U.S. or non-U.S. instructor as one of the first selections you make. Depending on what you choose, the platform will guide you through options that are unique to the selection you made as a U.S. or non-U.S. citizen.

Submitting your form is important because it ensures that Udemy will withhold the correct amount for IRS withholding (Learn more).

How do I submit my tax forms?

Learn how to securely submit your tax forms to Udemy.

When would I not need to submit a tax form?

Instructors do not need to submit a tax form until they start earning revenue from their Udemy courses, if they’re notified by Udemy their tax documentation has expired, or if their tax circumstances have changed.

Which forms should I expect to receive?

Learn about tax forms and applicable forms instructors can expect from Udemy.

How do I know which form to submit?

If you’re not sure which form to submit or how to answer a question about your tax status, we recommend that you consult with a tax advisor to ensure you’re using the right form.

We can offer some basic information about the types of forms you can fill out via our tax platform:

W-9: used by U.S. individuals and entities to certify their Tax ID number
W-8BEN: used by non-U.S. individuals to certify that they are a beneficial owner or a financial account-holder, and claim treaty benefits (Learn more).
W-8BEN-E: used by non-U.S. entities to certify they’re a beneficial owner or a financial account-holder, and claim treaty benefits

We also support the ability to submit certain less-common types of forms manually by contacting our Support team directly:

W-8ECI: used by non-U.S. individuals or entities to certify they’re a beneficial owner receiving U.S.-sourced income that is effectively connected with U.S. trade or business
W-8EXP: used by non-U.S. governments or other tax-exempt entities to certify they’re a beneficial owner or a financial account-holder
W-8IMY: used by non-U.S. entities to certify they’re an intermediary or flow-through entity receiving payments on behalf of another person

What happens if I don’t submit a form?

If an instructor doesn't have a valid form on file with Udemy at the time of payout, payment will be suspended. Once a valid form is received, payment will be unsuspended and Udemy will trigger payout of all pending earnings within 1-2 weeks, applying the tax withholding rate determined by the form submitted.

Learn how to securely submit your tax forms to Udemy.

In cases where an instructor has continued to make no attempt to provide tax information over an extended period of time, and has not responded to our notifications to provide this information, we reserve the right to unpublish that content. Likewise, Udemy will hold on to pending payments as long as possible, but after considerable time with no tax identification, we may be required to turn these funds over to the relevant government authority.

Note: If an instructor’s content is at risk of removal or their payment is at risk of becoming unavailable because of a long-term failure to provide tax information, we will notify them well in advance.

When will I receive my tax forms?

If you provided Form W-9 or had tax withheld prior to submitting a tax form, you can expect a copy of Form 1099 by mid-February the following year.

If you provided any other form, such as a W-8BEN or a W-8BEN-E, you can expect a copy of Form 1042-S by mid-March the following year (Learn more).

I previously submitted my tax forms to Udemy. Do I need to complete this process again?

There are some requirements concerning the recency of the tax information you provide. We may be asking you to provide your information again to be absolutely sure we have your most up-to-date tax status. The IRS requires that you submit updated tax information any time your tax status changes (i.e. a change of address or name).

Some forms, like the W-8BEN, must also be resubmitted every few years. If your form is set to expire, you'll be prompted to make a new submission. In any case, if you see a prompt to submit a tax form in your Udemy account, or you receive a notice that a tax form is needed, you will need to submit your tax forms to Udemy again.

How does Udemy handle VAT/GST?

Learn how Udemy handles VAT (Value Added Tax) and GST (Goods & Services Tax).

Where can I find more information on tax forms?

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides instructions in English for its tax forms that our tax form tool supports:

Since Udemy is unable to provide tax advice, we recommend that you consult with a tax advisor to ensure you’re using the right form and entering the information correctly.