This is really helpful information everyone! I just want to add one more important consideration - make sure you check the expiration date on that scratch-off ticket. In Pennsylvania, lottery tickets typically expire 1 year from the end of the game, but scratch-offs can have different expiration dates printed on them. Since you mentioned you're planning to go to the city "next week," you should have plenty of time, but it's worth double-checking so you don't run into any last-minute rushes. The PA Lottery website has a section where you can look up when specific scratch-off games end if you're not sure. Also, if your uncle is comfortable with technology, some lottery offices now allow you to submit the Claim Authorization Form electronically ahead of time, which can speed up the process when you arrive. Might be worth asking about when you call that number Lauren provided. Good luck with everything, and props to you for being so careful about doing this the right way! Your uncle is lucky to have someone looking out for him properly.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also document everything thoroughly for your own protection. Keep copies of all the paperwork (the Claim Authorization Form, your uncle's ID, the notarization, etc.) and maybe even take a photo of the winning ticket before you leave with it. I'd also suggest having your uncle write a simple letter stating that he's the rightful owner of the ticket and that he's authorizing you to claim it on his behalf. While this might not be legally required beyond the official form, it provides additional documentation that could be helpful if any questions arise later with the IRS or state tax authorities. Given that this is an $8,700 prize (which is above the $5,000 threshold for automatic federal withholding), having a clear paper trail showing the legitimate transfer of responsibility will protect both of you. The last thing you want is for this generous gesture to create problems down the road.

Warning from someone who messed this up! If your illustration work involves you physically being in the US at any point (like for meetings, reference gathering, etc.), the rules are COMPLETELY different! I had a US magazine gig that required a 2-day visit to their office, and I didn't realize this meant I couldn't use the standard W-8BEN approach. Had to file actual US taxes and everything was a nightmare. Just make sure you're doing 100% of the work from the UK and never step foot in the US for any part of this project!

As someone who's helped several UK freelancers with W-8BEN forms, I'd recommend double-checking one thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure your illustration work actually qualifies as "royalties" under Article 12 rather than "business profits" under Article 7. If you're creating custom illustrations specifically for this magazine (like commissioned artwork), it might technically fall under business profits rather than royalties. True royalties are typically for licensing existing copyrighted material. The good news is that both articles generally result in 0% withholding for UK residents, so the practical outcome is the same. But it's worth being precise about which treaty provision you're claiming. Also, keep detailed records of all your communications and the work you're doing from the UK - this documentation can be helpful if there are ever any questions about your tax status down the line. The advice about leaving Section 5 blank is absolutely correct for your situation. Don't stress about it - thousands of UK freelancers successfully complete these forms every year!

I'm also a non-resident alien dealing with 1040NR filing, and this thread has been a goldmine of information! I'm from Australia and have US-source rental income from a property I inherited. The rental income situation seems more straightforward than consulting work, but I'm still nervous about getting the depreciation calculations right and understanding how the US-Australia tax treaty applies to rental income. One question for the group - has anyone dealt with reporting rental income as a non-resident? I'm particularly confused about whether I can deduct property management fees and repairs the same way US residents can, or if there are different rules for non-residents. The IRS publications aren't super clear on this distinction. Also, I see several people mentioning getting connected to IRS agents for specific questions. Given that I'm calling from Australia, the time zone difference makes this even more challenging. Has anyone from Australia or similar time zones had success with the Claimyr service that was mentioned?

This thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding the current landscape of 1040NR filing options! As someone who's been following this space closely, I wanted to add a few additional considerations that might help others: For those dealing with multiple income sources (like combining W-2, 1099, and rental income), make sure whatever service you choose can handle the complexity. Some of the newer AI-powered tools are getting better at this, but it's worth testing with a simple scenario first if you're unsure. Also, don't forget about state tax obligations! Several states have specific rules for non-residents that can be quite different from federal requirements. California, New York, and a few others are particularly strict about sourcing rules for non-resident income. One thing I'd emphasize is keeping detailed records of your time in the US if you're anywhere close to the substantial presence test threshold. Even if you're clearly a non-resident this year, having good documentation helps if your status changes in future years or if there are any questions during an audit. For those mentioning VITA services - this is a great free option, but do call ahead to confirm they have volunteers trained on non-resident returns. The training requirements are more specialized, so not every location offers this service. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences with specific services and tools. It's really helpful to hear real-world feedback rather than just marketing claims!

I've dealt with this exact situation! I work for a small company that uses a PEO, and my first year filing taxes with this setup was confusing. The key thing to remember is that the PEO is handling all the legal employer responsibilities - payroll, taxes, workers' comp, etc. - so they're the ones who reported your income to the IRS under their EIN. When I called my HR department about it, they explained that this is totally normal and I should just enter everything exactly as it shows on the W-2. Don't try to rearrange anything or "fix" what looks wrong. The IRS matching system expects to see the PEO's information since that's what was reported to them. Your actual employer (Actually Company LLC) being listed is just for clarity so you know where you actually work, but for tax purposes, the PEO is your legal employer. I've filed this way for three years now with zero issues or rejections.

I just went through this same situation a few months ago! I was so confused when I saw both my PEO and actual company listed on my W-2. After reading through all these responses, I can confirm that entering everything exactly as it appears on the W-2 is definitely the way to go. What helped me understand it better was thinking of the PEO as basically handling all the "back office" stuff for your actual employer - they process payroll, handle tax reporting, manage benefits, etc. So while you show up to work at Actually Company LLC every day, PEO Company LP is the one who cut your paychecks and reported your earnings to the government. I used FreeTaxUSA and it handled the dual-company W-2 format just fine when I entered it exactly as printed. No rejections, no issues. The software even has a help section that explains PEO arrangements, which made me feel better about the whole thing. Don't stress too much about it - this is way more common than you'd think!

Has anyone tried just using a PO Box in a tax-free state? My buddy does this for his online business and hasn't had any issues. He just registered an LLC in Montana and uses that address for everything.

Be very careful with this approach. I've seen several businesses get into trouble trying to use remote addresses purely for tax savings without proper substance behind them. The key factors tax authorities look for are: 1. **Actual business activity** at the address (not just mail forwarding) 2. **Proportional allocation** based on where services are actually used 3. **Legitimate business purpose** beyond tax savings Since you mentioned having employees in low-tax states, you're in better shape than someone just using a PO Box. However, you still need to ensure the allocation makes business sense. If 80% of your team is in Washington but you're routing 100% of SaaS purchases through Oregon, that's going to look suspicious. My recommendation: Work with a multi-state tax specialist to develop a defensible allocation methodology. Document everything - employee locations, actual software usage patterns, business operations at each location. The small upfront cost of proper planning is much less than the penalties and back taxes you'd face if caught doing this incorrectly. Also remember that nexus rules are complex and constantly evolving. What works today might not work tomorrow, so regular reviews with a tax professional are essential.