Search all codes at once in the Form 1042-S code finder. Every explanation below is our summary of the IRS instructions and the rule each code points to.
Status codes
05U.S. branch, treated as U.S. person
A U.S. branch of a foreign bank or insurer, or a U.S. territory financial institution, that agreed on Form W-8IMY to be treated as a U.S. person for withholding. It is still a foreign person for reporting, so payments to it go on Form 1042-S.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), definitions and Appendix B note 10
06U.S. branch, not treated as U.S. person
A U.S. branch, or a U.S. territory financial institution, that did not agree to be treated as a U.S. person.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), Appendix B note 11
07U.S. branch, ECI presumption applied
A U.S. branch to which the withholding agent applied the presumption that the income is effectively connected with its U.S. business.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), Appendix B
08Partnership other than withholding foreign partnership, publicly traded partnership, or partnership QDD
A foreign partnership that is not a withholding foreign partnership, a publicly traded partnership or a partnership QDD. Use it only for income effectively connected with the partnership's U.S. business, for amounts reportable under IRC 1446(f), or alongside a chapter 4 pool code; otherwise report the partners.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), boxes 13j and 13k
09Withholding foreign partnership
A withholding foreign partnership: a foreign partnership that agreed with the IRS to take on primary withholding for its partners (Rev. Proc. 2017-21).
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), definitions and boxes 13j and 13k
10Trust other than withholding foreign trust
A foreign trust that is not a withholding foreign trust. Simple and grantor trusts are generally looked through to their beneficiaries or owners unless the income is effectively connected.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), definitions
11Withholding foreign trust
A withholding foreign trust: a foreign trust that agreed with the IRS to take on primary withholding for its beneficiaries or owners.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), definitions
12Qualified intermediary
A qualified intermediary: an intermediary that has a withholding agreement with the IRS and states that status on Form W-8IMY. A U.S. withholding agent paying a QI, other than a disclosing QI, uses 12.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), definitions and boxes 13j and 13k
13Qualified securities lender, qualified intermediary
A qualified securities lender that is also a qualified intermediary, used when paying it substitute dividends.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), boxes 13j and 13k
14Qualified securities lender, other
A qualified securities lender that is not a qualified intermediary.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), boxes 13j and 13k
15Corporation
A foreign corporation, or another entity taxed as one, receiving the income for itself. This is the status for most foreign companies paid by an ordinary business.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), Appendix B
16Individual
A nonresident alien individual receiving the income for themselves. Artists and athletes paid under income codes 42 and 43 use 22 instead.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), boxes 13j and 13k
17Estate
A foreign estate. The estate itself is the beneficial owner of income paid to it.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), definitions
18Private foundation
A foreign private foundation. A foreign organization claiming exemption as a private foundation must give its U.S. TIN.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), boxes 13i and 13l
19International organization
An international organization, such as the United Nations. Its country code in box 13b is OC.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), box 13b
20Tax exempt organization (section 501(c) entities)
A foreign organization exempt under IRC 501(c). One claiming exemption from tax on that basis must give its U.S. TIN, and it documents chapter 3 exemption on Form W-8EXP.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), boxes 13i and 13l; Instructions for Form W-8BEN-E, Part XXI
21Unknown recipient
Unknown recipient: no withholding certificate or other documentation was received, or the payment cannot be reliably tied to a recipient. It is not for cases where you only lack the payee's type; the presumption rules decide that.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), boxes 13j and 13k
22Artist or athlete
An artist or athlete paid under income code 42 or 43. It replaces the individual, corporation or partnership status for those payments.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), boxes 13j and 13k
23Pension
A foreign pension fund or retirement plan.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), Appendix B
24Foreign central bank of issue
A foreign central bank of issue.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), Appendix B
25Nonqualified intermediary
A nonqualified intermediary: a foreign intermediary without a withholding agreement. Payments through it are generally reported to the underlying owners, so the owners' codes apply.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), definitions and boxes 13j and 13k
26Hybrid entity making treaty claim
A hybrid entity: one treated as fiscally transparent by the United States but not by its own country, claiming treaty benefits for itself on Form W-8BEN-E.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), Appendix B; Publication 515
35Qualified derivatives dealer
A qualified derivatives dealer: a QI approved to act as a dealer for IRC 871(m) purposes. Use it when paying a QI acting as a QDD.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), definitions and boxes 13j and 13k
36Foreign government, integral part
A foreign government, or an integral part of one, such as a ministry or political subdivision.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), Appendix B; Treas. Reg. 1.892-2T
37Foreign government, controlled entity
An entity controlled by a foreign government, such as a wholly owned state company that meets the IRC 892 definition.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), Appendix B; Treas. Reg. 1.892-2T
38Publicly traded partnership
A publicly traded partnership.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), Appendix B
39Disclosing qualified intermediary
A disclosing qualified intermediary: a QI that, for IRC 1446 payments, gives the specific payee documentation instead of pool information. It is not itself a recipient.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), definitions
40Partnership QDD
A partnership QDD, used only by a partnership reporting allocations of its QDD's items to its partners. For its other allocations the partnership uses 08, 09 or 38, and when transacting as a QDD, 35.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), Appendix B note 12
41U.S. government entity or tax exempt entity (other than section 501(c) entities); withholding agent box 12b only
A U.S. government entity or a U.S. organization exempt under a Code section other than 501(c), such as a state university. It is used only for the withholding agent's own status in box 12b.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), box 12b and Appendix B note 13
Pooled reporting codes
Used only by a qualified intermediary, qualified securities lender, withholding foreign partnership or withholding foreign trust that reports income in pools instead of to each owner.
27Withholding rate pool, general (QI, QSL, WP, WT only)
Withholding rate pool, general: income reported as a pool rather than to each owner. Only a QI, QSL, WP or WT that made a pooled reporting election may use it; a QI acting as a QDD may use only 27 or 28.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), boxes 13j and 13k and Appendix B note 14
28Withholding rate pool, exempt organization
Withholding rate pool of account holders exempt because of their tax-exempt status, not because of a treaty or another Code exception.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), boxes 13j and 13k
29PAI withholding rate pool, general
Pool reporting for the accounts of a private arrangement intermediary (an intermediary that contracts with a QI to perform its duties). Only a QI may use it.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), boxes 13j and 13k and definitions
30PAI withholding rate pool, exempt organization
PAI withholding rate pool of tax-exempt account holders. Only a QI may use it.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), boxes 13j and 13k
31Agency withholding rate pool, general
Agency withholding rate pool, general: a QI applying the Agency Option for certain partnerships or trusts reports pools for each one.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), boxes 13j and 13k and Agency Option
32Agency withholding rate pool, exempt organization
Agency withholding rate pool of tax-exempt account holders.
Source: Instructions for Form 1042-S (2026), boxes 13j and 13k