If all of your earnings are from treaty zero-rated withholding such as royalties from US publishers:

• You should claim a zero rate by providing W-8BEN to all (say, publisher) payers to prevent withholding from occurring at the get-go.

• Meanwhile to get back the money they withheld by claiming it back as refund by filing a tax return.

• Check that preparer fee versus refund will be cost beneficial.

If you earning other US source income that is subject to withholding:

• See if that income is exempt from withholding, or if a reduced tax rate applies, under treaty

• Compare the amount withheld to the amount owed in withholding

• If correct, generally there’s no action to take or required (unless received as rent income from a US property – as more favorable outcomes can be put into place)

• If over-withheld, see above for refund claim options.