Claiming Your Award
Disbursement Options
- Is it possible to issue the check directly to your institution (which you can then access via their accounts process)? This is the recommended and preferred disbursement option. Please note that the Society of Systematic Biologists does not allow overhead (commonly called indirect costs by some universities) to be taken from these awards. If YES, please send full payment instructions (for check or wire) to the SSB Accountant.
- If by check, provide the name of your university, full mailing address, and any information to be noted on the check to ensure that the funds reach you. (This form will be sent to you by the SSB Awards Director)
- If by wire, please use the attached wire instructions (domestic or international).
- If you cannot receive the award via your institution, you will have to receive the funds as taxable income. Because SSB is a US-based organization, we must adhere to the US tax laws.
- For US citizens or those living in the US with a taxpayer identification number (i.e., authorized to work in the US), please complete the US Internal Revenue Service's form W-9. Send this form (fax or email) to the SSB Accountant.
- For non U.S. citizens choosing to receive the award directly, the process is much more complicated. Rather than attempt to include an explanation of this process, with all of the different permutations depending on your citizenship, please provide the SSB Accountant with your mailing address. They will then research the appropriate tax treaty (if applicable) and get back to you with specific instructions. In general, receiving payment directly means that 30% of your award will need to be withheld in U.S. taxes, and you’ll need to obtain an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the Internal Revenue Service to get credit for this withholding (which will take weeks, if not months).