A question to "dunroving". Did you ever get the letter from TIAA-CREFF?
Per you post in October 2016..
"It's coincidental that I got an alert about your post as I had just got off the phone (2 hours) with TIAA-CREF. My efforts are ongoing, but TIAA-CREF still don't know what they are doing - 4 weeks ago I was told they had checked my W8BEN, including the detail about Article 19(b) and "Good news, we can confirm you are subject to zero withholding. We will send you a confirmation letter within 10 working days"
Still waiting for that letter.
No, the letter never came. To summarise:
I called them back when I didn't receive a follow-up. Typical TIAA phone call (i.e., never less than 60 minutes, passed from pillar to post, never less than consummately polite but effectively telling you tough luck you're screwed). I eventually got to a senior customer resolutions manager (who it turned out was the person who said to the associate I was talking with the previous time that there was "Good news"). Long story short they said they got it wrong and I definitely must pay 30% tax withholding. <<head explodes for the umpteenth time during a TIAA phone call>>
After a subsequent series of increasingly heated messages and phone calls I eventually reached someone who could possibly do something (let's call him MW). I am not sure whether Nun's text (which I included in my messages) made the difference, or my threat to report them to the FCA, FBI, CIA and anyone who would listen, but essentially they agreed with my position.
Withdrew a wad of cash in December, 30% tax withheld, so they screwed it up. Because the tax year then ended, TIAA could not claw it back (so that is subject to a 1040-NR and a 12-month wait to get it back). MW very apologetic but apologies don't pay the bills. He promised to make sure it worked next time.
Withdrew another wad of cash in March and although they again withheld 30%, MW said sorry, they had to withhold it but he had requested a reimbursement. <<Don't hold your breath, I thought>> Anyway, good news is that the 30% WAS reimbursed within a couple of days. Hallelujah (I reported this in the W8-BEN thread).
Since then I withdrew another wad in April, and same happened again, though iit took about a week to receive the 30%.
So, it seems like as long as MW keeps doing whatever he is doing, the 30% withholding problem is a thing of the past <<crosses fingers and toes>>