What's a US Person?

I recently went to open a new bank account and was, of course, met with the obligatory demands - or so it is presented as such - for Social Security Numbers and other State identification.

I noticed something interesting on the banking application that I had never seen before - admitting that it had been at least five years since I had opened a new bank account.

I just read the Dec 12, 2001 question here about the requirements for requesting one's SSN &c - this new regulation uses the term US Person while further identifying everyone else as a foreign person.

I'm trying to figure out what a US Person is or a foreign person or a non-resident alien or a resident alient or what? How complicated can it be? I was born in Indiana - what am I? At this point, I'm not absolutely sure - it seems pretty complicated. It should be simple - but...leave it to the government to make the simple complicated.

In the section entitled "Backup Withholding Certifications" - which I now wonder if this is even required, on the signature line it states, "I certify under penalties of perjury that statements checked in this section and that I am a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien)."

Huh? What is that? It seems rather ambiguous to me, am I a U.S. Person AND a U.S. resident alien at the same time? Is that what that says? I have no idea what this means, but after reading it and seeing this new language in the regulation - I'm trying to figure out what a U.S Person is as it seems to be, at least on this form, an attempt to admit one is a "resident alien" - whatever that is.

If you can enlighten me, I'd appreciate it.

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin

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