8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC  20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

January 26, 2009

INLAND WESTERN RETAIL REAL ESTATE TRUST, INC.

(exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

Maryland (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	000-51199 (Commission File Number)	42-1579325 (IRS Employer Identification No.)
2901 Butterfield Road, Oak Brook, Illinois		60523
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (630) 218-8000

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01Other Events

Attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 is a press release issued by Inland Western Retail Real Estate Trust, Inc. (the “Company”) on January 26, 2009, which press release is incorporated in its entirety into this filing.

Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)Exhibits

The following Exhibit is included with this Report:

99.1Press Release, dated January 26, 2009

The statements and certain other information contained in this report, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “continue,” “remains,” “intend,” “aim,” “should,” “prospects,” “could,” “future,” “potential,” “believes,” “plans,” “likely,” “anticipate,” and “probable,” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to the safe harbors created thereby.  These statements should be considered as subject to the many risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company’s operations and business environment.  Such risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected.  These uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic conditions, market demand and pricing, competitive and cost factors, and other risk factors.

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SIGNATURES

 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

	INLAND WESTERN RETAIL REAL ESTATE TRUST, INC.
	(Registrant)
	By:	/s/ Steven P. Grimes
		Steven P. Grimes
Date: January 26, 2009		Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release, dated January 26, 2009.

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

	NEWS RELEASE 18-05-095
	2901 Butterfield Road        Oak Brook, Ill. 60523
	www.inlandwestern.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:	Georganne Palffy, The Inland Real Estate Group of Companies, Inc (Analysts)
	(630) 218-8000 Ext 2358 or palffy@inlandgroup.com
	Matt Tramel, Inland Communications, Inc. (Media)
	(630) 586-4896 or tramel@inlandgroup.com

INLAND WESTERN RETAIL REAL ESTATE TRUST, INC.

ANNOUNCES TAX ALLOCATION OF 2008 DISTRIBUTIONS

Oak Brook, Ill., January 26, 2009 – Inland Western Retail Real Estate Trust, Inc. (“Inland Western”) today announced the tax allocation of the distributions paid on its common shares during 2008.

Stockholders receiving distributions in 2008 will receive a Form 1099-DIV summarizing the allocation of the individual distributions.  Therefore, the tax allocation provided in this press release is for informational purposes only.  Stockholders are advised to consult with their tax advisors about the specific tax treatment of distributions paid by Inland Western in 2008.

The December distribution with a record date of December 31, 2008 and payment date of January 10, 2009, is reportable for the tax year in 2009, and is therefore not reflected in the 2008 tax allocation. The following table, presented on a per share basis, summarizes the tax allocation determined by Inland Western.

Record Date	Payment Date	Distribution Per Share		Ordinary Dividends		Nontaxable Dividends
12/31/07	01/10/08	$	0.053542	$	0.020308	$	0.033234
01/31/08	02/10/08	$	0.053542	$	0.020308	$	0.033234
02/29/08	03/10/08	$	0.053541	$	0.020308	$	0.033233
03/31/08	04/10/08	$	0.053542	$	0.020308	$	0.033234
04/30/08	05/10/08	$	0.053541	$	0.020308	$	0.033233
05/31/08	06/10/08	$	0.053542	$	0.020308	$	0.033234
06/30/08	07/10/08	$	0.053541	$	0.020308	$	0.033233
07/31/08	08/10/08	$	0.053542	$	0.020308	$	0.033234
08/31/08	09/10/08	$	0.053542	$	0.020308	$	0.033234
09/30/08	10/10/08	$	0.053542	$	0.020308	$	0.033234
10/31/08	11/10/08	$	0.053542	$	0.020308	$	0.033234
11/30/08	12/10/08	$	0.053541	$	0.020308	$	0.033233
TOTAL		$	0.642500	$	0.243696	$	0.398804

Inland Western Retail Real Estate Trust, Inc.  2901 Butterfield Road  Oak Brook, Illinois 60523  800.541.7661 www.inlandwestern.com

Inland Western Retail Real Estate Trust, Inc. is a self-managed real estate investment trust focused on the acquisition, development and management of retail properties, including lifestyle, power, community and neighborhood centers, in addition to single-user net lease properties in locations demonstrating solid demographics.  As of September 30, 2008, the portfolio consisted of 335 properties nationally, which the company owned or had interests in, totaling in excess of 51 million square feet.  For further information, please see the company website at www.inlandwestern.com.

The statements and certain other information contained in this press release, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “continue,” “remains,” “intend,” “aim,” “should,” “prospects,” “could,” “future,” “potential,” “believes,” “plans,” “likely,” “anticipate,” and “probable,” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to the safe harbors created thereby.  These statements should be considered as subject to the many risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company’s operations and business environment.  Such risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected.  These uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic conditions, market demand and pricing, competitive and cost factors, and other risk factors.