How to Request a W-9

The W-9 form primarily establishes your taxpayer number for the IRS. People who fill out W-9s include independent contractors and freelance workers. If you are employing workers on a contract basis, you may need them to fill out a W-9. The worker keeps a W-9 and the company also retains a copy.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Determine whether your role requires a W-9. If you have prior experience, you can probably figure out whether you need to keep a W-9 on file. If not, you can use online guides with questionnaires on independent contracting.
2. Get the contact information for your employer. You can request a W-9 by email, but if you want to talk about details, you'll need to call the office. Find a phone number by using the company name or the name of the human resources person who hired you.
3. Request the W-9 in a form you can access. If you don't have fax capabilities, you'll want to receive your W-9 electronically. Print it and sign it, providing the information requested on the form.
4. If you can't print the W-9, or there is a problem with the file, you can download the W-9 from the IRS website. Electronic forms are available that will be no different from what an employer would have sent you. Just download and print the form.
5. Fill out the information requested and sign the W-9. Send it back to the company and follow-up to make sure they have received it. Keep a copy on file for yourself.