Instructions for the IRS W-9 Form

Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 is the Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification, which is used by businesses and organizations required to file information returns, typically known as 1099 forms, with the IRS. The IRS requires businesses and organizations to obtain Form W-9 from certain non-corporate payees for purposes of filing these information returns. The business then reports the information obtained from Form W-9 to the IRS, along with the tax information about payments the business or organization made to the payee during the year. The IRS then uses these information returns to ensure that payees are reporting appropriate amounts of tax.

Instructions

1. Obtain Form W-9. In general, Form W-9 should be provided by the business or organization that asks you to complete it. If not provided, Form W-9 is available from the IRS website or by phone at 1-800-829-3676.

2. Complete the information header, providing information about yourself or your business. This includes your name (as known to the IRS), your formal business name (if applicable), an indication if you are completing the form as an individual income tax payer or a business entity, and your address. The address should match the address on file with the IRS. If you are filing Form W-9 on behalf of your business, this should be your business address.

3. Put your Taxpayer Identification Number in Part I. Your TIN is either your social security number if you are filing this form as an individual income taxpayer or your employer identification number if you are filing this form on behalf of your business. The SSN or EIN should match the IRS' records for the name and address you previously provided.

4. Sign Form W-9 in Part II of the form. Here you certify that the information you have provided is correct and that the IRS has not notified you that you are subject to backup withholding.

5. Return the completed form to the business or organization that requested it. You do not need to send the form to the IRS.

Tips & Warnings

• Foreign individuals or entities that are not subject to U.S. income taxes do not have to complete Form W-9, even when provided by a business or organization that is a U.S. taxpayer.

• Form W-9 should not be used for an employer/employee relationship. Form W-4 is the appropriate form to use in this situation.

• If the name, address, and TIN provided in the form do not match, the IRS may notify the business or organization that it must begin "backup withholding" on payments to you. Backup withholding involves the business withholding an amount of payment due to you and remitting it to the IRS instead.

References

• Internal Revenue Service: Topic 307 - Backup Withholding
• Internal Revenue Service: Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification
• Internal Revenue Service: Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9
• Internal Revenue Service: Forms and Publications By U.S. Mail