Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification, is an IRS form used to provide your correct taxpayer identification number (TIN) to a business or person who needs to report payments to you. Freelancers, independent contractors, landlords and vendors are commonly asked to fill one out.
Who needs it: if you’re a US person (including a resident alien) and a business will pay you as a contractor or need to report certain payments, like interest or real estate transactions, they’ll usually request a W-9. The business uses it to prepare information returns, like Form 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC. You give the W-9 to the requester, not to the IRS.
How to fill it out: enter your name as shown on your tax return, your business name if different, your federal tax classification (individual/sole proprietor, LLC, corporation and so on), your address and your TIN, which is your Social Security number or employer identification number (EIN). Then sign and date the certification. Exemption codes only apply to certain entities.
Safety tips: because the W-9 contains your SSN or EIN, only send it to people and businesses you trust and that actually need it. Avoid sending it by regular unencrypted email if possible; use secure portals. Sole proprietors can get a free EIN from the IRS to avoid sharing their SSN. Watch out for scams requesting W-9s. Always download the current version directly from the IRS.
Quick tip for W-9 PDF: always keep a copy of your original file before converting, compressing or editing, and open the final PDF on a second device to confirm fonts, images and page order came through correctly.
Privacy note for W-9 PDF: avoid uploading sensitive documents, like tax forms or IDs, to tools you don’t trust. Built-in apps on your phone or computer handle most PDF tasks without sending your file anywhere.
Get the official form and instructions from the IRS Form W-9 page. Find the DS-11 form guide and tax calculators on Minedit.