Fill Out Form W-9 in 2026
Give payers your correct taxpayer identification number, certify you're not subject to backup withholding, and download your completed copy for tax reporting.
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How to fill out a W-9 Form
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Open the form
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Fill in your details
Complete every required field, including your name, TIN, and signature.
Download as PDF
Save your completed form as a PDF file, ready to give to the requester.
What is a W-9 Form?
A W-9 Form is a document you give to a business or client that pays you, not to the IRS itself. Its job is to share your correct Taxpayer Identification Number so the payer can report your earnings, often on a Form 1099. The IRS Form W-9 also lets you certify that you are not subject to backup withholding, helping the payer file accurate income records with the IRS.
Key Takeaways
- Form W-9 provides your TIN to a payer
- Payers use it to file Form 1099
- Certifies you're exempt from backup withholding
What is a W-9 Form used for?
You fill out a W-9 Form to give your taxpayer details to a business that must report payments to the IRS. The form covers several situations, including:
- Giving your correct Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) to someone who must file an information return for income paid to you
- Reporting real estate sales, mortgage interest, or IRA contributions
- Reporting acquisition or abandonment of secured property, or cancelled debt
- Certifying you are not subject to backup withholding
- Confirming FATCA status for foreign financial institutions or entities
What information is required on a W-9 Form?
Line 1 - Name
Enter the name of the entity or individual, or the owner's name for a sole proprietorship.
Line 2 - Business name/disregarded entity name
Enter the business or disregarded entity name if it differs from the name on line 1.
Line 3a - Federal tax classification
Check the box matching the filer's tax status, such as individual, corporation, or partnership.
Line 3b - Foreign partners, owners, or beneficiaries
Indicate whether the entity has direct or indirect foreign partners, owners, or beneficiaries.
Line 4 - Exemptions
Enter an exempt payee code or FATCA exemption code if either applies to the filer.
Lines 5 and 6 - Address, city, state, and ZIP code
Provide the mailing address the requester will use for tax reporting records.
Part I - Taxpayer Identification Number
Enter a Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number to identify the payee.
Part II - Certification
Sign and date the form to certify the TIN and statements under penalties of perjury.
When is a W-9 Form due?
A W-9 Form has no fixed IRS deadline. You send it whenever a payer requests one, ideally before they issue your first payment. For interest, dividends, or certain readily tradable instrument payments, you generally have 60 days to give your TIN before backup withholding kicks in. The requester keeps the form and uses it to prepare Forms 1099, usually due January 31.
Ready to complete your W-9
Open your W-9 Form here, fill in each field, and download the completed copy when you're done.
When is a W-9 Form not required?
A W-9 Form isn't required when payments to a person stay under the $600 reporting threshold, so no information return gets triggered. Foreign payees file Form W-8 or Form 8233 instead. If the requester already holds a valid TIN on file, only a new form is needed when your information changes. A substitute form can also replace the official version, provided its content matches closely.
What does a W-9 form look like
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