Form W-9 Request for Taxpayer Identification Number

Form W-9 Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification is a tax form used to request your taxpayer identification number SSN or TIN. Form W-9 is commonly presented to independent contractors, consultants and self employed individuals prior to getting paid the first time. The basic idea behind Form W-9 is for the requesting company to obtain your Social Security Number and signature which “certifies” that you submitted this number and are not subject to backup withholding.

Tax Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification

Form W-9 is fairly short and straight forward. It will take you far longer to read the form instructions then to complete the form. Form W-9 simply asks for your name, address, and social security number. Read the Part II Certification instructions carefully, then sign and date.

Click the Form W-9 image above to obtain a blank form direct from the IRS, which you can print and give to your contractors. Contractors can also complete their portion of the form and submit Form W-9 to their employer when requested. More printable tax forms can be found on our site.