Payments over $600 required
to be reported and direct
sales over $5,000
Specific Instructions
Name
If you are an individual, you must generally enter the name shown on your income tax return. However, if you have changed your last name, for instance, due to marriage without informing the Social Security Administration of the name change, enter your first name, the last name shown on your social security card, and your new last name.
If the account is in joint names, list first, and then circle, the name of the person or entity whose number you entered in Part I of the form.
Sole proprietor. Enter your individual name as shown on your income tax return on the “Name” line. You may enter your business, trade, or “doing business as (DBA)” name on the “Business name” line.
Limited liability company (LLC). Check the “Limited liability company” box only and enter the appropriate code for the tax classification (“D” for disregarded entity, “C” for corporation, “P” for partnership) in the space provided.
For a single-member LLC (including a foreign LLC with a domestic owner) that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner under Regulations section 301.7701-3, enter the owner’s name on the “Name” line. Enter the LLC’s name on the “Business name” line.
For an LLC classified as a partnership or a corporation, enter the LLC’s name on the “Name” line and any business, trade, or DBA name on the “Business name” line.
Other entities. Enter your business name as shown on required federal tax documents on the “Name” line. This name should match the name shown on the charter or other legal document creating the entity. You may enter any business, trade, or DBA name on the “Business name” line.
Note. You are requested to check the appropriate box for your status (individual/sole proprietor, corporation, etc.).
Exempt Payee
If you are exempt from backup withholding, enter your name as described above and check the appropriate box for your status, then check the “Exempt payee” box in the line following the business name, sign and date the form.
Generally, individuals (including sole proprietors) are not exempt from backup withholding. Corporations are exempt from backup withholding for certain payments, such as interest and dividends.
Note. If you are exempt from backup withholding, you should
still complete this form to avoid possible erroneous backup
withholding.
The following payees are exempt from backup withholding:
- An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a), any IRA, or a custodial account under section 403(b)(7) if the account satisfies the requirements of section 401(f)(2),
- The United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities,
- A state, the District of Columbia, a possession of the United States, or any of their political subdivisions or instrumentalities,
- A foreign government or any of its political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities, or
- An international organization or any of its agencies or instrumentalities.
- A corporation,
- A foreign central bank of issue,
- A dealer in securities or commodities required to register in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a possession of the United States,
- A futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission,
- A real estate investment trust,
- An entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
- A common trust fund operated by a bank under section 584(a),
- A financial institution,
- A middleman known in the investment community as a nominee or custodian, or
- A trust exempt from tax under section 664 or described in section 4947.
The chart below shows types of payments that may be exempt from backup withholding. The chart applies to the exempt payees listed above, 1 through 15.
IF the payment is for . . .
- Interest and dividend payments
- Broker transactions
- Barter exchange transactions and patronage dividends
- Payments over $600 required to be reported and direct sales over $5,000
THEN the payment is exempt for . . .
- All exempt payees except for 9
Exempt payees 1 through 13. Also, a person registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 who regularly acts as a broker
- Exempt payees 1 through 5
- Generally, exempt payees 1 through 7
See Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income, and its instructions.
However, the following payments made to a corporation (including gross
proceeds paid to an attorney under section 6045(f), even if the attorney is a
corporation) and reportable on Form 1099-MISC are not exempt from
backup withholding: medical and health care payments, attorneys’ fees, and
payments for services paid by a federal executive agency
Part I. Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. If you are a resident alien and you do not have and are not eligible to get an SSN, your TIN is your IRS individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). Enter it in the social security number box. If you do not have an ITIN, see How to get a TIN below.
If you are a sole proprietor and you have an EIN, you may enter either your SSN or EIN. However, the IRS prefers that you use your SSN.
If you are a single-member LLC that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner (see Limited liability company (LLC) on page 2), enter the owner’s SSN (or EIN, if the owner has one). Do not enter the disregarded entity’s EIN. If the LLC is classified as a corporation or partnership, enter the entity’s EIN.
Note. See the chart on page 4 for further clarification of name and TIN combinations.
How to get a TIN. If you do not have a TIN, apply for one immediately. To apply for an SSN, get Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, from your local Social Security Administration office or get this form online at www.ssa.gov. You
may also get this form by calling 1-800-772-1213. Use Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, to apply for an ITIN, or Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, to apply for an EIN. You can
apply for an EIN online by accessing the IRS website at www.irs.gov/businesses and clicking on Employer Identification Number (EIN) under Starting a Business. You can get Forms W-7 and SS-4 from the IRS by visiting www.irs.gov or by calling
1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).
If you are asked to complete Form W-9 but do not have a TIN, write “Applied For” in the space for the TIN, sign and date the form, and give it to the requester. For interest and dividend payments, and certain payments made with respect to readily tradable instruments, generally you will have 60 days to get a TIN and give it to the requester before you are subject to backup withholding on payments. The 60-day rule does not apply to other types of payments. You will be subject to backup withholding on all such payments until you provide your TIN to the requester.
Note. Entering “Applied For” means that you have already applied for a TIN or that you intend to apply for one soon.
Caution: A disregarded domestic entity that has a foreign owner must use the appropriate Form W-8.
Part II. Certification
To establish to the withholding agent that you are a U.S. person, or resident alien, sign Form W-9. You may be requested to sign by the withholding agent even if items 1, 4, and 5 below indicate otherwise.
For a joint account, only the person whose TIN is shown in Part I should sign (when required). Exempt payees, see Exempt Payee on page 2.
Signature requirements. Complete the certification as indicated in 1 through 5 below.
- Interest, dividend, and barter exchange accounts opened before 1984 and broker accounts considered active during 1983. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification.
- Interest, dividend, broker, and barter exchange accounts opened after 1983 and broker accounts considered inactive during 1983. You must sign the certification or backup withholding will apply. If you are subject to backup withholding and you are merely providing your correct TIN to the requester, you must cross out item 2 in the certification before signing the form.
- Real estate transactions. You must sign the certification. You may cross out item 2 of the certification.
- Other payments. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification unless you have been notified that you have previously given an incorrect TIN. “Other payments” include payments made in the course of the requester’s trade or business for rents, royalties, goods (other than bills for merchandise), medical and health care services
(including payments to corporations), payments to a nonemployee for services, payments to certain fishing boat crew members and fishermen, and gross proceeds paid to attorneys (including payments to corporations).
- Mortgage interest paid by you, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, qualified tuition program payments (under section 529), IRA, Coverdell ESA, Archer MSA or HSA contributions or distributions, and pension distributions. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification.
What Name and Number To Give the Requester
For this type of account:
- Individual
- Two or more individuals (joint account)
- Custodian account of a minor (Uniform Gift to Minors Act)
- a. The usual revocable savings trust (grantor is also trustee) The actual owner 1
b. So-called trust account that is not a legal or valid trust under state law
- Sole proprietorship or disregarded entity owned by an individual
Give name and SSN of:
- The individual
- The actual owner of the account or, if combined funds, the first individual on the account The minor
- The grantor-trustee
- The actual owner
- The owner
For this type of account:
- Disregarded entity not owned by an individual
- A valid trust, estate, or pension trust
- Corporate or LLC electing corporate status on Form 8832
- Association, club, religious, charitable, educational, or other tax-exempt organization
- Partnership or multi-member LLC
- A broker or registered nominee
- Account with the Department of Agriculture in the name of a public entity (such as a state or local government, school district, or prison) that receives agricultural program payments
Give name and EIN of:
- The owner
- Legal entity
- The corporation
- The organization
- The partnership
- The broker or nominee
- The public entity
Note. If no name is circled when more than one name is listed, the number will be considered to be that of the first name listed.
Secure Your Tax Records from Identity Theft
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, social security number (SSN), or other identifying information, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. An identity thief may use your SSN to get a job or may file a tax return using your SSN to receive a refund.
To reduce your risk:
- P rotect your SSN,
- Ensure your employer is protecting your SSN, and
- Be careful when choosing a tax preparer.
Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 if you think your identity has been used inappropriately for tax purposes.
Victims of identity theft who are experiencing economic harm or a system problem, or are seeking help in resolving tax problems that have not been resolved through normal channels, may be eligible for Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) assistance. You can reach TAS by calling the TAS toll-free case intake line at 1-877-777-4778 or TTY/TDD 1-800-829-4059.
Protect yourself from suspicious emails or phishing schemes. Phishing is the creation and use of email and websites designed to mimic legitimate business emails and websites. The most common act is sending an email to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft.
The IRS does not initiate contacts with taxpayers via emails. Also, the IRS does not request personal detailed information through email or ask taxpayers for the PIN numbers, passwords, or similar secret access information for their credit card, bank, or other financial accounts.
If you receive an unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS, forward this message to phishing@irs.gov. You may also report misuse of the IRS name, logo, or other IRS personal property to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1-800-366-4484. You can forward suspicious emails to the Federal Trade Commission at: spam@uce.gov or contact them at www.consumer.gov/idtheft or 1-877-IDTHEFT(438-4338).
Visit the IRS website at w ww.irs.gov to learn more about identity theft and how to reduce your risk.
Privacy Act Notice
Section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code requires you to provide your correct TIN to persons who must file information returns with the IRS to report interest, dividends, and certain other income paid to you, mortgage interest you paid, the acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, or contributions you made to an IRA, or Archer MSA or HSA. The IRS uses the numbers for identification purposes and to help verify the accuracy of your tax return.
The IRS may also provide this information to the Department of Justice for civil and criminal litigation, and to cities, states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions to carry out their tax laws. We may also disclose this information to other countries under a tax treaty, to federal and state agencies to enforce federal nontax criminal laws, or to federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to combat terrorism.
You must provide your TIN whether or not you are required to file a tax return. Payers must generally withhold 28% of taxable interest, dividend, and certain other payments to a payee who does not give a TIN to a payer. Certain penalties may also apply.