What is the W-9 form?
The IRS's Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification, is a tax form used by US businesses to get information from independent contractors (or freelancers) based in the United States.
If you need a reminder of what this form is, read our blog article here.
The purpose of the W-9 Form is to collect information from vendors US clients hire as independent contractors and freelancers (1099 employees).
Form W-9 contains the name, address, and Social Security number or tax identification number (TIN) of a contractor. This form is not submitted to the IRS by either party, but returned to the hiring party by the contractor.
If you are a Deel user, you will be taken through the simplified flow, but the Form will match the official one.
- This is how the W-9 Form looks like:
Filling out the tax form
Please enter your details as they appear on your income tax return.
If you are filing as an individual:
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Name: Enter your legally given name as shown on your income tax return.
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Business Name/Disregarded Entity Name: Unless you have a business name, trade name, or a disregarded entity name, leave this field empty.
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Check appropriate box for federal tax classification: Check only one box.
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Exemptions — If applicable, refer to exemption codes described on pages 3-4 of the W-9 form.
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Address (State, City, Address, Address 2, Zip) — For Address, include the building number and street name (e.g., "52 Market Street"). For Address 2, include the apartment, suite, unit, building, or floor number. The address must match your income tax return.
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Tax identification number (TIN) — For individuals with a social security number (SSN), the TIN is equal to SSN. For an overview of all valid TINs, please see the IRS's W-9 instructions or this article.
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Sign the form with your full (legal) name and fill in the date of signature.
If you are not filing as an individual or have other special cases, please refer to the IRS's W-9 form for guidance.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as tax advice. IRS regulations can be subject to change, so check for updates on www.irs.gov. Consult an accountant or tax advisor for help with tax laws.