To fill out a W-9 form, follow these steps:
- Line 1 – Name: Enter your full legal name as shown on your income tax return. If you are an individual or single-member LLC, use your personal name. For businesses or other entities, use the official business name registered with the IRS
- Line 2 – Business Name: If you have a business name, trade name, or DBA (Doing Business As) name different from Line 1, enter it here. Otherwise, leave it blank
- Line 3 – Federal Tax Classification: Check the box that best describes your tax status, such as Individual/sole proprietor, C Corporation, S Corporation, Partnership, Trust/Estate, Limited Liability Company (LLC), or Other. For LLCs, specify the tax classification (e.g., disregarded entity, corporation, partnership)
- Lines 4 and 5 – Exemptions and Address: Fill in any exemption codes if applicable (usually left blank for individuals). Enter your mailing address, which is where you will receive any related tax documents like Form 1099
- Line 6 – City, State, and ZIP Code: Provide your city, state, and ZIP code corresponding to the address entered
- Line 7 – Account Number(s) (optional): You may enter any account numbers assigned by the requester if applicable. This is optional and often left blank
- Part I – Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN): Enter your Social Security Number (SSN) if you are an individual or single-member LLC. If you are a business entity (like a corporation or multi-member LLC), enter your Employer Identification Number (EIN). Do not enter both
- Part II – Certification: Sign and date the form certifying that the information provided is correct. This signature can be electronic or handwritten depending on how you submit the form
You do not send the completed W-9 form to the IRS. Instead, submit it to the person or company requesting it, such as a client or financial institution, so they can properly report payments to the IRS
. Make sure to use the most current version of the form (updated March 2024 or later) and verify all information before submitting
. In summary:
Step| What to Fill Out
---|---
1| Your full legal name
2| Business name (if different)
3| Tax classification checkbox
4-6| Address, city, state, ZIP
7| Optional account number
Part I| SSN or EIN
Part II| Signature and date
This completes the W-9 form filling process
