This document provides instructions for requesting and completing Form W-9, which is used to request a taxpayer identification number and certification. Key points include:
1. Form W-9 is used to request the taxpayer identification number and certain certifications from U.S. individuals, businesses, and other entities.
2. Requesters may establish electronic systems for payees to submit Forms W-9 electronically, including by fax, as long as certain security and documentation standards are met.
3. Individuals who become U.S. resident aliens but are ineligible for a social security number must apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number using Form W-7.
This document provides instructions for requesting and completing Form W-9, which is used to request a taxpayer identification number and certification. Key points include:
1. Form W-9 is used to request the taxpayer identification number and certain certifications from U.S. individuals, businesses, and other entities.
2. Requesters may establish electronic systems for payees to submit Forms W-9 electronically, including by fax, as long as certain security and documentation standards are met.
3. Individuals who become U.S. resident aliens but are ineligible for a social security number must apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number using Form W-7.
This document provides instructions for requesting and completing Form W-9, which is used to request a taxpayer identification number and certification. Key points include:
1. Form W-9 is used to request the taxpayer identification number and certain certifications from U.S. individuals, businesses, and other entities.
2. Requesters may establish electronic systems for payees to submit Forms W-9 electronically, including by fax, as long as certain security and documentation standards are met.
3. Individuals who become U.S. resident aliens but are ineligible for a social security number must apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number using Form W-7.
This document provides instructions for requesting and completing Form W-9, which is used to request a taxpayer identification number and certification. Key points include:
1. Form W-9 is used to request the taxpayer identification number and certain certifications from U.S. individuals, businesses, and other entities.
2. Requesters may establish electronic systems for payees to submit Forms W-9 electronically, including by fax, as long as certain security and documentation standards are met.
3. Individuals who become U.S. resident aliens but are ineligible for a social security number must apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number using Form W-7.
PAGER/XML Fileid: D:\Users\sw2mb\documents\TF\2010 ASSIGNMENTS\W-9INST\IW9.xml (Init. & date) Page 1 of 4 Instr. for Req. of Form W-9 (Rev. 1-2011) 9:40 - 15-FEB-2011 The type and rule above prints on all proofs including departmental reproduction proofs. MUST be removed before printing. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9 (Rev. January 2011) Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless Also, a nonresident alien individual may, under certain otherwise noted. circumstances, claim treaty benefits on scholarships and fellowship grant income. See Pub. 515 or Pub. 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens, for more information. Whats New Electronic Submission of Forms W-9 New checkboxes. Generally, for any sale of a covered security acquired by an S corporation (other than a Requesters may establish a system for payees and financial institution) after December 31, 2011, brokers will payees agents to submit Forms W-9 electronically, be required to report gross proceeds and basis including by fax. A requester is anyone required to file an information to S corporations and may not treat them as information return. A payee is anyone required to provide exempt recipients. New tax classification checkboxes a taxpayer identification number (TIN) to the requester. have been added for S corporation and Trust/estate. The Payees agent. A payees agent can be an investment Form W-9 is revised to allow S corporations sufficient advisor (corporation, partnership, or individual) or an time to provide new certifications to brokers indicating introducing broker. An investment advisor must be their non-exempt status. Also, disregarded entity was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission removed as a tax classification for limited liability (SEC) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The companies. introducing broker is a broker-dealer that is regulated by the SEC and the National Association of Securities Reminders Dealers, Inc., and that is not a payer. Except for a broker The backup withholding rate is 28% for reportable who acts as a payees agent for readily tradable payments. instruments, the advisor or broker must show in writing The IRS website offers TIN Matching e-services for to the payer that the payee authorized the advisor or certain payers to validate name and TIN combinations. broker to transmit the Form W-9 to the payer. See Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Matching on page 4. Electronic system. Generally, the electronic system must: How Do I Know When To Use Ensure the information received is the information sent, and document all occasions of user access that Form W-9? result in the submission; Use Form W-9 to request the taxpayer identification Make reasonably certain that the person accessing the number (TIN) of a U.S. person (including a resident alien) system and submitting the form is the person identified and to request certain certifications and claims for on Form W-9, the investment advisor, or the introducing exemption. (See Purpose of Form on Form W-9.) broker; Withholding agents may require signed Forms W-9 from Provide the same information as the paper Form W-9; U.S. exempt recipients to overcome any presumptions of Be able to supply a hard copy of the electronic Form foreign status. For federal purposes, a U.S. person W-9 if the Internal Revenue Service requests it; and includes but is not limited to: Require as the final entry in the submission an An individual who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident electronic signature by the payee whose name is on alien, Form W-9 that authenticates and verifies the submission. A partnership, corporation, company, or association The electronic signature must be under penalties of created or organized in the United States or under the perjury and the perjury statement must contain the laws of the United States, language of the paper Form W-9. Any estate (other than a foreign estate), or A domestic trust (as defined in Regulations section For Forms W-9 that are not required to be signed, 301.7701-7). the electronic system need not provide for an A partnership may require a signed Form W-9 from its electronic signature or a perjury statement. TIP U.S. partners to overcome any presumptions of foreign status and to avoid withholding on the partners allocable For more details, see the following. share of the partnerships effectively connected income. Announcement 98-27, which is on page 30 of Internal For more information, see Regulations section 1.1446-1. Revenue Bulletin 1998-15 at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-irbs/ irb98-15.pdf. Advise foreign persons to use the appropriate Form W-8. See Pub. 515, Withholding of Tax on Announcement 2001-91, which is on page 221 of Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities, for more Internal Revenue Bulletin 2001-36 at www.irs.gov/pub/ information and a list of the W-8 forms. irs-irbs/irb01-36.pdf. Cat. No. 20479P Page 2 of 4 Instr. for Req. of Form W-9 (Rev. 1-2011) 9:40 - 15-FEB-2011 The type and rule above prints on all proofs including departmental reproduction proofs. MUST be removed before printing. below with defined in the instructions in item 3 of the Individual Taxpayer Identification Certification on Form W-9 when the instructions will not Number (ITIN) be provided to the payee except upon request. For more information, see Rev. Proc. 83-89,1983-2 C.B. 613; Form W-9 (or an acceptable substitute) is used by amplified by Rev. Proc. 96-26, which is on page 22 of persons required to file information returns with the IRS Internal Revenue Bulletin 1996-8 at www.irs.gov/pub/ to get the payees (or other persons) correct name and irs-irbs/irb96-08.pdf. TIN. For individuals, the TIN is generally a social security number (SSN). TIN Applied for However, in some cases, individuals who become U.S. resident aliens for tax purposes are not eligible to obtain For interest and dividend payments and certain payments an SSN. This includes certain resident aliens who must with respect to readily tradable instruments, the payee receive information returns but who cannot obtain may return a properly completed, signed Form W-9 to an SSN. you with Applied For written in Part I. This is an awaiting-TIN certificate. The payee has 60 calendar These individuals must apply for an ITIN on Form W-7, days, from the date you receive this certificate, to provide Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification a TIN. If you do not receive the payees TIN at that time, Number, unless they have an application pending for an you must begin backup withholding on payments. SSN. Individuals who have an ITIN must provide it on Form W-9. Reserve rule. You must backup withhold on any reportable payments made during the 60-day period if a Substitute Form W-9 payee withdraws more than $500 at one time, unless the payee reserves an amount equal to the current years You may develop and use your own Form W-9 (a backup withholding rate on all reportable payments made substitute Form W-9) if its content is substantially similar to the account. to the official IRS Form W-9 and it satisfies certain certification requirements. Alternative rule. You may also elect to backup withhold You may incorporate a substitute Form W-9 into other during this 60-day period, after a 7-day grace period, business forms you customarily use, such as account under one of the two alternative rules discussed below. signature cards. However, the certifications on the Option 1. Backup withhold on any reportable substitute Form W-9 must clearly state (as shown on the payments if the payee makes a withdrawal from the official Form W-9) that under penalties of perjury: account after the close of 7 business days after you 1. The payees TIN is correct, receive the awaiting-TIN certificate. Treat as reportable 2. The payee is not subject to backup withholding due payments all cash withdrawals in an amount up to the to failure to report interest and dividend income, and reportable payments made from the day after you receive 3. The payee is a U.S. person. the awaiting-TIN certificate to the day of withdrawal. Option 2. Backup withhold on any reportable You may not: payments made to the payees account, regardless of 1. Use a substitute Form W-9 that requires the payee, whether the payee makes any withdrawals, beginning no by signing, to agree to provisions unrelated to the later than 7 business days after you receive the required certifications, or awaiting-TIN certificate. 2. Imply that a payee may be subject to backup withholding unless the payee agrees to provisions on the The 60-day exemption from backup withholding substitute form that are unrelated to the required does not apply to any payment other than certifications. interest, dividends, and certain payments relating CAUTION ! to readily tradable instruments. Any other reportable A substitute Form W-9 that contains a separate payment, such as nonemployee compensation, is subject signature line just for the certifications satisfies the to backup withholding immediately, even if the payee has requirement that the certifications be clearly stated. applied for and is awaiting a TIN. If a single signature line is used for the required Even if the payee gives you an awaiting-TIN certifications and other provisions, the certifications must certificate, you must backup withhold on reportable be highlighted, boxed, printed in bold-face type, or interest and dividend payments if the payee does not presented in some other manner that causes the certify, under penalties of perjury, that the payee is not language to stand out from all other information subject to backup withholding. contained on the substitute form. Additionally, the following statement must be presented to stand out in the If you do not collect backup withholding from affected same manner as described above and must appear payees as required, you may become liable for any immediately above the single signature line: uncollected amount. The Internal Revenue Service does not require your consent to any provision of this document other than the Payees Exempt From Backup certifications required to avoid backup withholding. Withholding If you use a substitute form, you are required to Even if the payee does not provide a TIN in the manner provide the Form W-9 instructions to the payee only if he required, you are not required to backup withhold on any or she requests them. However, if the IRS has notified payments you make if the payee is: the payee that backup withholding applies, then you must instruct the payee to strike out the language in the 1. An organization exempt from tax under certification that relates to underreporting. This instruction section 501(a), any IRA, or a custodial account under can be given orally or in writing. See item 2 of the section 403(b)(7) if the account satisfies the requirements Certification on Form W-9. You can replace defined of section 401(f)(2); -2- Instr. for Req. of Form W-9 (Rev. 1-2011) Page 3 of 4 Instr. for Req. of Form W-9 (Rev. 1-2011) 9:40 - 15-FEB-2011 The type and rule above prints on all proofs including departmental reproduction proofs. MUST be removed before printing. 2. The United States or any of its agencies or Dividends and patronage dividends instrumentalities; Payments to nonresident aliens subject to withholding 3. A state, the District of Columbia, a possession of under section 1441. the United States, or any of their political subdivisions, Payments to partnerships not engaged in a trade or agencies, or instrumentalities; business in the United States and that have at least one 4. A foreign government or any of its political nonresident alien partner. subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities; or Payments of patronage dividends not paid in money. 5. An international organization or any of its agencies Payments made by certain foreign organizations. or instrumentalities. Section 404(k) distributions made by an ESOP. Other payees that may be exempt from backup Interest payments withholding include: 6. A corporation; Payments of interest on obligations issued by 7. A foreign central bank of issue; individuals. However, if you pay $600 or more of interest 8. A dealer in securities or commodities required to in the course of your trade or business to a payee, you register in the United States, the District of Columbia, or must report the payment. Backup withholding applies to a possession of the United States; the reportable payment if the payee has not provided a 9. A futures commission merchant registered with the TIN or has provided an incorrect TIN. Commodity Futures Trading Commission; Payments described in section 6049(b)(5) to 10. A real estate investment trust; nonresident aliens. 11. An entity registered at all times during the tax year Payments on tax-free covenant bonds under under the Investment Company Act of 1940; section 1451. 12. A common trust fund operated by a bank under Payments made by certain foreign organizations. section 584(a); Mortgage or student loan interest paid to you. 13. A financial institution; 14. A middleman known in the investment community Other types of payment as a nominee or custodian; or Wages. 15. A trust exempt from tax under section 664 or Distributions from a pension, annuity, profit-sharing or described in section 4947. stock bonus plan, any IRA, an owner-employee plan, or other deferred compensation plan. The following types of payments are exempt from Distributions from a medical or health savings account backup withholding as indicated for items 1 through 15 and long-term care benefits. above. Certain surrenders of life insurance contracts. Interest and dividend payments. All listed payees are Distribution from qualified tuition programs or exempt except the payee in item 9. Coverdell ESAs. Broker transactions. All payees listed in items 1 Gambling winnings if regular gambling winnings through 5 and 7 through 13 are exempt. Also, C withholding is required under section 3402(q). However, corporations are exempt. A person registered under the if regular gambling winnings withholding is not required Investment Advisers Act of 1940 who regularly acts as a under section 3402(q), backup withholding applies if the broker is also exempt. payee fails to furnish a TIN. Real estate transactions reportable under Barter exchange transactions and patronage section 6045(e). dividends. Only payees listed in items 1 through 5 are exempt. Cancelled debts reportable under section 6050P. Fish purchases for cash reportable under Payments reportable under sections 6041 and 6041A. section 6050R. Only payees listed in items 1 through 7 are generally exempt. After 2011, backup withholding will apply to However, the following payments made to a certain payment card transactions by a qualified corporation (including gross proceeds paid to an attorney payment card agent under section 6050W. CAUTION ! under section 6045(f), even if the attorney is a corporation) and reportable on Form 1099-MISC, Joint Foreign Payees Miscellaneous Income, are not exempt from backup withholding. If the first payee listed on an account gives you a Form W-8 or a similar statement signed under penalties Medical and health care payments. of perjury, backup withholding applies unless: Attorneys fees. Payments for services paid by a federal executive 1. Every joint payee provides the statement regarding agency. (See Rev. Rul. 2003-66, which is on page 1115 foreign status, or of Intenal Revenue Bulletin 2003-26 at www.irs.gov/pub/ 2. Any one of the joint payees who has not irs-irbs/irb03-26.pdf.) established foreign status gives you a TIN. Payments Exempt From Backup If any one of the joint payees who has not established foreign status gives you a TIN, use that number for Withholding purposes of backup withholding and information Payments that are not subject to information reporting reporting. also are not subject to backup withholding. For details, For more information on foreign payees, see the see sections 6041, 6041A, 6042, 6044, 6045, 6049, Instructions for the Requester of Forms W-8BEN, 6050A, and 6050N, and their regulations. The following W-8ECI, W-8EXP, and W-8IMY. payments are generally exempt from backup withholding. -3- Instr. for Req. of Form W-9 (Rev. 1-2011) Page 4 of 4 Instr. for Req. of Form W-9 (Rev. 1-2011) 9:40 - 15-FEB-2011 The type and rule above prints on all proofs including departmental reproduction proofs. MUST be removed before printing. the payee to solicit another TIN. Pub. 1281, Backup Names and TINs To Use Withholding for Missing and Incorrect Name/TIN(s), for Information Reporting contains copies of the two types of B notices. Show the full name and address as provided on Form Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) W-9 on the information return filed with the IRS and on the copy furnished to the payee. If you made payments to Matching more than one payee or the account is in more than one TIN Matching allows a payer or authorized agent who is name, enter on the first name line of the information required to file Forms 1099-B, DIV, INT, K, MISC, OID, return only the name of the payee whose TIN is shown and/or PATR to match TIN and name combinations with on Form W-9. You may show the names of any other IRS records before submitting the forms to the IRS. TIN individual payees in the area below the first name line on Matching is one of the e-services products that is offered the information return. and is accessible through the IRS website. Go to IRS.gov For more information on the names and TINs to and enter e-services in the search box. It is anticipated use for information reporting, see section J of the that payers who validate the TIN and name combinations General Instructions for Certain Information TIP before filing information returns will receive fewer backup Returns. withholding (CP2100) notices and penalty notices. Notices From the IRS Additional Information The IRS will send you a notice if the payees name and For more information on backup withholding, see Pub. TIN on the information return you filed do not match the 1281. IRSs records. (See Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Matching, later.) You may have to send a B notice to -4- Instr. for Req. of Form W-9 (Rev. 1-2011)