Fillable W-9 form
Complete a W-9 request for taxpayer information on screen.
Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification, is the US form a business asks a contractor or vendor to complete before paying them. This fillable helper lets you type the standard fields and download a clean copy; for anything you submit, use the current official IRS form linked below.
Opens a fillable version in your browser. Free, no account, nothing uploaded.
Fields in this form
- Name
- Business name (if different)
- Federal tax classification
- Address
- City, state, ZIP
- Taxpayer identification number
- Signature
- Date
About the w-9 form
A W-9 is a US tax form used to collect a taxpayer identification number from a contractor or vendor. A business asks for it so it can report payments.
This fillable helper lets you complete the standard fields on screen and download a clean copy. Always confirm you are using the current official form for your filing.
When you need it
- A client asks you to submit a W-9 before paying you.
- You hire a contractor and need their taxpayer details.
- You want a tidy, typed copy rather than a handwritten one.
Where it stands legally
The IRS says you use Form W-9 to provide your correct Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) to the person who is required to file an information return with the IRS, reporting things like income paid to you, real estate transactions, mortgage interest, or cancellation of debt. The requester keeps the form; it is not sent to the IRS.
The payer uses the W-9 to prepare a Form 1099 (usually 1099-NEC for contractor pay) at year end. If you do not provide a correct TIN, the payer may be required to withhold tax from your payments (backup withholding). The certification you sign on the form covers that.
The W-9 is a US form for US persons (citizens, residents, and US entities). A non-US person is normally asked for a Form W-8 instead. Canadian contractors paid by US clients often need the W-8BEN, not the W-9; ask the payer or an accountant.
Because the form carries a SIN-equivalent (SSN or EIN), send it only to the requester through a secure channel.
General information, not legal advice. Rules differ by province, state and city, and they change. Confirm the current rule where the document will be used.
What each field means and how to fill it
| Field | What it means | How to fill it |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Your name as shown on your tax return. | Individuals and sole proprietors enter their own name here, not the business name. |
| Business name (if different) | A trade name or disregarded entity name. | Enter it only if it differs from line 1. |
| Federal tax classification | How the IRS taxes you. | Individual or sole proprietor, C corporation, S corporation, partnership, trust or estate, LLC (with its tax classification), or other. Copy from the official form's checkboxes. |
| Address, city, state, ZIP | Where the 1099 will be mailed. | Use the address you want on your tax documents. |
| Taxpayer identification number | Your SSN (individuals) or EIN (businesses). | Sole proprietors may use either. Double-check the digits; a wrong TIN triggers backup withholding. |
| Signature and date | Certifies the TIN is correct and you are not subject to backup withholding (unless you cross that out). | Sign, date, and read the certification on the official form. |
How to fill this out
- 1Enter your name as it appears on your tax return, and a business name only if it is different.
- 2Choose your federal tax classification.
- 3Enter the mailing address you want on your 1099.
- 4Enter your SSN or EIN and check every digit.
- 5Sign and date, download, and send it to the requester through a secure channel. For submission, transfer the details to the current official form.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Putting the business name on line 1 when you are a sole proprietor. Line 1 is your own name.
- Ticking the wrong classification for an LLC. A single-member LLC that has not elected corporate tax treatment is usually a disregarded entity.
- A transposed digit in the TIN.
- Non-US persons completing a W-9 when they should complete a W-8 form.
- Emailing the form as an open attachment.
- Using an old revision when the requester's system expects the current one.
What makes it hold up, and when you need a lawyer
Usually fine with this template
- US freelancers, contractors and vendors asked for a W-9 by a client before payment.
- US businesses collecting TINs from contractors so they can issue 1099s.
- Landlords, interest recipients and others asked for a TIN for information reporting.
Use the official form or get advice
- Non-US persons, who usually need a W-8 form instead.
- Entities with unusual tax classifications, exempt payee codes or FATCA reporting codes.
- Anyone who has been told they are subject to backup withholding.
- Ask a tax professional, not a lawyer, for most W-9 questions.
Worked example (illustrative)
Made-up names and figures to show what a completed w-9 form looks like. Not a real transaction.
| W-9, illustrative (sole proprietor) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Casey Nguyen |
| Business name | Nguyen Web Studio |
| Tax classification | Individual / sole proprietor |
| Address | 100 Example Street, Apt 4, Springfield, IL 62701 |
| TIN | SSN ending in 0000 (placeholder) |
| Signature | Signed and dated |
Related official forms, tools and guides
- IRS Form W-9 (official form on this site): the version to submit
- How to fill out a W-9: line-by-line guide
- Form 1099-NEC: what the payer files using your W-9
- Form W-4: for employees, not contractors
- Form W-7: apply for an ITIN if you cannot get an SSN
- Independent contractor agreement
Frequently asked questions
Who needs to fill out a W-9?
A US contractor, freelancer, vendor or other payee who is asked for one by a business that will report payments to the IRS on an information return such as a 1099.
Is this the official IRS form?
This is a fillable helper. For anything you submit, use the current form from the IRS, which you can also fill on this site, and confirm the fields match.
Do I send the W-9 to the IRS?
No. You give it to the person or business that asked for it. They keep it and use it to prepare your 1099.
I am in Canada. Do I fill out a W-9 for a US client?
Usually not. Non-US persons are normally asked for a W-8 form (often W-8BEN). Ask the client or an accountant which form applies.
What is backup withholding?
Tax the payer must withhold from your payments if you do not give a correct TIN or the IRS tells them to. Giving a correct W-9 is how you avoid it.
Is my information kept private?
The form is completed in your browser and is not uploaded. Only send a completed W-9 through a secure channel.
Sources checked
- IRS, About Form W-9 (purpose of the form and who requests it)
Checked 2026-09-19. This page is general information and not legal, tax or financial advice.