What Is a W-9 and Why Is My Client Asking for It?
Tax year note: This topic is not tied to a single tax year. Rates and rules follow the current Form W-9 instructions on IRS.gov for the tax year in question. A W-9 is not a tax return, not a bill, and not a contract. It is a one-page form on which you tell a payer your legal name, your taxpayer identification number (TIN), and your federal tax classification, and you certify that the information is correct. The payer uses it later to prepare your 1099. ...