
If you’re paying someone and have to report those payments to the IRS, you’ll need their Social Security number or https://monstarking.com/analyticspro/2025/01/23/top-9-best-bookkeeping-softwares-for-truckers-2026/ EIN. When you own a small business, knowing how to deal with different tax forms and when or if they’re needed is critical. While these changes won’t affect many self-employed individuals, they may affect owners of partnerships or other pass-through businesses that have beneficiaries, owners, or partners in a country other than the U.S. If you made enough reportable payments, you still need to send them a Form 1099-MISC or Form 1099-NEC at the end of the year. If you make any future payments to the contractor, you should immediately begin backup withholding. At the end of the year, businesses are expected to tally up their payments to W-9 workers and report them to the IRS and the contractors, usually on Form 1099-NEC.

The Complete Guide to Understanding Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

When she’s not writing, Barbara likes to research public companies and play Pickleball, Texas Hold ‘em poker, bridge, and Mah Jongg. A basic guideline is that you’ll need to ask for a W-9 if you’re paying a person or business that’s not an employee of your business. You, as the payer, should request that they submit a copy of this form.
- For specific advice applicable to your business, please contact a professional.
- While that’s a mouthful, it’s a simple concept to understand.
- Owning a business can be very rewarding, but being your own boss does come with a lot of responsibilities.
- If any of these apply, you can download a W-9 form from the IRS website, fill it out, and send it to your clients.
- The IRS charges interest on these penalties due, making the potential financial impact on your business even higher.
What is Form W-9?

For an LLC registered as a corporation or partnership, enter the EIN. The IRS website has a downloadable, blank, fillable, and printable W-9 form PDF you can use for free to submit your W-9 to a requester. If you need to complete Form W-9 for another business paying you, you can get the latest version of the form for free on the IRS website.
More In Forms and Instructions
Even if the payee gives you an awaiting-TIN certificate, you must backup withhold on reportable interest and dividend payments if the payee does not certify, fedex w9 under penalties of perjury, that the payee is not subject to backup withholding. Backup withhold on any reportable payments made to the payee’s account, regardless of whether the payee makes any withdrawals, beginning no later than 7 business days after you receive the awaiting-TIN certificate. Backup withhold on any reportable payments if the payee makes a withdrawal from the account after the close of 7 business days after you receive the awaiting-TIN certificate. Treat as reportable payments all cash withdrawals in an amount up to the reportable payments made from the day after you receive the awaiting-TIN certificate to the day of withdrawal. You may provide certification instructions on a substitute Form W-9 in a manner similar to the official form.
- And if you’re feeling lost on all things tax forms, don’t worry—we’ve got your back at Hill Bookkeeping & Consulting.
- Without it, you risk getting hit with penalties for unreported income—definitely not a good look.
- For more information on foreign payees, see the Instructions for the Requester of Forms W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, W-8ECI, W-8EXP, and W-8IMY.
- If an independent contractor or vendor refuses to provide a signed W-9, explain to them why it’s necessary.
- For details, see sections 6041, 6041A, 6042, 6044, 6049, and 6050N and their regulations.
- When she’s not writing, Barbara likes to research public companies and play Pickleball, Texas Hold ‘em poker, bridge, and Mah Jongg.
- Payees get or access a W-9 form online to complete and sign.
- The 1099 preparer also provides the necessary copies to each payee (recipient) meeting the 1099 threshold for payments (or backup withholding).
- You can get an SSN from the Social Security Administration or an EIN from the IRS.
- TIN Matching compares each Taxpayer Identification Number and name combination to validate.
- Form W-9 serves as a way for independent contractors and businesses to provide their federal tax classification, taxpayer identification number and other information needed to fill out other federal income tax forms to another entity.
- Most often, when you’re a self-employed contractor, you send it to someone so that they can then send you back Form 1099, which you need to submit to the IRS if someone paid you more than $600 this year.
You should update your W-9 form if your information changes, though some organizations may ask you to send a new signed form every year to ensure they have the most accurate information on file. Businesses use W-9 forms to collect taxpayer identification numbers for nonemployees who work for them during the year. They can then use these TINs to help them fill out 1099 forms at the end of the year. The revised W-9 adds a new line 3b for those Purchases Journal who choose “partnership” or “trust/estate,” asking them to indicate whether the partnership, trust or estate has foreign partners, beneficiaries or owners. Pamela de la Fuente leads NerdWallet’s consumer credit and debt team. Her team covers credit scores, credit reports, identity protection and ways to avoid, manage and eliminate debt.



