Fillable W-9 Form 2026 - Free PDF Download & Print
Fill out the official IRS W-9 form online free. Download, print, or email your completed W-9 instantly. Current 2026 version for freelancers, contractors & business.
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Who Needs to Complete a W-9?
The W-9 is required for anyone receiving payments that need to be reported to the IRS
Independent Contractors
Freelancers and self-employed individuals providing services to businesses for $600+ annually.
Business Owners
LLCs, corporations, and partnerships receiving payments from other businesses.
Vendors & Consultants
Anyone working with companies who need your tax information on file before payment.
Real Estate & Rental Income
Landlords, property managers, and anyone receiving rental income or royalties.
Complete Your W-9 in 3 Simple Steps
No account required — start filling out your form immediately
Open the Form
Click the button above to open our secure PDF editor with the official IRS W-9 form pre-loaded.
Enter Your Information
Fill in your name, address, and taxpayer identification number (SSN or EIN). Select your tax classification.
Download & Submit
Sign electronically, download your completed W-9 as a PDF, and send it to your client.
W-9 Quick Reference Guide
What you'll need to complete your W-9
Required Information
- Legal name (as shown on tax return)
- Business name (if different)
- Tax classification (Individual, LLC, Corp, etc.)
- Address (street, city, state, ZIP)
- Taxpayer Identification Number (SSN or EIN)
SSN vs EIN — Which to Use?
- You're a sole proprietor
- You're an individual freelancer
- You don't have a separate business entity
- You have an LLC, Corporation, or Partnership
- You have employees
- You have a Keogh plan or certain trusts
W-9 Line-by-Line Instructions
A concise field-by-field reference — for the full narrative walkthrough, read our complete W-9 guide
Enter your full legal name exactly as it appears on your federal tax return. Sole proprietors use their personal name, not the business trade name. Do not abbreviate.
Enter your DBA ("doing business as") trade name, LLC name, or disregarded entity name only if it differs from Line 1. Leave blank if you operate under your personal name. For a single-member LLC that is a disregarded entity, enter the owner's name on Line 1 and the LLC name here.
Check exactly one box. See the Tax Classification Guide below for details on each option.
Most individuals and sole proprietors leave this blank. If you are exempt from backup withholding (e.g., a C corporation), enter the applicable Exempt payee code (1–13). If you are exempt from FATCA reporting, enter the applicable FATCA exemption code (A–M). See the Exempt Codes section below.
Enter the address where the requester should mail your information returns (e.g., 1099-NEC). This may be your home address or your business address — whichever matches the address on your tax return.
Optional. Enter any account numbers the requester may need to distinguish your payments (e.g., a specific client account). This field is for the requester's use and does not affect IRS reporting.
Enter your SSN (individuals and sole proprietors) or your EIN (businesses with a separate legal entity). Enter only one TIN. If you are a resident alien and do not have an SSN, you may use your ITIN. If you have applied for a TIN but have not yet received it, write "Applied For" and return a new W-9 when your TIN is assigned.
By signing, you certify under penalties of perjury that: (1) the TIN you provided is correct; (2) you are not subject to backup withholding (or you have been notified by the IRS that you are and the IRS has told you backup withholding has ended); (3) you are a U.S. person; and (4) any FATCA exemption codes entered are correct. Do not sign if a notary is present — a W-9 does not require notarization.
Tax Classification Guide (Line 3)
Choose the classification that matches how you file your federal taxes
Use this if you file Schedule C as a sole proprietor or single-member disregarded LLC that has not elected corporate treatment. Enter your SSN in Part I.
Check "C Corporation" if your business is incorporated and taxed as a C corp. Corporations are generally exempt from backup withholding — enter exempt payee code 5 in Line 4. Enter your EIN in Part I.
Check "S Corporation" if your corporation has made a valid S election with the IRS. Like C corps, S corps are generally exempt from backup withholding (code 5). Enter your EIN in Part I.
Use for multi-member partnerships that file Form 1065. Enter the partnership EIN in Part I. Partnerships must also indicate on Line 3b whether they have any foreign partners.
Use for trusts or estates that file Form 1041. Enter the trust or estate EIN. Trusts must indicate on Line 3b whether they have any foreign beneficiaries.
Check "Limited Liability Company" and enter the appropriate letter in the box:
- C — LLC elected to be taxed as a C corporation (filed Form 8832)
- S — LLC elected to be taxed as an S corporation (filed Form 2553)
- P — Multi-member LLC taxed as a partnership (files Form 1065)
A single-member LLC that has not made a tax election is a disregarded entity: do not check the LLC box. Instead, check "Individual/sole proprietor" and enter the owner's SSN or EIN.
Backup Withholding & Exempt Payee Codes
What Is Backup Withholding?
Backup withholding is a mechanism the IRS uses to collect taxes when a payee has not provided a correct TIN or when the IRS notifies a payer that the payee is subject to backup withholding. When backup withholding applies, the payer must withhold 24% of the payment and remit it to the IRS on the payee's behalf.
Common triggers include: (1) you fail to provide a TIN, (2) the IRS notifies the payer your TIN is incorrect, or (3) you fail to certify you are not subject to backup withholding. The IRS issues CP2100 or CP2100A notices to payers when TINs are missing or don't match.
To stop backup withholding: correct your TIN with the payer, file a new W-9 certifying you are no longer subject to backup withholding, and contact the IRS to resolve any underlying TIN mismatch.
Exempt Payee Codes (Line 4)
If you are exempt from backup withholding, enter the code that applies to you. Most individuals and sole proprietors are not exempt and should leave this blank.
FATCA Exemption Codes (Line 4)
FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) reporting applies when payments are made to foreign financial institutions or non-financial foreign entities. If you are exempt from FATCA reporting, enter the applicable letter code. Most U.S. payees do not need to enter a FATCA code.
Requester Obligations, Penalties & Perjury Certification
When Requesters Issue a 1099-NEC
Businesses that pay independent contractors and vendors must collect a W-9 before paying. If total payments to a single payee reach $600 or more in a calendar year, the requester must file a Form 1099-NEC with the IRS and furnish a copy to the payee. The 1099-NEC is due to both the IRS and the recipient by January 31 of the following year. Payments for rent, royalties, and other income may be reported on 1099-MISC instead — verify the correct form for your payment type on the IRS website.
Record-Retention Rules for Requesters
Requesters who collect W-9s must retain the forms and ensure electronic submission systems maintain records matching what was submitted, along with documentation of each access occasion. The IRS generally expects requesters to keep W-9s for at least 4 years after the date the form is provided (verify the exact retention period with a qualified tax professional or on the official IRS instructions). When the payee's information changes, the payer should obtain an updated W-9.
Perjury Certification (Part II)
By signing the W-9, the payee certifies under penalties of perjury that all information is correct. Providing false or fraudulent information — including a wrong TIN or an incorrect claim of exemption — can result in civil and criminal penalties. The IRS may also impose penalties on the payer if backup withholding is not withheld when required.
Specific penalty dollar amounts vary and are subject to change. Consult IRS Publication guidance or a qualified tax professional for current penalty figures.
W-9 vs. W-4: Key Differences
If you are unsure whether you need a W-9 or a W-4, the key question is: are you an employee or an independent contractor? See also: Form W-4.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a W-9 form used for?
The W-9 (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification) is used by businesses to collect your taxpayer information. If you're paid $600 or more as an independent contractor, your client needs your W-9 to file a 1099-NEC with the IRS reporting those payments.
Do I need to fill out a new W-9 every year?
No. There is no annual requirement to resubmit a W-9. You only need to provide a new one when your information changes — such as a name change, new address, or a new TIN — or when a new client or requester asks for one.
What are exempt payee codes and who needs them?
Exempt payee codes (1–13) tell the requester that you are not subject to backup withholding. Most individuals and sole proprietors are not exempt and should leave Line 4 blank. Common users of these codes include corporations (code 5), government entities (codes 2–4), and tax-exempt organizations (code 1). Entering the wrong code can expose you to penalties, so consult a tax professional if you are unsure.
What is backup withholding and what triggers it?
Backup withholding requires the payer to withhold 24% of your payment and remit it to the IRS. It is triggered when: you do not provide a TIN, you provide an incorrect TIN, the IRS notifies the payer that your TIN is incorrect (usually via a CP2100 notice), or you fail to certify that you are not subject to backup withholding. Providing a complete, accurate W-9 is the primary way to prevent backup withholding.
What is the difference between a W-9 and a W-4?
A W-9 is for independent contractors and vendors: you give it to the business paying you so they can prepare a 1099-NEC. A W-4 is for employees: you give it to your employer so they can calculate how much income tax to withhold from each paycheck. If you are an employee, use a W-4; if you are a contractor or freelancer, use a W-9.
Which tax classification should an LLC select on Line 3?
It depends on how your LLC is taxed. A single-member LLC that has not elected corporate treatment is a disregarded entity — check "Individual/sole proprietor." A multi-member LLC taxed as a partnership checks "Limited Liability Company" and enters P. An LLC that elected C-corp treatment enters C; one that elected S-corp treatment enters S. When in doubt, check your most recent IRS acceptance letter or consult a tax professional.
When is the W-9 due?
The IRS does not set a fixed due date for the W-9 itself — it must be furnished to the requester by the date the requester specifies. In practice, clients and businesses typically request it before or at the time of the first payment. There is no IRS-set annual deadline for the W-9 form, unlike the 1099-NEC (which the requester must file by January 31).
What happens if I refuse to provide a W-9?
If you refuse to provide a W-9, the requester is required to apply 24% backup withholding to your payments. This amount is sent to the IRS and can be recovered as a tax credit when you file your annual return — but it does reduce your immediate cash flow. Providing an accurate W-9 in a timely manner avoids this outcome.
Can I sign the W-9 electronically?
Yes. The IRS accepts electronic signatures on W-9 forms when the requester's electronic system meets certain authentication and security requirements. Our tool includes a digital signature feature. Confirm with your requester that they accept electronically signed W-9s before submitting.
Is my information safe when filling out a W-9 online?
Yes. Our tool uses 256-bit SSL encryption — the same security used by banks. Your data is processed in real-time and is never stored on our servers. Once you download your form, all data is permanently deleted.
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About IRS Form W-9
The IRS Form W-9, officially titled "Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification," is a critical tax document used throughout the United States. When you work as an independent contractor, freelancer, or receive certain types of income, the payer needs your taxpayer information to report payments to the IRS. The current revision of the form is dated March 2024 — always verify you are using the latest version by checking the official IRS W-9 page.
By completing a W-9, you provide your Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) — either your Social Security Number (SSN) for individuals or Employer Identification Number (EIN) for businesses. This information allows the payer to properly prepare Form 1099-NEC or other information returns documenting the payments you received. Requesters who collect W-9s are generally required to retain them for record-keeping purposes; consult a tax professional for the retention period applicable to your situation.
For a step-by-step narrative walkthrough of every field, see our in-depth guide on how to fill out a W-9. If you need to manage your completed PDF, our Compress PDF and Protect PDF tools can help you reduce file size or add a password before sending.
Our free online W-9 tool provides the current, official IRS form with an easy-to-use fillable interface. Whether you need a printable W-9, a digital W-9 PDF, or want to complete your W-9 form online, our tool delivers a fast, secure, and IRS-compliant solution — no registration or software installation required.
Official source: IRS.gov — About Form W-9