Request W-9 Form in 4 Clicks

Ready to pay over $600 to a contractor or freelancer? Now is the best time to request a W-9 and get that TIN with the user-friendly and secure service. The letter template is one click away.

1. Email the W-9 form request

1 min

Hit the “Send a W-9 Request” button to send the contractor a link to the fillable form and use our ready-to-go email template or draft a personal message.

Request W-9 Form in 4 Clicks

2. Get the completed form

5 min

You'll get an email notification when the contractor finishes and signs the form.

Request W-9 Form in 4 Clicks

3. Manage shared docs

1 min

IRS requires all requesters to keep W-9s for 4 years. Store and manage all the completed forms in one secure place.

Request W-9 Form in 4 Clicks

What you need to know:

  • 📎If you are a contractor or vendor and need to fill out the form yourself you can use the fillable W-9 Template here and send it to the requester once you've added all your info.
  • 📎For IRS tax reporting purposes, a W-9 Form is a legal way to collect taxpayer information, including taxpayer identification number (SSN or EIN).
  • 📎It should be used by businesses that report to the IRS payments of $600 or more to freelancers, independent contractors, and non-employees.
  • 📎This form is essential for accurately filing Form 1099-NEC for services rendered or, in some cases, Form 1099-MISC.
  • 📎If your vendor or contractor is not a U.S. citizen or resident, send them a request to fill out Form W-8 instead.
  • 📎Incorrectly categorizing an employee can lead to liability for employment taxes.
  • 📎PDFLiner allows easy electronic request, filing out, and submission of the W-9.

Purpose of Form W-9

W-9 form is primarily used by businesses to request a U.S. person's Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), which includes Social Security Numbers (SSNs) or Employer Identification Numbers (EINs). This form is crucial for correctly filing Form 1099-NEC (for non-employee compensation) or, in some cases, Form 1099-MISC for independent contractors and freelance talents.

When To Request a W-9 Form

Send the letter template to get the form in the following cases:

  1. To Hire independent contractors or freelancers. Before making payment for services provided by non-employees.
  2. For opening a new business account. Financial institutions often require a W-9 for banking or investment accounts.
  3. For real estate transactions. Certain dealings involve income reporting to the IRS.
  4. When you're disbursing interest to individuals, a W-9 is needed to report the interest paid over the tax year.
  5. Before issuing dividends to shareholders.
  6. If forgiving a debt that would be income to the debtor, a W-9 is required for reporting purposes.
  7. Whenever you're obligated to file a 1099 form for reporting non-employee compensation, rent, royalties, or other payments.

Note:

Requesting a W-9 upfront can save time and ensure compliance with IRS reporting requirements. It's crucial in accurately reporting taxable transactions and avoiding penalties for missing or incorrect information.

How To Request a W-9 Form via Email

If you are logged in to your PDFLiner account, requesting a W-9 from a vendor or contractor will only take you 4 clicks and 2 pastes.

Step 1: Click the button

Hit the “Request a W-9 form” button on this page to open a “Request to fill” pop-up.

Step 2: Enter the recipient’s email address

Your first paste would be to enter your email address into a “People” field.

How to request W9 using PDFLiner screenshot

Step 3: Add the recipient’s name to a letter template

We prepared a letter template for you, so all you would need to do is replace a placeholder [Recipient's Name] with the actual name and check if the template fits your needs.

Step 4: Hit the “Send” button

To send the email with your request, click the button at the end of the form and receive a confirmation message.

Key Sections of W9

Filled out W-9 sample for requester

1. Legal and Business Name

Legal name as it appears on your Social Security card or official documents and business name if it’s different.

W9 legal name example

2. Tax Classification 

The form should Indicate whether the taxpayer is filing as an individual/sole proprietor, partnership, C Corporation, S Corporation, Trust, or Estate.

w9 tax classification example

3. Address

Taxpayer’s mailing address for any tax paperwork.

W9 address example

4. Taxpayer ID Number

Freelancers or sole proprietors will use their SSNs, while businesses might use their EINs.

W-9 TIN example

Note:

Misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor without a valid reason can result in liability for that worker's employment taxes.

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Simple & Secure Tool For Your W-9s and 1099s

Let us take care of the whole process. Send W-9, get the info, and fill out your 1099s all in one place from any device.


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