What is the W9 Tax Form?

The W9 tax form is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax form that is used to request a taxpayer identification number (TIN) from an individual or business. The form is used by businesses or organizations that are required to report certain payments made to independent contractors, freelancers, or other types of self-employed workers to the IRS.

The W9 form requests information such as the taxpayer's name, address, and taxpayer identification number (TIN). The TIN is typically either a Social Security Number (SSN) for individuals or an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for businesses.

When a business hires an independent contractor or freelancer, they may be required to file a 1099-NEC form with the IRS, which reports the total amount paid to the contractor during the tax year. Before the business can file the 1099-NEC, they must obtain the contractor's TIN by requesting that they fill out a W9 form.

The W9 form is not filed with the IRS, but rather is kept on file by the business or organization that requested it. If the business or organization needs to file a 1099-NEC form, they will use the information provided on the W9 form to complete the form.