A W-9 is used to confirm a person’s name, address, and taxpayer identification number (TIN) for employment or other income-generating purposes

IRS Form W-9 is officially titled the Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification.  This form is used to provide the correct Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) to a person (or company) that is required to file an information return with the IRS.  This information return (e.g. Form 1099-MISC, Form 1098) is to report, for example:

• Non-employee compensation;
• real estate transactions;
• mortgage interest;
• acquisition or abandonment of secured property;
• cancellation of debt;
• and contributions to an IRA.

Now let’s look at the exact steps to correctly complete a Form W-9.

Line 1 of the form asks for your name. If you’re running a sole proprietorship you would enter YOUR name.  To clarify this point, the name on line 1 must match with the name the IR