Fill and sign Form W-9 online
Gives your name, tax classification and Taxpayer Identification Number (SSN or EIN) to a business that pays you, so it can report those payments to the IRS.
Form W-9 at a glance
- Official name
- Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification
- Issued by
- IRS
- Country
- United States
- Category
- Tax
- Language
- English
- Who uses it
- US freelancers, independent contractors, vendors and other US persons asked for their TIN by a payer.
- Signature
E-signature accepted
Requesters may accept Forms W-9 electronically. Their system must require the payee's electronic signature as the final entry, under penalties of perjury, and must be able to produce a hard copy if the IRS asks. Check that the business asking for your W-9 accepts an e-signed PDF.
- Instructions
- Official IRS page
Form W-9 is how a US person gives their Taxpayer Identification Number to a business that pays them, such as a client hiring you as a freelancer. If a payer has asked you for one, open the current W-9 from irs.gov in BunnyDoc's free Sign PDF tool straight from this page, type your details into its fillable fields, add your signature and the date, and download the finished file. Everything runs in your browser, so the PDF never leaves your device.
How to fill in and sign Form W-9
Open the current form
Use the button at the top of this page. It opens the latest fw9.pdf from irs.gov in the BunnyDoc Sign PDF tool, so you are always on the current revision.
Enter your name and business name (lines 1 and 2)
Line 1 is the name shown on your income tax return. If you have a business name or a disregarded entity name that differs, put it on line 2. A single-member LLC that is disregarded puts the owner's name on line 1 and the LLC's name on line 2.
Choose your tax classification (line 3a, and 3b if it applies)
Tick one box, for example individual/sole proprietor, C corporation, S corporation, partnership or LLC (with its C, S or P letter). Line 3b is only for partnerships, trusts and estates that have foreign partners, owners or beneficiaries.
Exemptions and address (lines 4 to 6)
Most individuals leave the exemption codes on line 4 blank. Enter your street address, city, state and ZIP code on lines 5 and 6.
Enter your TIN in Part I
Enter your Social Security number or your employer identification number, matching the name on line 1. If you have applied for a number and are waiting for it, the instructions allow you to write "Applied For".
Sign and date Part II, then send it to the requester
Add your signature and today's date in Part II, download the PDF and return it to the business that asked for it. Do not send the W-9 to the IRS.
What you need before you start
- Your legal name exactly as it appears on your tax return, and your business name if you use one.
- Your tax classification (for example sole proprietor or LLC taxed as an S corporation).
- Your SSN or EIN.
- The current form from irs.gov.
Can I sign a W-9 electronically?
Yes, if the requester accepts it. The IRS instructions for the requester of Form W-9 say a requester may let payees submit Forms W-9 electronically. The requester's system must make reasonably certain the person submitting is the person named on the form, provide the same information as the paper form, be able to supply a hard copy if the IRS asks, and require an electronic signature under penalties of perjury as the final entry.
In practice, many clients simply ask you to email back a signed PDF. If you are unsure, ask the business that requested the form. For background, see what an electronic signature is and whether e-signatures are legal.
Common mistakes
- Using a name on line 1 that does not match the SSN or EIN in Part I.
- Ticking more than one box on line 3a.
- Filling in exemption codes when you are an individual who is not exempt.
- Forgetting to sign and date Part II.
- Mailing the form to the IRS instead of giving it to the requester.
Form W-9: frequently asked questions
Who needs to fill out a W-9?
A US person (including a US citizen, resident alien, or US company) who is asked by a payer, such as a client, bank or platform, to provide their Taxpayer Identification Number. Non-US individuals usually give a Form W-8BEN instead.
Do I send the W-9 to the IRS?
No. You give the completed W-9 to the business or person that requested it. They keep it and use the details to file information returns such as Form 1099.
Can I sign a W-9 electronically?
The IRS allows requesters to accept W-9s electronically if their system requires the payee's electronic signature under penalties of perjury. Whether a signed PDF is accepted is up to the requester, so check with them. You can add your signature for free with the Sign PDF tool.
What if I don't have a TIN yet?
The IRS instructions allow you to write "Applied For" in Part I while you wait for your number. Backup withholding rules can still apply, so get the number to the requester as soon as you receive it.
Should I use my SSN or my EIN?
Use the number that matches the name on line 1. Sole proprietors can use either an SSN or an EIN; the IRS W-9 instructions explain which number to use for each type of entity.
Is BunnyDoc connected to the IRS?
No. BunnyDoc is not affiliated with the IRS. We link to the official form on irs.gov and give you a free tool to fill and sign it in your browser.
BunnyDoc is not affiliated with IRS. Check that the recipient accepts electronic signatures.
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