What is Form W9?

What is Form W9? Payoneerโ€™s team provides a full breakdown of who itโ€™s for, how it works, and what business owners can do to make compliance easier.

what is form w9

Form W-9, also referred to as โ€œ Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification,โ€ is an IRS form that US payers or withholding agents (i.e. the company paying a contractor) to gather a US-based contractorโ€™s taxpayer identification number (TIN), effectively authorizing them to work as a contractor and file a 1099 come tax season. 

The following article discusses โ€œWhat is Form W9?โ€ and how the form effectively works when hiring a contractor. In addition, we provide suggestions for business owners to more effectively manage W-9s and other employment documentation when growing your workforce. 

Who is Form W9 for? 

The shortest way to think about this is that any US-based person or entity will need to fill out a W9 to file a 1099 as a contractor. This includes:

  • Individual contactors
  • Single-member LLCs
  • Sole proprietors
  • Residents with US Tax Residency
  • C Corporations, S Corporations
  • Partnerships
  • Pass-Through Entities
  • US Individuals Receiving Prizes or Awards

The only exception is a US-based contractor working for a foreign company with no US trade-or-business that is paying from abroad (i.e., an American citizen contracting with a German business paying from a German bank account), since the paying entity is not American. 

The table below provides a more detailed breakdown. 

Which US-based contractor needs a W9?

ScenarioUS Trade-or- Business?Paying Entity LocationDoes the Payer File/Collectโ€ฆ
A 1099?A W9?
Foreign company NoForeignNoNo
US-BasedYesYes
Foreign company w/ US YesUS-BasedYesYes
US-based intermediaryYesUS-BasedYesYes
US company paying US contractorYesUS-BasedYesYes

How is Form W9 filed? 

The short answer is itโ€™s not. Form W9 is not filed with the IRS at all; instead, the form is submitted by the contractor to the US payer or withholding agent, who then holds it and uses it to: 

  • Determine the appropriate withholding for the payee
  • Reserve it in the event of an audit

In addition, the payer should make a copy of the completed form W-9 and deliver it to the payee, ensuring that they also have a copy for their records. 

What happens if Form W9 is not issued?

Although employers donโ€™t file a W9, failure to collect a TIN can result in problems for both the payer and the payee in the long run, as it results in an improperly filed 1099 and resulting back taxes, not to mention fees that may apply in specific cases. 

A simple breakdown of these fines/penalties would include: 

W9-related penalties & fees

PartyFailure TypePenalty Amount
PayeeFails to furnish TIN when properly requested$50 per failure
Provides false information$500
Subject to backup withholding24% of reportable payment
PayerFails to include the correct TIN on Form 1099 (information return error)If corrected within 30 days$60 per return
If corrected by August 1st$120 per return
After August 1st/ Not filed$310 per return
intentional disregard$630 per return
Fails to furnish a correct payee statementSame tiers as above 
Misuses/improperly discloses W-9 dataVaries on disclosed information

Suffice it to say, business owners should make sure to distribute Form W-9 wherever applicable to avoid penalties. Companies seeking to remove a penalty have the option to appeal if they respond within 30 days of receiving the initial notice.

How do companies distribute Form W9? 

Employers wanting to more easily distribute Form W9 to contractors have several options at their disposal, however they vary significantly in terms of cost, effectiveness, and labor intensity, making it hard to determine who each method is best suited for. 

The following table evaluates each according to the aforementioned factors: 

W9 Distribution methods, evaluated

MethodGlobal Payroll ProviderTax Filing SoftwareE-SignatureManual Distribution
Costโ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…
Labor Intensityโ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…
Effectivenessโ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…
ProsAutomated processesERP integrationsEnforces required fieldsBudget-friendly
Additional WFM toolsCentralized tax doc mgmtCreates an audit trailEnsures correct form
ConsSubscription costsSubscription costHeavy feesRequires manual follow-up
Potential country support gapsPossible payee confusionLonger setup timeProne to error
Best ForCompanies seeking automated processes to grow their workforce consistentlyEnterprise-level companies seeking to integrate ERP softwareSmaller companies with a dedicated in-house HR teamMinimal operations or companies onboarding for a one-time project

The best option for you? 

If you are still asking, โ€œWhat is Form W9?โ€ working with an experienced partner may be the best course of action to stay compliant while expanding your workforce. 

Having a global workforce management platform that includes payroll on your side enables you to automate document management and fill out your W-9s properly before any payment takes place. 

Reach out to us to see what Payoneer Workforce Management can offer.

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FAQs

1. What is a W9 form used for?

A W-9 form is used by US individuals or businesses to provide their taxpayer identification number (TIN) to another party, usually a company thatโ€™s paying them. It allows the payer to correctly report payments to the IRS, often through a 1099-NEC or other tax form.

2. What is the difference between a 1099 and a W9?

A W-9 is a form completed by a contractor or vendor to give their tax details (like name and TIN) to the payer. A 1099 is a form the payer sends to the contractor and the IRS to report how much was paid. In short, the contractor fills out the W-9; the payer issues the 1099.

3. How will a W9 affect the taxes for contractors?

Filling out a W-9 doesnโ€™t directly affect contractor taxes, but it allows the company paying contractors to report the income to the IRS. An independent contractor receives a 1099-NEC showing how much they earned, and theyโ€™ll be responsible for reporting that income and paying self-employment taxes on it.

Disclaimer 

Nothing herein should be construed as if Payoneer Inc. or its affiliates are soliciting or inviting any person outside the jurisdiction where it operates/is licensed to engage in payment services provided by Payoneer Inc. or its affiliates, unless permitted by applicable laws. Any products/services availability are subject to customerโ€™s eligibility. The availability of this product is not guaranteed and may vary. Not all products/services are available in all jurisdictions in the same manner.

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