IRS · Federal
Fill out a W-9 on your phone
A W-9 is the one-page form a client, bank, landlord or marketplace asks you for so they can report what they pay you to the IRS. You fill it in, sign it and give it back to the requester. It never goes to the IRS itself, and there is no fee and no deadline beyond when the requester needs it.
- Form
- Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification
- Source
- IRS: About Form W-9
- Length
- 1 page to fill (plus instructions)
- Cost
- Free. Public-domain government form; we link the agency's own PDF rather than hosting a copy, so you always get the current revision.
What the W-9 is for, and who fills it in
What it is for. The requester needs your correct name and taxpayer identification number (TIN) to prepare information returns such as a 1099-NEC or 1099-INT. By signing you certify that the TIN is right and whether you are subject to backup withholding.
Who fills it in. U.S. persons: a citizen or resident individual, a sole proprietor, a single-member LLC, a partnership, a corporation, a trust or an estate. A non-U.S. person does not use a W-9; the requester will ask for a Form W-8BEN or another W-8 instead.
Where it goes. Back to whoever asked for it. Keep a copy. Because it carries your SSN or EIN, send it only to a requester you trust, over a channel you trust.
The fields that matter
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Line 1, Name | Your name exactly as it appears on your income tax return. A sole proprietor or single-member LLC owner puts their own name here, not the business name. |
| Line 2, Business name | A trade name, DBA or disregarded-entity name, if you have one. Otherwise leave it blank. |
| Line 3a, Federal tax classification | Check one box: Individual/sole proprietor, C corporation, S corporation, Partnership, Trust/estate, or LLC. For an LLC taxed as a corporation or partnership, also enter C, S or P on the line. A single-member LLC owned by an individual checks the first box. |
| Line 3b | Only for partnerships, trusts or estates with foreign partners, owners or beneficiaries that are providing the form to a flow-through entity. Most people leave it unchecked. |
| Line 4, Exemptions | Exempt payee and FATCA codes. Individuals almost always leave both blank; the codes are listed in the instructions on the form. |
| Lines 5 and 6, Address | The mailing address the requester should use for your 1099. |
| Line 7, Account numbers | Optional. Some requesters ask for an account or vendor number here. |
| Part I, TIN | Your Social Security number, or your employer identification number (EIN) for a business. Enter one, not both. A sole proprietor may use either. |
| Part II, Certification | Sign and date. The certification is made under penalties of perjury, so read the four numbered statements above the signature line. If the IRS has told you that you are subject to backup withholding, cross out item 2 as the instructions say. |
How to fill out the W-9 in FormFill
- Get the official PDF onto your phone. Tap the agency link above and save the PDF (on iPhone, Share, then Save to Files; on Android it lands in Downloads). Only use the agency's own copy: the form changes, and an old revision can be rejected.
- Import it into FormFill. Open FormFill and tap Import PDF, then pick the file. FormFill writes on top of the page, so it does not matter whether the PDF has fillable fields or is a flat scan.
- Fill the fields. Tap Text, then tap where an answer belongs and type it. Drag to move, pull a corner to resize. Use Check for the checkboxes and Date where a date is asked for. Pinch to zoom on the small boxes.
- Sign it. Tap Sign to draw your signature (or reuse a saved one with Pro) and place it on the signature line, not on the printed-name line. Initials covers any initial boxes.
- Finish and send. Tap Done. FormFill flattens your entries into the PDF and offers Share a copy or Save to device. Open the exported file once before you send it.
On this form: On Line 3a, place a Check mark inside one box only. For Part I, type the TIN digit by digit so it lands in the printed boxes, or type it once and resize the text box to span them. Use Sign on the signature line and Date beside it.
Mistakes to avoid
- Line 1 must match the name on your tax return. A mismatch is the most common reason a payer's 1099 gets a notice from the IRS.
- Do not enter both an SSN and an EIN. Pick the one that goes with the name on Line 1.
- Leave Line 4 blank unless you know you qualify for an exemption code.
- Send the signed W-9 to the requester, not to the IRS.
Fill out the W-9 in FormFill
FormFill opens the official PDF on your phone, lets you tap anywhere to type, check, date and sign, then flattens a clean copy to send. No account, no upload, no subscription needed to finish your first document. Available on iPhone and Android.
Questions people ask
Do I send my W-9 to the IRS?
No. You give the completed W-9 to the person or business that asked for it. They keep it on file and use it to prepare information returns such as Form 1099-NEC.
Can I sign a W-9 electronically?
The IRS allows a requester to accept an electronically signed W-9 if their system meets the IRS's requirements. Many requesters accept a signed PDF; if yours wants a wet signature, print the finished PDF from FormFill and sign it with a pen.
Which W-9 revision should I use?
The one currently posted at irs.gov. The IRS page linked above always carries the current PDF; the revision date is printed in the top-left corner of the form.
Is my W-9 uploaded anywhere when I fill it in FormFill?
No. FormFill fills and signs the PDF on your phone and has no account or server. The only copy that leaves your device is the one you choose to share.
Source checked 2026-10-16 against IRS: About Form W-9. The PDF link points at the agency's own file, which is in the public domain; FormFill does not host or alter it.