What Is a W-9, and Why Do I Need One?

What Is a W-9?

The Form W-9 is a standard IRS form for reporting payments made to non-employees and contractors. Every February, Roaming Hunger uses information on the Form W-9 to report to the IRS what we have paid to our vendor partners in the last fiscal year.

If you do business in the United States, submitting a W-9 is required in order to be paid. Download a blank W-9 from the IRS website here: (English / Español).

What needs to be on this W-9 to get approved?

Make sure you are using the current version of the W-9. We will not accept versions before 2018.

• Box 1: This is your name, or the name of your business, exactly as registered with the IRS.
• Box 2: Optional, if there is a second name registered with the IRS.
• Box 3: Select one tax classification. If you choose the Limited liability company classification, you must fill in both sections (i.e. LLC-C, LLC-S, and LLC-P).
• Box 5-6: The full mailing address of your business (City, State, and ZIP Code).
• Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN): The 9-digit number issued by the IRS, or, only if you are an Individual/Sole Proprietor, you can enter your social security number.
• Sign and date the document, and you're good to go.

We filled in a W-9 as an example:

What if I don't work in the USA?

No W-9 is required for vendors operating outside the United States. We normally fill that space on the Dashboard while creating a profile. If you do not see a filler document, and you operate outside the US, please let us know.

EXCEPTION: Canadian vendors who book events in the United States. If you will do events across the border in the USA, please complete and submit a Form W-8BEN.