XL EagleW-9 (IRS Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification)
W-9 stands for IRS Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification. Form W-9 is an IRS form where you certify your legal name, business entity type, address and Taxpayer Identification Number. Prime contractors, state and local governments, and commercial customers ask for it before paying you so they can file any required information returns, such as Form 1099.
Federal agencies paying you directly usually rely on the tax information in your SAM registration instead. You complete the W-9 yourself, sign it, and send it securely to the requester, never to the IRS.
Why it matters to a small contractor
Keep a current, signed W-9 ready to send. Make sure the name and number match your IRS records and your SAM registration exactly, or payments and 1099s can get messed up.
Example
After agreeing to subcontract on a federal grounds job, a landscaping business sends the prime a signed W-9 showing its legal LLC name and federal EIN, so it can be set up as a vendor.
W-9: common questions
Is it safe to email a W-9?
It contains your tax ID, so use a secure method if possible, such as an encrypted email or vendor portal. Confirm the request is real before sending.
Should I use a state tax number on a W-9?
No. A W-9 asks for your federal TIN, which for most businesses is the EIN.
Want the contract without the paperwork? Send XL Eagle your price on an open government job. We write and submit the bid under our registrations, free to you. Find open jobs →