W-9 Instructions

*Please note, these are general instructions to fill out your form. We advise you to speak with a tax consultant to ensure accuracy on your W-9 (or W-8).

Form Submission

  • Submit the most recent W-9 issued by the IRS which can be found HERE
    If you are located outside of the US, email your Creator Partnerships Manager to request a Statement to your W-8
  • Include a complete mailing address
  • Sign and date the form
  • Select the correct file type: PDF, jpg, or png
  • Enter the form version in the following format: 201810
    You can find your form version at the bottom of page 1

 

Filling out a W-9

Name (Lines 1 and 2)

Put your name or business name exactly as you file your taxes. If you are paid and file taxes under your business’ name, please put it exactly as it is on your tax return. For example:

  • If you are an individual or single member LLC, enter your full name, not business on line 1
  • If you are an LLC or corporation filing under the business name, please put the business name on Line 1 and leave Line 2 blank

 

Federal Tax Classification (Line 3)

Check the appropriate box in line 3 for the U.S. federal tax classification
The “individual/sole proprietor or single-member LLC” box is the appropriate box to check for:  

  • An individual, a sole proprietorship, or a single-member limited liability company (LLC) owned by an individual and disregarded for U.S. federal tax purposes

The “limited liability company” box is the appropriate box to check for:

  • An LLC treated as a partnership for U.S. federal tax purposes (check the box and enter “P” in the space provided)
  •  An LLC that has filed Form 8832 or 2553 to be taxed as a corporation (check the box and in the space provided enter “C” for C corporation or “S” for S corporation)

 

Part I – Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)

Here, you’ll have two boxes for Social Security Number (SSN) and Employer Identification Number (EIN). You only need to fill out one of them: 

  • If you are an individual or single member LLC, enter your SSN
  • If your LLC is treated as a Partnership or Corporation, you can enter your EIN

Part II – Certification

  • Add your signature and date 

Scenario Examples

For LLCs, please review the following scenarios with examples as we receive many forms that aren’t completed correctly.

 

LLC Scenario Example

Information to be used for the examples:

         Name of beneficial owner of LLC:     John Smith (an individual)

         SSN for John Smith:                               123-45-6789

         EIN for John Smith:                                98-7654321

         Name of LLC:                                           JSmith, LLC

         EIN for JSmith, LLC                                 12-9876543

 

SCENARIO 1:       

JSmith, LLC is a single-member LLC owned by John Smith. John Smith did NOT make an election with the IRS to treat the LLC as a corporation. The LLC’s income is reported on John Smith’s individual tax return.

 

  • John Smith should be on Line 1 and the LLC’s name on Line 2
  • The tax classification in #3 should be individual/sole proprietor or single-member LLC

John Smith’s SSN should be provided. If John Smith applied for and received an EIN from the IRS, his EIN can be used instead of his SSN. The LLC’s EIN should NOT be used. 

OR

 

 

SCENARIO 2:           

JSmith, LLC is a single-member LLC owned by John Smith. John Smith made an election with the IRS to treat the LLC as an S corporation. The LLC files taxes separate from John Smith.

 

  • The LLC’s name should be on Line 1 (John Smith’s name should not appear on the form)
  • The tax classification in #3 should be limited liability company and an S included for the S Corp status
  • The LLC’s EIN should be used