This is a required form.
Federal income tax law requires us to have your taxpayer identification number (TIN) on file. Under Federal Regulations, you are required to provide us with this information on Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification. If you fail to furnish us with this information, you may be subject to a penalty of $50 imposed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and all payments we make to you could be subject to backup withholding, which we are required to remit to the IRS. You will not be subject to backup withholding on payments you receive from us if you give us your correct TIN, make the proper certifications, and report all your taxable income on your tax return.
In general, we will not have to file an annual information return, Form 1099-MISC, for you if you are a corporation, tax-exempt organization, government agency, or other exempt payee. However, the law requires that you give us your TIN in addition to telling us what kind of payee you are. If you do business as an individual or sole proprietor, your social security number generally serves as your TIN.