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F. Recipient Names and Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs)

Recipient name. Show the full name and address in the section provided on the information return. If payments have been made to more than one recipient or the account is in more than one name, show on the first name line the name of the recipient whose TIN is first shown on the return. You may show the names of any other individual recipients in the area below the first line, if desired. Form W-2G filers, see the Instructions for Forms W-2G and 5754.

Sole proprietors. You must show the individual's name on the first name line; on the second name line, you may enter the "doing business as (DBA)" name. You may not enter only the DBA name. For the TIN, enter either the individual's SSN or the EIN of the business (sole proprietorship). The IRS prefers that you enter the SSN.

Limited liability company (LLC). Single-member LLC (including a foreign LLC with a U.S. owner) that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner under Regulations section 301.7701-3, enter the individual's name only on the first name line and the LLC's name on the second name line. For the TIN, enter the individual's SSN (or EIN, if applicable). If the LLC is a corporation, partnership, etc., enter the entity's EIN.

TINs. TINs are used to associate and verify amounts you report to the IRS with corresponding amounts on tax returns. Therefore, it is important that you furnish correct names, social security numbers (SSNs), individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITINs), or employer identification numbers (EINs) for recipients on the forms sent to the IRS.

Requesting a recipient's TIN. If the recipient is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien), the IRS suggests that you request the recipient complete Form W-9 (or Form W-9S, if appropriate). See the Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9 for more information on how to request a TIN.

If the recipient is a foreign person, the IRS suggests that you request the recipient complete the appropriate Form W-8. See the Instructions for the Requester of Forms W-8BEN, W-8ECI, W-8EXP, and W-8IMY.

CAUTION! U.S. resident aliens who rely on a "saving clause" of a tax treaty are to complete Form W-9, not Form W-8BEN. See Pub. 515, Withholding of Tax on Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities, and Pub. 519.

You may be subject to a penalty for an incorrect or missing TIN on an information return. See Penalties on page GEN-4. You are required to maintain the confidentiality of information obtained on a Form W-9/W-9S relating to the taxpayer's identity (including SSNs, EINs, and ITINs), and you may use such information only to comply with the tax laws.

TIP. If the recipient does not provide a TIN, leave the box for the recipient's TIN blank on the Form 1098, 1099, 5498, or W-2G. See Backup Withholding on page GEN-3. Only one recipient TIN can be entered on the form.

The TIN for individual recipients of information returns is the SSN. See the information about sole proprietors on page GEN-8. For other recipients, including corporations, partnerships, and estates, the TIN is the EIN. For LLCs, see the information on LLC on page GEN-8.

SSNs have nine digits separated by two hyphens (000-00-0000), and EINs have nine digits separated by only one hyphen (00-0000000).

Electronic submission of Forms W-9. Requesters may establish a system for payees and payees' agents to submit Forms W-9 electronically, including by fax. A requester is anyone required to file an information return. A payee is anyone required to provide a TIN to the requester.

Payee's agent. A payee's agent can be an investment advisor (corporation, partnership, or individual) or an introducing broker. An investment advisor must be registered with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) under The Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The introducing broker is a broker-dealer that is regulated by the SEC and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., and that is not a payer. Except for a broker who acts as a payee's agent for "readily tradable instruments," the advisor or broker must show in writing to the payer that the payee authorized the advisor or broker to transmit the Form W-9 to the payer.

Generally, the electronic system must:
1. Ensure the information received is the information sent and document all occasions of user access that result in the submission.
2. Make reasonably certain the person accessing the system and submitting the form is the person identified on Form W-9.
3. Provide the same information as the paper Form W-9.
4. Be able to supply a hard copy of the electronic Form W-9 if the IRS requests it.
5. Require as the final entry in the submission an electronic signature by the payee whose name is on Form W-9 that authenticates and verifies the submission. The electronic signature must be under penalties of perjury and the perjury statement must contain the language of the paper Form W-9.

TIP. For Forms W-9 that are not required to be signed, the electronic system need not provide for an electronic signature or a perjury statement.

Additional requirements may apply. See Announcement 98-27 that is available on page 30 of Internal Revenue Bulletin 1998-15 at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-irbs/irb98-15; and Announcement 2001-91, that is available on page 221 of Internal Revenue Bulletin 2001-36 at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-irbs/irb01-36. Electronic submission of Forms W-9S. See the Instructions for Forms 1098-E and 1098-T.

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