W-9 Form

✏️ Write your full legal name — the one on your Social Security card (and your tax return).

This is the most important line on the form. The name here needs to match the name connected to your SSN (or EIN for businesses) — otherwise the payer might get a warning from the IRS.

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💡 What to write depends on your situation:

Just you, no business:
→ Your full legal name (e.g., "Maria R. Johnson")

Sole proprietor (self-employed, no LLC):
→ Your full legal name — your business name goes on Line 2

Single-member LLC (just you as the owner):
→ Your personal name — not the LLC name
→ Put your LLC name on Line 2 instead
→ ⚠️ This trips up a lot of people! See the FAQ below.

LLC with multiple owners, corporation, or partnership:
→ Your business's official name as registered

Trust or estate:
→ The name of the trust or estate

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⚠️ Watch out for:
→ Writing your business name when you should write your personal name
→ Using a nickname instead of your full legal name
→ Leaving this blank — everyone needs to fill this in

✅ Simple test: Who pays taxes on this income? That's whose name goes on Line 1.