Requesting a W-9 from an Individual (Not a Company)

If you’re collecting a W-9 from an individual or sole proprietor rather than a business entity, here’s how to do it using getW9.

What to Do

When filling out the W-9 request form:

• Enter the individual’s full name in both the Company Name and Contact Name fields.
• Fill out their email address and (optionally) phone number as usual.

Our system will automatically detect that the request is intended for an individual and adjust the:

• Email wording (e.g., “You have been requested to submit your IRS Form W-9” rather than referencing a business)
• W-9 form content when the recipient opens the form

Why Company Name is Still Required

While the Company Name field is required in our system for standardization, entering the same value as the Contact Name works perfectly when requesting a W-9 from an individual.

✅ Example

If you’re requesting a W-9 from Jane Smith as an individual:

• Company Name: Jane Smith
• Contact Name: Jane Smith

Tip

You can bulk upload requests for individuals the same way — just repeat the name in both columns of your CSV file.

Need Help?

If you need assistance, feel free to reach out to our support team at support@getw9.tax