A W-9 is a short IRS form that gives a business your legal name, business type, and Taxpayer Identification Number (SSN or EIN). GCs collect one from every subcontractor they pay so they can issue you a 1099-NEC at the end of the year.
You'll typically be asked for a new W-9 whenever you start working with a new GC, or when something on your existing one changes — a new business name, a switch from sole proprietor to LLC, or a new EIN.
How you fill out the "federal tax classification" section depends on how your business is structured. Sole proprietors and single-member LLCs generally use their SSN or EIN and check different boxes than a multi-member LLC taxed as a partnership or an S-corp — the correct box affects how the GC reports your payments.
Keep a signed copy on file so you can send it instantly whenever a new client asks — it's usually the first document that holds up onboarding with a new GC.
This is general information, not tax advice. A licensed accountant or tax professional can confirm the right classification and filing setup for your specific business.
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