When Form W-4 Should Be Updated

Form W-4 should be updated when an employee’s withholding information no longer reflects their current situation and federal income tax withholding needs to be recalculated.

Form W-4 for a New Job

Form W-4 is required when an individual starts a new job as an employee and federal income tax withholding must be applied to wages. The form provides the employer with the information needed to begin withholding correctly from the first payroll payments.

Who Must Complete Form W-4

Form W-4 must be completed by individuals who are treated as employees for federal payroll tax purposes and receive wages subject to federal income tax withholding. The form provides employers with the withholding information required under federal tax law.

When Form W-4 Is Required

Form W-4 is required when an employee begins work with an employer and federal income tax withholding must be applied to wages. The form establishes the withholding information an employer needs in order to calculate federal income tax deductions from pay.

IRS Form W-4

IRS Form W-4 is used to provide an employer with information needed to determine how much federal income tax should be withheld from an employee’s wages.

Why Does Form W-9 Ask for an SSN or EIN?

Form W-9 requests a taxpayer identification number (TIN), which may be a Social Security number (SSN), an Employer Identification Number (EIN), or another valid TIN. This page explains why this information is required and how it is used in U.S. tax reporting.

Who Needs to Provide Form W-9?

Form W-9 is provided by individuals and entities that are required to document their U.S. taxpayer status for federal tax reporting purposes. This page explains who typically needs to provide Form W-9 and in what contexts it is requested.

When Is Form W-9 Required?

Form W-9 is requested in specific situations where U.S. tax reporting or withholding rules apply to payments made to a U.S. person. This page explains when Form W-9 is typically required and why requesters ask for it.

Form W-9 for Independent Contractors

Independent contractors are commonly asked to provide Form W-9 as part of U.S. tax reporting and payment documentation. This page explains why Form W-9 is requested from independent contractors and how it is used in this context.

Does Form W-9 Expire or Change Every Year?

Questions about whether Form W-9 expires or needs to be updated every year are common. This confusion often arises because many U.S. tax forms are tied to a specific tax year.

This page explains how Form W-9 works over time and when an updated form may be required.