Here’s Our Guide on How to Sign W9 Online

Helpful Summary

• Overview: The article explains how to fill and sign a W-9 form online using SignWell in five simple steps.
• Why you can trust us: SignWell is trusted by more than 61,000 users thanks to our best-in-class e-signing workflow. 
• Why this is important: Signing W-9 forms online saves time, improves accuracy, enhances efficiency, and contributes to environmental sustainability.
• Action points: Use SignWell to sign your W-9 form and any other documents that don’t require wet signatures. 
• Further research: Explore the SignWell blog for more information on how to sign different types of documents online.

Wondering How to Sign Your W-9 Forms Online?

Every US contractor is familiar with W-9s. They don’t take long to fill out, but the logistics of getting them signed and delivered can be a hassle. 

Thankfully, an e-signing tool like SignWell lets you add legally binding signatures to your W-9 forms without printing, scanning, or mailing. This saves you time, money, and stress while also reducing your carbon footprint.

So, how do you sign a W-9 form online? Let’s find out.

Why Trust Us?

SignWell has helped 61,000 businesses and individuals simplify their document signing processes. For example, Carolina Miranda of Cultivating Capital highlights how we consistently deliver reliable, elegant e-signature solutions that streamline her sales process without introducing friction. 

Solving our clients’ pain points allows them to experience faster turnaround times and reduced administrative burdens. Our firsthand experience and proven results make SignWell a trusted choice for online document signing needs.

What Is a W-9 Form?

A W-9 form is an essential IRS document used by businesses in the United States to collect crucial information from contractors, freelancers, and vendors. Its primary purpose is to obtain Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) and other personal details necessary for tax reporting and compliance.

The process is straightforward:

1. The company hires or works with a non-employee contractor.
2. The company requests a completed W-9 form. 
3. The contractor then fills out the document with their information and signature before returning it to the company.

In essence, the W-9 form serves as a crucial link in the tax reporting chain, ensuring that businesses and the IRS have accurate information about payments made to independent contractors and non-employee workers.

Benefits of Signing a W-9 Form Online

Accessibility

An online W-9 form is accessible to everyone. It means anyone from anywhere in the world can sign a W-9 form from the comfort of their homes. This accessibility has eliminated the need to physically go to a company to collect or submit the form. 

Time Efficiency 

With digital contract signing, an agreement is signed and sealed in a few minutes. The time that would have been used to pick up and submit a W-9 form physically is saved. Likewise, valuable time won’t be wasted on printing, signing, and scanning.  

Accuracy 

There’s little to no room for errors when a W-9 form is signed online. Most online forms have validation checks. These checks ensure all fields are filled and the correct information is given, reducing the possibility of errors. 

Healthier Environment 

Online signing of the W-9 form contributes to a healthier environment. Think of the volume of paper and ink that could have been used to print thousands of W-9 forms. All this is saved, leading to a cleaner world. 

Let’s not forget the liters of fuel saved as a result of people not having to commute to collect and submit these forms. This lowers carbon footprints and preserves the environment. 

How to Sign a W-9 Form Using SignWell

One common complaint is that many people don’t know how to sign a W-9 form online. Others complain about the complexities they encounter on some platforms. However, if you’re using SignWell, creating an electronic signature is pretty straightforward.

Let’s take you through the process of signing your W-9 form with your computer.

Note: This same process works on mobile.

1. Download the W-9 Form

You can download an up-to-date W-9 form by visiting the IRS website and clicking the “Form W-9” link.

The PDF is fillable by default, but you won’t be able to sign it or save any information you enter in the fields via your browser. So, hit the “Download” button on the upper right-hand corner of your screen.

2. Sign Up for SignWell

Next, head over to signwell.com and sign up. You can sign up using your Google account or email address and password. We have a free plan that lets you send and sign three documents monthly, so you can sign your W-9 for free.

3. Upload & Set Up the Form

You’ll need your document on hand for this step:

1. Click “Add Your First Document.”
2. Click “Upload Document.”
3. Choose the w-9 form from your files. As a side note, SignWell lets you fill out and sign Word documents, PDFs, Excel files, images, and more.
4. Once you’ve done this, click the “I am the only person signing” button since no one else will be signing your W-9. Then, click “Continue.”

4. Add Fields

Now, you should be in SignWell’s editor. This is where you add fields to the document and fill them in with relevant information. If you look at the sidebar, you’ll see all five of the field types that SignWell supports:

• Signature
• Initial
• Date
• Text
• Checkbox

To add a field, click the option in the sidebar. Then, simply click the place in the document where the field belongs and enter the information. 

The first time you add a signature, you’ll be taken to SignWell’s signature generator. Here, you can create your electronic signature by typing it out and selecting a font, drawing it, or uploading a photo or scan of your wet signature.

5. Download or Share

Once you’ve filled in all of the fields, it’s time to share the form with the requester. We give you a bunch of different ways to do this:

• Copy Link: This lets you copy a shareable link that you can then send to the requester. They can use the link to view and download the document.
• Download: Prefer the old-fashioned way? You can also download the form as a PDF and send it via email or print it out.
• Send: If you prefer using email, you can click the “Send” button to enter your recipient’s email address and have the form sent directly to them.

Easily Sign Your W-9 Online With SignWell

Looking for a simple and secure way to sign your W-9 form? SignWell is the go-to tool. We’re compliant with US and international e-signature laws and assure you of a branded signature experience. Our UI is easy to navigate, and with a few clicks, you’re done signing your document.

Ready to experience seamless online signing? Sign up for free today.