(USA) What Is A W9?

Note: DPM Network Music Distribution is not a legal or tax authority. We do not give legal or tax advice. DPM Network Music Distribution simply reports and provides information as per what we’ve been instructed to. Please consult a tax professional or legal authority for advice and direction.

Applying only to USA based clients: When a business pays an independent contractor over the course of a tax year, it is required to report these payments to the IRS on an information return called form 1099-MISC. Businesses use the name, address, and Social Security or tax identification number from form W-9 to complete Form 1099-MISC which is a form that you’d receive to then report on your taxes. Businesses that hire independent contractors do not withhold income tax or pay Medicare or Social Security taxes for their independent contractors, as they do for their employees; contractors are responsible for these obligations. However, the IRS still wants to know how much these contractors are being paid to make sure contractors pay the taxes they owe, and it uses form 1099-MISC to gather this information. Businesses do not send form W-9 to the IRS.

If I am based in the US, do I have to complete a W9?

Yes, if you are US based, we are required to have a W-9 on file. By submitting a W-9, you are certifying that you and/or your label is a U.S. person or U.S. Company, that the taxpayer identification number (TIN) you are providing is correct and accurate, and that you are not subject to backup withholding. Payments cannot be made to you unless you provide DPM Network Music Distribution with a valid W-9 tax form.

I am based in the USA, can I use my social security?

Yes, you can use your Social Security on a W9 form and file as an individual if you are based in the United States. We do not give legal or accounting advice thus, we recommend you seek an accountant to represent and ensure that any revenue you earn through us is properly reported.

Do I have to send any information to the IRS?

You will not have to send your W9 tax information to the IRS. You will only be required to report earnings that we report to you on an annual basis for tax purposes. DPM Network Music Distirbution will provide similar reporting to the IRS via the required IRS guidelines.