What is the Difference Between I9 and W9?

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The main difference between Forms I-9 and W-9 lies in their purpose and the individuals who complete them:

  1. Form I-9:
  • Purpose: Verifies an employee's eligibility to work in the United States and their identity.
  • Required for: New employees.
  • Completed by: Both the employee and the employer.
  • Formerly known as: Employment Eligibility Verification Form.
  1. Form W-9:
  • Purpose: Used for tax reporting purposes.
  • Required for: Independent contractors.
  • Completed by: Independent contractors.
  • Synonym: Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification Form.

In summary, Form I-9 is used to verify the identity and employment eligibility of new employees, while Form W-9 is used for tax reporting purposes by independent contractors.

Comparative Table: I9 vs W9

The main difference between I9 and W9 forms lies in their purpose and the type of workers they are used for. Here is a comparison table of the differences between I9 and W9 forms:

Feature I9 Form W9 Form
Purpose Official verification of identity and legal authorization to work for all paid employees in the United States. A form filled out by third-party companies such as independent contractors who provide services upon the request from the respective company.
Synonym Employment Eligibility Verification Form. Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification Form.
Responsible Party Employers must provide facially valid documentation verifying the employee's identity and legal authorization to work. Independent contractors fill out and provide this form to their employer.

In summary, the I9 form is used to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all paid employees in the United States, while the W9 form is used by independent contractors to provide their taxpayer identification number and certification to their employer.