Skip to main content

Understanding W-9 Automation

W-9 automation helps you streamline and digitize the collection of W-9 Forms from your vendors/gig workers/affiliates/independent contractors and ensures accurate 1099 filings. Here is how W-9 automation works:

  • Collect W-9s from the vendors during their onboarding or post-boarding via email, embedded secure URL, or Drop-In UI.
  • Validate the data collected and perform TIN Matching to ensure the SSN/EIN matches the IRS database.
  • Use these data to generate 1099s at the year-end, e-file them with the IRS & state, and distribute the copies.
Understanding W-9 Automation
Understanding W-9 Automation

TaxBandits API W-9 Automation Workflow

Data Collection

Data Collection

Collect the W-9s from the vendors using the payer-initiated or payee-initiated method or the Drop-in UI.

Validation

Validation

TaxBandits performs TIN Matching, Address Validation & Data Validation to promote accuracy.

1099 E-Filing & Distribution

1099 E-Filing & Distribution

The W-9 data will be used to automate the e-filing and distribution of 1099 forms at the year-end.

Ready to automate W-9?

Get Started Now

How TaxBandits API Automates W-9?

Whether you prefer a self-initiated W-9 completion process for your vendors or want to send W-9 requests yourself,
TaxBandits API provides flexible options to suit your needs.

RequestByEmail

Using our API endpoint, the payer sends the vendor (payee) a request to complete Form W-9 via email. The vendors will receive an email with a link to complete Form W-9. After the vendor completes and e-signs the W-9, TaxBandits will validate the information and notify the payer. Learn more

Popular Use Case:

Accounting/CRM Software can use this method to collect W-9 Forms from their vendors, gig workers, and affiliates by email.

Payer Initiated (RequestByEmail)

RequestByUrl

TaxBandits generates a unique, secure URL for each payee/vendor based on their unique identifier (Ex. Vendor ID). This URL can be embedded into your software or portal, allowing the payee to complete their W-9/W-8 forms individually. Learn more

Popular Use Case:

Healthcare providers that rely on temporary or contract-based staff can generate individual links for each contractor to complete their W-9/W-8 forms directly from their portal.

RequestByUrl

RequestByBusinessUrl

Generate a single public URL for your business, integrate it into your website, and make it accessible to your payees/vendors. They can use the link to complete and submit their W-9/W-8 forms.Learn more

Popular Use Case:

Gig platforms can integrate this URL on their website, enabling gig workers and freelancers who work with them to submit their W-9/W-8 forms at the click of a button.

RequestByBusinessUrl

Drop-In UI

TaxBandits offers a Drop-In UI for Form W-9 that can be customized and integrated quickly into your software or portal. You can customize every aspect of the secure URL (W-9 completion page), from URL to theme, to align with your branding. Learn more

Popular Use Case:

E-commerce businesses that work with a range of sellers or vendors can use the Drop-In UI to embed a branded W-9 form directly into their seller portals.

Payee Initiated (RequeDrop-In UI

Using our API endpoint, the payer sends the vendor (payee) a request to complete Form W-9 via email. The vendors will receive an email with a link to complete Form W-9. After the vendor completes and e-signs the W-9, TaxBandits will validate the information and notify the payer. Learn more

Popular Use Case:

Accounting/CRM Software can use this method to collect W-9 Forms from their vendors, gig workers, and affiliates by email.

TaxBandits generates a unique, secure URL for each payee/vendor based on their unique identifier (Ex. Vendor ID). This URL can be embedded into your software or portal, allowing the payee to complete their W-9/W-8 forms individually. Learn more

Popular Use Case:

Healthcare providers that rely on temporary or contract-based staff can generate individual links for each contractor to complete their W-9/W-8 forms directly from their portal.

Generate a single public URL for your business, integrate it into your website, and make it accessible to your payees/vendors. They can use the link to complete and submit their W-9/W-8 forms.Learn more

Popular Use Case:

Gig platforms can integrate this URL on their website, enabling gig workers and freelancers who work with them to submit their W-9/W-8 forms at the click of a button.

TaxBandits offers a Drop-In UI for Form W-9 that can be customized and integrated quickly into your software or portal. You can customize every aspect of the secure URL (W-9 completion page), from URL to theme, to align with your branding. Learn more

Popular Use Case:

E-commerce businesses that work with a range of sellers or vendors can use the Drop-In UI to embed a branded W-9 form directly into their seller portals.

Develop with Confidence!

TaxBandits API allows for seamless integration, end-to-end testing, and simulations with the
guidance of comprehensive documentation.

W-9 Automation Success Stories with TaxBandits API

W-9 Automation for Accounting software

A leading Accounting Software company replaced its manual W-9 collection process with TaxBandits API. Their clients can now request W-9s from their vendors directly from the software in just a few clicks.

Upon this request, a secure URL to complete and e-sign W-9 Forms has been sent to the respective vendors. Once they were done, the payers were notified through Webhooks, and the completed W-9 forms were made available in the software for them to access.

Affiliate Software

A popular Affiliate software program that offers affiliate marketing programs and acts as a middleman between these merchants and affiliates uses TaxBandits API to automate their W-9 collection from contractors and gig workers. This provides them with a simple and efficient solution for accurate 1099 filing.

By integrating TaxBandits API, they have enabled the automation of W-9 collection during the onboarding process of the affiliates. The W-9 data collected were securely stored in TaxBandits, and at the end of the year, TaxBandits automated the 1099 filings using those data and the payout transactions recorded throughout the year.

W-9 Automation for Gig companies

A large Gig Economy Company that connects gig workers and contractors with builders over a platform integrated TaxBandits into their software to automate the process of collecting W-9 Forms and e-filing 1099 Forms.

A secure URL generated by TaxBandits has been embedded in the contractors' onboarding page of their software. Upon clicking the URL, the contractors were provided with a secure portal to complete and e-sign the W-9s. Using those W-9 data and the payout transactions recorded, TaxBandits has automated the 1099 filings at the year-end.

Frequently Asked Questions about W-9 Automation

1. What customizations are allowed by TaxBandits API in W-9 automation?

TaxBandits API allows you to customize various aspects of W-9 automation with your brand.

  • Email Customization - The W-9 request emails sent to the vendors can be customized with your brand name, logo, and the ‘From’ email address.
  • Secure Url Customization - The form completion page provided to the vendors can be customized with your brand logo. Also, you can customize the redirection URLs when the vendor completes (or) cancels the W-9 process.
  • Webhooks Customization - The kind of details you receive through Webhooks can be customized. For example, you can request not to include PII data (Eg: TIN) in
    Webhook notifications.
Note
Note: If you prefer a fully customized interface that is ready to be incorporated in your application, you can choose our W-9 Drop-In UI.

2. How will I get notified when the vendor completes a W-9?

When a vendor completes and e-signs their W-9, TaxBandits will notify you through Webhooks. The webhook payload will include the W-9 data as well as the link to download the completed form. Also, if you have opted for TIN Matching, you can get the status of TIN Matching of the W-9s through Webhooks.

For more information, click here.


3. Is there a way to allow my vendors to choose between W-9 and W-8 based on their citizenship status?

Yes! By using the API endpoint WhCertificate, you can enable your vendors to choose between W-9, W-8BEN, and W-8BEN-E and complete the Form that is applicable to them.

Click here to see how it works.


4. Can I simulate the TIN Matching process in SandBox?

Yes! You can simulate the TIN matching process in Sandbox to see how it works.

If you provide any TIN that ends with 000, the TIN Matching status for the respective W-9 will be shown as failed.

Ready to Automate W-9 with
TaxBandits API?