In the W-9 form, should I check "Exempt payee" box?

The purpose of completing a W-9 is to allow the employer to determine your tax status with respect to withholding of taxes. 1. If you are an individual consultant the employer is requesting this as a routine procedure. 2. By checking the exempt payee box you are claiming that there is no tax withholding requirement as related to the employment. However, if the employer does not withholding any taxes then it will be your responsibility to pay your income and any payroll taxes in a timely manner (usually in quarterly installments). See a good CPA or Atty. in your area for help preparing your tax return. BW

The W-9 form is used any time someone paying money for services needs to report it to the IRS. You will likely be issued a 1099 (instead of a W-2) so that you can accurately report your income on your taxes and the company that paid you can keep track of the amounts it paid for consulting services. So, yes, it is normal for a consultant to sign a W-9. The instructions for the W-9 form explain what an exempt payee is. (See page 3 - http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf ) If you are an individual or sole proprietor, you are probably not an exempt payee.

This is normal and your question indicates that you should hire a tax professional to help you plan and prepare your taxes. This is just a request for your tax I'd number so that the payor can prepare a 1099 for the payments they made to you.

This is normal and your question indicates that you should hire a tax professional to help you plan and prepare your taxes. This is just a request for your tax I'd number so that the payor can prepare a 1099 for the payments they made to you.