Accounts Payable & Receivable › Vendor Management
What is a W-9 (or W-8) form and why does AP collect it?
BeginnerAnswer
A W-9 collects a US vendor's legal name, entity type, and taxpayer identification number for 1099 reporting; a W-8 series form is its equivalent for foreign vendors and supports treaty/withholding treatment. AP collects them at onboarding so year-end tax reporting and any required withholding are correct.
Real-world example A foreign consultant submits a W-8BEN to claim treaty benefits, reducing withholding on their payments.