How to Fax a W-9 to a Client or Company
Updated October 2026
A client, a company or your bank asked for your W-9 and wants it by fax. Fax it to the number they gave you, never to the IRS: the form itself says "Give form to the requester. Do not send to the IRS." It costs $1.00 here.
Quick answer: Fill out and sign the current W-9 from irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf, then fax it to the fax number your client or the requesting company gave you. There is no IRS fax number for a W-9 because it does not go to the IRS. A W-9 easily fits in 10 pages, so it costs $1.00, with no account and an automatic refund if it fails.
In this guide
Who Gets Your W-9
The person or business that asked for it. The W-9 is how a requester collects your name, your taxpayer identification number and your certification. The IRS instructions say plainly: give the form to the requester, do not send it to the IRS.
The instructions also say requesters may set up a system to receive W-9s electronically, including by fax. So if your client's accounts payable team, a platform you work with, or your bank asks for it by fax, that is a normal request. Use the fax number they give you, and nothing else.
Where to Get the Fax Number
From the requester. It is usually in the email or letter asking for the form, on a vendor setup packet, or on the client's invoice instructions. If you cannot find it, ask your contact for the accounts payable or vendor setup fax number.
Because a W-9 carries your Social Security number or EIN, check the number before you send. If the request came out of the blue, or from an email address or phone number you do not recognize, call the client at a number you already have and confirm the fax number with them. Scammers ask for W-9s too.
Type the 10-digit number with the area code and no leading 1. We already add the +1. The same goes for a requester in Canada, which also uses +1 and 10 digits, and costs the same $1.00.
What to Put on the Cover Page
Download the current form from irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf and follow the instructions at irs.gov/instructions/iw9 for which name and number to enter. Sign and date the certification before you scan it, unless the requester tells you otherwise.
On the cover page, write who it is for (your contact's name and department, such as accounts payable or vendor setup), "Form W-9", your name or business name, any vendor number, invoice number or account number the requester gave you, how many pages follow, and your phone number and email. That lets the requester match the form to your file right away.
What It Costs
A W-9 fits well under 10 pages, so it costs $1.00. If you add a contract or other onboarding forms, the price is still $1.00 up to 10 pages, $1.99 for 11 to 25 and $2.99 for 26 to 50. Each fax to each client is its own $1.00, with no account, no subscription and nothing that renews.
Protecting Your Taxpayer ID Number
Your W-9 goes straight to the fax number you type. Nothing is printed on your document, and there is no account holding a copy of your paperwork. The main risk is sending it to the wrong number, which is why checking the number with the client matters more than anything else.
If you get paid through a company that also needs income or job details from you, our employment and income verification guide covers those forms. If you need an EIN before you can fill in the W-9, see How to Fax Form SS-4.
After You Send It
Your fax is usually delivered within a few minutes. You get a confirmation email with the destination number, the page count and the time it was sent, in Eastern Time. That is your record of exactly when it was sent, which is handy if accounts payable later says they never got it. If the fax cannot be delivered, your money goes back to your card automatically.
If the client wants to fax you something back, such as a blank form or a signed contract, our sister service GetAFax.com gives you a US fax number for 24 hours for $5, with up to 30 pages arriving in your email. For the IRS forms that do go to the IRS, see How to Fax Documents to the IRS.
Why send it here
One dollar for up to 10 pages to any US or Canada number, shown before you pay, nothing added at checkout.
Nothing is printed on your document. It arrives exactly as you uploaded it.
If it cannot be delivered, the money goes back to your card without you asking.
No account, no subscription, nothing that renews. Send once and you are done.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to fax a W-9?
Can I send a W-9 to my client for free?
I have to send W-9s to five different clients, do I pay each time?
Do I send my W-9 to the IRS?
My new client's accounts payable needs my W-9 by fax before they can pay me, how fast can I get it there?
Can I fax a W-9 from my phone?
What should the cover sheet say when I fax a W-9?
Do I need to sign the W-9 before I fax it?
My bank wants a W-9, can I fax it to them?
What is the IRS fax number for a W-9?
Where do I find my client's fax number for a W-9?
How do I type a client's fax number to send a W-9?
A W-9 request came from a fax number I do not recognize, should I send it?
Can my client fax me a blank W-9 to fill out?
How do I show a company I already sent my W-9?
What happens if my W-9 fax does not go through?
Will my W-9 arrive looking exactly like I sent it?
Is it safe to fax a W-9 with my Social Security number on it?
Should I put my SSN or EIN on the W-9?
Can I fax a W-9 to a company in Canada?
Which version of the W-9 should I fax to my client?
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