05/28/2026
"Hey, quick admin thing! Could you send me your completed W-9 for my records? Thank you!"
That's it. That's the text!
If you're paying contractors, you may need to issue them a 1099-NEC.
To do this, you need their legal name and taxpayer ID... which comes from their W-9.
Ideally, you should get a new contractor's W-9 as part of your onboarding process before you ever pay them (but trust us, we know this isn't always how it works in practice).
If they hesitate or ask why, just let them know it's an IRS requirement for businesses with contractors!