You're probably familiar with many tax forms, from the 1040 to the W-2 to the 1099. Not everyone, though, has encountered the W9. But knowing a bit about this form could improve your financial life.

The purpose of a W9 form is to provide an entity that issues taxable payments to a company with the company's federal tax identification number. The IRS uses a W9 to match revenue that recipients ...

Businesses that hire independent contractors have an obligation to report wages to the IRS on a 1099 form. However, prior to filing the 1099, the business must request that the contractor provide his ...

Tax Day is approaching, and soon it will be time to begin assembling forms. If you haven't looked at them yet, all those numbers and letters – W-2, W-9, 1099 – can easily overwhelm you. Some forms are ...