Backup Withholding

Banks or other businesses that pay you certain kinds of income must file an information return Form 1099 with the IRS. The information return shows how much you were paid during the year. It also includes your name and taxpayer identification number (TIN).

These payments generally are not subject to withholding. However, “backup” withholding is required in certain situations.

Payments subject to backup withholding:

Backup withholding can apply to most kinds of payments that are reported on Form 1099. These include:

Interest payments ( Form 1099-INT (PDF))
Dividends ( Form 1099-DIV (PDF))
Patronage dividends, but only if at least half of the payment is in money ( Form 1099-PATR (PDF))
Rents, profits, or other gains ( Form 1099-MISC (PDF))
Commissions, fees, or other payments for work you do as an independent contractor ( Form 1099-MISC (PDF))
Payments by brokers ( Form 1099-B (PDF))
Royalty payments ( Form 1099-MISC (PDF)), and
Certain other payments. (See Publication 505)

Backup withholding also may apply to gambling winnings ( Form W-2G (PDF)), unless they are subject to regular gambling withholding.

Withholding rules:

When you open a new account, make an investment, or begin to receive payments reportable on Form 1099, you must furnish your TIN to the bank or other business. In some cases you must furnish your TIN in writing and certify under penalties of perjury that it is correct. The bank or business will give you Form W-9 (PDF), Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification, or a similar form. You must enter your TIN on the form and, if your account or investment will earn interest or dividends, you also must certify that you are not subject to backup withholding due to previous underreporting of interest and dividends.

The payer must withhold at a flat 28% rate in the following situations:

You do not give the payer your TIN in the required manner.
The IRS notifies the payer that the TIN you gave is incorrect.
The IRS notifies the payer to start withholding on interest or dividends because you have underreported interest or dividends on your income tax return. The IRS will do this only after it has mailed you four notices over at least a 120-day period.
You fail to certify that you are not subject to backup withholding for underreporting of interest and dividends.

How to prevent or stop backup withholding:

If you receive a “B” notice from a payer, notifying you that the TIN you gave is incorrect, you usually can prevent backup withholding from starting or stop backup withholding once it has begun by giving the payer your correct name and TIN. You must certify that the TIN you give is correct. If you receive a second “B” notice from that payer, you will need to provide the payer with verification of your TIN from the Social Security Administration or the IRS.

If you have been notified that you underreported interest or dividends, you must request and receive a determination from the IRS to prevent backup withholding from starting or to stop backup withholding once it has begun.