Collect W-9s now to avoid a January 1099 scramble

Make vendor onboarding and payee documentation an ongoing control instead of a year-end emergency.

What to do this week

1. 1

   Request a valid W-9 before or during onboarding.

2. 2

   Store it with restricted access.

3. 3

   Review year-to-date payments and missing payee data.

How to use this field note

Use the checklist to organize records and identify the question that needs attention. Confirm deadlines and federal requirements against the linked official source. State, local, entity-specific, and fact-specific rules may differ.