Table of Contents
Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted.
For the latest information about developments related to Form 1099-DIV and its instructions, such as legislation enacted after they were published, go to IRS.gov/Form1099DIV.
In addition to these specific instructions, you should also use the 2020 General Instructions for Certain Information Returns. Those general instructions include information about the following topics.
You can get the general instructions from General Instructions for Certain Information Returns at IRS.gov/1099GeneralInstructions or go to IRS.gov/Form1099DIV.
Online fillable Copies 1, B, 2, and C. To ease statement furnishing requirements, Copies 1, B, 2, and C are fillable online in a PDF format, available at IRS.gov/Form1099DIV. You can complete these copies online for furnishing statements to recipients and for retaining in your own files.
Box 5, Section 199A dividends. This box must be completed to report section 199A dividends paid to the recipient. The amount paid is also included in box 1a.
File Form 1099-DIV, for each person:
If you make a payment that may be a dividend but you are unable to determine whether any part of the payment is a dividend by the time you must file Form 1099-DIV, the entire payment must be reported as a dividend. See the regulations under section 6042 for a definition of dividends.
You are not required to report on Form 1099-DIV the following.
TIP. Substitute payments in lieu of dividends may be reported on a composite statement to the recipient with Form 1099-DIV. See Pub. 1179.
Caution! Certain distributions commonly referred to as "dividends" are actually interest and are to be reported on Form 1099-INT. These include so-called "dividends" on deposit or on share accounts in cooperative banks, credit unions, domestic building and loan associations, domestic and federal savings and loan associations, and mutual savings banks.
Except as provided below, qualified dividends are dividends paid during the tax year from domestic corporations and qualified foreign corporations.
Exceptions. top The following dividends are not qualified dividends.
Qualified foreign corporation. top A foreign corporation is a qualified foreign corporation if it is:
TIP. For a list of income tax treaties of the United States that (a) are comprehensive, (b) include an information exchange program, and (c) have been determined by the Treasury Department to be satisfactory for this purpose, see Notice 2011-64, 2011-37 I.R.B. 231, available at IRS.gov/irb/2011-37_IRB/#NOT-2011-64.
If the foreign corporation does not meet either (1) or (2) above, then it may be treated as a qualified foreign corporation for any dividend paid by the corporation if the stock associated with the dividend paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. See Notice 2003-71, 2003-43 I.R.B. 922, available at IRS.gov/irb/2003-43_IRB/#NOT-2003-71, for more information on when a stock may be considered to be readily tradable. For additional requirements that must be met, see Notice 2006-3, 2006-3 I.R.B. 306, available at IRS.gov/irb/2006-03_IRB/#NOT-2006-3.
A foreign corporation will not be considered a qualified foreign corporation if:
TIP. For guidance on the extent to which distributions, inclusions, and other amounts received by, or included in the income of, individual shareholders as ordinary income from foreign corporations subject to certain anti-deferral regimes may be treated as qualified dividends, see Notice 2004-70, 2004-44 I.R.B. 724, available at IRS.gov/irb/2004-44_IRB/#NOT-2004-70.
Report as ordinary dividends in box 1a of Form 1099-DIV payments of 404(k) dividends directly from the corporation to the plan participants or their beneficiaries.
Section 404(k) dividends are not subject to backup withholding. Also, these dividends are not eligible for the reduced capital gains rates (see Exceptions under Qualified Dividends, earlier).
Qualified dividends. top If any part of the total ordinary dividends reported in box 1a is qualified dividends, report the qualified dividends in box 1b.
TIP. For guidance pertaining to dividends of RICs and REITs, see Notice 2004-39, 2004-22 I.R.B. 982, (capital gain dividends of RICs and REITs) available at IRS.gov/node/48546#NOT-2004-39, modified by Notice 2015-41, 2015-24 I.R.B. 1058, (capital gain distributions of RICs), available at IRS.gov/irb/2015-24_IRB#NOT-2015-41, and Rev. Rul. 2005-31, 2005-21 I.R.B. 1084 (limitations applicable to dividends received from RICs), available at IRS.gov/irb/2005-21_IRB#RR-2005-31.
Qualified REIT dividends. top Certain taxpayers are entitled to a deduction under section 199A computed by reference to several types of income, including qualified REIT dividends. A qualified REIT dividend generally is a dividend from a REIT received during the tax year that is not a capital gain dividend or a qualified dividend. However, a qualified REIT dividend does not include any REIT dividend received with respect to any share of REIT stock that is held for 45 days or less during the 91-day period beginning on the date that is 45 days before the date on which such share became ex-dividend with respect to the dividend. When counting the number of days the recipient held the stock, include the day the recipient disposed of the stock, but do not include the day the recipient acquired the stock or certain days during which the recipient's risk of loss was diminished. In addition, a qualified REIT dividend does not include any dividend on shares of REIT stock to the extent the recipient is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property.
Dividend payment delayed until January. top If a RIC or a REIT declares a dividend in October, November, or December payable to shareholders of record on a specified date in such a month, the dividends are treated as paid by the RIC or REIT and received by the recipients on December 31 of such year as long as the dividends are actually paid by the RIC or REIT during January of the following year. Report the dividends on Form 1099-DIV for the year preceding the January they are actually paid. See sections 852(b)(7) and 857(b)(9) for RICs and REITs, respectively.
If a dividend paid in January is subject to backup withholding, withhold when the dividend is actually paid. Therefore, backup withhold in January, deposit the withholding when appropriate, and reflect it on Form 945, Annual Return of Withheld Federal Income Tax, for the year withheld. However, since the dividend is reportable on Form 1099-DIV for the prior year, the related backup withholding is also reportable on the prior year Form 1099-DIV.
Qualified small business stock - RICs. top Under section 1202, a 50% exclusion may be allowed on the gain from the sale or exchange of qualified small business stock issued after August 10, 1993, and held for more than 5 years. A 60% exclusion may be allowed if the stock is empowerment zone business stock acquired after December 21, 2000, but not on gain attributable to periods after December 31, 2018. For qualified small business stock acquired after February 17, 2009, and before September 28, 2010, the exclusion is 75%. For qualified small business stock acquired after September 27, 2010, and before January 1, 2014, the exclusion is 100%. For purposes of the 75% and 100% exclusions, the acquisition date shall be the first day on which the stock was held by the taxpayer determined after the application of section 1223.
If any part of the capital gain distribution reported in box 2a may qualify for this exclusion (taking into consideration the recipient's holding period), report the gain in box 2c, and furnish the recipient a statement that reports separately for each designated section 1202 gain the:
Qualified tax credit bonds. top If a RIC or REIT holds any qualified tax credit bonds, any interest that the RIC or REIT recognizes on the bonds is included in the RIC's or REIT's gross income. See section 54A and Notice 2009-15, 2009-6 I.R.B. 449, available at IRS.gov/irb/2009-06_IRB#NOT-2009-15. RICs can make an election to distribute any credits allowed to shareholders or beneficiaries. Report tax credit bond credits distributed by a RIC or REIT on Form 1097-BTC. See section 853A.
If a RIC or REIT distributes any credits with respect to its stock, the RIC or REIT must report the distributed credits that are treated as dividends on Form 1099-DIV. See Notice 2010-28, available at IRS.gov/irb/2010-15_IRB#NOT-2010-28.
For information about reporting dividends on restricted stock, see Rev. Proc. 80-11, 1980-1 C.B. 616, distinguished by Rev. Proc. 83-38, 1983-1 C.B. 773, and Rev. Rul. 83-22, 1983-1 C.B. 17.
Trustees and middlemen must report the gross amount of dividend income attributable to a trust income holder (TIH) in the appropriate box on Form 1099-DIV if that amount exceeds $10. If the trustee or middleman provides WHFIT information using the safe harbor rules in Treasury Regulations section 1.671-5(f)(1) or (g)(1), the trustee or middleman must determine the amounts reported on all Forms 1099 under section 1.671-5(f)(2) or (g)(2), as appropriate.
Due date exception and other requirements for furnishing the tax information statement to TIHs. top A tax information statement that includes the information provided to the IRS on all Forms 1099 filed for the calendar year with respect to the TIH's interest in the WHFIT, as well as additional information identified in Treasury Regulations section 1.671-5(e), must be provided to the TIHs. The written tax information statement furnished to the TIH for 2020 is due on or before March 15, 2021. The amount of an item of trust expense that is attributable to a TIH must be included on the tax information statement provided to the TIH and is not required to be included in box 5 on the Form 1099-DIV.
For more filing requirements, see the 2020 General Instructions for Certain Information Returns.
If you are required to file Form 1099-DIV, you must provide a statement to the recipient. For information about the requirement to furnish statements to recipients, see part M in the 2020 General Instructions for Certain Information Returns.
Truncating recipient's TIN on payee statements. top Pursuant to Treasury Regulations section 301.6109-4, all filers of this form may truncate a recipient's TIN (social security number (SSN), individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN), or employer identification number (EIN)) on payee statements. Truncation is not allowed on any documents the filer files with the IRS. A payer's TIN may not be truncated on any form. See part J in the 2020 General Instructions for Certain Information Returns.
Check the box if you are a U.S. payer that is reporting on Form(s) 1099 (including reporting distributions in boxes 1 through 3 and 9 through 12 on this Form 1099-DIV) as part of satisfying your requirement to report with respect to a U.S. account for chapter 4 purposes as described in Treasury Regulations section 1.1471-4(d)(2)(iii)(A). In addition, check the box if you are a Foreign Financial Institution (FFI) reporting payments to a U.S. account pursuant to an election described in Regulations section 1.1471-4(d)(5)(i)(A).
You may enter an "X" in this box if you were notified by the IRS twice within 3 calendar years that the payee provided an incorrect TIN. If you mark this box, the IRS will not send you any further notices about this account.
However, if you received both IRS notices in the same year, or if you received them in different years but they both related to information returns filed for the same year, do not check the box at this time. For purposes of the two-notices-in-3-years rule, you are considered to have received one notice and you are not required to send a second "B" notice to the taxpayer on receipt of the second notice. See part N in the 2020 General Instructions for Certain Information Returns for more information.
TIP. For information on the TIN Matching System offered by the IRS, see Items You Should Note in the 2020 General Instructions for Certain Information Returns.
The account number is required if you have multiple accounts for a recipient for whom you are filing more than one Form 1099-DIV. The account number is also required if you check the "FATCA filing requirement" box. See FATCA Filing Requirement Check Box, earlier. Additionally, the IRS encourages you to designate an account number for all Forms 1099-DIV that you file. See part L in the 2020 General Instructions for Certain Information Returns.
Enter dividends, including dividends from money market funds, net short-term capital gains from mutual funds, and other distributions on stock. Include reinvested dividends and section 404(k) dividends paid directly from the corporation. Include as a dividend the amount of the recipient's share of investment expenses that you report in box 5.
Caution! An S corporation reports as dividends on Form 1099-DIV only distributions made during 2020 out of accumulated earnings and profits. See section 1368 for more information.
Enter the portion of the dividends in box 1a that qualify for the reduced capital gains rates. Include dividends for which it is impractical to determine if the section 1(h)(11)(B)(iii) holding period requirement has been met. See Qualified Dividends and the Caution, earlier.
You must report a dividend paid by a foreign corporation according to the guidance provided in Notice 2003-79, 2003-50 I.R.B. 1206, available at IRS.gov/irb/2004-45_IRB#NOT-2004-71, which contain the rules for reporting the dividend for tax years 2003 and 2004. These rules are extended for 2005 and subsequent tax years by Notice 2006-3, 2006-3 I.R.B. 306, available at IRS.gov/irb/2006-03_IRB#NOT-2006-3.
Enter total capital gain distributions (long-term). Include all amounts shown in boxes 2b, 2c, and 2d.
TIP. For more information about reporting amounts in boxes 2b through 2d, see section 1(h).
Enter any amount included in box 2a that is an unrecaptured section 1250 gain from certain depreciable real property.
Enter any amount included in box 2a that is a section 1202 gain from certain qualified small business stock. See Qualified small business stock-RICs, earlier.
Enter any amount included in box 2a that is a 28% rate gain from sales or exchanges of collectibles.
Enter nondividend distributions, if determinable.
TIP. File Form 5452 if you are a corporation and paid nondividend distributions to shareholders.
Enter backup withholding. Recipients who have not furnished their TIN to you in the manner required are subject to backup withholding on certain dividend payments reported on this form. Use Form W-9 to request the TIN of the recipient. For foreign recipients, use the applicable Form W-8. See the Instructions for the Requester of Forms W-8BEN, W-8ECI, W-8EXP, and W-8IMY.
For more information on backup withholding, including the applicable rate, see part N in the 2020 General Instructions for Certain Information Returns.
Enter the qualified REIT dividends paid by a REIT or section 199A dividends paid by a RIC to the recipient. This amount is included in the amount reported in box 1a. Include REIT dividends (other than capital gain dividends and qualified dividends) for which it is impractical for the REIT to determine whether the recipient has met the holding period requirement described in Regulations section 1.199A-3(c)(2)(ii). See Qualified REIT dividends, earlier.
Enter the recipient's pro rata share of certain amounts deductible by a nonpublicly offered RIC in computing its taxable income. This amount is includible in the recipient's gross income under section 67(c) and must also be included in box 1a. Do not include any investment expenses in box 1b.
Enter foreign tax paid on dividends and other distributions on stock. A RIC must report only the amount it elects to pass through to the recipient. Report this amount in U.S. dollars.
Enter the name of the foreign country or U.S. possession for which the foreign tax was paid and reported in box 7.
RICs - special reporting instructions. Do not complete box 8. Under Treasury Regulations section 1.853-4, country-by-country reporting to shareholders for the amount reported in box 7 is not required. The requirement to file a separate statement to the IRS has been modified to require filing a statement that elects the application of section 853 for the tax year with the return for the tax year. See Treasury Regulations section 1.853-4 for more information. Do not send the statement with the Forms 1096 and 1099.
Caution! Boxes 9 and 10 apply only to corporations in partial or complete liquidation. Do not include these amounts in box 1a or 1b.
Enter cash distributed as part of a liquidation.
Enter noncash distributions made as part of a liquidation. Show the fair market value as of the date of distribution.
Enter exempt-interest dividends from a mutual fund or other RIC. Include specified private activity bond interest dividends in box 12 and in the total for box 11. See the instructions for box 12 next.
Enter exempt-interest dividends paid by a RIC on specified private activity bonds to the extent that the dividends are attributable to interest on the bonds received by the RIC minus an allocable share of the expenses. Generally, "specified private activity bond" means any private activity bond defined in section 141 and issued after August 7, 1986. See section 57(a)(5) for more details.
These boxes, and Copies 1 and 2, are provided for your convenience only and need not be completed for the IRS. If you withheld state income taxes on this payment, use the state information boxes to report payments for up to two states. Keep the information for each state separated by the dashed line in each box. In box 13, enter the abbreviated name of the state. In box 14, enter the payer's state identification number. The state number is the payer's identification number assigned by the individual state. Enter in box 15 the state income tax withheld on this payment.
If a state tax department requires that you send them a paper copy of this form, use Copy 1 to provide information to the state tax department. Give Copy 2 to the recipient for use in filing the recipient's state income tax return.
Process Date. This is the last date a Copy A was printed for the Participant.
Distribution Date. This is the date(s) that the Participant was paid.
State Process Date1. This is the most recent date that one or more Copy 1s for the state was printed.
State Process Date2. This is the most recent date that one or more Copy 1s for the state was printed.
Office Code. Used in electronic filing only. Enter the office code of the Payor (may be blank). For payors with multiple locations, this field may be used to identify the location of the office submitting the information return.
Caution! To file corrections for electronically filed forms, see part F and Pub. 1220.
If you filed a return with the IRS and later discover you made an error on it, you must:
When making a correction, complete all information (see Filing Corrected Returns on Paper Forms, later).
To correct payer information, see Reporting incorrect payer name and/or TIN, earlier.
Form 1096. top Use a separate Form 1096 for each type of return you are correcting. For the same type of return, you may use one Form 1096 for both originals and corrections. You do not need to correct a previously filed Form 1096.
CORRECTED checkbox. top Enter an "X" in the "CORRECTED" checkbox only when correcting a form previously filed with the IRS or furnished to the recipient. Certain errors require two returns to make the correction. See Filing corrected returns on paper forms, later, to determine when to mark the "CORRECTED" checkbox.
Account number. top If the account number was provided on the original return, the same account number must be included on both the original and corrected returns to properly identify and process the correction. If the account number was not provided on the original return, do not include it on the corrected return. See part L.
Recipient's statement. top You may enter a date next to the "CORRECTED" checkbox. This will help the recipient in the case of multiple corrections.
Filing corrected returns on Paper Forms. top The Error Charts for Filing Corrected Returns on Paper Forms, later, give step-by-step instructions for filing corrected returns for the most frequently made errors. They are grouped under Error Type 1 or 2. Correction of errors may require the submission of more than one return. Be sure to read and follow the steps given.
Caution! If you fail to file correct information returns or furnish a correct payee statement, you may be subject to a penalty. See part O. Regulations section 301.6724-1 (relating to information return penalties) does not require you to file corrected returns for missing or incorrect TINs if you meet the reasonable-cause criteria. You are merely required to include the correct TIN on the next original return you are required to file.
However, even if you meet the reasonable-cause criteria, the IRS encourages you to file corrections for incorrect or missing TINs so that the IRS can update the payees' records.
Filing Corrected Return on Paper Forms top Identify the correction needed based on Error Type 1 or 2; then follow the steps to make the corrections and file the form(s). Also see Part H, earlier.
| Error Type 1 | Correction |
|---|---|
| Incorrect money amount(s), code, or checkbox,
|
A. Form 1097, 1098, 1099, 3921, 3922, 5498, or W-2G
|
| Error Type 2 | Correction | |
|---|---|---|
| No payee TIN (SSN, EIN, QI-EIN, or ITIN), or or or |
Step 1. Identify incorrect return submitted. |
|
| Step 2. Report correct information. | A. Form 1097, 1098, 1099, 3921, 3922, 5498, or W-2G
|
|
Recipient names. top Show the full name and address in the section provided on the information return. If payments have been made to more than one recipient or the account is in more than one name, show on the first name line the name of the recipient whose TIN is first shown on the return. You may show the names of any other individual recipients in the area below the first line, if desired. Form W-2G filers, see the Instructions for Forms W-2G and 5754.
Sole proprietors. top You must show the individual's name on the first name line; on the second name line, you may enter the "doing business as (DBA)" name. You may not enter only the DBA name. For the TIN, enter either the individual's SSN or the EIN of the business (sole proprietorship). The IRS prefers that you enter the SSN.
Limited liability company (LLC). top For a single-member LLC (including a foreign LLC with a U.S. owner) that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner under Regulations section 301.7701-3, enter the individual's name only on the first name line and the LLC's name on the second name line. For the TIN, enter the individual's SSN (or EIN, if applicable). If the LLC is a corporation, partnership, etc., enter the entity's EIN.
Bankruptcy estate. top If an individual (the debtor) for whom you are required to file an information return is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and the debtor notified you of the bankruptcy estate's EIN, report post-petition gross income, gross proceeds, or other reportable payments on the applicable information return using the estate's name and EIN. The debtor should notify you when the bankruptcy is closed, dismissed, or converted, so that any subsequent information returns will be filed with the correct name and EIN. Different rules apply if the bankruptcy is converted to Chapter 7, 12, or 13 of the Bankruptcy Code. For additional guidance, see Notice 2006-83, 2006-40 I.R.B. 596, available at IRS.gov/irb/2006-40_IRB#NOT-2006-83.
TINs. top TINs are used to associate and verify amounts you report to the IRS with corresponding amounts on tax returns. Therefore, it is important that you furnish correct names, social security numbers (SSNs), individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITINs), employer identification numbers (EINs), or adoption taxpayer identification numbers (ATINs) for recipients on the forms sent to the IRS.
TIP Only one recipient TIN can be entered on the form.
Requesting a recipient's TIN. top If the recipient is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien), the IRS suggests that you request the recipient complete Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification, or Form W-9S, Request for Student's or Borrower's Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification, if appropriate. See the Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9 for more information on how to request a TIN.
If the recipient is a foreign person, the IRS suggests that you request the recipient complete the appropriate Form W-8. See the Instructions for the Requester of Forms W-8BEN, W-8ECI, W-8EXP, and W-8IMY.
Caution! U.S. resident aliens who rely on a "saving clause" of a tax treaty are to complete Form W-9, not Form W-8BEN. See Pub. 515 and Pub. 519.
You may be subject to a penalty for an incorrect or missing TIN on an information return. See part O. You are required to maintain the confidentiality of information obtained on a Form W-9/W-9S relating to the taxpayer's identity (including SSNs, EINs, ITINs, and ATINs), and you may use such information only to comply with the tax laws.
TIP. If the recipient does not provide a TIN, leave the box for the recipient's TIN blank on the Form 1097, 1098, 1099, 3921, 3922, 5498, or W-2G. Backup withholding may apply; see part N.
Caution! If the recipient does not provide a TIN, you may not make the election described in Regulations section 1.1471-4(d)(5)(i)(A) or (B) or report as described in Regulations section 1.1471-4(d)(2)(iii)(A).
The TIN for individual recipients of information returns is the SSN, ITIN, or ATIN. See Sole proprietors, earlier. For other recipients, including corporations, partnerships, and estates, the TIN is the EIN. Income reportable after the death of an individual must reflect the TIN of the payee, that is, of the estate or of the surviving joint owner. For more information, see Personal Representative in Pub. 559. For LLCs, see the information on Limited Liability Company (LLC), earlier.
SSNs, ITINs, and ATINs have nine digits separated by two hyphens (000-00-0000), and EINs have nine digits separated by only one hyphen (00-0000000). Note. Make sure you include the hyphen(s) in the correct place(s) when completing the paper form(s).
Caution! Expired ITINs may continue to be used for information return purposes regardless of whether they have expired for individual income tax return filing purposes. Additionally, the third parties who file and furnish information returns with an expired payee ITIN will not be subject to information return penalties under sections 6721 or 6722 soley because the ITIN is expired. See Notice 2016-48, 2016-48, 2016-33 I.R.B. 235, available at IRS.gov/irb/2016-33_IRB#NOT-2016-48.
Truncating payee's TIN on payee statements. top Filers of information returns are permitted to truncate a payee's SSN, ITIN, ATIN, or EIN on most payee statements. The payee's TIN may not be truncated on Form W2-G. Where permitted, filers may truncate a payee's TIN number on the payee statement (including substitute and composite substitute statements) furnished to the payee in paper form or electronically. Generally, the payee statement is that copy of an information return designated "Copy B" on the forms. A "payee" is any person who is required to receive a copy of the information set forth on an information return by the filer of the return. For some forms, the term "payee" will refer to the beneficiary, borrower, debtor, insured, participant, payer, policyholder, recipient, shareholder, student, or transferor. If a filer truncates an TIN on Copy B, other copies of the form furnished to the payee may also include a truncated number. A filer may not truncate a payee's TIN on any forms the filer files with the IRS. A filer's TIN may not be truncated on any form. To truncate where allowed, replace the first five digits of the nine-digit number with asterisks (*) or Xs (for example, an SSN xxx-xx-xxxx would appear on the paper payee statement as ***-**-xxxx or XXX-XX-xxxx). See TD 9675, 2014-31 I.R.B. 242, available at IRS.gov/irb/2014-31_IRB#TD-9675.
Electronic submission of Forms W-9. top Requesters may establish a system for payees and payees' agents to submit Forms W-9 electronically, including by fax. A requester is anyone required to file an information return. A payee is anyone required to provide a TIN to the requester.
Payee's agent. top A payee's agent can be an investment advisor (corporation, partnership, or individual) or an introducing broker. An investment advisor must be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The introducing broker is a broker-dealer that is regulated by the SEC and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., and that is not a payer. Except for a broker who acts as a payee's agent for "readily tradable instruments," the advisor or broker must show in writing to the payer that the payee authorized the advisor or broker to transmit the Form W-9 to the payer.
Generally, the electronic system must do the following.
TIP. For Forms W-9 that are not required to be signed, the electronic system need not provide for an electronic signature or a perjury statement.
Additional requirements may apply. See Announcement 98-27, available on page 30 of Internal Revenue Bulletin 1998-15 at IRS.gov/pub/irs-irbs/irb98-15.pdf and Announcement 2001-91, which is available on page 221 of Internal Revenue Bulletin 2001-36 at IRS.gov/pub/irs-irbs/irb01-36.pdf.
Electronic submission of Forms W-9S. top See the Instructions for Forms 1098-E and 1098-T.
Use the account number or policy number box on Forms 1097, 1098, 1099, 3921, 3922, and 5498 for an account number designation. The account number is required if you have multiple accounts for a recipient for whom you are filing more than one information return of the same type. The account number is also required if you are an FFI making the election described in Regulations section 1.1471-4(d)(5)(i)(A) or (B) or are a U.S. payer reporting as described in Regulations section 1.1471-4(d)(2)(iii)(A). Additionally, the IRS encourages you to include the recipient's account number on paper forms if your system of records uses the account number rather than the name or TIN for identification purposes. Also, the IRS will include the account number in future notices to you about backup withholding. See Pub. 1220 if you are filing electronically.
The account number may be a checking account number, savings account number, brokerage account number, serial number, loan number, policy number, or any other number you assign to the payee that is unique and will distinguish the specific account. This number must not appear anywhere else on the form, and this box may not be used for any other item unless the separate instructions indicate otherwise. Using unique account numbers ensures that corrected information returns will be processed accurately.
If you are using window envelopes to mail statements to recipients and using reduced rate mail, be sure the account number does not appear in the window. The U.S. Postal Service may not accept these for reduced rate mail.