10/12/2026
If you’re my client, you’re going to hear me say this: Gather your contractor W-9s NOW. 📣
Because January is busy enough without chasing someone you paid back in March. 😉
From a bookkeeping perspective, we need complete vendor records so we can match payments to the right person or business, review contractor totals, and catch missing information before year end.
From a tax perspective, W-9s provide the legal name, tax ID, and tax classification we need to help determine who requires a 1099 and prepare those forms accurately.
And no, having “LLC” in their business name doesn’t automatically mean they don’t need a 1099!
Collecting these now gives us time to review your books, follow up on missing forms, and get your business ready for filing.
Your homework: Review everyone you paid for contract services this year. Request any missing W-9s and upload them to your secure client portal.
Going forward? Make collecting a W-9 part of onboarding every new contractor, before the first payment.
A little organization now saves a whole lot of chasing later. That’s SMART Accounting. 💚
