I am a new employee at bank that has developed their own signature card. I noticed the signature card allows one signature on the card to attest to several issues, including the statement "certifies under penalties of perjury a) that the number shown on this form is their correct taxpayer identification number; and b) that they are not subject to backup witholding due to failure to report interest and dividend income' and c)the payee is a U.S. person."

I have always understood that a separate signature was required for TIN certification. Is that still true?

Look at the IRS "Information for Requestor of W-9" form. You can access a form from www.irs.gov. As I recall, it contains guidance for drafting a substitute W-9 (including a one-signature format).

Thanks, Brenda. Looks like one signature will suffice IF the certifications are highlighted, boxed, printed in bold-face type, or presented in some other manner that causes the language to stand out from all other information contained on the substitute form.
Looks like we have to revise our signature card!

Make sure you don't take that out of context. Considering the possible fines, you might want your legal counsel's blessing on any changes.

You may not:

Use a substitute Form W-9 that requires the payee, by signing, to agree to provisions unrelated to the required certifications, or

Imply that a payee may be subject to backup withholding unless the payee agrees to provisions on the substitute form that are unrelated to the required certifications.


A substitute Form W-9 that contains a separate signature line just for the certifications satisfies the requirement that the certifications be clearly stated.

If a single signature line is used for the required certifications and other provisions, the certifications must be highlighted, boxed, printed in bold-face type, or presented in some other manner that causes the language to stand out from all other information contained on the substitute form. Additionally, the following statement must be presented to stand out in the same manner as described above and must appear immediately above the single signature line:

“The Internal Revenue Service does not require your consent to any provision of this document other than the certifications required to avoid backup withholding.”

Thank you! I will bring this to the attention of Upper Management and recommend we revise our signature cards to provide for a separate TIN certification signature line.