A PAYER ASKED YOUR LLC FOR W-9: ASSEMBLE THE FACTS FIRST
EINForeigner — private preparation worksheet — November 4, 2026
https://einforeigner.com/foreign-owned-llc-w8-w9-request/

Do not certify U.S. tax status just because a U.S. LLC has an EIN. First establish the federal classification and the person whose status the payer needs. This worksheet organizes a question for the payer or tax reviewer; it does not select or complete a withholding certificate.

Keep this sheet and sensitive identifiers in your own secure records. Do not send them to this site. This is not an IRS form, filing or authorization.

WORKSHEET
For each field, attach the named evidence or mark UNKNOWN; do not fill a gap from memory.

1. Request
What to record: Payer, date, requested form, purpose, deadline and independently verified secure channel.
Your record: ____________________
Evidence file/reference and date: ____________________
Open question: ____________________

2. Entity and owner
What to record: LLC legal name; owner type; number of owners; classification evidence and relevant date. Record unknowns explicitly.
Your record: ____________________
Evidence file/reference and date: ____________________
Open question: ____________________

3. Payment facts
What to record: Contract, activity, payee and beneficial owner; payment category; source/ECI questions for review, without assuming the answer.
Your record: ____________________
Evidence file/reference and date: ____________________
Open question: ____________________

4. Status evidence
What to record: Reviewer’s supported residency/classification conclusion and source documents; never infer it from the EIN.
Your record: ____________________
Evidence file/reference and date: ____________________
Open question: ____________________

5. Response decision
What to record: Form and revision selected by the responsible reviewer; unresolved portal requirement; retained copy and date actually delivered.
Your record: ____________________
Evidence file/reference and date: ____________________
Open question: ____________________

WORKED REFERENCE — FICTIONAL, NOT YOUR RECORD
A U.S. LLC and a foreign individual
Cedar Example LLC has one foreign individual owner and no classification election in its file. A customer’s portal requests W-9.
Keep the request open. Ask the payer to review documentation of the owner and payment under the applicable W-8 instructions. The EIN does not justify signing a U.S.-person certification.

COMPLETION CHECK
A useful handoff identifies the certifying person, the payment and the unresolved question. Suggested message to adapt privately: “Your request asks for [form] for [purpose]. Our documented ownership and classification are [facts]. Please confirm the appropriate documentation and secure submission channel.” Do not include tax identifiers in an unsecured message.

SOURCES
IRS instructions for requesters of Form W-9: foreign persons and disregarded entities
https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iw9
IRS W-8BEN instructions: beneficial owner, who must provide, and exceptions
https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iw8ben
IRS W-8BEN-E instructions: foreign entity documentation and exceptions
https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iw8bene