EX-99.(A)(1)(VI) 7 dex99a1vi.htm GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number

Exhibit (a)(1)(vi)

GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION

NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9

Guidelines for Determining the Proper Identification Number for the Payee (You) to Give the Payer

Social Security numbers have nine digits separated by two hyphens: i.e., 000-00-0000. Employer identification numbers have nine digits separated by only one hyphen: i.e., 00-0000000. The table below will help determine the number to give the payer. All “Section” references are to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. “IRS” is the Internal Revenue Service.

 

For This Type of Account:   

Give the SOCIAL
SECURITY number of     

        For This Type of Account   

Give the EMPLOYER
IDENTIFICATION

number for     

1.   Individual    The individual       6.   Disregarded entity not owned by an individual    The owner(3)
2.   Two or more individuals (joint account)   

The actual owner of the

account or, if combined

funds, the first individual

on the account(l)

      7.   A valid trust, estate or pension trust    The legal entity(4)
           8.   Corporate account or LLC electing corporate status on Form 8832    The corporation
           9.   Association, club, religious, charitable, educational or other tax-exempt organization    The organization
3.  

Custodian account of a minor (Uniform Gift

to Minors Act)

   The minor(2)           
4.  

a.      The usual revocable savings trust account (grantor is also trustee)

   The grantor-trustee(l)       10.   Partnership or multi-member LLC    The partnership
           11.   A broker or registered nominee    The broker or nominee
 

b.     So-called trust account that is not a legal or valid trust under State law

   The actual owner(1)       12.   Account with the Department of Agriculture in the name of a public entity (such as a state or local government, school district or prison) that receives agricultural program payments    The public entity
5.   Sole proprietorship or disregarded entity owned by an individual.    The owner(3)                 
(1) List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish. If only one person on a joint account has a social security number, that person’s number must be furnished.

 

(2) Circle the minor’s name and furnish the minor’s social security number.

 

(3) You must show your individual name, but you may also enter your business or “doing business as” name. You may use either your social security number or your employer identification number (if you have one) but the Internal Revenue Service encourages you to use your social security number.

 

(4) List first and circle the name of the trust, estate, or pension trust. (Do not furnish the taxpayer identification number of the personal representative or trustee unless the legal entity itself is not designated in the account title.)

NOTE: If no name is circled when there is more than one name listed, the number will be considered to be that of the first name listed.


GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION

NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9

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Obtaining a Number

If you don’t have a taxpayer identification number, apply for one immediately. To apply for a social security number (“SSN”), get Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, from your local Social Security Administration office. Get Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, to apply for a TIN, or Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, to apply for an employer identification number (“EIN”). You can get Forms W-7 and SS-4 from the IRS by calling 1 (800) TAX-FORM, or from the IRS Web Site at www.irs.gov.

Payees Exempt From Backup Withholding

Payees specifically exempted from backup withholding include:

 

   

An organization exempt from tax under Section 501(a), an individual retirement account (IRA), or a custodial account under Section 403(b)(7) if the account satisfies the requirements of Section 401(f)(2).

 

   

The United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities.

 

   

A state, the District of Columbia, a possession of the United States, or any of their political subdivisions or instrumentalities.

 

   

A foreign government or any of its political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentality.

 

   

An international organization or any agency or instrumentality thereof.

Payees specifically exempted from backup withholding on dividend and interest payments and on broker transactions include:

 

   

A corporation.

 

   

A foreign central bank of issue.

 

   

A dealer in securities or commodities required to register in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a possession of the United States.

 

   

A real estate investment trust.

 

   

An entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

   

A common trust fund operated by a bank under Section 584(a).

 

   

A financial institution.

 

   

A middleman known in the investment community as a nominee or custodian.

 

   

A trust exempt from tax under Section 664 or described in Section 4947.

Certain payments, other than payments of interest, dividends, that are exempt from information reporting are also exempt from backup withholding. For details, see Sections 6041, 6041A, 6042, 6044, 6045, 6049, 6050A and 6050N and the regulations thereunder.

Exempt payees should complete a substitute Form W-9 to avoid possible erroneous backup withholding. Furnish your taxpayer identification number, check the “Exempt from backup withholding” box on the form, sign and date the form and tax return it to the payer. Foreign payees who are not subject to backup withholding should complete an appropriate Form W-8 and return it to the payer.

 

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Special Rule for Partnerships. Partnerships that conduct a trade or business in the U.S. are generally required to pay a withholding tax on any foreign partners’ share of income from such business. Further, in certain cases where a Form W-9 has not been received, a partnership is required to presume that a partner is a foreign person, and pay withholding tax. Therefore, if you are a U.S. person that is a partner in a partnership conducting a trade or business in the U.S., provide Form W-9 to the partnership to establish your U.S. status and avoid withholding on your share of partnership income. The person who gives Form W-9 to the partnership for purposes of establishing its U.S. status and avoiding withholding on its allocable share of net income from the partnership conducting a trade or business in the U.S. is in the following cases:

 

   

The U.S. owner of a disregarded entity and not the entity;

 

   

The U.S. grantor or other owner of a grantor trust and not the trust; and

 

   

The U.S. trust (other than a grantor trust) and not the beneficiaries of the trust.

Privacy Act Notice. Section 6109 requires you to provide your correct taxpayer identification number to payers of dividends, interest, or other payments, who must report the payments to the IRS. The IRS uses the numbers for identification purposes and to help verify the accuracy of your return and may also provide this information to various government agencies for tax enforcement or litigation purposes. The IRS may also disclose this information to other countries under a tax treaty, to federal and state agencies to enforce federal nontax criminal law, or to federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to combat terrorism. Payers must be given the numbers whether or not recipients are required to file tax returns. Payers must generally withhold 28% of taxable interest, dividend, and certain other payments to a payee who does not furnish a taxpayer identification number to a payer. Certain penalties may also apply.

Penalties

(1) Failure to Furnish Taxpayer Identification Number. If you fail to furnish your taxpayer identification number to a payer, you are subject to a penalty of $50 for each such failure unless your failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect.

(2) Civil Penalty for False Information with Respect to Withholding. If you make a false statement with no reasonable basis that results in no backup withholding, you are subject to a $500 penalty.

(3) Criminal Penalty for Falsifying Information. Willfully falsifying certifications or affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties including fines and/or imprisonment.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT YOUR TAX CONSULTANT

OR THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.

 

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