EX-99.(A)(7) 8 dex99a7.htm GUIDELINES FOR SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 Guidelines for Substitute Form W-9

Exhibit (a)(7)

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 name and social
security number of—

      

For this type of account:

  

Give the name and employer
identification number of—

1. Individual

  The individual      6. Disregarded entity not owned by individual    The owner

2. Two or more individuals (joint account)

  The actual owner of the account or, if combined funds, the first individual on the account1     

7. A valid trust, estate, or pension trust

 

8. Corporate or LLC electing corporate status on Form 8832

 

9. Association, club, religious, charitable, educational, or other tax-exempt organization

  

The legal entity4

 

 

 

The corporation

 

 

 

 

 

The organization

3. Custodian account of a minor (Uniform Gift to Minors Act)

  The minor2      10. Partnership or multi-member LLC    The partnership

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

  The grantor-trustee1      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

 

5. Sole proprietorship or disregarded entity owned by an individual

 

The actual owner1

 

The owner3

     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
         

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 on the second name line. You may use either your social security number or your employer identification number (if you have one).

4

List first and circle the name of the legal 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.

Caution: A disregarded domestic entity that has a foreign owner must use the appropriate Form W-8.


GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION

NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9

 

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Obtaining a Number

If you do not have a taxpayer identification number, apply for one immediately. To apply for a SSN, get Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, from your local Social Security Administration office or get this form online at www.ssa.gov. You may also get this form by calling 1-800-772-1213. Get Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, an ITIN, or Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, to apply for an EIN. You can apply for an EIN online by accessing the IRS website at www.irs.gov/business and clicking on Employee Identification Number (EIN) under Starting a Business. 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.

Limited liability companies (LLCs). Check the “Limited liability company” box and enter the appropriate code for the tax classification (“D” for disregarded entity, “C” for corporation, “P” for partnership) in the space provided.

For a single-member LLC (including a foreign LLC with a domestic owner) that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner under Regulations section 301.7701-3, enter the owner’s name on the “Name” line. Enter the LLC’s name on the “Business name” line.

For an LLC classified as a partnership or a corporation, enter the LLC’s name on the “Name” line and any business, trade or “doing business as” name on the “Business name” line.

If you are a single-member LLC that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner, enter the owner’s SSN (or EIN, if the owner has one). Do not enter the disregarded entity’s EIN. If the LLC is classified as a corporation or partnership, enter the entity’s EIN.

 

Payees Exempt From Backup Withholding

Payees specifically exempted from backup withholding include:

 

1. 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).

 

2. The United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities.

 

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

 

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

 

5. An international organization or any of its agencies or instrumentalities.

Payees that may be exempt from backup withholding include:

 

6. A corporation.

 

7. A foreign central bank of issue.

 

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

 

9. A futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

 

10. A real estate investment trust.

 

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

 

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

 

13. A financial institution.

 

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

 

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

 

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The chart below shows types of payments that may be exempt from backup withholding. The chart applies to the exempt recipients listed above, 1 through 15.

 

If the payment is for ...

 

THEN the payment is exempt
for ...

Interest and dividend payments   All exempt recipients except for 9

Broker transactions

  Exempt recipients 1 through 13. Also, a person registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 who regularly acts as a broker

Exempt payees should complete a substitute Form W-9 to avoid possible erroneous backup withholding. Furnish your taxpayer identification number, check the appropriate box for your status, check the “Exempt from backup withholding” box, sign and date the form and 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.

Privacy Act Notice. Section 6109 requires you to provide your correct taxpayer identification number to payers who must file information returns with the IRS to report interest, dividends, and certain other income paid to you. The IRS uses the numbers for identification purposes and to help verify the accuracy of your tax return and may also provide this information to the Department of Justice for civil and criminal litigation and to cities, states, and the District of Columbia and U.S. possessions to carry

out their tax laws, and may also disclose this information to other countries under a tax treaty, or to Federal and state agencies to enforce Federal nontax criminal laws or to Federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies and 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 correct 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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