EX-99.2 14 d428663dex992.htm EX-99.2 EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL FOR HOLDERS OF DEFINITIVE NOTES

TO TENDER

OLD 7.25% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2025

OF

PBF HOLDING COMPANY LLC

PBF FINANCE CORPORATION

PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND PROSPECTUS

DATED                     , 2017

We refer you to the Prospectus, dated                     , 2017 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Prospectus”), of PBF Holding Company LLC and PBF Finance Corporation (the “Issuers”) and this Letter of Transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal”), which together describe the Issuers’ offer (the “Exchange Offer”) to exchange their 7.25% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “new notes”) which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), for a like principal amount of their issued and outstanding 7.25% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “old notes”) which have not been registered under the Securities Act.

The Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer is Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, and its contact information is as follows:

By Mail, Overnight Mail or Courier:

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas

c/o DB Services Americas, Inc.

Attn: Reorg Dept

5022 Gate Parkway, Suite 200

Jacksonville, FL 32256

For Telephone Assistance:

(877) 843-9767

THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00 A.M. MIDNIGHT, NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON                     , 2017 (THE “EXPIRATION DATE”), UNLESS THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS EXTENDED BY THE ISSUERS.

If you wish to exchange old 7.25% Senior Notes due 2025 for an equal aggregate principal amount of new 7.25% Senior Notes due 2025 pursuant to the Exchange Offer, you must validly tender (and not withdraw) old notes to the Exchange Agent prior to the Expiration Date.

For each old note accepted for exchange, the holder of such old note will receive a new note having a principal amount equal to that of the surrendered old note. The new notes will accrue interest at a rate of 7.25% per annum and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year. Interest on the new notes accrues from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the surrendered old note or, if no interest has been paid on such old note, from May 30, 2017.

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the respective meaning given to them in the Prospectus.

The Issuers expressly reserve the right, at any time or from time to time, to extend the Exchange Offer at their discretion, in which event the term “Expiration Date” shall mean the latest date to which the Exchange


Offer is extended. The Issuers shall notify the Exchange Agent and each registered holder of the old notes of any extension by oral or written notice no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Date.

This Letter of Transmittal is to be used by holders of the old notes who hold their notes in definitive form. Tender of old notes is to be made according to the procedures set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering—Procedures for Tendering Notes Held in Definitive Form.” For you to validly tender your old notes in the Exchange Offer, the Exchange Agent must receive, prior to the Expiration Date:

 

   

The certificate(s) representing the old notes to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer; and

 

   

A properly completed and duly executed copy of this Letter of Transmittal.

Holders of old notes who wish to tender whose certificates for such old notes are not immediately available or who cannot deliver their certificates and all other required documents to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date must tender their old notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in “Exchange Offer—Guaranteed Delivery Procedures” in the Prospectus.

List below the old notes enclosed herewith to which this Letter of Transmittal relates. If the space below is inadequate, list the registered numbers and principal amounts on a separate signed schedule and affix the list to this Letter of Transmittal.

 

Name(s) and Address(es) of Registered Holder(s) Exactly as
Name(s) Appear(s) on Old Notes (Please Fill In, If Blank)
  Old Note(s) Tendered
     Registered
Number(s)
  Aggregate
Principal Amount
Represented by
Old Notes(s)
  Principal Amount
Tendered*
             
             
             
             
             
             
             

*  Unless otherwise indicated, any tendering holder of old notes will be deemed to have tendered the entire aggregate principal amount represented by such old notes. All tenders must be in minimum denominations of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

-2-


PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

1. By tendering old notes in the Exchange Offer, you acknowledge receipt of the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal.

2. By tendering old notes in the Exchange Offer, you (a) exchange, assign and transfer to, or upon the order of, the Issuers all right, title and interest in and to such old notes, (b) represent and warrant that (i) you have full power and authority to tender, exchange, assign and transfer the old notes described above, (ii) when such old notes are accepted for exchange, the Issuers will acquire good and unencumbered title thereto, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances, and (iii) the old notes tendered for exchange are not subject to any adverse claims or proxies when accepted by the Issuers, and (c) will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Issuers to be necessary or desirable to complete the exchange, assignment, transfer and tender of old notes.

3. You understand that the tender of the old notes pursuant to all of the procedures set forth in the Prospectus will constitute an agreement between you and the Issuers as to the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.

4. By tendering old notes in the Exchange Offer, you irrevocably constitute and appoint the Exchange Agent as your true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact (with full knowledge that the Exchange Agent also acts as the agent of the Issuers, in connection with the Exchange Offer) with respect to the tendered old notes, with full power of substitution and resubstitution (such power of attorney being deemed an irrevocable power coupled with an interest) to (i) deliver certificates representing such old notes, or transfer ownership of such old notes on the account books maintained by the book-entry transfer facility specified by the holder(s) of the old notes, together, in each such case, with all accompanying evidences of transfer and authenticity to, or upon the order of, the Issuers, (ii) present and deliver such old notes for transfer on the books of the Issuers and (iii) receive all benefits or otherwise exercise all rights and incidents of beneficial ownership of such old notes, all in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer.

5. By tendering old notes in the Exchange Offer, you acknowledge that this Exchange Offer is being made based on the Issuers’ understanding of an interpretation by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties, including Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (available June 5, 1991), Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the SEC’s letter to Shearman & Sterling (available July 2, 1993), or similar no-action letters, that the new notes issued in exchange for the old notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by each holder thereof (other than a broker-dealer who purchased old notes exchanged for such new notes directly from the Issuers for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act or any other available exemption under the Securities Act or any such holder that is an “affiliate” of the Issuers or any of the guarantors within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act), without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that such new notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such holder’s business and such holder is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of such new notes and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of such new notes. If a holder of the old notes is an affiliate of the Issuers or any of the guarantors, is not acquiring the new notes in the ordinary course of its business, is engaged in or intends to engage in a distribution of the new notes or has any arrangement or understanding with respect to the distribution of the new notes to be acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer, such holder (x) may not rely on the applicable interpretations of the staff of the SEC and (y) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any secondary resale transaction.

 

-3-


6. By tendering old notes in the Exchange Offer, you hereby represent and warrant that:

(a) the new notes acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer are being acquired in the ordinary course of your business;

(b) you have no, and will have no, arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of old notes or new notes within the meaning of the Securities Act;

(c) you are not an “affiliate,” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, of the Issuers or any of the guarantors;

(d) if you are not a broker-dealer, you are not engaged in, and do not intend to engage in, a distribution of new notes; and

(e) if you are a broker-dealer, that you will receive the new notes for your own account in exchange for old notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and that you acknowledge that you will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new notes; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, you will not be deemed to admit that you are an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

7. By tendering old notes in the Exchange Offer, you hereby acknowledge that acceptance of any and all validly tendered old notes by the Issuers and the issuance of new notes in exchange therefor shall constitute performance in full by the Issuers of the Issuers’ obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 30, 2017 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), by and among the Issuers, the several guarantors named therein, and the Initial Purchasers (as defined therein), that the Issuers shall have no further obligations or liabilities thereunder except as provided in Section 5 of such agreement and that you shall comply with your obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement.

8. If you are a broker-dealer and old notes held for your own account were not acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities, such old notes cannot be exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

9. The Exchange Offer is subject to certain conditions as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Exchange Offer—Conditions to the Exchange Offer.” You hereby acknowledge that as a result of these conditions (which may be waived, in whole or in part, by the Issuers up to the expiration of the Exchange Offer), as more particularly set forth in the Prospectus, the Issuers may not be required to exchange any of the old notes tendered hereby and, in such event, the old notes not exchanged will be returned to you promptly following the expiration or termination of the Exchange Offer. In addition, the Issuers may amend the Exchange Offer at any time prior to the Expiration Date if any of the conditions set forth under “Exchange Offer—Conditions to the Exchange Offer” occur.

10. Unless otherwise indicated under “Special Issuance Instructions” below, please issue the new notes issued in exchange for the old notes accepted for exchange and return any old notes not tendered or not exchanged, in the name(s) of the undersigned. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under “Special Delivery Instructions” below, please mail or deliver the new notes issued in exchange for the old notes accepted for exchange and any old notes not tendered or not exchanged (and accompanying documents, as appropriate) to the undersigned at the address shown below the undersigned’s signature(s). In the event that both “Special Issuance Instructions” and “Special Delivery Instructions” are completed, please issue the new notes issued in exchange for the old notes accepted for exchange in the name(s) of, and return any old notes not tendered or not exchanged to, the person(s) so indicated. The undersigned recognizes that the Issuers have no obligation pursuant to the “Special Issuance Instructions” and “Special Delivery Instructions” to transfer any old notes from the name of the registered holder(s) thereof if the Issuers do not accept for exchange any of the old notes so tendered for exchange.

11. Any of your obligations hereunder shall be binding upon your successors, assigns, executors, administrators, trustees in bankruptcy and legal and personal representatives.

 

-4-


 

SPECIAL ISSUANCE INSTRUCTIONS

(See Instructions 4 and 5)

 

To be completed ONLY if old notes in a principal amount not tendered, or new notes issued in exchange for old notes accepted for exchange, are to be issued in the name of someone other than the undersigned. Issue new notes and/or old notes to:

 

Name:                                                                                              

(Type or Print)

 

Address:                                                                                          

 

                                                                                                           

 

                                                                                                           

 

                                                                                                           

 

                                                                                                           

(Zip Code)

 

                                                                                                           

(Tax Identification or Social Security Number)

(Such person(s) must also complete an IRS Form W-9 (enclosed) or an applicable IRS Form W-8, per the accompanying Instructions)

    

 

SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
(See Instructions 4 and 5)

 

To be completed ONLY if the new notes are to be issued or sent to someone other than the undersigned or to the undersigned at an address other than as indicated above.

 

Mail  ☐      Issue  ☐  (check appropriate boxes)

 

Name:                                                                                              

(Type or Print)

 

Address:                                                                                          

 

                                                                                                           

 

                                                                                                           

 

                                                                                                           

 

                                                                                                           

(Zip Code)

 

                                                                                                            

(Tax Identification or Social Security Number)

(Such person(s) must also complete an IRS Form W-9 (enclosed) or an applicable IRS Form W-8, per the accompanying Instructions)

 

-5-


IMPORTANT
PLEASE SIGN HERE
(Complete IRS Form W-9 (enclosed) or an applicable IRS Form W-8)
   

Signature(s) of Registered Holders of Old Notes:

 

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

Dated:

                                           , 2017
 

(The above lines must be signed by the registered holder(s) of old notes as name(s) appear(s) on the old notes, or by person(s) authorized to become registered holder(s) by a properly completed bond power from the registered holder(s), a copy of which must be transmitted with this Letter of Transmittal. If old notes which this Letter of Transmittal relate are held of record by two or more joint holders, then all such holders must sign this Letter of Transmittal. If signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, then such person must (i) set forth his or her full title below and (ii) unless waived by the Issuers, submit evidence satisfactory to the Issuers of such person’s authority so to act. See Instruction 4 regarding completion of this Letter of Transmittal, printed below.)

   

Name:

  

 

     (Please Print)

Capacity:

  

 

   

Address:

  

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

     (Including Zip Code)
   

Area Code and Telephone Number:

  

 

      

 

-6-


 

SIGNATURE GUARANTEE (If Required by Instruction 4)

Certain Signatures Must be Guaranteed by an Eligible Institution

 

 

(Name of Eligible Institution Guaranteeing Signatures)

 

(Address (including Zip code) and Telephone Number (including area code) of Firm)

 

(Authorized Signature)

 

(Printed Name)

 

(Title)

 

 

Dated:                                      , 2017

 

 

 
GUARANTEED DELIVERY (SEE INSTRUCTION 12)
 
☐ CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OLD NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING.
   
Name(s) of Registered Holder(s):  

 

   
Description of Old Notes being delivered pursuant to a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery:  

 

   
Window Ticket Number (if any):  

 

   
Name of Eligible Institution that Guaranteed Delivery:  

 

   

Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery:

 

                                                   , 2017

 

 

-7-


INSTRUCTIONS

FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

 

1. Delivery of This Letter of Transmittal and Old Notes.

All old notes in definitive form as well as a properly completed and a duly executed copy of this Letter of Transmittal and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal or a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, must be received by the Exchange Agent at its address set forth herein prior to 12:00 a.m. midnight, New York City time, on the Expiration Date.

The method of delivery of the tendered old notes, this Letter of Transmittal and all other required documents to the Exchange Agent is at the election and risk of the holder and, except as otherwise provided below, the delivery will be deemed made only when actually received or confirmed by the Exchange Agent. If such delivery is by mail, it is recommended that registered mail, properly insured, with return receipt requested, be used. Instead of delivery by mail, it is recommended that the holder use an overnight or hand delivery service. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to assure delivery to the Exchange Agent before the Expiration Date. No Letter of Transmittal or old notes should be sent to the Issuers.

 

2. Tender by Holder.

Only a holder of old notes may tender such old notes in the Exchange Offer. Any beneficial holder of old notes who is not the registered holder and who wishes to tender should arrange with the registered holder to execute and deliver this Letter of Transmittal on his behalf or must, prior to completing and executing this Letter of Transmittal and delivering his old notes, either make appropriate arrangements to register ownership of the old notes in such holder’s name or obtain a properly completed bond power from the registered holder.

 

3. Partial Tenders.

Tenders of old notes will be accepted only in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The entire principal amount of old notes delivered to the Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise communicated to the Exchange Agent. If the entire principal amount of all old notes is not tendered, then old notes for the principal amount of old notes not tendered and new notes issued in exchange for any old notes accepted will be sent to the holder at his or her registered address promptly after the old notes are accepted for exchange.

 

4. Signatures on this Letter of Transmittal; Bond Powers and Endorsements; Guarantee of Signatures.

If this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile hereof) is signed by the registered holder(s) of the old notes tendered hereby, the signature must correspond with the name(s) as written on the face of the old notes without alteration, enlargement or any change whatsoever.

If this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile hereof) is signed by the registered holder or holders of old notes listed and tendered hereby and the new notes issued in exchange therefor are to be issued (or any untendered principal amount of old notes is to be reissued) to the registered holder, the said holder need not and should not endorse any tendered old notes, nor provide a separate bond power. In any other case, such holder must either properly endorse the old notes tendered or transmit a properly completed separate bond power with this Letter of Transmittal, with the signatures on the endorsement or bond power guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. An “Eligible Institution” is a member firm of a registered national securities exchange or of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States or another “eligible guarantor institution” within the meaning of Rule 17A(d)-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

If this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile hereof) is signed by a person other than the registered holder or holders of any old notes listed, such old notes must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate bond powers, in each case signed as the name of the registered holder or holders appears on the old notes.

 

-8-


If this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile hereof) or any old notes or bond powers are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing, and, unless waived by the Issuers, evidence satisfactory to the Issuers of their authority to act must be submitted with this Letter of Transmittal.

Endorsements on old notes or signatures on bond powers required by this Instruction 4 must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

No signature guarantee is required if (i) this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile hereof) is signed by the registered holder(s) of the old notes tendered herein and the new notes are to be issued directly to such registered holder(s) and neither the box entitled “Special Delivery Instructions” nor the box entitled “Special Issuance Instructions” has been completed, or (ii) such old notes are tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution. In all other cases, all signatures on this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile hereof) must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

 

5. Special Issuance and Delivery Instructions.

Tendering holders should indicate, in the applicable box or boxes, the name and address to which new notes or substitute old notes for principal amounts not tendered or not accepted for exchange are to be issued or sent, if different from the name and address of the person signing this Letter of Transmittal. In the case of issuance in a different name, the taxpayer identification or social security number of the person named must also be indicated and an applicable IRS Form W-9 or IRS Form W-8 must be submitted (see below).

 

6. Transfer Taxes.

The Issuers will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchange of old notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If, however, new notes or old notes for principal amounts not tendered or accepted for exchange are to be delivered to, or are to be registered or issued in the name of, any person other than the registered holder of the old notes tendered hereby, or if tendered old notes are registered in the name of any person other than the person signing this Letter of Transmittal, or if a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the exchange of old notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer, then the amount of any such transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder or any other persons) will be payable by the tendering holder. If satisfactory evidence of payment of such taxes or exemption therefrom is not submitted with this Letter of Transmittal, the amount of such transfer taxes will be billed directly to such tendering holder.

EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN THIS INSTRUCTION 6, IT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY FOR TRANSFER TAX STAMPS TO BE AFFIXED TO THE OLD NOTES LISTED IN THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

 

7. Tax Identification Number and Backup Withholding.

Federal income tax law generally requires that certain holders of any old notes which are accepted for exchange must provide the Exchange Agent (as payor) with their correct taxpayer identification numbers (“TIN”), which, in the case of a holder who is an individual is his or her social security number. If the Exchange Agent is not provided with the correct TIN or an adequate basis for exemption, such holder may be subject to a penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service and backup withholding at the applicable rate on all reportable payments made after the exchange. If withholding results in an over-payment of taxes, a refund may be obtained from the Internal Revenue Service, provided the correct information is furnished.

Certain holders (including, among others, certain foreign holders) are not subject to these backup withholding and reporting requirements, but may need to substantiate their exemption. See the instructions to the enclosed IRS Form W-9 (such instructions, the “W-9 Instructions”) for additional information.

To prevent backup withholding, each tendering holder that is a U.S. person (as defined in the W-9 Instructions) must provide such holder’s correct TIN by completing the enclosed IRS Form W-9, certifying, among other things, that (i) the TIN provided is correct (or that such holder is awaiting a TIN), (ii) the holder is not subject to backup withholding because (a) the holder is exempt from backup withholding,

 

-9-


(b) the holder has not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that such holder is subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends or (c) the Internal Revenue Service has notified the holder that such holder is no longer subject to backup withholding and (iii) the holder is a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person. If the notes are in more than one name or are not in the name of the actual owner, such holder should consult the W-9 Instructions for information on which TIN to report.

If an exchanging holder does not have a TIN, such holder should consult the W-9 Instructions for instructions on applying for a TIN, write “Applied For” in the space provided for the TIN in Part I of the IRS Form W-9, and sign and date the IRS Form W-9 and the “Certificate of Awaiting Taxpayer Identification Number” below. Writing “Applied For” on the form means that such holder has already applied for a TIN or that such holder intends to apply for one in the near future. Notwithstanding that the holder has written “Applied For” in Part I of the IRS Form W-9, reportable payments that are received by such holder generally will be subject to backup withholding unless the holder has furnished the Exchange Agent with its TIN by the time such payment is made, and if a TIN is not provided within 60 days, such withheld amounts will be paid over to the Internal Revenue Service.

If the tendering holder of old notes is not a U.S. person (as defined in the W-9 Instructions), such holder generally must give the Exchange Agent a completed IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, W-8ECI or W-8IMY, as applicable (instead of an IRS Form W-9). Such form may be obtained from the Exchange Agent. An exchanging holder that is not a U.S. person should consult its own tax advisor regarding the appropriate IRS Form W-8 to complete.

The Exchange Agent and the Issuers reserve the right in their sole discretion to take whatever steps are necessary to comply with their obligations regarding tax withholding and information reporting.

 

8. Validity of Tenders.

All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt), acceptance, and withdrawal of tendered old notes will be determined by the Issuers, in their sole discretion, which determination will be final and binding. The Issuers reserve the absolute right to reject any or all tenders not in proper form or the acceptance for exchange of which may, in the opinion of counsel for the Issuers, be unlawful. The Issuers also reserve the absolute right to waive any of the conditions of the Exchange Offer or any defect or irregularity in the tender of any old notes. The Issuers’ interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer (including the instructions in this Letter of Transmittal) will be final and binding on all parties. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of old notes must be cured within such time as the Issuers shall determine. Although the Issuers intend to notify holders of defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of old notes, neither the Issuers, the Exchange Agent, nor any other person shall be under any duty to give notification of any defects or irregularities in tenders or incur any liability for failure to give such notification. Tenders of old notes will not be deemed to have been made until such defects or irregularities have been cured or waived. Any old notes received by the Exchange Agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the defects or irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned by the Exchange Agent to the tendering holders, unless otherwise provided in this Letter of Transmittal, promptly following the Expiration Date.

 

9. Waiver of Conditions.

The Issuers reserve the absolute right to waive, in whole or part, up to the expiration of the Exchange Offer, any of the conditions to the Exchange Offer set forth in the Prospectus or in this Letter of Transmittal.

 

10. No Conditional Tender.

No alternative, conditional, irregular or contingent tender of old notes will be accepted.

 

11. Mutilated, Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Old Notes.

Any holder whose old notes have been mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed should contact the Exchange Agent at the address indicated above for further instruction.

 

-10-


12. Guaranteed Delivery.

Holders who wish to tender their old notes and whose old notes are not immediately available or who cannot deliver their old notes, this Letter of Transmittal and all other required documents to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date must tender their old notes pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in “Exchange Offer—Guaranteed Delivery Procedures” in the Prospectus, complete the Guaranteed Delivery box above and submit a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. Holders may tender their old notes if the tender is made by or through an Eligible Institution (as defined above) if: (i) the Exchange Agent receives (by facsimile transmission, mail or hand delivery), on or prior to the Expiration Date, a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery in the form provided with this Letter of Transmittal or a properly transmitted agent’s message and notice of guaranteed delivery, that (a) sets forth the name and address of the holder of old notes, if applicable, and the certificate number(s) of the old notes to be tendered and the principal amount of old notes tendered, (b) states that the tender is being made thereby, and (c) guarantees that, within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the Expiration Date, the Letter of Transmittal, or a facsimile thereof, together with the old notes and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, will be deposited by the Eligible Institution with the Exchange Agent; and (ii) the Exchange Agent receives the properly completed and executed Letter of Transmittal or facsimile thereof, as well as certificate(s) representing all tendered old notes in proper form for transfer or a book-entry confirmation of transfer of the old notes into the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC and documents required by this Letter of Transmittal within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the Expiration Date.

Any holder who wishes to tender old notes pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures described above must ensure that the Exchange Agent receives the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery relating to such old notes prior to the Expiration Date. Failure to complete the guaranteed delivery procedure outlined above will not, of itself, affect the validity or effect a revocation of any Letter of Transmittal form properly completed and executed by a holder who attempted to use the guaranteed delivery procedures.

 

13. Request for Assistance or Additional Copies.

Requests for assistance or for additional copies of the Prospectus or this Letter of Transmittal may be directed to the Exchange Agent using the contact information set forth on the cover page of this Letter of Transmittal.

☐    CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.

 

Name:

   

Address:

   
   

Holders may also contact their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Exchange Offer.

 

14. Withdrawal.

Tenders may be withdrawn only pursuant to the limited withdrawal rights set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Exchange Offer—Withdrawal of Tenders.”

 

-11-


YOU MUST COMPLETE THE

FOLLOWING CERTIFICATE IF

YOU WROTE “APPLIED FOR”

IN PART I OF THE ENCLOSED IRS FORM W-9.

 

CERTIFICATE OF AWAITING TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

I certify under penalties of perjury that a taxpayer identification number has not been issued to me, and either (1) I have mailed or delivered an application to receive a taxpayer identification number to the appropriate Internal Revenue Service Center or Social Security Administration Office or (2) I intend to mail or deliver such an application in the near future. I understand that if I do not provide a taxpayer identification number by the time of payment, a portion of all cash payments made to me thereafter will be withheld until I provide a taxpayer identification number.

 

 

SIGNATURE:        DATE:     

 

-12-


 

Form W-9

(Rev. December 2014)

Department of the Treasury

Internal Revenue Service

  

Request for Taxpayer

Identification Number and Certification

 

Give Form to the requester. Do not
send to the IRS.

       

 

1 Name (as shown on your income tax return). Name is required on this line; do not leave this line blank.

 

              
   

 

2 Business name/disregarded entity name, if different from above

 

                             
     

 

3 Check appropriate box for federal tax classification; check only one of the following seven boxes:

 

         

4 Exemptions (codes apply only to
certain entities, not individuals; see
instructions on page 3):

 

Exempt payee code (if any)             

 

Exemption from FATCA reporting

code (if any)                               

 

(Applies to accounts maintained
outside the U.S.)

     

  Individual/sole proprietor or      C Corporation       S Corporation       Partnership       Trust/estate

          single-member LLC

     
     

  Limited liability company. Enter the tax classification (C=C corporation,  S=S corporation, P=partnership)  u                   

 

Note. For a single-member LLC that is disregarded, do not check LLC; check the appropriate box in the line above for the
tax classification of the single-member owner.

 

     
        Other (see instructions) u            
       

 

5 Address (number, street, and apt. or suite no.)

 

 

Requester’s name and address (optional)

 

 

       

 

6 City, state, and ZIP code

 

                       
       

 

7 List account number(s) here (optional)

 

Part I    Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)

 

Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. The TIN provided must match the name given on line 1 to avoid backup withholding. For individuals, this is generally your social security number (SSN). However, for a resident alien, sole proprietor, or disregarded entity, see the Part I instructions on page 3. For other entities, it is your employer identification number (EIN). If you do not have a number, see How to get a TIN on page 3.

 

 

Note. If the account is in more than one name, see the instructions for line 1 and the chart on page 4 for guidelines on whose number to enter.

 

Social security number

                           
                               
  or
 

Employer identification number

                           
                                 
Part II    Certification

Under penalties of perjury, I certify that:

 

1.   The number shown on this form is my correct taxpayer identification number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me); and

 

2.   I am not subject to backup withholding because: (a) I am exempt from backup withholding, or (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding; and

 

3.   I am a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person (defined below); and

 

4.   The FATCA code(s) entered on this form (if any) indicating that I am exempt from FATCA reporting is correct.

Certification instructions. You must cross out item 2 above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are currently subject to backup withholding because you have failed to report all interest and dividends on your tax return. For real estate transactions, item 2 does not apply. For mortgage interest paid, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, contributions to an individual retirement arrangement (IRA), and generally, payments other than interest and dividends, you are not required to sign the certification, but you must provide your correct TIN. See the instructions on page 3.

 

Sign
Here
   Signature of
U.S. person  
u
     Date  u

General Instructions

Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted.

Future developments. Information about developments affecting Form W-9 (such as legislation enacted after we release it) is at www.irs.gov/fw9.

Purpose of Form

An individual or entity (Form W-9 requester) who is required to file an information return with the IRS must obtain your correct taxpayer identification number (TIN) which may be your social security number (SSN), individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN), or employer identification number (EIN), to report on an information return the amount paid to you, or other amount reportable on an information return. Examples of information returns include, but are not limited to, the following:

● Form 1099-INT (interest earned or paid)

● Form 1099-DIV (dividends, including those from stocks or mutual funds)

● Form 1099-MISC (various types of income, prizes, awards, or gross proceeds)

● Form 1099-B (stock or mutual fund sales and certain other transactions by brokers)

● Form 1099-S (proceeds from real estate transactions)

● Form 1099-K (merchant card and third party network transactions)

● Form 1098 (home mortgage interest), 1098-E (student loan interest), 1098-T (tuition)

● Form 1099-C (canceled debt)

● Form 1099-A (acquisition or abandonment of secured property)

Use Form W-9 only if you are a U.S. person (including a resident alien), to provide your correct TIN.

If you do not return Form W-9 to the requester with a TIN, you might be subject to backup withholding. See What is backup withholding? on page 2.

By signing the filled-out form, you:

1. Certify that the TIN you are giving is correct (or you are waiting for a number to be issued),

2. Certify that you are not subject to backup withholding, or

3. Claim exemption from backup withholding if you are a U.S. exempt payee. If applicable, you are also certifying that as a U.S. person, your allocable share of any partnership income from a U.S. trade or business is not subject to the withholding tax on foreign partners’ share of effectively connected income, and

4. Certify that FATCA code(s) entered on this form (if any) indicating that you are exempt from the FATCA reporting, is correct. See What is FATCA reporting? on page 2 for further information.

 

 

 

 

  Cat. No. 10231X  

Form W-9 (Rev. 12-2014)


Form W-9 (Rev. 12-2014)

Page 2

 

 

Note. If you are a U.S. person and a requester gives you a form other than Form W-9 to request your TIN, you must use the requester’s form if it is substantially similar to this Form W-9.

Definition of a U.S. person. For federal tax purposes, you are considered a U.S. person if you are:

● An individual who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien;

● A partnership, corporation, company, or association created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States;

● An estate (other than a foreign estate); or

● A domestic trust (as defined in Regulations section 301.7701-7).

Special rules for partnerships. Partnerships that conduct a trade or business in the United States are generally required to pay a withholding tax under section 1446 on any foreign partners’ share of effectively connected taxable income from such business. Further, in certain cases where a Form W-9 has not been received, the rules under section 1446 require a partnership to presume that a partner is a foreign person, and pay the section 1446 withholding tax. Therefore, if you are a U.S. person that is a partner in a partnership conducting a trade or business in the United States, provide Form W-9 to the partnership to establish your U.S. status and avoid section 1446 withholding on your share of partnership income.

In the cases below, the following person must give 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 United States:

● In the case of a disregarded entity with a U.S. owner, the U.S. owner of the disregarded entity and not the entity;

● In the case of a grantor trust with a U.S. grantor or other U.S. owner, generally, the U.S. grantor or other U.S. owner of the grantor trust and not the trust; and

● In the case of a U.S. trust (other than a grantor trust), the U.S. trust (other than a grantor trust) and not the beneficiaries of the trust.

Foreign person. If you are a foreign person or the U.S. branch of a foreign bank that has elected to be treated as a U.S. person, do not use Form W-9. Instead, use the appropriate Form W-8 or Form 8233 (see Publication 515, Withholding of Tax on Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities).

Nonresident alien who becomes a resident alien. Generally, only a nonresident alien individual may use the terms of a tax treaty to reduce or eliminate U.S. tax on certain types of income. However, most tax treaties contain a provision known as a “saving clause.” Exceptions specified in the saving clause may permit an exemption from tax to continue for certain types of income even after the payee has otherwise become a U.S. resident alien for tax purposes.

If you are a U.S. resident alien who is relying on an exception contained in the saving clause of a tax treaty to claim an exemption from U.S. tax on certain types of income, you must attach a statement to Form W-9 that specifies the following five items:

1. The treaty country. Generally, this must be the same treaty under which you claimed exemption from tax as a nonresident alien.

2. The treaty article addressing the income.

3. The article number (or location) in the tax treaty that contains the saving clause and its exceptions.

4. The type and amount of income that qualifies for the exemption from tax.

5. Sufficient facts to justify the exemption from tax under the terms of the treaty article.

Example. Article 20 of the U.S.-China income tax treaty allows an exemption from tax for scholarship income received by a Chinese student temporarily present in the United States. Under U.S. law, this student will become a resident alien for tax purposes if his or her stay in the United States exceeds 5 calendar years. However, paragraph 2 of the first Protocol to the U.S.-China treaty (dated April 30, 1984) allows the provisions of Article 20 to continue to apply even after the Chinese student becomes a resident alien of the United States. A Chinese student who qualifies for this exception (under paragraph 2 of the first protocol) and is relying on this exception to claim an exemption from tax on his or her scholarship or fellowship income would attach to Form W-9 a statement that includes the information described above to support that exemption.

If you are a nonresident alien or a foreign entity, give the requester the appropriate completed Form W-8 or Form 8233.

Backup Withholding

What is backup withholding? Persons making certain payments to you must under certain conditions withhold and pay to the IRS 28% of such payments. This is called “backup withholding.” Payments that may be subject to backup withholding include interest, tax-exempt interest, dividends, broker and barter exchange transactions, rents, royalties, nonemployee pay, payments made in settlement of payment card and third party network transactions, and certain payments from fishing boat operators. Real estate transactions are not subject to backup withholding.

You will not be subject to backup withholding on payments you receive if you give the requester your correct TIN, make the proper certifications, and report all your taxable interest and dividends on your tax return.

Payments you receive will be subject to backup withholding if:

1. You do not furnish your TIN to the requester,

2. You do not certify your TIN when required (see the Part II instructions on page 3 for details),

3. The IRS tells the requester that you furnished an incorrect TIN,

4. The IRS tells you that you are subject to backup withholding because you did not report all your interest and dividends on your tax return (for reportable interest and dividends only), or

5. You do not certify to the requester that you are not subject to backup withholding under 4 above (for reportable interest and dividend accounts opened after 1983 only).

Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding. See Exempt payee code on page 3 and the separate Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9 for more information.

Also see Special rules for partnerships above.

What is FATCA reporting?

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) requires a participating foreign financial institution to report all United States account holders that are specified United States persons. Certain payees are exempt from FATCA reporting. See Exemption from FATCA reporting code on page 3 and the Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9 for more information.

Updating Your Information

You must provide updated information to any person to whom you claimed to be an exempt payee if you are no longer an exempt payee and anticipate receiving reportable payments in the future from this person. For example, you may need to provide updated information if you are a C corporation that elects to be an S corporation, or if you no longer are tax exempt. In addition, you must furnish a new Form W-9 if the name or TIN changes for the account; for example, if the grantor of a grantor trust dies.

Penalties

Failure to furnish TIN. If you fail to furnish your correct TIN to a requester, 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.

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.

Criminal penalty for falsifying information. Willfully falsifying certifications or affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties including fines and/or imprisonment.

Misuse of TINs. If the requester discloses or uses TINs in violation of federal law, the requester may be subject to civil and criminal penalties.

Specific Instructions

Line 1

You must enter one of the following on this line; do not leave this line blank. The name should match the name on your tax return.

If this Form W-9 is for a joint account, list first, and then circle, the name of the person or entity whose number you entered in Part I of Form W-9.

a. Individual. Generally, enter the name shown on your tax return. If you have changed your last name without informing the Social Security Administration (SSA) of the name change, enter your first name, the last name as shown on your social security card, and your new last name.

Note. ITIN applicant: Enter your individual name as it was entered on your Form W-7 application, line 1a. This should also be the same as the name you entered on the Form 1040/1040A/1040EZ you filed with your application.

b. Sole proprietor or single-member LLC. Enter your individual name as shown on your 1040/1040A/1040EZ on line 1. You may enter your business, trade, or “doing business as” (DBA) name on line 2.

c. Partnership, LLC that is not a single-member LLC, C Corporation, or S Corporation. Enter the entity’s name as shown on the entity’s tax return on line 1 and any business, trade, or DBA name on line 2.

d. Other entities. Enter your name as shown on required U.S. federal tax documents on line 1. This name should match the name shown on the charter or other legal document creating the entity. You may enter any business, trade, or DBA name on line 2.

e. Disregarded entity. For U.S. federal tax purposes, an entity that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner is treated as a “disregarded entity.” See Regulations section 301.7701-2(c)(2)(iii). Enter the owner’s name on line 1. The name of the entity entered on line 1 should never be a disregarded entity. The name on line 1 should be the name shown on the income tax return on which the income should be reported. For example, if a foreign LLC that is treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal tax purposes has a single owner that is a U.S. person, the U.S. owner’s name is required to be provided on line 1. If the direct owner of the entity is also a disregarded entity, enter the first owner that is not disregarded for federal tax purposes. Enter the disregarded entity’s name on line 2, “Business name/disregarded entity name.” If the owner of the disregarded entity is a foreign person, the owner must complete an appropriate Form W-8 instead of a Form W-9. This is the case even if the foreign person has a U.S. TIN.

 


Form W-9 (Rev. 12-2014)

Page 3

 

 

Line 2

If you have a business name, trade name, DBA name, or disregarded entity name, you may enter it on line 2.

Line 3

Check the appropriate box in line 3 for the U.S. federal tax classification of the person whose name is entered on line 1. Check only one box in line 3.

Limited Liability Company (LLC). If the name on line 1 is an LLC treated as a partnership for U.S. federal tax purposes, check the “Limited Liability Company” box and enter “P” in the space provided. If the LLC has filed Form 8832 or 2553 to be taxed as a corporation, check the “Limited Liability Company” box and in the space provided enter “C” for C corporation or “S” for S corporation. If it is a single-member LLC that is a disregarded entity, do not check the “Limited Liability Company” box; instead check the first box in line 3 “Individual/sole proprietor or single-member LLC.”

Line 4, Exemptions

If you are exempt from backup withholding and/or FATCA reporting, enter in the appropriate space in line 4 any code(s) that may apply to you.

Exempt payee code.

● Generally, individuals (including sole proprietors) are not exempt from backup withholding.

● Except as provided below, corporations are exempt from backup withholding for certain payments, including interest and dividends.

● Corporations are not exempt from backup withholding for payments made in settlement of payment card or third party network transactions.

● Corporations are not exempt from backup withholding with respect to attorneys’ fees or gross proceeds paid to attorneys, and corporations that provide medical or health care services are not exempt with respect to payments reportable on Form 1099-MISC.

The following codes identify payees that are exempt from backup withholding. Enter the appropriate code in the space in line 4.

1—An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a), any 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 U.S. commonwealth or possession, or any of their political subdivisions or instrumentalities

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

5—A corporation

6—A dealer in securities or commodities required to register in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. commonwealth or possession

7—A futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission

8—A real estate investment trust

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

10—A common trust fund operated by a bank under section 584(a)

11—A financial institution

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

13—A trust exempt from tax under section 664 or described in section 4947

The following chart shows types of payments that may be exempt from backup withholding. The chart applies to the exempt payees listed above, 1 through 13.

 

 

IF the payment is for...   THEN the payment is exempt for...

Interest and dividend payments

  All exempt payees except for 7

Broker transactions

  Exempt payees 1 through 4 and 6 through 11 and all C corporations. S corporations must not enter an exempt payee code because they are exempt only for sales of noncovered securities acquired prior to 2012.
Barter exchange transactions and patronage dividends   Exempt payees 1 through 4
Payments over $600 required to be reported and direct sales over $5,000 1   Generally, exempt payees 1 through 52
Payments made in settlement of payment card or third party network transactions   Exempt payees 1 through 4

 

1 

See Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income, and its instructions.

 

2 

However, the following payments made to a corporation and reportable on Form 1099-MISC are not exempt from backup withholding: medical and health care payments, attorneys’ fees, gross proceeds paid to an attorney reportable under section 6045(f), and payments for services paid by a federal executive agency.

Exemption from FATCA reporting code. The following codes identify payees that are exempt from reporting under FATCA. These codes apply to persons submitting this form for accounts maintained outside of the United States by certain foreign financial institutions. Therefore, if you are only submitting this form for an account you hold in the United States, you may leave this field blank. Consult with the person requesting this form if you are uncertain if the financial institution is subject to these requirements. A requester may indicate that a code is not required by providing you with a Form W-9 with “Not Applicable” (or any similar indication) written or printed on the line for a FATCA exemption code.

A—An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a) or any individual retirement plan as defined in section 7701(a)(37)

B—The United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities

C—A state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. commonwealth or possession, or any of their political subdivisions or instrumentalities

D—A corporation the stock of which is regularly traded on one or more established securities markets, as described in Regulations section 1.1472-1(c)(1)(i)

E—A corporation that is a member of the same expanded affiliated group as a corporation described in Regulations section 1.1472-1(c)(1)(i)

F—A dealer in securities, commodities, or derivative financial instruments (including notional principal contracts, futures, forwards, and options) that is registered as such under the laws of the United States or any state

G—A real estate investment trust

H—A regulated investment company as defined in section 851 or an entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940

I—A common trust fund as defined in section 584(a)

J—A bank as defined in section 581

K—A broker

L—A trust exempt from tax under section 664 or described in section 4947(a)(1)

M—A tax exempt trust under a section 403(b) plan or section 457(g) plan

Note. You may wish to consult with the financial institution requesting this form to determine whether the FATCA code and/or exempt payee code should be completed.

Line 5

Enter your address (number, street, and apartment or suite number). This is where the requester of this Form W-9 will mail your information returns.

Line 6

Enter your city, state, and ZIP code.

Part I. Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)

Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. If you are a resident alien and you do not have and are not eligible to get an SSN, your TIN is your IRS individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). Enter it in the social security number box. If you do not have an ITIN, see How to get a TIN below.

If you are a sole proprietor and you have an EIN, you may enter either your SSN or EIN. However, the IRS prefers that you use your SSN.

If you are a single-member LLC that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner (see Limited Liability Company (LLC) on this page), 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.

Note. See the chart on page 4 for further clarification of name and TIN combinations.

How to get a TIN. If you do not have a TIN, apply for one immediately. To apply for an SSN, get Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, from your local SSA office or get this form online at www.ssa.gov. You may also get this form by calling 1-800-772-1213. Use Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, to apply for 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/businesses and clicking on Employer Identification Number (EIN) under Starting a Business. You can get Forms W-7 and SS-4 from the IRS by visiting IRS.gov or by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).

If you are asked to complete Form W-9 but do not have a TIN, apply for a TIN and write “Applied For” in the space for the TIN, sign and date the form, and give it to the requester. For interest and dividend payments, and certain payments made with respect to readily tradable instruments, generally you will have 60 days to get a TIN and give it to the requester before you are subject to backup withholding on payments. The 60-day rule does not apply to other types of payments. You will be subject to backup withholding on all such payments until you provide your TIN to the requester.

Note. Entering “Applied For” means that you have already applied for a TIN or that you intend to apply for one soon.

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

 


Form W-9 (Rev. 12-2014)

Page 4

 

 

Part II. Certification

To establish to the withholding agent that you are a U.S. person, or resident alien, sign Form W-9. You may be requested to sign by the withholding agent even if items 1, 4, or 5 below indicate otherwise.

For a joint account, only the person whose TIN is shown in Part I should sign (when required). In the case of a disregarded entity, the person identified on line 1 must sign. Exempt payees, see Exempt payee code earlier.

Signature requirements. Complete the certification as indicated in items 1 through 5 below.

1. Interest, dividend, and barter exchange accounts opened before 1984 and broker accounts considered active during 1983. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification.

2. Interest, dividend, broker, and barter exchange accounts opened after 1983 and broker accounts considered inactive during 1983. You must sign the certification or backup withholding will apply. If you are subject to backup withholding and you are merely providing your correct TIN to the requester, you must cross out item 2 in the certification before signing the form.

3. Real estate transactions. You must sign the certification. You may cross out item 2 of the certification.

4. Other payments. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification unless you have been notified that you have previously given an incorrect TIN. “Other payments” include payments made in the course of the requester’s trade or business for rents, royalties, goods (other than bills for merchandise), medical and health care services (including payments to corporations), payments to a nonemployee for services, payments made in settlement of payment card and third party network transactions, payments to certain fishing boat crew members and fishermen, and gross proceeds paid to attorneys (including payments to corporations).

5. Mortgage interest paid by you, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, qualified tuition program payments (under section 529), IRA, Coverdell ESA, Archer MSA or HSA contributions or distributions, and pension distributions. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification.

What Name and Number To Give the Requester

 

       For this type of account:   Give name and SSN of:
  1.    

Individual

  The individual
  2.     Two or more individuals (joint account)   The actual owner of the account or, if combined funds, the first individual on the account 1
  3.     Custodian account of a minor (Uniform Gift to Minors Act)   The minor 2
  4.    

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

  The grantor-trustee 1
 

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

  The actual owner 1
  5.     Sole proprietorship or disregarded entity owned by an individual   The owner 3
  6.     Grantor trust filing under Optional Form 1099 Filing Method 1 (see Regulations section 1.671-4(b)(2)(i) (A))   The grantor *
       For this type of account:   Give name and EIN of:
  7.     Disregarded entity not owned by an individual   The owner
  8.     A valid trust, estate, or pension trust   Legal entity 4
  9.     Corporation or LLC electing corporate status on Form 8832 or Form 2553   The corporation
  10.     Association, club, religious, charitable, educational, or other tax-exempt organization   The organization
  11.     Partnership or multi-member LLC   The partnership
  12.     A broker or registered nominee   The broker or nominee
  13.     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
  14.     Grantor trust filing under the Form 1041 Filing Method or the Optional Form 1099 Filing Method 2 (see Regulations section 1.671-4(b)(2)(i) (B))   The trust
1 

List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish. If only one person on a joint account has an SSN, that person’s number must be furnished.

 

2 

Circle the minor’s name and furnish the minor’s SSN.

 

3 

You must show your individual name and you may also enter your business or DBA name on the “Business name/disregarded entity” name line. You may use either your SSN or EIN (if you have one), but the IRS encourages you to use your SSN.

 

4 

List first and circle the name of the trust, estate, or pension trust. (Do not furnish the TIN of the personal representative or trustee unless the legal entity itself is not designated in the account title.) Also see Special rules for partnerships on page 2.

 

* Note. Grantor also must provide a Form W-9 to trustee of trust.

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

Secure Your Tax Records from Identity Theft

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, SSN, or other identifying information, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. An identity thief may use your SSN to get a job or may file a tax return using your SSN to receive a refund.

To reduce your risk:

 

 

Protect your SSN,

 

 

Ensure your employer is protecting your SSN, and

 

 

Be careful when choosing a tax preparer.

If your tax records are affected by identity theft and you receive a notice from the IRS, respond right away to the name and phone number printed on the IRS notice or letter.

If your tax records are not currently affected by identity theft but you think you are at risk due to a lost or stolen purse or wallet, questionable credit card activity or credit report, contact the IRS Identity Theft Hotline at 1-800-908-4490 or submit Form 14039.

For more information, see Publication 4535, Identity Theft Prevention and Victim Assistance.

Victims of identity theft who are experiencing economic harm or a system problem, or are seeking help in resolving tax problems that have not been resolved through normal channels, may be eligible for Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) assistance. You can reach TAS by calling the TAS toll-free case intake line at 1-877-777-4778 or TTY/TDD 1-800-829-4059.

Protect yourself from suspicious emails or phishing schemes. Phishing is the creation and use of email and websites designed to mimic legitimate business emails and websites. The most common act is sending an email to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft.

The IRS does not initiate contacts with taxpayers via emails. Also, the IRS does not request personal detailed information through email or ask taxpayers for the PIN numbers, passwords, or similar secret access information for their credit card, bank, or other financial accounts.

If you receive an unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS, forward this message to phishing@irs.gov. You may also report misuse of the IRS name, logo, or other IRS property to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 1-800-366-4484. You can forward suspicious emails to the Federal Trade Commission at: spam@uce.gov or contact them at www.ftc.gov/idtheft or 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338).

Visit IRS.gov to learn more about identity theft and how to reduce your risk.

 

 

Privacy Act Notice

Section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code requires you to provide your correct TIN to persons (including federal agencies) who are required to file information returns with the IRS to report interest, dividends, or certain other income paid to you; mortgage interest you paid; the acquisition or abandonment of secured property; the cancellation of debt; or contributions you made to an IRA, Archer MSA, or HSA. The person collecting this form uses the information on the form to file information returns with the IRS, reporting the above information. Routine uses of this information include giving it to the Department of Justice for civil and criminal litigation and to cities, states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. commonwealths and possessions for use in administering their laws. The information also may be disclosed to other countries under a treaty, to federal and state agencies to enforce civil and criminal laws, or to federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to combat terrorism. You must provide your TIN whether or not you are required to file a tax return. Under section 3406, payers must generally withhold a percentage of taxable interest, dividend, and certain other payments to a payee who does not give a TIN to the payer. Certain penalties may also apply for providing false or fraudulent information.