EX-99.(A)(1)(F) 7 dex99a1f.htm GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number

Exhibit (a)(1)(F)

GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER

IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9

Guidelines for Determining the Proper Identification Number 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.

   
   Give the
   SOCIAL SECURITY
For this type of account    number of:

1.   An individual’s account

   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 account (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 single-owner LLC account

 

 

 

 

   The owner(3)

 


 

For this type of account   

Give the

EMPLOYER

IDENTIFICATION

number of:

6.   Sole proprietorship or single-owner LLC account

   The owner(3)

7.   A valid trust, estate, or pension trust

   Legal entity(4)

8.   Corporate account or LLC electing corporate status

   The corporation

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

   The organization

10. Partnership or multi-member LLC

   The partnership

11. A broker or registered nominee

   The broker or nominee

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. If you are a sole proprietorship and you have an employer identification number (“EIN”), you may enter either your social security number (“SSN”) or your EIN. If you are a single member limited liability company 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. Enter your individual name on the “Name” line. You may enter your business, trade or doing business name on the “Business Name” line.
4. List first and circle the name of the legal trust, estate, or pension trust. (Do not furnish the identifying 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 more than one name is listed, the number will be considered to be that of the first name listed.


How to Obtain a TIN

To apply for a social security number, obtain Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, from your local Social Security Administration officer or get this form online at www.ssa.gov. 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. If you have applied for a taxpayer identification number or you intend to apply for one soon, write “Applied For” in the space for the taxpayer identification number, sign and date the Substitute Form W-9, and return it to the Depositary.

Payees Exempt from Backup Withholding

Payees exempt from backup withholding on all payments include the following:

 

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 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.

Other 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.

The chart below shows two of the 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 who regularly acts as a broker and who is registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940


Exempt payees should file the Substitute Form W-9 to avoid possible erroneous backup withholding. FURNISH YOUR TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, WRITE “EXEMPT” IN PART 2 OF THE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9, SIGN AND DATE THE FORM, AND RETURN IT TO THE DEPOSITARY. Foreign payees who are not subject to backup withholding should complete the appropriate IRS Form W-8 and return it to the Depositary.

Privacy Act Notice

Section 6109 requires most recipients of dividend, interest or other payments to give their correct taxpayer identification numbers to payers who must report the payments to the IRS. The IRS uses the numbers for identification purposes and to help verify the accuracy of tax returns. It may also provide this information to the Department of Justice for civil and criminal litigation, and to cities, states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions to carry out their tax laws. It may also disclose this information to other countries under a tax treaty, to federal and state agencies to enforce federal nontax criminal laws, and to federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to combat terrorism.

Payees must provide payers with their taxpayer identification numbers whether or not they 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) Penalty for 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 which results in no imposition of backup withholding, you are subject to a penalty of $500.

(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.