Washington State doesn’t actually publish a form called the “WA-9.” When people search for one, they almost always mean the Supplier Registration form issued by the state’s Office of Financial Management (OFM), which contains a W-9 section and functions as Washington’s equivalent of a W-9 for vendors who want to be paid by state agencies.1Office of Financial Management. Statewide Registration Services File it once, and you’re set up to receive payments from any participating state agency.
What the Supplier Registration Form Collects
The form has two parts. Part A is your contact information: mailing address, a contact person, phone number, and email. Part B is labeled “Registration (W-9)” and gathers the same tax identification details the federal W-9 does — your legal name or business name, entity type, legal address, and either your Social Security Number or your Employer Identification Number.2Office of Financial Management. Supplier Registration Provide one TIN, not both.
You need a U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number to register. Foreign entities without a U.S. TIN submit an IRS Form W-8 instead. Medical providers and legal or attorney entities that file with the IRS as a corporation or partnership should mark their entity type in the designated box on the form.
How to File the Form
OFM accepts the form two ways. The faster route is the online DocuSign web form, which you complete and sign electronically. The other option is downloading the PDF, printing it, and filling it out by hand.2Office of Financial Management. Supplier Registration
The signature rule on the PDF trips people up. OFM requires an ink signature — one physically written with a pen. Stamped, inserted, and electronic signatures are not accepted on the PDF version. Once you’ve signed, submit the paper form by:
- Scanning and emailing it to supplierforms@ofm.wa.gov
- Faxing it to (360) 664-3363
- Mailing it to Statewide Registration, PO Box 41450, Olympia, WA 98504-1450
Don’t send duplicates. OFM says duplicate submissions slow processing down rather than speed it up.
What You Get Back: The Statewide Vendor Number
Once your registration is processed, OFM emails you a Statewide Vendor (SWV) number. That number identifies you in the state’s central vendor file and lets you receive payments from any participating state agency, not just the one that originally asked you to register.1Office of Financial Management. Statewide Registration Services It’s your account number in Washington’s payment system.
A complete and accurate form typically takes three to five business days to process.2Office of Financial Management. Supplier Registration Incomplete forms or duplicates stretch that out.
Add Direct Deposit at the Same Time
Direct deposit is Washington’s preferred payment method for vendors. If you want payments wired to a checking or savings account, submit the separate Supplier Direct Deposit form together with your registration. OFM processes both at once and assigns your SWV number after approval. The direct deposit form is available in DocuSign and PDF versions, and the PDF carries the same ink-signature requirement.1Office of Financial Management. Statewide Registration Services
Updating Your Information Later
If your name, address, TIN, or banking details change after registration, don’t file a new Supplier Registration. OFM provides a separate Supplier Change form for updates, available in DocuSign and PDF formats. The ink-signature rule applies to the PDF, and processing again takes about three to five business days.1Office of Financial Management. Statewide Registration Services
For questions about registration, changes, or payments, OFM’s Statewide Registration Services is reachable at (360) 407-8180 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (closed noon to 1:00 p.m.) or at SupplierRegistration@ofm.wa.gov.
Why You Still Get a 1099
Washington has no personal or corporate income tax, so the TIN on your registration isn’t being used for state income reporting.3Washington Department of Revenue. Forms and Publications Federal 1099 reporting still applies, though. State agencies file 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC forms with the IRS for the vendors they pay, so payments from Washington will appear on your federal return even though the state itself isn’t taxing the income. Keep copies of what you submit to OFM and records of every payment you receive — you’ll want them at federal tax time and any time a question comes up about your vendor account.