Obtaining a Number
If you do not have a taxpayer identification number (“TIN”) or if you do not know your number, obtainForm SS-5 (Application for Social Security Card) orForm SS-4 (Application for Employer Identification Number) at the local office of the Social Security Administration or the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and apply for a number. In addition, you must check the box marked “Awaiting TIN” in Part 3 of SubstituteForm W-9 and sign and date the “Certification of Awaiting Taxpayer Identification Number” at the bottom of the form. If you do not timely provide a TIN, a portion of all reportable payments made to you will be withheld.
Section references in these guidelines refer to sections under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
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).
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| • | The United States, a state thereof, the District of Columbia or a possession of the United States, or a political subdivision or agency or instrumentality of any the foregoing. |
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| • | An international organization or any agency or instrumentality thereof. |
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| • | A foreign government or any political subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof. |
Payees that may be exempt from backup withholding include:
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| • | A corporation. |
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| • | A financial institution. |
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| • | A dealer in securities or commodities required to register in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a possession of the United States. |
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| • | A real estate investment trust. |
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| • | A common trust fund operated by a bank under Section 584(a). |
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| • | An entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. |
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| • | A middleman known in the investment community as a nominee or custodian. |
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| • | A futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. |
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| • | A foreign central bank of issue. |
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| • | A trust exempt from tax under Section 664 or a non-exempt trust described in Section 4947. |
Payments of dividends and patronage dividends not generally subject to backup withholding include:
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| • | Payments to nonresident aliens subject to withholding under Section 1441. |
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| • | Payments to partnerships not engaged in a trade or business in the U.S. and which have at least one nonresident alien partner. |
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| • | Payments of patronage dividends where the amount received is not paid in money. |
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| • | Payments made by certain foreign organizations. |
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| • | Section 404(k) payments made by an ESOP. |
Payments of interest not generally subject to backup withholding include:
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| • | Payments of interest on obligations issued by individuals. Note: You may be subject to backup withholding if this interest is $600 or more and is paid in the course of the payer’s trade or business and you have not provided your correct taxpayer identification number to the payer. |
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| • | Payments of tax-exempt interest (including exempt-interest dividends under Section 852). |
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| • | Payments described in Section 6049(b)(5) to nonresident aliens. |
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| • | Payments on tax-free covenant bonds under Section 1451. |
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| • | Payments made by certain foreign organizations. |
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| • | Mortgage or student loan interest paid to you. |
EXEMPT PAYEES DESCRIBED ABOVE SHOULD COMPLETE AND RETURN SUBSTITUTEFORM W-9 TO AVOID POSSIBLE ERRONEOUS BACKUP WITHHOLDING. Exempt payees should furnish their TIN, check the box labeled “Exempt” in Part 2 and sign and date the form. If you are a foreign person, you must submit the appropriate IRSForm W-8 signed under penalty of perjury attesting to foreign status. Such forms may be obtained from Mellon Investor Services LLC or at www.irs.gov.
Certain payments other than interest, dividends, and patronage dividends, which are not subject to information reporting are also not subject to backup withholding. For details, see the regulations under Sections 6041, 6041A, 6045, 6050A and 6050N.
Privacy Act Notice. — Section 6109 requires most recipients of dividend, interest, or certain other income to give 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. The IRS may also provide this information to the Department of Justice for civil and criminal litigation and to cities, states and the District of Columbia to carry out their tax laws. The IRS may also disclose this information to other countries under a tax treaty, or to Federal and state agencies to enforce Federal non-tax criminal laws and to combat terrorism. Payers must be given the numbers whether or not recipients are required to file tax returns. Payers must generally withhold a portion 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 that 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 finesand/or imprisonment.
(4) Misuse of Taxpayer Identification Numbers. — If the requester discloses or uses taxpayer identification numbers in violation of federal law, the requester may be subject to civil and criminal penalties.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT YOUR TAX CONSULTANT OR THE IRS.