Filling out a W-9 is a pretty standard procedure.Hereu2019s the rub.When a company asks you to fill out a W-9, it is almost a virtual certainty, they will need this form back before theyu2019ll pay you a penny. The company has no way of knowing what the end of the year tally will be, in terms of your earnings, so the assumption is that all independent contractors will receive a 1099.In order to issue a 1099 in accordance with the terms set for by the Internal Revenue Service, information from the W-9 form is required. Without it, the company cannot comply with the law and faces unpleasant/unwanted penalties and fines.So, if they are being a hard-ass about it, that is why.If you donu2019t go over the $600 threshold for the year, you wonu2019t be issued a 1099.No harm, no foul.They have your W-9 information in the system, so maybe if you come back and do more work for them next year (and do happen to go over the threshold) there will be no issues trying to u2018chase you downu2022 to get the W-9 information.If you want to get paid, play the game and fill out the dumb form. It takes two minutes to make this issue go away u2022 thatu2019s less time than I spent writing the answer to your question.