Rover is not a tax advisor and cannot provide advice about taxes, income reporting, or unemployment.
A Form W-9 allows you to submit taxpayer identification information (i.e. social security number or tax identification number) to another company. If you are a U.S. taxpayer and redeem earnings via check, Rover will require you to complete a Form W-9.
How do I verify whether I need to submit a W-9 to Rover?
If we don’t already have a W-9 on file for you, you’ll be prompted to fill out a W-9 the next time you withdraw funds via check, as pictured below. Rover must receive a completed W-9 back from you before issuing your payments by check.
If you don’t see this prompt when withdraw funds via check, that means we already have a W-9 on file for you. You do not need to submit another W-9.
Please email the form to Rover at 1099@rover.com. You should receive a response from Rover within 2 business days.
What if I receive payments for Rover bookings via PayPal?
If you redeem all your earnings via Paypal, you don’t need to submit a W-9 to Rover. This is because Rover does not handle tax documentation for redemptions made via PayPal. If you have tax-related questions regarding earnings processed on PayPal, please consult a tax expert or contact PayPal directly.
Note: Anyone who redeems their earnings via check will be prompted to complete a W-9, but not all sitters/walkers who complete one will be eligible to receive a 1099 form. For more information about 1099s, check out this article.