What is a “B” Notice?
A “B” Notice is a backup withholding notice. There are two “B” Notices — the First “B” Notice and the Second “B” Notice. You must send the First “B” Notice and a Form W-9 to a payee after you receive the first CP2100/CP2100A Notice with respect to this account for the purpose of soliciting a correct name/TIN combination. The text of the Second “B” Notice is different than that of the First “B” Notice. It tells the payee to contact IRS or SSA to obtain the correct name/TIN combination. The mailing of the second notice should not include a Form W-9. You must send the second B Notice after receiving the second CP2100 or CP2100A with respect to this account. The payee must certify the Name/TIN combination after receiving the second “B” Notice. Generally, you do not have to send a “B” Notice more than two times within three calendar years to the same account.
When the IRS cannot match an account holder’s name and Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) furnished on the account with a name and TIN in the IRS data files, the IRS will send a notice to Franklin Templeton to commence backup withholding on the account. Within 15 business days, Franklin Templeton must send a B Notice to the account holder to notify the account holder of the mismatch and to request the account holder’s Form W-9 certifications. The IRS requires Franklin Templeton to withhold tax (backup withholding) on reportable ordinary income dividends, capital gains distributions and gross proceeds on redemptions until new Form W-9 certifications are received.
