Unable to add date and sign W9 IRS tax form using Adobe Reader

28 Dec 2017

Unable to add a signature date on your downloaded IRS W-9 form? Here are 3 possible solutions for you.

1) Print To PDF before signing

Fill out the PDF form as you normally would with all the details needed except for your signature and signed date.
Print the filled out PDF and save to PDF instead of printing to paper.
Open “printed” PDF and add signature date and signature.

End results on your W-9 form will look something like this

It appears that Adobe Reader does not allow you to add freeform text to a document if there are fillable fields. The IRS has not made the signature date area a fillable field. “Printing” the W-9 form to PDF flattens the file and removes the fillable fields thus unlocking the ability to add freeform text and a signature.

2) Certificate-based signature

Follow Adobe’s instructions found at https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/certificate-based-signatures.html

End results on your W-9 form will look something like this

3) Print, Sign with Ink, Scan

Fill out the PDF form as you normally would with all the details needed except for your signature and signed date.
Print filled out form to paper.
Sign and date with ink.
Scan signed form.

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