Claude Code fills and reuses a W-9 PDF workflow
Dave Swift demonstrates Claude Code inspecting W-9 fields, writing a filling script and checking the output, then describes turning the repeated workflow into a reusable skill.
Original prompt
Shared by the source author. See source notes for context.
Fill out w9-blank.pdf with this information:
Reach people exploring AI agents
See placements →Evidence at a glance
Sourced account- Source author
- Dave Swift
- Original account
- Read the source ↗
- Published
- Source link checked
- Reported result
- The demonstration produces a filled PDF copy and describes a reusable skill, while flat documents still need coordinate-level corrections.
- Human involvement
- Swift supplies data and checks the output; he explicitly calls for opening the PDF and notes extra manual adjustments for flat scans.
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How the agent did it
- Inspect the blank PDF and list recognized form fields.
- Provide approved example values and let Claude Code write and run a filling script.
- Read back the output and inspect the completed PDF visually.
Dave Swift demonstrates filling a W-9 through Claude Code rather than clicking every PDF field manually. He places a blank fillable form in the working folder and first asks the agent to list its fields. That inspection distinguishes an actual form from a scanned document that needs positioned text overlays.
After receiving the supplied details, Claude Code writes and runs a script that maps values to fields and saves a completed copy. Swift asks it to read the output back and also tells the reader to open it for a visual check. The published demonstration uses example personal and business data, not an independently verified taxpayer identity.
Swift describes repeating the same inspect, match, clarify and fill instructions across several forms, then packaging the behavior into a skill. The skill can ask about missing values and offer to remember reusable information. Those features are described as the extension of the basic workflow.
The account also records the main limitation: flat scans require coordinate adjustments and repeated feedback. This is form preparation, not tax filing or proof of valid tax classification. The useful artifact is a filled draft and a repeatable way to inspect it before sharing.
Prompt
Original prompt
Source: Blog · Dave Swift
Frequently asked questions
Is this a tax filing?
No. It is an example of filling and checking a PDF form.
Why inspect the form first?
Recognized fillable fields support direct value mapping; a flat scan instead requires text overlays and positioning.
Who checks the finished document?
The workflow reads the output back and calls for the human to open and inspect it too.
More details
Remaining steps
- Package repeated instructions into a reusable skill for later forms.
About this account
Claude Code lists PDF fields, writes and runs the filling script and reads back the result.
Firsthand primary account opened and read; original publication date checked in primary metadata or visible timestamp. Outcomes are author-reported, not independently reproduced. Demonstration uses example data; no filing or correct classification is independently established. Original prompt excerpt reproduced exactly from the source; excerpt only, not the complete prompt.
Credit: Dave Swift
Source published
Added to Agents In Use
Source checked
Tools and topics
Claude Code · Fillable PDF · W-9 form · PDF filling script
Work · Reported deployment
Editorial completeness: 100/100. Measures documented fields, not agent performance or verified outcomes.