Yes! You can use AI to fill out WestRock Credit Application and Uniform Sales & Use Tax Exemption/Resale Certificate — Multijurisdiction

Applicants often skip the “NAME OF: PRESIDENT (CEO); OWNER; PARTNER” and “NAME OF OTHER: AUTHORIZED OFFICER (CFO); OWNER SPOUSE; PARTNER” fields or enter a non-authorized employee. This happens because people assume any contact person is acceptable, but credit applications typically require legally responsible principals. If the wrong person is listed, the application may be delayed for clarification or rejected due to insufficient authorization. Use the legal names and titles of the actual principals/officers and ensure they match corporate records.

A very common issue is submitting the form without the latest two year-end financial statements, a completed W-9, and sales tax exemption/resale documentation (if applicable). People miss this because the requirements are in a note block and they assume the form alone is enough. Missing attachments usually triggers back-and-forth emails and can prevent credit approval or delay order release. Before submitting, use a checklist: 2 year-end financial statement sets (IS/BS/CF), signed W-9, and any exemption/resale certificates.

Applicants frequently overlook the signature line for the “COMPANY OFFICER OR DIRECTOR” or provide a signature without a date. This happens when the form is routed internally and returned incomplete, or when someone in A/P signs even though they are not an officer/director. An unsigned/undated application is typically considered invalid and will stall credit review. Ensure an authorized officer/director signs, prints their name and title, and dates the signature.

Many businesses enter their DBA/trade name in the “LEGAL FIRM NAME” field and omit the actual legal entity name, or they list multiple divisions without clarifying the contracting entity. This confusion is common because customers use the DBA in day-to-day operations, but credit is extended to the legal entity. The consequence is mismatched records, W-9/TIN validation failures, and delays in setting up the account correctly. Enter the exact legal entity name as shown on the W-9 and list DBA/divisions separately in the Trade Style/DBA/Divisions field.

People often copy the billing address into the shipping address field (or vice versa), omit suite/unit numbers, or provide a PO Box where a physical shipping location is required. This happens because the form layout is dense and applicants assume one address is sufficient. Incorrect addresses can cause delivery failures, tax jurisdiction errors, and invoice disputes. Provide complete, standardized addresses for both billing and shipping, including suite numbers, and confirm the shipping address is deliverable for freight.

A frequent error is entering the wrong Tax ID (EIN/SSN), transposing digits, or using a state tax ID instead of the federal EIN. This often occurs when someone pulls a number from an old invoice or state registration rather than the W-9. A mismatch can trigger compliance holds, failed vendor/customer setup, and delays in credit approval. Always copy the TIN directly from the completed W-9 and double-check digit accuracy.

Applicants commonly fail to check the correct entity type (LLC, corporation, partnership, individual) or skip related fields like Date Started, Premises (Rent/Own), and Parent Company name/address. This happens because the “Tell us about your business” section looks optional, but it’s used for risk assessment and account setup. Missing or incorrect entity details can lead to wrong credit evaluation and legal documentation issues. Select the exact legal structure and complete the supporting fields consistently with formation documents and financial statements.

Many applicants leave dollar fields blank, enter placeholders (e.g., “TBD”), or request a credit line that doesn’t align with annual sales or expected purchasing. This happens because they’re unsure what to request or assume the seller will decide. Incomplete or inconsistent amounts slow underwriting and may result in a lower-than-needed limit, causing order holds later. Estimate the initial order and ongoing monthly/peak needs based on purchasing forecasts and provide reasonable figures supported by financials.

Applicants often provide a generic company phone number, omit the A/P email, or list a salesperson instead of the accounts payable contact. This happens because the person completing the form may not know who handles invoices or assumes any contact works. The result is missed invoices, delayed payments, and avoidable collections activity due to communication failures. Provide a dedicated A/P contact name, direct phone with extension, and a monitored A/P email address.

Common issues include listing references without contact names, emails/phones, or providing personal references instead of trade/bank contacts; manufacturers may also skip the “Trade References (Manufacturers only)” section even when applicable. This happens because applicants don’t want to “bother” references or don’t have details readily available. Incomplete references prevent verification and can delay or reduce credit approval. Provide current references with full contact details (preferably email), and ensure bank reference includes routing number, account type, and a bank officer/contact.

On the multijurisdiction resale certificate, people frequently put their own company in the “Issued to Seller” line, leave state registration/permit numbers blank, fail to check the correct business type (wholesaler/retailer/manufacturer), or omit the exemption/resale reason where required (e.g., Ohio). This happens because the form is multi-state and the buyer/seller roles are easy to confuse. Errors can invalidate the certificate, forcing sales tax to be charged and creating audit exposure for both parties. Fill “Issued to Seller” with the vendor’s name/address, complete buyer details accurately, provide the correct state permit/ID numbers for relevant states, select the correct business classification, and sign/date by an authorized signer.