You don’t want your customers to know who you are?
It seems to me that they have the option to require this of you. They are not forbidden.
You can either comply or find yourself new clients.
Don’t work for them because they will probably hold your invoice hostage until you provide the W-9. They are running scared over compliance themselves.
Businesses are so confused by the new laws that just about everyone is being asked for a W9.. I know with my business you won’t get paid if we don’t have a W9 on file. No exceptions.
Can I require the service station from which I buy gas or the auto repair shop where I have my van fixed to supply these forms since I am a contractor and these are business expenses? If not, why not?
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/need-w9-form-17842.html
It looks like you can get an identification number and you won’t have to give out your SS#. I agree with the SS#. But I don’t think anybody can steal your ID with the ID#.
State governments are mostly broke because they have given unemployment insurance so generously, and they are seeking to include any/all independent contractors (who typically don't pay unemployment insurance) as employees under somebody, so they can collect the unemployment insurance taxes on them.
They are required to get the W-9 or at least enough information to properly file a 1099-Misc should it be required and for most business who wish to remain compliant (the fines are getting crazy) it’s easier to just get a W-9 from everybody.
If you don’t want to give out your SSN then you can apply for a Federal Id Number online at IRS.Gov (there is a link on the main page). It takes about 10 minutes to do and you get the number right then.
insist on payments in bitcoins
:)
If you are doing business and don’t have an employer id number you are in trouble anyway.
Q. What is a federal tax ID number?
A. A federal tax identification number (also know as an employer identification number or EIN), is a number assigned solely to your business by the IRS. Your tax ID number is used to identify your business to several federal agencies responsible for the regulation of business.
Q. Does my business need a federal tax ID number?
A. Any business offering products or services that are taxed in any way must get a federal tax ID number. If your state taxes personal services, or if you are required to collect sales taxes on your sales, you need a federal tax ID number. All the government forms you will be required to file for your business will require either a Social Security number or a tax ID number.
Tax his land, tax his wage,
Tax his bed in which he lays.
Tax his tractor, tax his mule,
Teach him taxes is the rule.
Tax his cow, tax his goat,
Tax his pants, tax his coat.
Tax his ties, tax his shirts,
Tax his work, tax his dirt.
Tax his chew, tax his smoke,
Teach him taxes are no joke.
Tax his car, tax his grass,
Tax the roads he must pass.
Tax his food, tax his drink,
Tax him if he tries to think.
Tax his sodas, tax his beers,
If he cries, tax his tears.
Tax his bills, tax his gas,
Tax his notes, tax his cash.
Tax him good and let him know
That after taxes, he has no dough.
If he hollers, tax him more,
Tax him until he’s good and sore.
Tax his coffin, tax his grave,
Tax the sod in which he lays.
Put these words upon his tomb,
“Taxes drove me to my doom!”
And when he’s gone, we won’t relax,
We’ll still be after the inheritance tax.
If you have so many clients, don’t you have a federal taxpayer ID rather than SS# that you could give them?