Comments on: Ask the cubicle expat: My client didn’t send me a W-9 form — help! http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/03/17/ask-the-cubicle-expat-my-client-didnt-send-me-a-w-9-form-help/ Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:18:48 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Michelle Goodman http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/03/17/ask-the-cubicle-expat-my-client-didnt-send-me-a-w-9-form-help/comment-page-1/#comment-57771 Michelle Goodman Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:33:20 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/03/17/ask-the-cubicle-expat-my-client-didnt-send-me-a-w-9-form-help/#comment-57771 Not sure. Anyone? Not sure. Anyone?

]]> By: Scott Murray http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/03/17/ask-the-cubicle-expat-my-client-didnt-send-me-a-w-9-form-help/comment-page-1/#comment-57738 Scott Murray Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:10:53 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/03/17/ask-the-cubicle-expat-my-client-didnt-send-me-a-w-9-form-help/#comment-57738 On page 3 of the W-9 form, the instructions read: "If you are a sole proprietor and you have an EIN, you may enter either your SSN or EIN. However, the IRS prefers that you use your SSN." Any thoughts on why the IRS "prefers" SSN over EIN? I'd rather use EIN, only to avoid sharing my SSN any more than I have to. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf On page 3 of the W-9 form, the instructions read: “If you are a sole proprietor and you have an EIN, you may enter either your SSN or EIN. However, the IRS prefers that you use your SSN.”

Any thoughts on why the IRS “prefers” SSN over EIN? I’d rather use EIN, only to avoid sharing my SSN any more than I have to.

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf

]]> By: Rick http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/03/17/ask-the-cubicle-expat-my-client-didnt-send-me-a-w-9-form-help/comment-page-1/#comment-54622 Rick Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:19:28 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/03/17/ask-the-cubicle-expat-my-client-didnt-send-me-a-w-9-form-help/#comment-54622 protect your SSN. get a EIN. you don't need to be a LLC or Corp to get one, Sole P is fine. https://sa2.www4.irs.gov/modiein/individual/index.jsp i immediately send a W-9 with my EIN after a agreement is signed. protect your SSN. get a EIN. you don’t need to be a LLC or Corp to get one, Sole P is fine. https://sa2.www4.irs.gov/modiein/individual/index.jsp
i immediately send a W-9 with my EIN after a agreement is signed.

]]> By: Michelle Goodman http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/03/17/ask-the-cubicle-expat-my-client-didnt-send-me-a-w-9-form-help/comment-page-1/#comment-50974 Michelle Goodman Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:34:30 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/03/17/ask-the-cubicle-expat-my-client-didnt-send-me-a-w-9-form-help/#comment-50974 Joe, this is what I do too. I put the money in a savings account so it's not as easy to spend. Since you're REQUIRED to pay quarterly in the U.S. (as a freelancer), there shouldn't be any "paying a big chunk at tax time." Instead, it's four medium-sized chunks throughout the year. Joe, this is what I do too. I put the money in a savings account so it’s not as easy to spend. Since you’re REQUIRED to pay quarterly in the U.S. (as a freelancer), there shouldn’t be any “paying a big chunk at tax time.” Instead, it’s four medium-sized chunks throughout the year.

]]> By: Joe Wallace http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/03/17/ask-the-cubicle-expat-my-client-didnt-send-me-a-w-9-form-help/comment-page-1/#comment-50760 Joe Wallace Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:27:17 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/03/17/ask-the-cubicle-expat-my-client-didnt-send-me-a-w-9-form-help/#comment-50760 The W-9 issue aside, I like to set aside 30% of my freelance fees as a hedge against owing Uncle Sam...anybody else have strategies they use to keep from paying a huge chunk at tax time? Would love to know what others do to keep the tax wolves at bay. The W-9 issue aside, I like to set aside 30% of my freelance fees as a hedge against owing Uncle Sam…anybody else have strategies they use to keep from paying a huge chunk at tax time? Would love to know what others do to keep the tax wolves at bay.

]]> By: Freelance Tax Hell? Take Some Sage Advice | freelance-zone.com http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/03/17/ask-the-cubicle-expat-my-client-didnt-send-me-a-w-9-form-help/comment-page-1/#comment-50468 Freelance Tax Hell? Take Some Sage Advice | freelance-zone.com Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:58:44 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/03/17/ask-the-cubicle-expat-my-client-didnt-send-me-a-w-9-form-help/#comment-50468 [...] Goodman rocks. Her post on W-9 forms on The Anti 9-to-5 Guide made my [...] [...] Goodman rocks. Her post on W-9 forms on The Anti 9-to-5 Guide made my [...]

]]> By: Selene M. Bowlby http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/03/17/ask-the-cubicle-expat-my-client-didnt-send-me-a-w-9-form-help/comment-page-1/#comment-30858 Selene M. Bowlby Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:10:09 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/03/17/ask-the-cubicle-expat-my-client-didnt-send-me-a-w-9-form-help/#comment-30858 Michelle, Thanks! Phew, lol, I thought I was in trouble there ;) So glad to hear it's not my problem. Thank goodness for good records. Of course, they're all in my computer and I have to print them out and add them up, etc. But.... Something I need to hurry up and tackle this weekend... less than 1 month to go til tax day - yech! Maybe I should just make the appointment already - that way I CAN'T procrastinate anymore. ;) Michelle, Thanks! Phew, lol, I thought I was in trouble there ;)

So glad to hear it’s not my problem. Thank goodness for good records. Of course, they’re all in my computer and I have to print them out and add them up, etc. But….

Something I need to hurry up and tackle this weekend… less than 1 month to go til tax day – yech! Maybe I should just make the appointment already – that way I CAN’T procrastinate anymore. ;)

]]> By: Michelle Goodman http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/03/17/ask-the-cubicle-expat-my-client-didnt-send-me-a-w-9-form-help/comment-page-1/#comment-30775 Michelle Goodman Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:29:14 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/03/17/ask-the-cubicle-expat-my-client-didnt-send-me-a-w-9-form-help/#comment-30775 Selene, you're fine on your end since you're keeping good records and reporting all freelance income earned. Your clients, however, should be sending you 1099s if they are claiming the money they pay you as a tax deduction on their tax returns. But maybe they're not claiming it. Or maybe they are and they just aren't doing their taxes correctly. Either way, not your problem. Selene, you’re fine on your end since you’re keeping good records and reporting all freelance income earned. Your clients, however, should be sending you 1099s if they are claiming the money they pay you as a tax deduction on their tax returns. But maybe they’re not claiming it. Or maybe they are and they just aren’t doing their taxes correctly. Either way, not your problem.

]]> By: Selene M. Bowlby http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/03/17/ask-the-cubicle-expat-my-client-didnt-send-me-a-w-9-form-help/comment-page-1/#comment-30765 Selene M. Bowlby Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:13:52 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/03/17/ask-the-cubicle-expat-my-client-didnt-send-me-a-w-9-form-help/#comment-30765 How important is the W-9 / 1099? I've been freelancing on the side since 2001 (in addition to a full time job). In the last 7 years, I've only ever had 2 clients have me fill out the forms giving them my tax ID number. Are they ALL supposed to send you the forms? Our accountant has never asked us about these at tax time - I just submit my own invoices and receipts (I keep very good business records). How important is the W-9 / 1099?

I’ve been freelancing on the side since 2001 (in addition to a full time job). In the last 7 years, I’ve only ever had 2 clients have me fill out the forms giving them my tax ID number. Are they ALL supposed to send you the forms?

Our accountant has never asked us about these at tax time – I just submit my own invoices and receipts (I keep very good business records).

]]> By: Michelle Goodman http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/03/17/ask-the-cubicle-expat-my-client-didnt-send-me-a-w-9-form-help/comment-page-1/#comment-30623 Michelle Goodman Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:22:58 +0000 http://www.anti9to5guide.com/2008/03/17/ask-the-cubicle-expat-my-client-didnt-send-me-a-w-9-form-help/#comment-30623 Not sure. Maybe a site like <a title="MyCorporation" href="http://www.mycorporation.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">MyCorporation.com</a> can help. I've never used it, so don't take that as an endorsement. You can also learn more on <a title="Nolo" href="http://www.nolo.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nolo.com</a>, which my legal bible. Not sure. Maybe a site like MyCorporation.com can help. I’ve never used it, so don’t take that as an endorsement. You can also learn more on Nolo.com, which my legal bible.

]]>