Thread: The dreaded W9 form

This rarely happens, but it just happened to me (for the 3rd time in my dance career) so I thought I'd ask everyone out there what they do when a customer wants to hire you to dance at their event and they want you to fill out a W-9 for their tax purposes. I'm REALLY not comfortable with this, mostly because I REALLY don't want to be giving out my social security number to a complete stranger. It's just a blank form- no employer name, no tax ID number linked to them, nothing. Has this ever happened to anyone? I'm thinking about telling them I don't have access to a printer (it's a pdf so I can't edit it and send it back to him) when I show up to dance at their party.

Help!

I've gladly filled out w9's for corporate gigs because they can't get you on the payroll without 'em. I get nervous about giving out my SSN, but that's small potatoes compared to not getting paid

If you don't mind my asking, what type of client are they? Is this just a private party, or is it a corporate event? It would seem really odd that a non-business entity would ask you to fill out a w9...

Yeah if it's not a corporate event or even a small business event, I wouldn't do it... can't be too careful w/ your ssn.

From our conversations, I'm under the impression that it's just a really big party for the birthday boy. On the phone, he mentioned he's hiring a lot of entertainment; I was BCC'd on the W9 email, so I'm not sure how many artists will be there, but I know I'm not the only one he's hiring. It's at a house (not a public venue). All things spell "Likely Not Corporate..."

I only submit W9's for corporate events, schools and retirement homes because they have to justify their expenses. I have never done it for a private party. Also, I charge about 20-25% extra if they expect me to submit the w-9 because at the end of the year I will be reporting the earnings.

Could he just be wanting it for a tax write-off? I really don't think he's part of a corporation....but now I wonder what other reasons there could be for wanting me to return a W9 to him.

This wouldn't be feasible within your time frame for the current gig, but you might want to consider setting yourself up as a small corporation with its own tax ID number so that you can give out your business tax ID number to clients instead of your personal one.

Ditto to what Shira said. A Tax ID number is also known as an EIN Employer Identification Number.
Except now you can get one immediately, online. So you just may be able to use if for this gig.
Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) Online

Shira & Samira beat me to it. I got an EIN immediately online for the non-profit group I helped form last year. We needed it to get our concert license agreement from SESAC. Very easy.

Thanks for the advice, ladies! Turns out, the guy was totally legit: he has a school for the arts that he runs dedicated to Persian music and dance, and often contracts performers under his school's name. So I gave him my social sec #. But the EIN number is great advice! I'm going to sign up for one this week so I don't run into this dilemma again.

I was thinking he had to have a reason, otherwise, why would someone even bother to ask you for it? If someone wants to steal your identity, they wouldn't go as far as hiring you, paying you and then use your info.
I just had to fill out one for a retirement home - I claim ALL of my belly dance income, including tips, so for me, it's not a biggie, they can claim that they paid me, because I'll be doing the same :)

Get a tin if you don't want your SSN out there. Everyone over $600 or $800 (can't remember) should be getting these and GIVING them to workshop hosts. I've had two well known dancers who teach workshops all over the place say they've never had to fill one out. It's the law and you could be fined.

End CPA rant.

I also carry a tax ID number and am classified as a small business - though that does put us on the IRS radar! I've only had corporations ask me to fill out a W9, and I report the income on my quarterly filing. Though I prefer just doing all of this the old-fashioned way. Cash!

I'm glad it worked out, and I hope the gig is great!

Originally Posted by RaqOn

Get a tin if you don't want your SSN out there. Everyone over $600 or $800 (can't remember) should be getting these and GIVING them to workshop hosts. I've had two well known dancers who teach workshops all over the place say they've never had to fill one out. It's the law and you could be fined.

End CPA rant.

I'm going to give props here to Karim Nagi, as he was one of the most professional people I've ever worked with. He has all his stuff in order and got me his W9 within minutes of me asking for it.