I've been dealing with this exact same confusion for months! As someone who just formed an LLC last year and got hit with my first W-9 request, I totally understand the frustration. The IRS guidance really is counterintuitive when you've specifically gone through the trouble of getting an EIN. What really helped me was talking to other LLC owners in my local business group. Turns out this is one of the most common mistakes new LLC owners make. We all assume the EIN is what we should use because it feels more "business-like" and professional. I ended up using my SSN on recent W-9s after reading through all the IRS publications, but honestly, the peace of mind from getting direct confirmation from the IRS (like some folks mentioned using Claimyr) sounds really valuable. There's so much conflicting information online that it's hard to know what's actually correct. One thing I'm still wondering about - if I do eventually grow to the point where S-Corp election makes sense, is there any issue with having some 1099s tied to my SSN from the early years and then switching to EIN-based 1099s later? Does that create problems for the IRS matching system or is it pretty straightforward as long as everything is reported correctly?

I just went through this exact same situation with my marketing consultancy LLC! The confusion is totally understandable because it does seem backward to get an EIN and then not use it. Here's what I learned after spending way too much time researching this: Yes, for a single-member LLC that's taxed as a sole proprietorship (disregarded entity), you should use your SSN on W-9 forms, not the LLC's EIN. The IRS instructions are correct, even though it feels wrong. The way I think about it now is that the EIN and LLC serve different purposes than I originally thought. The LLC gives you legal protection and helps separate your business operations, while the EIN is useful for business banking, potential employees, and certain tax situations. But for income reporting purposes, since you're taxed as a sole proprietor, the IRS wants everything tied to your personal tax return via your SSN. I had already sent out a few W-9s with my EIN before I figured this out. My accountant said not to panic - just make sure I report all that income on my Schedule C and be prepared to explain the discrepancy if the IRS asks. For new clients, I now use my SSN on W-9s. If the privacy aspect really bothers you (and I get it - handing out your SSN feels risky), you could look into electing S-Corp tax status, which would let you legitimately use your EIN. But that comes with more complexity and costs, so it's worth running the numbers with a tax pro first.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who's been researching clergy tax issues to help my pastor brother-in-law, I wanted to share one more perspective that might be useful. We discovered that the timing of when your friend starts their ministry position during the year can actually impact their tax strategy. Since he's just starting, he has the advantage of being able to plan from the beginning rather than trying to fix mistakes mid-year like many clergy members have to do. One thing that really helped us was creating a simple monthly budget that separated regular living expenses from housing-related costs. This made it much easier to determine a reasonable housing allowance designation and also helped with tracking actual housing expenses throughout the year for documentation purposes. Also, since your friend is new to ministry, he might want to consider joining a clergy tax Facebook group or online community. We found several where experienced ministers share practical tips and updates about tax law changes. It's been invaluable for getting real-world advice from people who've been navigating these waters for years. The dual tax status really is confusing at first, but from what we've learned, the key is getting organized early and not being afraid to ask questions. Better to overcommunicate with the church board about tax procedures upfront than to discover problems at filing time!

As someone who's been helping clergy members with tax issues for several years, I wanted to add a few key points that might help your friend avoid some common pitfalls: **The "minister vs. employee" distinction isn't always clear-cut** - Even if your friend receives a W-2, the IRS may still consider them self-employed for certain purposes beyond just SECA taxes. This can affect things like business expense deductions and retirement plan eligibility. **State taxes can be tricky** - While we've focused on federal requirements, don't forget that state tax treatment of clergy can vary significantly. Some states don't recognize the housing allowance exclusion, and others have different rules about clergy employment status. **Get professional help for the first year** - I always recommend new clergy members work with a tax professional who specializes in ministry taxes for at least their first year. The dual status rules are complex enough that even small mistakes can be costly, and a specialist can help set up proper record-keeping systems from the start. **Consider the long-term impact** - The decisions your friend makes about employment classification and housing allowances in their first year often set precedents that are difficult to change later. Taking time to understand all the implications upfront can save thousands of dollars over the course of their ministry career. The learning curve is definitely steep, but with proper guidance and planning, clergy taxes become much more manageable!

Quick question - when you filed the amendment, did you check the "amended return" box at the top of the form? I've seen the IRS treat amended forms as new, late filings when this box isn't checked properly.

I'm dealing with something very similar right now with my Canadian RRSP account. Filed both 3520 and 3520-A forms on time for three years running, but just got a penalty notice for my 2022 filing claiming I never submitted the 3520-A. The really frustrating part is that I have the e-filing confirmation from my tax software showing both forms were transmitted successfully. When I called the IRS (after waiting 3 hours on hold), the agent could see my 3520 in the system but said there was no record of the 3520-A, even though they were filed together electronically. Has anyone else experienced this issue where one form gets "lost" in their system while the other one processes normally? I'm wondering if this is a systemic problem with how they handle these foreign trust forms or if it's just random bad luck. I'm planning to file an appeal with all my documentation, but seeing all these similar stories makes me think there's something seriously wrong with how the IRS processes international filings.

My sister works for the IRS (not speaking officially) and she says they see this ALL THE TIME. As long as your return was already accepted before you created the IP PIN, you're totally fine. The self-selected PIN you use when filing is completely different from an Identity Protection PIN. The self-selected PIN is just an electronic signature for that specific return. The IP PIN is a security feature for your entire tax account. Two different systems!

This is exactly what happened to me last year! I panicked when I realized I had accidentally enrolled in the IP PIN program after my return was already accepted. The key thing to remember is that the self-selected PIN you used when filing and the Identity Protection PIN are completely separate systems. Your current return should be fine since it was already accepted with the original PIN. For future reference, if you ever need to contact the IRS about PIN issues, try calling early in the morning (like 7-8 AM) - the wait times are usually much shorter then. Glad to see from your update that everything worked out and you got your refund date! The IRS systems are more resilient than we think sometimes. Your experience will definitely help others who find themselves in the same situation.

Did you check if you have any other codes? Sometimes 766 appears with other codes that could indicate delays

Code 766 basically means the IRS processed your return and moved the refund credit to the next step in their system. The 4-15-2025 date is just their standard placeholder - don't read into it! You're in processing limbo right now. Keep an eye out for code 846 which means your refund has actually been sent out. Usually takes 1-3 weeks after 766 appears but can be longer depending on their workload.