Client refused to provide EIN or SSN on 1099 form - how to file taxes without it?

Thanks for this info! I've never heard of Form 4852 before. If I file this form, does that mean the IRS will go after my client? I'm worried about burning bridges since I might want to work with them again in the future (though this experience is making me rethink that).

Filing Form 4852 doesn't automatically trigger action against your client, but it does create a discrepancy in the IRS system that may be flagged for review. The IRS might contact your client to verify the information and address their failure to provide the required information, but there's no guarantee they'll take action. Your primary concern should be protecting yourself by properly reporting your income. While I understand not wanting to burn bridges, any client who refuses to provide legally required tax information is already demonstrating they're not particularly concerned about your tax compliance or potential penalties. This is a significant red flag for future business relationships.

How does this actually work though? I mean, if the information is blacked out, how can any service figure out what should be there? Does it somehow get the missing EIN/SSN from somewhere else?

Sounds kinda sketchy tbh. Did you have to pay for this service? And did the IRS actually accept your return without issues? I'd be worried about getting audited later if I submit incomplete forms.

The service doesn't magically find the missing EIN/SSN - instead they help by guiding you through the correct IRS procedures for filing with missing information. They showed me how to properly document the situation, which forms to use (like Form 4852 that someone else mentioned), and how to provide evidence that I attempted to get the information from the client. No, the IRS definitely accepted my return without issues. This isn't about submitting incomplete forms - it's about properly documenting the situation when someone else fails to fulfill their legal obligation. You're actually protecting yourself by showing you did everything right on your end. The service has different pricing tiers depending on what you need, but it was absolutely worth it for the peace of mind and avoiding potential penalties.

Wait, how is this even possible? I thought getting through to the IRS was just a matter of waiting on hold. How does a third party service jump the queue? Is this something the IRS actually allows?

This sounds like complete BS. There's no way to "skip the line" with government agencies. Everyone has to wait their turn. And even if you did get through, the IRS isn't going to give you someone else's EIN or SSN - that would be a major privacy violation.

It's not about skipping any lines or queue jumping. Claimyr uses an automated system that calls the IRS and navigates through all the initial phone menus for you. They just wait on hold so you don't have to, then when they reach a human agent, they connect the call back to you. It's totally legitimate. You're right that the IRS won't just give out someone's EIN/SSN to anyone who asks - I didn't mean to imply that. What they can sometimes do is confirm whether a business name matches an EIN if you already have partial information, or they can guide you on the proper procedures for reporting income when the payer hasn't provided their ID number. The point is getting access to a knowledgeable IRS agent who can give you specific guidance for your situation.

Isn't filing an SS-8 form basically declaring war on a client though? I've heard horror stories about businesses getting hit with huge penalties after these forms are filed. Seems like a nuclear option if you ever want to work in the industry again.

You're right that filing an SS-8 is definitely escalating the situation, and it should be a last resort after you've tried everything else. It's not something I recommend if you're concerned about maintaining relationships in your industry. However, I don't think it's fair to characterize it as "declaring war" - it's simply using the proper channels when someone is refusing to fulfill their legal obligations. The penalties only come into play if they were incorrectly classifying workers, which is a legitimate issue. But yes, there could be relationship consequences, so weigh that against the tax implications for yourself.

Yeah, it was definitely above the threshold - around $5,800 total for the work. They actually did provide the 1099 form itself (which means they know they were required to), they just blacked out their own identification number on it, which is super weird.

Even if it's under $600, you still need to report the income. The $600 threshold is just for when the payer is required to send a 1099. You always have to report all income regardless of the amount.