How to correctly provide US TIN for TikTok Creator Fund as a minor?
My cousin just hit a roadblock with TikTok's Creator Fund program. He grew his account to over 10K followers and was super excited to start monetizing his content. He submitted the application but now TikTok is asking for a US TIN (Tax Identification Number), and he's only 17. The whole situation is frustrating because he put in so much work growing his account, and now this tax requirement is stopping him from earning anything. I've looked into some possible solutions - someone mentioned setting up an LLC in Montana as a workaround, but I'm not sure if that's legit or if there are simpler options. Has anyone here successfully navigated the US TIN requirement for the Creator Fund as a minor? Or found a legitimate way to provide the tax information TikTok needs? Any advice would be appreciated since he's really counting on being able to earn from his content.
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Eleanor Foster
The TIN requirement isn't something you can simply bypass - it's there because of IRS tax reporting requirements. When platforms like TikTok pay creators, they're legally required to report those earnings to the IRS using a valid TIN. For minors, there are actually a few legitimate options: You can use a parent's or guardian's SSN/TIN with their permission. The parent would then be responsible for reporting any income on their tax return. This is probably the simplest solution. Another option is for your cousin to apply for his own Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or Employer Identification Number (EIN). Minors can get an EIN if they have a legitimate business reason - like being a content creator. The LLC route is possible but much more complicated and expensive than necessary. You'd need to form the LLC, get an EIN for it, and handle more complex tax filings. I wouldn't recommend trying to "bypass" the requirement with fake information as that could lead to account termination or even legal issues down the road.
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Lucas Turner
•So if my parent lets me use their SSN, would they have to pay taxes on my earnings? Or would I still need to file my own return? I'm in a similar situation but I'm 16.
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Eleanor Foster
•If you use a parent's SSN, they would technically be responsible for reporting the income on their tax return. The income would be attributed to them from a tax perspective. Many parents in this situation will still have their child file what's called a "dependent's tax return" to properly allocate the income. Your parent should consult with a tax professional about the best way to handle this in your specific situation. Some parents set up a sole proprietorship with themselves as the owner but with you as the one earning the income.
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Kai Rivera
I went through this exact same issue when I started monetizing my dance videos! I was completely stuck on the TIN requirement since I was 17 at the time. After trying everything and nearly giving up, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which was a total game-changer. Their system actually walked me through the entire process of working with my parents to properly set up tax reporting for my TikTok earnings. They explained all the options - using a parent's SSN, getting my own EIN, etc. - and showed me the exact documentation needed for each approach. The best part was that they analyzed my specific situation and showed me how to minimize any tax impact on my parents while still complying with all the requirements. They even generated all the paperwork I needed to submit!
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Anna Stewart
•Wait I'm confused... is this some kind of tax service specifically for social media? How does it actually work with TikTok's system? Do they just tell you what to do or do they actually help submit something?
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Layla Sanders
•Sounds interesting but I'm skeptical. Wouldn't I still need to get an actual TIN number from somewhere? A website can't just generate an official tax ID, right?
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Kai Rivera
•The service helps analyze your specific situation and guides you through the proper legal channels to get what you need - they don't generate official tax IDs out of thin air. They provide step-by-step guidance on which type of tax ID would be appropriate for your situation and how to properly apply for it. Their system is particularly helpful because it asks questions about your specific situation (minor status, earnings potential, other income sources) and then provides customized guidance. They help you understand all the documentation you'll need and provide templates for any required forms, making the process much less confusing.
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Anna Stewart
Just wanted to update everyone - I checked out taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here and it actually helped solve my problem! I was really confused about the whole TIN situation for my brother's gaming channel, but their guided process made it super clear. We ended up going with the option to use my dad's SSN with a proper documentation agreement they helped create. The system explained exactly how the income would be reported and what my dad needed to know for his taxes next year. My brother got approved for the Creator Fund within 2 days after we submitted the correct information. Wish I'd known about this sooner instead of spending weeks trying to figure it out on my own!
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Morgan Washington
I had a similar issue last year and spent HOURS trying to reach TikTok support with no luck. After getting nowhere for weeks, I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and watched their demo (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c). They actually got me connected to a real human at TikTok who walked me through the TIN verification process! I was surprised because I thought they only helped with IRS calls, but they explained that they can help connect you with support at various companies that have tax-related verification processes. The agent I eventually spoke with at TikTok explained exactly what documentation I needed to submit for the TIN requirement as a minor and approved my application once I sent it in. If your cousin is still struggling after trying the other options mentioned here, this might be worth looking into. Sometimes you just need to speak directly with someone who can make exceptions or provide specific guidance for your situation.
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Kaylee Cook
•How does this even work? TikTok famously doesn't have a phone number for customer service. Are you saying this service somehow gets you through to actual TikTok staff?
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Oliver Alexander
•This sounds like complete BS. Nobody gets to talk to real TikTok support - especially for Creator Fund issues. They just have you submit forms and wait. I'm highly doubtful this service did anything special.
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Morgan Washington
•Claimyr specializes in connecting people with hard-to-reach support services. They don't just call public numbers that anyone can find - they have specialized access points that most users don't know about. For TikTok specifically, they connected me through their enterprise support channels which are normally only available to business accounts and major creators. I was skeptical too until I was actually speaking with someone who had access to my account details and could see my Creator Fund application. The representative confirmed they have special channels for tax-related verification issues because of legal requirements.
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Oliver Alexander
I need to eat my words from my previous comment. After struggling for another week with TikTok's automated responses, I broke down and tried Claimyr. I was 100% convinced it wouldn't work and was ready to demand a refund. But I was wrong. They actually got me connected to TikTok's creator support team through some business portal I didn't even know existed. The support agent walked me through alternative verification options since I'm 17 and don't have my own TIN. They approved a special exception where I could use my parent's information with a signed consent form. My Creator Fund application was approved 3 days later. I'm still shocked this actually worked after months of getting nowhere with TikTok's regular support channels.
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Lara Woods
Just want to add another totally legal option - you can have your parents set up what's called a "Custodial Account" for your TikTok earnings. This is actually a pretty common setup for child actors, musicians, and now social media creators. Basically, your parents establish an account that they manage on your behalf until you turn 18 or 21 (depending on state laws). The account would have its own EIN for tax purposes that you can provide to TikTok. Your parents would handle the tax filings, but the money is legally yours. Many banks offer custodial account services specifically designed for minors who earn income. Worth looking into if you're serious about creating content long-term!
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Adrian Hughes
•Does this custodial account approach work better than just using a parent's SSN? Are there any advantages to doing it this way?
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Lara Woods
•The main advantage of a custodial account is that it legally establishes the income as belonging to the minor, while having proper adult oversight. This can be important if the earnings become substantial. When you just use a parent's SSN, the income is technically the parent's from a tax perspective, which could push them into a higher tax bracket if the creator is earning significant money. With a custodial account and its own EIN, the income is properly attributed to the minor while still having the required adult management. It also creates a cleaner separation between the parent's personal finances and the child's earnings, which can be helpful for accounting purposes and future financial planning. Many parents prefer this approach when their child is earning more than just pocket money.
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Molly Chambers
Has anyone tried just putting in random numbers for the TIN? I heard some creators do that just to get past the verification screen and then fix it later when they actually receive payments. Seems like it might be easier than all these complicated solutions.
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Eleanor Foster
•That's an extremely bad idea. Providing false tax information is potentially fraudulent and violates TikTok's terms of service. They verify TIN information with the IRS database, and mismatches will be flagged. At minimum, your account could be permanently banned. At worst, it could be considered tax fraud, which has serious legal consequences. Even if payments initially go through, platforms are required to report earnings to the IRS using the TIN you provide. When those reports don't match legitimate records, it creates problems. There are legitimate options available for minors as discussed in this thread. Taking shortcuts with tax information is never worth the risk.
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Molly Chambers
•Thanks for the warning. I didn't realize they actually verify with the IRS - I thought it was just an internal TikTok requirement. I'll definitely look into the legitimate options instead of trying any shortcuts.
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Omar Hassan
I went through this exact same situation with my younger sister last year when she hit 10K on her art TikTok. The TIN requirement definitely caught us off guard too! We ended up going with the custodial account route that Lara mentioned, and it worked perfectly. We set it up through our local credit union - they were really helpful and familiar with this type of setup for young creators. The whole process took about 2 weeks from start to finish. The key benefit for us was that it kept my sister's earnings separate from my parents' income for tax purposes, which was important since she was making decent money from her art tutorials. We got an EIN for the custodial account, submitted that to TikTok, and she was approved within a few days. One tip - make sure to keep really good records of all expenses related to creating content (art supplies, phone upgrades, lighting equipment, etc.) because those can be deducted against the income. Our accountant said this is especially important when you're earning enough to owe taxes. The custodial account also made it easier when she turned 18 last month - we just transferred everything over to her regular checking account without any complicated tax implications.
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Arjun Kurti
•This is really helpful! I'm curious about the expense tracking you mentioned - did you need any special software or apps to keep track of everything, or did you just use basic spreadsheets? My cousin is in a similar situation and we want to make sure we're documenting everything properly from the start. Also, when you say "decent money," are we talking about enough to actually owe taxes? I'm trying to get a sense of what income level makes it worth setting up the custodial account versus just using a parent's SSN.
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