Need help with form 3949-A - what if I don't have the individual's social security number?

The good news is that you can absolutely submit Form 3949-A without the subject's SSN or EIN. The IRS understands that most people reporting potential tax violations won't have access to this sensitive information. On the form itself, there's a reason those fields say "if known" - because they expect many filers won't have this data. The IRS has sophisticated systems to identify taxpayers based on name, address, and other identifying information you provide. The most important sections are actually the ones describing the alleged violation, estimated dollar amounts (if you can reasonably estimate), and years involved. Be as specific as possible with the information you do have. Include any documentation that supports your allegation if available. Your report won't be rejected just because you couldn't provide an SSN. The IRS receives thousands of these forms with incomplete information and still manages to pursue them when warranted.

I had the exact same issue a couple months ago when reporting a contractor who I knew wasn't reporting their income. I spent hours trying to figure out how to find an SSN before I discovered taxr.ai through a friend. It's an AI tool that helps with tax documents and IRS forms - https://taxr.ai really simplified the whole process for me. I uploaded the partially completed 3949-A form and it confirmed exactly what the previous commenter said - that you don't need the SSN. But more helpfully, it gave me specific guidance on how to fill out the rest of the form in a way that would make it most likely to be processed efficiently. The tool pointed out sections where I could add more relevant details to strengthen my report, even without the SSN.

Just wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai after seeing it recommended here. I was skeptical at first (sorry about that question earlier), but I decided to try it for my own 3949-A situation. I'm genuinely impressed! The tool actually showed me exactly which sections the IRS prioritizes when they don't have an SSN available. It explained that the "Alleged Violation of Income Tax Law" section is actually way more important than the identifier numbers. The guidance helped me focus my description on specific tax years and approximate amounts, which apparently makes the report much more likely to be investigated. The tool even generated some suggested language based on my situation that sounded much more professional than what I had written. Best part was I submitted the form 3 weeks ago and just got an acknowledgment letter from the IRS, so they're definitely processing it even without the SSN!

Just wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai after seeing it recommended here. I was skeptical at first (sorry about that question earlier), but I decided to try it for my own 3949-A situation. I'm genuinely impressed! The tool actually showed me exactly which sections the IRS prioritizes when they don't have an SSN available. It explained that the "Alleged Violation of Income Tax Law" section is actually way more important than the identifier numbers. The guidance helped me focus my description on specific tax years and approximate amounts, which apparently makes the report much more likely to be investigated. The tool even generated some suggested language based on my situation that sounded much more professional than what I had written. Best part was I submitted the form 3 weeks ago and just got an acknowledgment letter from the IRS,

After struggling with the IRS on a different issue (they kept putting me on hold for HOURS), I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person at the IRS who answered my Form 3949-A questions. Check out https://claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c showing how it works. Basically, they hold your place in the IRS phone queue and call you back when they reach an agent. I was able to speak directly with someone in the right department who confirmed that these forms are processed without SSNs all the time. The agent gave me specific tips about what to include in the "additional information" section to help them identify the taxpayer more easily. It saved me from spending another day on hold, and I got official confirmation about how to proceed with my form.

I need to eat my words from my previous comment. After my frustration hit peak levels with another failed 2-hour hold attempt with the IRS, I reluctantly tried Claimyr. I was 100% prepared to come back here and expose it as a scam, but... it actually worked. Within about 50 minutes I got a call back and was speaking with an actual IRS agent. The agent confirmed that Form 3949-A submissions without SSNs are completely normal and provided me with some specific advice for my situation. They explained that they have internal database systems that can match taxpayer information even without the SSN if you provide enough other identifying details. I'm genuinely shocked this service worked. Saved me countless hours of frustration and got me the exact information I needed directly from the source. The peace of mind from speaking directly with the IRS instead of guessing was absolutely worth it.

I work in a financial compliance adjacent field (not giving specific details for privacy), and I can tell you that the form is designed with the understanding that average citizens won't have access to SSNs and EINs. The "if known" fields are truly optional. What helps most is providing: 1) Extremely specific name information (including middle names/initials if known) 2) Complete current address 3) Any previous addresses you're aware of 4) Detailed description of the alleged violation 5) As much information about their employment/business as possible The IRS has access to multiple databases to cross-reference this information. They can identify individuals with surprising accuracy even with limited information.

I had to submit this form last year after my ex-business partner was hiding income. I didn't have his SSN either. Sent it in anyway and got a letter about 3 months later thanking me for the information. No idea what happened after that because they dont tell u the outcome but they definitely accepted the form without the SSN!!

Just to add another perspective - I filed this form about 2 years ago reporting a former employer for paying workers under the table. No SSN included because I didn't have it. Got confirmation they received it, and about 14 months later noticed they were being audited (small town, word gets around). So yes, they absolutely do process these without SSNs and take action when warranted. The key is being specific about what laws you believe are being violated and providing as much concrete information as you can. Mine included dates, approximate amounts, names of other employees involved, and specific practices I had witnessed. I think that level of detail is what makes them take a report seriously.

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this is exactly what I needed to hear! I was really worried about submitting an "incomplete" form, but it sounds like the IRS actually expects most people won't have access to SSNs. Based on all the advice here, I'm going to focus on making the description section as detailed as possible. I have pretty good documentation of the suspected violations, including approximate timeframes and dollar amounts, so I'll make sure to include all of that. It's reassuring to know that people have actually gotten acknowledgment letters and even seen follow-up actions taken. I was starting to think these forms just went into a black hole somewhere. Going to submit mine this week - wish me luck!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been in a similar situation where I witnessed what I believe to be significant tax evasion but didn't have access to the person's SSN. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me the confidence to move forward with filing Form 3949-A. What really stands out to me is how many people have successfully submitted these forms without SSNs and actually received acknowledgment from the IRS. The key seems to be providing as much detail as possible in the sections you can complete - names, addresses, specific violations, timeframes, and estimated amounts. I particularly appreciate the advice about including supporting documentation. I have some business records and communications that could help the IRS identify the individual and understand the scope of the suspected violations. It's good to know that even without the SSN, these additional materials can strengthen the report. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - it's made all the difference in understanding that this is a normal part of the process, not a fatal flaw in my reporting attempt.