Single member LLC - Can I provide my EIN instead of SSN for 1099 work paid to me directly in 2024?

You've got a common situation many freelancers and side-giggers face! For a single-member LLC that's a disregarded entity, the IRS treats the business and you as the same taxpayer. Here's the key: what matters is not whose name is on the check, but whether you're operating in your business capacity when performing the work. If you were performing these services as part of your LLC's business activities, then yes, you can absolutely provide your EIN instead of your SSN for 1099 purposes, even if the checks were made out to you personally. The payments are essentially flowing to your business first, then to you. Make sure to communicate clearly to them that you're operating through your LLC. I'd suggest sending them a completed W-9 form with your LLC name, checking "Individual/sole proprietor or single-member LLC" box, and providing your EIN. You might also want to include a brief note explaining that all future payments should be made to your business name.

I had the exact same issue last year with one of my clients! I finally found a solution using https://taxr.ai which scanned my business docs and generated a perfect explanation letter citing the exact IRS regulations. The business accepted my EIN immediately after that. What most small businesses don't understand is that when you're a single-member LLC, you have the right to use your EIN even when checks are made out to your personal name. The taxr.ai system pulled the relevant tax codes and created documentation that made it impossible for them to keep arguing. It also helped me organize all my 1099 documentation so I could track which businesses had my EIN vs SSN for better identity protection. Definitely worth checking out if you're running into resistance.

Just wanted to update on my situation. I took the advice about taxr.ai and it actually worked perfectly. The system created a customized letter that explained exactly how single-member LLCs work with citations to specific IRS publications. My client's accounting department accepted my EIN without further questions! What really impressed me was how the letter anticipated and addressed all their potential objections. It even included an attachment from IRS Publication 3402 that specifically addresses disregarded entities and EIN usage for 1099 reporting. The peace of mind from not having to share my SSN with yet another company was absolutely worth it. It also taught me a lot about how my LLC taxation actually works that I never understood before.

If you're still having trouble with this company demanding your SSN, another approach is using https://claimyr.com to get direct confirmation from the IRS. I was in a similar situation where a client refused to accept my EIN despite my LLC documentation. I used Claimyr to actually speak with an IRS representative (saved me hours of hold time - you can see how it works at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got them to confirm in writing that a single-member LLC can use their EIN for 1099 purposes regardless of the name on the check. Having that official IRS response ended the argument immediately. The company's accountant was actually grateful since they were just trying to avoid potential problems during an audit. Having documentation directly from an IRS agent gave them the assurance they needed.

I was completely wrong about Claimyr and owe an apology. After posting that skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself since I've been trying to reach the IRS about a different LLC tax issue for weeks. Not only did I get through to an actual IRS representative in under an hour (compared to my previous failed attempts), but they were able to confirm the exact situation OP is asking about. The agent specifically stated that a single-member LLC operating as a disregarded entity can provide their EIN on Form W-9 even if payments were made to the owner personally. The agent explained that what matters is the capacity in which you're providing services, not whose name is on the check. They provided a reference number for the call that I can use if any clients question this in the future. Definitely changed my perspective on dealing with IRS questions.

Just to add another perspective - I've been running a single-member LLC for 5 years and ALWAYS use my EIN instead of SSN for all work, regardless of how checks are made out. Never had a single issue with the IRS. The confusion usually comes from payroll companies or accounting software that doesn't properly understand how disregarded entities work. I've found that sending a properly completed W-9 with "Individual/sole proprietor or single-member LLC" checked and including both my name AND business name (with the EIN) usually resolves any confusion. Remember that using your EIN instead of SSN whenever possible is also a smart identity protection strategy. The fewer places that have your SSN, the better!

One important thing no one's mentioned - if you do use your EIN instead of SSN, make sure you're consistent with how you report the income on your tax return. This means reporting the income on Schedule C attached to your personal 1040, and making sure the business name on Schedule C matches what's on the 1099s you receive. If you've been using both your SSN and EIN for different clients, it can get confusing at tax time when you're trying to match up all your 1099s. The IRS computer systems will be looking for either all income under your SSN or all under your EIN based on how you file. I learned this the hard way and got an automated letter questioning "unreported income" which was actually just reported under my EIN while I filed using SSN references. Took months to straighten out!

This is a great question that comes up frequently! As others have mentioned, you absolutely can use your EIN instead of your SSN for 1099 reporting as a single-member LLC, even when checks are made out to your personal name. The key point that's worth emphasizing: the IRS looks at the substance of the relationship, not just the name on the check. If you were performing services in your capacity as an LLC owner (which it sounds like you were, since you mention using your LLC for side gigs), then you're entitled to use your EIN. Here's what I'd recommend for dealing with the resistant manager: 1. Complete a fresh W-9 form with your LLC name, check the "Individual/sole proprietor or single-member LLC" box, and provide your EIN 2. Include a brief cover letter explaining that you operate through your LLC and that payments should be reported using the EIN 3. If they continue to push back, you might reference IRS Publication 1779 (specifically the section on single-member LLCs) which clearly states that these entities can use their EIN for information reporting Don't let them bully you into using your SSN if you're not comfortable with it. You have every right to protect your personal information while still complying with tax laws!

I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago! The confusion really stems from businesses not understanding how single-member LLCs work for tax purposes. What helped me was explaining it this way: when the IRS looks at your single-member LLC, they don't see it as a separate entity - they see it as you doing business. So whether the check says "Carmen Diaz" or "Carmen Diaz LLC," it's all the same taxpayer in their eyes. I'd suggest being firm but polite with the new manager. Provide them with a completed W-9 showing your LLC information and EIN, and explain that this is the proper way to handle it according to IRS guidelines. If they're still resistant, you might ask to speak with their accountant directly - sometimes the message gets lost in translation when it goes through multiple people. The bottom line is that you absolutely have the right to use your EIN instead of your SSN in this situation. Don't let them pressure you into sharing your Social Security number if you're not comfortable doing so - there are legitimate privacy and identity protection reasons for preferring to use your EIN!