Hi , I was looking at the linkshare application procedure and I've noticed that they ask for a SSN ... Now, I don't really feel comfortable with leaving me SSN on a website ... I am wondering why they think that they need my SSN ? Since I will be going to the IRS myself with my income ... Does anyone know why they ask for the SSN ? Thanks, Gdev
I believe it is for the submission of the W-9 Form. Maybe there is the policy to prevent you from under-declaring your taxes. If you have nothing to hide then there should be nothing to avoid giving your SSN number.
Well, to hide I have nothing but I've read many things about people conducting searches on the net and actually finding lists of SSN's with people's names connected to them... and Its a bit scary isn't it ? I wonder how info like that comes out ... Gdev
It's a requirement. What you want to do is get an EIN number from the IRS and use that. This is another reason why anyone doing business should form a company/corporation. Don't give out your SSN to anyone. That's foolish. Even the IRS loses SSNs to theft. You can apply for an EIN online at the IRS website. Or there's other methods if you rather not do that.
I'm not suggesting this, but what would happen if you submitted someone else's SOC? Perhaps a massive company that would'nt notice?
Most of the time nothing. I've been misplacing a couple of digits of my SSN whenever I am asked for it since my identity was stolen. They don't need your SSN and can actually get sued for religious descrimination if they refuse to do business with someone who doesn't have SSN. It happened before. The only time when you don't want to do that (that I am aware of, anyway) is when applying/renewing driver license in some states. It won't hurt you, but won't work either, since they started verifying #'s with SSA and will reject your application
Can you please provide the case information. BTW, the SSN request is a requirement from the IRS. Still, I would love to see actual cases since you brought it up.
Personally if I were in this situation I would not require SSN - I rather stay within law than attempt complying with vague IRS requirements that can be interpreted either way. I don't have a link, will post it later if I can find it, but here you go. In 1992 a complaint was filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEOC) by a Mr. Hanson, wherein he claimed as a "Christian Fundamentalist" he could not obtain or use a SSN. The EEOC filed suit against the business that fired Mr. Hanson on his behalf. The suit claimed that firing Mr. Hanson due to his not having or getting a SSN constituted discrimination due to his religious belief. The business claimed that they were required to either force Mr. Hanson to get a SSN or fire him because they were required by certain IRS Code sections and regulations to report all employees' SSNs on certain IRS forms. The business also responded that it was required by federal law to report all employees' SSNs to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). The EEOC countered that the only requirement imposed upon a businesses by the various tax laws was that employers must "request" an employee's or potential employee's taxpayer identification number, and that there was be no penalty for a business not succeeding in obtaining one. The EEOC, itself a federal government agency, stated in its "Plaintiff's Response to Defendant's Motion to Dismiss" that: "the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations promulgated pursuant to the code do not contain an absolute requirement that an employer provide an employee social security number to the IRS." The EEOC further argued that employers were permitted to use any one of several acceptable forms of identification and employment eligibility verification other than a SSN and still comply with the Immigration Reform Act requirements. The Court denied the employer's motion to dismiss the complaint. A settlement was later reached in which Mr. Hanson was awarded back pay.
This appears to be related to immigration and employment eligibility verification, not to the discussion at hand. If a business pays you over a certain amount ($600 in many states) in any given fiscal year they are required to report that to the IRS. This is why affiliate sites ask for it.
SSN is not an ideal way of verifying employment eligibility because not everyone who is eligible for employment has SSN. If employee doesn't have SSN, employer should accept any sufficient alternative document. Proof of US Citizenship would do for example. Neither can they require it for IRS purposes. They are required to ask for it, but denying business or employment because the person doesn't have SS (or doesn't want to share it with them) is not required and may be illegal. Earnings still have to be reported whether they are able to obtain SSN or not. I would contact the company and ask them why they need SSN and go from there (perhaps in writing - receiptionist on the phone probably wouldn't have a clue). If they just want it as an identifier, I don't see why they wouldn't be able to use an arbitrary #. When I was in college 6-7 years ago, students were identified by SSNs and SSNs were listed along with grades in the lobby at the end of each semester. I even found a file with SSNs of all current students (many thousands) in a public directory on one of college servers. Doesn't suprise me that I've been getting invoices for things I never ordered.
You are confusing applying for a job with hiring an independent contractor. If you ever run a business where you are paying out contractors (affiliates or whatever), read up on IRS code. That's what this discussion is about and not some guy getting a job at Wal Mart or some college students registering for classes--IRS CODE for independent contractors. No offense, but it's obvious that you don't have any experience on the business end of this issue. One last time, this is an IRS code issue for hiring independent contractors. As I said earlier, you can get an EIN number and use that. All the company is required to do is obtain a SS or EIN number. If they don't they get to pay the taxes on your earnings. It's pretty simple.
That's hilarious! I for one have signed up with linkshare and provided the number. So far... no problems. The way I see it, is that if they do not handle my info responsibly, I'll sue the living daylights out of them. As a company, they have a responsibility to secure such sensitive data. However, no data is ever 100% safe forever with anyone... even banks. Lastly, linkshare does not really convert... or their advertisers I should say. I sent them so much traffic... and notta penny in return.
By the way ... There are also affiliate networks wich do NOT ask for a SSN number like darkblue.com ... I'm no lawyer, but it I am not dumb either... it just tells me that that actually other affiliate networks do NOT need a SSN either..... Gdev
None of them need it, it's just some are smarter than others. IRS requires that they REQUEST (=optional) SSN, it doesn't require that they REQUIRE (=mandatory) it.
Actually I think they just get to withhold 1/3 of your income as taxes and let you and the IRS work out the refunds.
I only gave my SSN to google so far and thank gawd its not visible to anyone who steals my adsense password. I will not sign up with any other fly by night company that requires it in their initial application--they can all go to hell. I only made an exception for google because its so important. And if I do need to give more people the number out I will just get an EIN online for "identification purposes" to reduce the chances of identity theft because some goofball screwed up with my info.
Google doesnt pay you the adsense money unless you give an SSN or EIN. Thats why I had to give them mine but I am not signing up for ANY tom dick and harry's afiliate operaton that wants an SSN from me in the initial ap(or even before getting paid) because I just don't want to trust them. I made an exception for google because its such a big and essential company to do business with. And that too, reluctantly.