Just an FYI,
I never give out my SSN. I always use my EIN on any business documents such as W-9's and other things. With my SSN, if it's obtained and used by someone unscrupulously, they can ruin my entire life. With the EIN, if that gets used unscrupulously it only affects my business.
There are only two entities that have a legal need for my SSN. The IRS that issued it, and me as the requestor/owner of that EIN. Only the IRS knows what SSN that EIN is tied to, and the IRS is the only entity that needs to know.
