Sole-proprietorship EIN or SSN for issuing 1099 to subcontractor?

I am a sole-proprietor who needs to send a 1099 to a subcontractor. 

  1. Should I use my EIN or SSN? 
  2. Should I send the 1099 with my name or the DBA name? 
  3. Do each have advantages or disadvantages over the other? 

Thanks!

Carl
Level 15

Business & farm

Use your EIN, as that's the reason you have an EIN - so that you don't have to share your SSN with those who don't need access to your entire life's history. Doesn't matter if your use your name or the business name, as in IRS records the EIN is tied to both.

Business & farm

Carl, thanks for your answer. You've helped me see the value of having an EIN. Until your message I only knew I needed my EIN to open my bank account. Thanks again!
Carl
Level 15

Business & farm

Yes, the last thing you want to be putting on a 1099-MISC that you may be sending out to multiple people you may have never actually even met, is your SSN. If the EIN is misused, then the impact on you is significantly minimized to the business side and makes it extremely difficult to impact the personal side of you as the business owner.