@AmeliesUncle wrote:The organization itself created the Instructions. You merely talked to an employee that may or may not know what they are talking about.
If you as an Individual/Sole Proprietor don't have an EIN, you certainly can get one. The fact that you have an LLC that has an EIN has no effect on YOU getting one for yourself.
Yes, it created the instructions. I called the organization, and the employee spent a long time on the phone verifying their advice after they agreed that their instructions are confusing. Whenever someone has questions about their business, the best advice you can give is for them to talk to a professional. I talked to the IRS and an accountant. Both agreed that that using my LLC's information is correct. It's tied to my SSN and reported on my taxes. I have no reason to believe that the internet knows better, but I will be getting more clarification.
My issue is that you can do business as both a SMLLC, and side work as an individual. If you give all clients your sole proprietor EIN, your clients see you as doing business only as a sole proprietor. They aren't doing business with an LLC. Also having a sole proprietor EIN on W9s but not on your taxes seems like it can cause issues. I want all information to be consistent on all documents.
