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Level 2
posted Apr 7, 2025 4:30:50 PM

I cannot get by "How is your payer's federal ID number formatted" on the 1099-NEC I am trying to include. The NEC has the payer's TIN which is her SSN, not an EIN.

SSN or EIN for 1099 NEC?

0 17 1165
17 Replies
Expert Alumni
Apr 7, 2025 4:45:53 PM

That means it is formatted XXX-XX-XXXX.  

 

@egus-andersen11 

Level 15
Apr 7, 2025 4:53:16 PM

Here's a tip that might help, especially if you later get an Error Check notice.

 

Choose the format "type" as

@ RobertB4444 

mentioned above, but when entering the actual numbers, enter them contiguously without any hyphens or spaces.   TurboTax will take the 9 contiguous digits and should know how to format them as EIN or SSN based on the format "type" you indicate.

Level 2
Apr 7, 2025 5:10:14 PM

The issue I was having was it wouldn't allow me to enter just one number, even though I had checked the radio button in front of the employer's SSN. It kept giving me an error message to fill in the EIN field as well. I was able to get around it by deleting the employer name and re-entering it. Thanks for the response,

Level 15
Apr 7, 2025 5:37:51 PM

Thanks for reporting back.   Sounds like something needed to be "reset".   In a similar vein deleting a form and re-entering it sometimes resolves an issue.   We're glad you can proceed.

Level 2
Apr 8, 2025 3:42:51 AM

As a follow-up, though I was able to get past the error message, I was unable to eFile. It appears that if the payer's SSN is on the 1099 NEC, one cannot eFile. I attempted to put the SSN in the EIN field and am told I cannot have the same number in each box.  Thanks!

Expert Alumni
Apr 8, 2025 4:08:42 AM

If the Form 1099-NEC was uploaded, please delete and manually type it in. 

Please make sure the state ID in Box 6 is the same number as the Payer's Social Security Number. 

Level 2
Apr 8, 2025 4:28:44 AM

I never uploaded the NEC, Kris. I entered the information manually. I just deleted it and reentered the info but find myself in the same loop, telling me to enter the EIN, and then not able to have both an SSN and EIN.

Expert Alumni
Apr 8, 2025 4:38:22 AM

Do you have both a Social Security Number and also an EIN?

Is one for the Payer's ID and one for the State ID?

 

If yes, only use one number for both entries. 

Level 2
Apr 8, 2025 5:01:46 AM

Only an SSN. Still dealing with dame loop.

Expert Alumni
Apr 8, 2025 5:21:34 AM

Assuming you're using TurboTax Self-Employed or TurboTax Home & Business, are you entering directly on the business income or under personal income and linking the 1099-NEC to the business? 

If you are linking it, trying entering it directly. 

The income needs to get on your schedule C line 1b, but the 1099-NEC form itself is not duplicated on your 1040.  

Level 2
Apr 8, 2025 5:42:38 AM

TurboTax Home and Business. I will try entering it as business income. Thanks again.

Level 2
Apr 8, 2025 8:35:42 AM

I learned from the business owner from whom my wife receives her 1099 NEC that her tax preparer screwed up the NEC. Instead of putting the business name and EIN, the preparer put the woman's name and SSN. Hence, that is what the NEC reflects. The question I now have is: Should I enter the payer's actual EIN and business name rather than what the NEC reflects? I suspect that may remedy the situation. However, I also believe the IRS will be puzzled when the NECs they receive on their end from the actual payer reflect her SSN and name.

Expert Alumni
Apr 8, 2025 1:09:02 PM

You should contact the payer, and ask them to correct the federal ID number.  If they correct the form, use the EIN to file your return.

 

What to do when a W-2 or Form 1099 is missing or incorrect

@egus-andersen11

Level 2
Apr 8, 2025 4:07:18 PM

Thank you. I did try that, but it doesn't seem like it is going to happen.

Level 2
Apr 10, 2025 2:01:46 PM

Thank you Robert and MesquiteBean. Neither of those seemed to work, but a friend who has used TurboTax previously was able to assist.

Level 15
Apr 10, 2025 7:01:32 PM


@egus-andersen11 wrote:

Thank you Robert and MesquiteBean. Neither of those seemed to work, but a friend who has used TurboTax previously was able to assist.


Congrats!    Another user in a different thread reported his workaround when a $0 figure in withholding was the culprit.  @BigArts  wrote the following:

 

"Finally figured out this headache. Leave box 4 "federal income tax withheld" BLANK, dont put in $0.

Any input into this box triggers a requirement for an EIN and won't allow a SSN."

New Member
Apr 12, 2025 11:56:33 AM

I am in the exact same boat. I have checked for updates to the app, there are none. I have deleted the 1099 and re-entered. Same error. I have restarted the app. No help. I logged in to the website and tried it there. Still.no luck. This is so frustrating. I have seen others saying they are also having this issue and it was supposedly a know bug which was fixed, but clearly it is not. This will be the last time I use Turbo Tax.