Payer's EIN Error preventing E-file cannot bypass error

[TanishaBreton]

Can't File Without Payer's EIN—But They Only Have a TIN

• I'm a self-employed contractor subcontracted by a business. I received a 1099-NEC which has a TIN. I have always entered the TIN which has no issues with filing. This year, even though I entered the TIN on the 1099-NEC income section. I'm getting an error saying I need to enter an EIN when I go to finalize and do a final error check. The form is forcing me to enter a Payer's federal EIN, but when I enter the TIN as in previous years it comes up in red indicating it's an error and will not let me e-file or move past the error. I have spent days with live agents and TurboTax consultants trying to help me correct this error to no avail I've tried entering the income as miscellaneous income/general and the same error appears. I redid my taxes from scratch and ended up again with the same error. HELP What should I do?

[PatriciaV]

You can report this as business income on Schedule C without entering the information from Form 1099-NEC. Enter this as income not on a 1099. As long as you report at least as much income as is reported to you, the IRS requirements have been met.