I got a 1099-NEC which only contains Payer's SSN (and not the EIN). Now while i am trying to e-file my tax return, Turbo Tax won't let me proceed, what should i do?

[DianeW777]

If the 1099-NEC is for self employment income you can delete it all together and simply enter the income on Schedule C. The key is to report your income where required.

Delete your Form: -- Keep it in your tax files for your records.

• If you're using TurboTax Online software and need to delete a form, click here.
• If you're using TurboTax Desktop software and need to delete a form, click here.

Next enter the income in Schedule C. Select Other Income- Cash, etc or Business income not reported on other forms.

• Where do I enter Schedule C?

@ElizabethAP

@coninec

[Edited: 04/12/2025 | 12:56 PM PST]

[ElizabethAP]

Hello Diane,

I can only proceed if I have an EIN, not a SSN, when reporting my 1099-NEC. 

I could as you say, delete the 1099-NEC, and simply report the income as a whole number, or like cash/checks. 

I don't know if that is the most appropriate course of action. Am I required to file the 1099-NEC or just required to report the correct amount of income?

I think we should be able to put the 1099-NEC with the SSN, as it is an allowable entry and option. It says EITHER/ OR and not BOTH, but it won't allow SSN without ALSO using a EIN. But then it won't allow the EIN if you have in an SSN. 

In other words- the online program is only allowing an EIN, not the SSN, even though it presents it as an option and is federally allowed, otherwise we wouldn't have that option to begin with, and the payer wouldn't be able to use their SSN. 

I strongly believe there is a glitch. It says this issue was resolved, but perhaps it wasn't resolved on the online application, only the program. 

[DawnC]

You are only required to report the income, but the income does not have to be labeled as a 1099-nec or 1099-misc.   It doesn't matter what number is in the EIN field; it just needs to be nine digits in order to be e-filed.   In any case, you should keep detailed records of your income and expenses with your tax records.   As long as the income is reported as self-employment income (as opposed to ordinary/other income or not reported at all) - you have met your obligations as the income will be properly reported.   So, it is fine to enter the amount as general income (not on a tax form) on Schedule C.   

Also, the 9 digit number that is in that field does not get reported entered on your actual tax return, only the amount of income gets entered on Schedule C.   The only difference is what line it gets entered on (1a or 1b).   See the image below of Schedule C - Part l.

You can file an extension if you want to wait and see if there is another update to the 1099 entry screen.   If you file the extension, remember it is not an extension to pay, so you should remit any tax due with your extension Form 4868.  @ElizabethAP 

[ElizabethAP]

In this case, I’ll wait until tomorrow to call again and see if there has been a fix. I was on call and screen sharing for two hours today to show the issue to TurboTax CSR.

I looked it up, and apparently the integers of a SSN can overlap with someone else’s EIN as SSN are for individuals and EIN are for businesses. I won’t input the 9 integers into the EIN then, because the placement of the dashes matter in determining the payer’s entity. Unlikely, and can be chalked up to a input error but still.

It would be a lesser evil as you say to delete the 1099-NEC form entirely and just report the whole income number as “Other” on the Schedule C, then keep the 1099 for your own records. 

And the greatest good would be to use the TurboTax form with the SSN as an SSN but print it out and mail it in with a check, since the system keeps tripping up and cycling on requiring an EIN.

But the price tag on buying this online program was for convenience, so I’d rather not have to make a trip to the bank for a check and then to the post office to send with a tracking number. 

[ElizabethAP]

I FIGURED IT OUT!!!!

I put $0 in the Federal Withholding!!

It should be left BLANK

If there is even a $0 in the Federal Withholding, it will REQUIRE an EIN!! No SSN allowed!

So putting a $0 figure will trigger that requirement! Even though we know $0 means- none is withheld!

Please mark this for others, I think that will fix it!!

Thank you again!

[DawnC]

In order to withhold taxes, a company would need an EIN, so it does make sense that an EIN (not a SSN) would be required if there were actual withholdings on your tax form.   A form with no withholdings can use a SSN number.   But any entry (including zero) in the withholding amount field will trigger the ''missing EIN'' message.      So glad to hear this is resolved and you can now file your taxes!!  @ElizabethAP 🙂

[TG210]

Leave Box 4 BLANK!

[TG210]

It will not work if there is any value in Box 4 of the 1099. Leave Box 4 BLANK! 

[BeoBao]

Actually Dawns post was helpful to know, thank you.

But in reality not completely accurate. I did try the solution proposed by others in other posts days ago to use all zeros or all nines but that does not work. So it is not true that any number can be entered. When I reformulated the SSN I had into a two number followed by dash followed by 7 more numbers, it worked for me to get past the software glitch.

That glitch should never have been there and should still have been fixed as soon as it was found and should still be fixed. Nobody is perfect but this does seem to happen all too frequently on my last step with Intuit products over the years. I hope more testing is done in the future to prevent this as otherwise a pretty good product.

[ElizabethAP]

It was requiring an EIN for me because I put $0 in the Federal withholding box when I needed to leave it completely blank! I don't know if you already filed, but you can try that!

[MarkMagee]

Thank you ElizabethAP!!!

[MaggieG15]

I am receiving this notification myself.  I followed the link that was provided in the response and it stated that the issue had been cleared and the link was no longer valid.  

I have followed the suggestion of clearing my browser's cache, but it had not helped with the issue.

[akr7]

THANK YOU!! I was having issues with this and leaving that field blank fixed it. Woohoo!!

[Darrenfogg]

This fixed the issue for me and I really appreciate you updating this with the fix.  THANK YOU!!