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Author Topic: SS wants TIN... yet again  (Read 8034 times)

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« Reply #25 on: July 20, 2011, 17:49 »
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I was wondering about this. So what about "online faxing"? Is this as safe as traditional faxes, or is it no safer than sending an email?

Depends on how the fax travels before it reaches a real fax machine.  How do you send the image to the service?  Email?  Upload in a browser?  If the former, it's unencrypted and therefore visible on the network.  If the latter, do they use SSL/HTTPS to upload the image?  If they do, it's pretty secure.  If they don't, it's just like email.

Shorter answer: online faxing is only as secure as the online part.


« Reply #26 on: July 20, 2011, 19:02 »
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Wouldn't it be nice if they'd sent a followup email containing what 'Anthony' posted on the forum... because I'm sure a huge number of contributors are still scurrying around, needlessly printing/signing/scanning/faxing an unnecessary form.


« Reply #28 on: July 21, 2011, 06:10 »
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Technically, as requested by the IRS, no matter how tedious and unnecessary, libraries are supposed to obtain new tax forms, W-9s or W-8BENs every year. This is to make sure information is correct or updated.

Are they giving you a heads up and asking you to turn it in by January, or are they demanding it now?


Here's the email:

Quote
Congratulations! You've had a large number of your files downloaded from the Shutterstock site.

For compliance reasons, we're required to have a completed W-9 form from you on file so we can process a 1099 tax form at the end of the year and provide you with a copy for your own tax reporting. The 1099 form will indicate your total income from Shutterstock for the year and is also filed with the IRS. For this reason, we cannot process any payments to you until we have your completed W-9 on file.

To download the W-9 form, please go to

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf

After filling out the form, please fax it to 347-626-2455. Make sure it is clearly labeled with your account ID (54905). Again, we will not be able to process any payments to you until we have received the completed W-9 form.

Thank you for your cooperation and thank you for allowing us to represent your content.

Regards,
Shutterstock Support


Here we go again...wouldn't it have been so much easier on everyone if THEY had explained that they needed updated W-9 info every year and that if nothing changed, we DIDN'T have to resend it?

The email above, to me, means that if I had not taken action in the next few days, I would NOT be getting my August royalty check. And they make it sound as though they have NOTHING on file from me, but they do.

If W-9s need to be filled out for each year, shouldn't we have gotten a notice, say the last week of December last year, for this year's payments? Maybe their tax year begins in August?

jbarber873

« Reply #29 on: July 21, 2011, 10:05 »
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  Just got an updated email from SS:

The W-9 email you received yesterday is legitimate.

As part of our record keeping, Shutterstock requests that you update your W-9 in the following instances:

1) Should your backup withholding status change or
2) If you change your name

We realize you may have received the W-9 email even if your W-9 form is up to date. So, if your W-9 is on file and you have no changes to file with us, there is no need to send in another form. Simply disregard it.

Sincerely,

Vincent Jansen
Manager, Contributor Relations
Shutterstock

« Reply #30 on: July 21, 2011, 10:25 »
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I received that e-mail too - but I sent the W9 yesterday. I erroneously thought when I received it that it had something to do with my long gap when I didn't contribute ('cause I was exclusive).

I honestly think that there needs to be some sort of review process before mass mailings to contributors are sent out. It wouldn't have taken more than a few moments thought to realize that they should include a note about who needs to send one back.

« Reply #31 on: July 21, 2011, 18:04 »
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Sometimes procrastination is a winning strategy.

jbarber873

« Reply #32 on: July 21, 2011, 23:00 »
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Sometimes procrastination is a winning strategy.

I was going to say that, but never got around to it. ;D


 

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