Author Topic: Account name change needed for tax form??? (Read 574 times)

Anyka · « **on:** December 23, 2024, 07:53 »

Now this is new! I've been with Shutterstock since 2006 and submitted lots of tax forms since then.
This time I got an e-mail, telling me I needed to submit a new one, so I went to the website and noticed that the pre-filled name was not my usual official (legal) name, but my nickname Anneke (which is my contributor name). But it was not possible to change it on the tax form, so I contacted support, and the only solution to this huge problem is a transfer of my files to a new account name.
WHAT

Anyone had a similar experience? I'm supposed to fill out special forms and send lots of proof etc etc just to do exactly the same as every year, and this while nothing changed in my personal situation ...

Artist · « **Reply #1 on:** December 23, 2024, 08:18 »

Quote from: Anyka on December 23, 2024, 07:53

Now this is new! I've been with Shutterstock since 2006 and submitted lots of tax forms since then.
This time I got an e-mail, telling me I needed to submit a new one, so I went to the website and noticed that the pre-filled name was not my usual official (legal) name, but my nickname Anneke (which is my contributor name). But it was not possible to change it on the tax form, so I contacted support, and the only solution to this huge problem is a transfer of my files to a new account name.
WHAT
Anyone had a similar experience? I'm supposed to fill out special forms and send lots of proof etc etc just to do exactly the same as every year, and this while nothing changed in my personal situation ...

You need to request shutterstock for a name transfer and submit the needed documents. You will not require to transfer the files.
Everything remains the same as you are doing ownership transfer.

Anyka · « **Reply #2 on:** December 23, 2024, 10:25 »

Quote from: Artist on December 23, 2024, 08:18

You need to request shutterstock for a name transfer and submit the needed documents. You will not require to transfer the files.
Everything remains the same as you are doing ownership transfer.

Yes, I did understand that resubmitting the files was not expected, but why the ownership transfer as nothing changed on my side at all?

synthetick · « **Reply #3 on:** December 23, 2024, 17:55 »

That kind of sounds like you got bad/incorrect advice from their support person. Surely it makes no sense to transfer all your files to a new account when they could just fix their error on the tax form!

Artist · « **Reply #4 on:** December 23, 2024, 23:09 »

Quote from: Anyka on December 23, 2024, 10:25

Quote from: Artist on December 23, 2024, 08:18
You need to request shutterstock for a name transfer and submit the needed documents. You will not require to transfer the files.
Everything remains the same as you are doing ownership transfer.

Yes, I did understand that resubmitting the files was not expected, but why the ownership transfer as nothing changed on my side at all?

Even if there is any spelling change or company information change, you need to inform them and claim your accurate ownership. This is not a complex process and I did it few years back and everything was set to go in a week.

Anyka · « **Reply #5 on:** December 24, 2024, 01:54 »

Quote from: Artist on December 23, 2024, 23:09

Even if there is any spelling change or company information change, you need to inform them and claim your accurate ownership. This is not a complex process and I did it few years back and everything was set to go in a week.

Yes, I totally understand that ... but there WAS NO change ... there must be thousands of contributors whose contributor name is not the same as their legal name? I've always been able to put my legal name on the tax form, but not this year, my contributor name was automatically on the form ...

kuriouskat · « **Reply #6 on:** December 24, 2024, 04:09 »

You should be able to just change the account name by sending in a copy of your ID. Just send a screenshot of your passport or driving licence, showing the name as it needs to be on the tax form, and ask Shutterstock to change it.

Artist · « **Reply #7 on:** December 24, 2024, 09:55 »

Quote from: Anyka on December 24, 2024, 01:54

Quote from: Artist on December 23, 2024, 23:09
Even if there is any spelling change or company information change, you need to inform them and claim your accurate ownership. This is not a complex process and I did it few years back and everything was set to go in a week.

Yes, I totally understand that ... but there WAS NO change ... there must be thousands of contributors whose contributor name is not the same as their legal name? I've always been able to put my legal name on the tax form, but not this year, my contributor name was automatically on the form ...

In that case, you need to explain your situation to shutterstock.
It is normal to have different names in portfolio and contributor profile.

If the form has another name, this might be due to automation.

stoker2014 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 24, 2024, 12:58 »

Quote from: Anyka on December 24, 2024, 01:54

Quote from: Artist on December 23, 2024, 23:09
Even if there is any spelling change or company information change, you need to inform them and claim your accurate ownership. This is not a complex process and I did it few years back and everything was set to go in a week.

Yes, I totally understand that ... but there WAS NO change ... there must be thousands of contributors whose contributor name is not the same as their legal name? I've always been able to put my legal name on the tax form, but not this year, my contributor name was automatically on the form ...

Why doesn't your name match your official name? Do you have two names?
This story seems wild to me.

Anyka · « **Reply #9 on:** December 24, 2024, 15:18 »

Quote from: stoker2014 on December 24, 2024, 12:58

Why doesn't your name match your official name? Do you have two names?
This story seems wild to me.

Nothing wild at all. Lots of people use a nickname or self-invented name as their "contributor name", but for payments and for taxes, they always use their legal name, just like me.