Anybody in tax law?

Blergbot

So last year, around this time, I was moving and out of town for a month. When I got back there was a notice from a law office I did some translating for. They said they had the wrong ssn for me and I needed to get them my actual ssn by November in order to not be possibly charged a fine or something. I was busy, so I put it aside and promptly forgot about it. 

Every once in awhile I'd remember and tell myself I just needed to look up my actual ssn (this may be a case of me being dyslexic with the numbers, and now I can't remember which on is which) and send it off to them. But it would be a fleeting thought, and I'd forget again. Then November came and went...Then 

I was too embarrassed to deal with it, but figured I'd do something about it before taxes. Well, I was slammed in April and only had time to file for an extension. Now I have until October.

Can I just pretend like I never got this piece of mail? What would happen? Help!

jenna8984

The law office was trying to get your SSN to send you a 1099 for earnings, I assume? Do you know how much earnings you made from them? IRS law is that you have to report 1099 income of $600 or more. So if the law office only paid you less than $600 over 2013 you can file your taxes as they are and move on with life. If you made more than $600 working for them, you need to contact the law office and get the proper 1099 under your SSN, then add it to your income on your taxes and file.

TheGrimReaper

Can you PRETEND you didn't get it? No. Grownups don't do that.

lyndausvi

I do not understand why you need to pretend anything. Correct SSN or not, you are responsible for making sure you get your 1099 or any other tax related information anyway.

 Cut all the excuse crap. Be a grown-up, call them up and get this taken care of. Seriously, I would avoid the whole excuse thing. Looking up a SSN should not be that time consuming or stressful.

 Heck, most people I know know them off the top of their head anyway. If they don't it's something they can easily access.

Inkdancer

lyndausvi said:

I do not understand why you need to pretend anything. Correct SSN or not, you are responsible for making sure you get your 1099 or any other tax related information anyway. Cut all the excuse crap. Be a grown-up, call them up and get this taken care of. Seriously, I would avoid the whole excuse thing. Looking up a SSN should not be that time consuming or stressful. Heck, most people I know know them off the top of their head anyway. If they don't it's something they can easily access.

How do you find your SSN? I know mine, but if I didn't I would have no idea how to find it.

lyndausvi

Inkdancer said:

lyndausvi said:

I do not understand why you need to pretend anything. Correct SSN or not, you are responsible for making sure you get your 1099 or any other tax related information anyway. Cut all the excuse crap. Be a grown-up, call them up and get this taken care of. Seriously, I would avoid the whole excuse thing. Looking up a SSN should not be that time consuming or stressful. Heck, most people I know know them off the top of their head anyway. If they don't it's something they can easily access.

How do you find your SSN? I know mine, but if I didn't I would have no idea how to find it.

I've had a SSN card since I was 2 years old. Then got a new one when I changed my name.   Old tax forms have your SSN.  W-2 forms also have SSN on them.    

Granted I move a lot, but every time I opened up a new account I had to provide the SSN.  Employers require the SSN.  New doctors also ask.  It's hard for me to comprehend someone NOT knowing their SSN number.   If you don't know it I don't know why you would not have the card some place handy.  It's a number that is asked for fairly often.

Inkdancer

lyndausvi said:

Inkdancer said:

lyndausvi said:

I do not understand why you need to pretend anything. Correct SSN or not, you are responsible for making sure you get your 1099 or any other tax related information anyway. Cut all the excuse crap. Be a grown-up, call them up and get this taken care of. Seriously, I would avoid the whole excuse thing. Looking up a SSN should not be that time consuming or stressful. Heck, most people I know know them off the top of their head anyway. If they don't it's something they can easily access.

How do you find your SSN? I know mine, but if I didn't I would have no idea how to find it.

I've had a SSN card since I was 2 years old. Then got a new one when I changed my name.   Old tax forms have your SSN.  W-2 forms also have SSN on them.    

Granted I move a lot, but every time I opened up a new account I had to provide the SSN.  Employers require the SSN.  New doctors also ask.  It's hard for me to comprehend someone NOT knowing their SSN number.   If you don't know it I don't know why you would not have the card some place handy.  It's a number that is asked for fairly often.

My mom lost my SSN card when I was a minor, and I didn't know it was something I'd need. I still haven't gotten a replacement.

(Which will change in the next week!! Because my new birth certificate with adopted father's name came today!!!!!!! Happy face!!!!!!!!!)

MuppetOverlord

You don't need a tax lawyer, you just need a phone.

Call them, tell them you re-discovered the piece of mail, apologize, and give them the SSN.

lyndausvi

Inkdancer said:

lyndausvi said:

Inkdancer said:

lyndausvi said:

I do not understand why you need to pretend anything. Correct SSN or not, you are responsible for making sure you get your 1099 or any other tax related information anyway. Cut all the excuse crap. Be a grown-up, call them up and get this taken care of. Seriously, I would avoid the whole excuse thing. Looking up a SSN should not be that time consuming or stressful. Heck, most people I know know them off the top of their head anyway. If they don't it's something they can easily access.

How do you find your SSN? I know mine, but if I didn't I would have no idea how to find it.

I've had a SSN card since I was 2 years old. Then got a new one when I changed my name.   Old tax forms have your SSN.  W-2 forms also have SSN on them.    

Granted I move a lot, but every time I opened up a new account I had to provide the SSN.  Employers require the SSN.  New doctors also ask.  It's hard for me to comprehend someone NOT knowing their SSN number.   If you don't know it I don't know why you would not have the card some place handy.  It's a number that is asked for fairly often.

My mom lost my SSN card when I was a minor, and I didn't know it was something I'd need. I still haven't gotten a replacement.

(Which will change in the next week!! Because my new birth certificate with adopted father's name came today!!!!!!! Happy face!!!!!!!!!)

In St Thomas you can not get a driver's license without the card.   Just knowing the number is not good enough.     Some employers are like that also.  Especially in areas that have high immigrant population.    

The country club I work for does this e-verify thing.  They do not need to see the card, but before you start they run your SSN number to make sure it's yours.    Let's just say about 5 people DH tried to hire could not be because their SSN did not match the name on the application.

You are correct, not everyone needs the actual card.  But if your like the OP who seems to no know her SSN it would be a good idea.  SSN are often asked.  Why risk giving out the wrong number?

Maggie0829

TheGrimReaper said:

Can you PRETEND you didn't get it? No. Grownups don't do that.

Seriously!  Find out your SSN, pick up the damn phone, apologize for the delay and give them your number.  Time to be an adult.

PrettyGirlLost

Inkdancer said:

lyndausvi said:

I do not understand why you need to pretend anything. Correct SSN or not, you are responsible for making sure you get your 1099 or any other tax related information anyway. Cut all the excuse crap. Be a grown-up, call them up and get this taken care of. Seriously, I would avoid the whole excuse thing. Looking up a SSN should not be that time consuming or stressful. Heck, most people I know know them off the top of their head anyway. If they don't it's something they can easily access.

How do you find your SSN? I know mine, but if I didn't I would have no idea how to find it.

You should have a card that has that info on it.  DO NOT keep that card in your wallet or purse, nor travel with it.  If stolen, it can be used for someone to take your identity, and it's a huge and expensive and long ass hassle to fix that if it happens.

Fran1985

Honestly in the time it took you to write this post you could have called them. Figure out your SSN this morning and call them this afternoon.

PrettyGirlLost

Maggie0829 said:

TheGrimReaper said:

Can you PRETEND you didn't get it? No. Grownups don't do that.

Seriously!  Find out your SSN, pick up the damn phone, apologize for the delay and give them your number.  Time to be an adult.

Or keep putting this off and then have fun dealing with the IRS when they come after you for NOT paying your taxes.  And unless you are Warren Buffet, John Kerry, or Tom Daschle, the IRS WILL come after you. . . after you have racked up the max in penalty fees and fines.

cupcait927

Please, please, please find out your SSN and take care of this. Full disclosure (to support you taking care of this) - I completely forgot to pay my state taxes one year (about 3 or 4 years ago). Like, I owed all of $200, deadline came and passed and I forgot about it until months later. When I got a threatening letter in the mail, I was broke (as in $0 extra dollars) and too scared to call to try and work something out. So I put it off again. The state did get their money when they docked my federal return the next year and I now have a glaring mark on my credit score that heavily affected it and won't come off for a few more years. I fully regret not being an adult at the time and taking care of it. Please, figure out your SSN, take care of whatever needs to be done and hopefully you won't have a longstanding reminder of what happens when you avoid things. ETA - Apparently TK is hungry and ate my paragraphs for lunch