My SSN is showing in EIN format on 1099s sent to contractors

Hello there, mthuntfish.

I understand how frustrating and concerning this issue with QuickBooks Online (QBO) is for you. Let me share additional details about entering Employer ID Numbers (EIN) and SSN Social Security numbers (SSN).

In QBO, enter the EIN in the company profile for 1099 filing, even for a sole proprietorship, as the SSN is required for employees and contractors.

The IRS assigns EINs (Federal Tax Identification Numbers) to track payroll tax liabilities and payments for business entities.

On the other hand, employees should have a valid Social Security number for payroll. This info goes on your employees' W-2s and State Unemployment Insurance tax forms.

Check out these guides for more details about SSN and EIN in QuickBooks:

• What are EIN and TIN numbers?
• Understand the difference between a Social Security and an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number

To update EIN:

1. Go to the Gear icon, then Account and Settings.
2. Select Company, then Edit icon in the Company name section.
3. From the EIN section, select and enter the EIN.
4. Click Save and Done.

To modify SSN:

1. Go to the Payroll menu, then select Employees.
2. Select your employee.
3. From Personal Info, click Edit.
4. Next to the Social Security number, select View/Edit to update the info.
5. When finished, select Save.

You may visit this article for details: Correct your employee's Social Security number.

I also recommend contacting our Customer Support Team. This way, they can pull up your account securely and investigate this further. Here's how:

1. Go to the (?) Help icon.
2. Select Talk to a Human.
3. Enter a short description of your concern.
4. Click on I still need a human.
5. Tap Contact Us to connect with our live support.
6. Choose to Get a callback.

Additionally, check this link to learn more about the 1099 forms and how to prepare for the upcoming tax season: Get answers to your 1099 questions.

Let me know if you need further guidance in filling 1099 in QuickBooks. I'm always here to help. Take care.

I do not have an EIN number as it's not required as a sole proprietor. I've always used my SSN on the 1099s that I send to my independent contractors. In all the years past, I've had my accountant send out the 1099s for me (using my SSN as I don't have an EIN). There has never been an issue until this year when I decided to use QBO to send the 1099s.

I do not have an EIN number as it's not required as a sole proprietor. I've always used my SSN on the 1099s that I send to my independent contractors. In all the years past, I've had my accountant send out the 1099s for me (using my SSN as I don't have an EIN). There has never been an issue until this year when I decided to use QBO to send the 1099s.

I'm having the exact same issue and their reply to you above doesn't help at all. It won't even allow me to move forward with filing because it won't allow me to put my SSN in the EIN section on the first step. 

Hello there, @emaccabe.

I understand the importance of having the correct format of your SSN in filing your 1099's in QuickBooks Online Payroll (QBOP).

I suggest you reach out to our support team so they can further assist you on how to fix this issue within QuickBooks Online Payroll.

1. Go to Help (?), then click Contact Us.
2. Please enter your question and select Let's talk.
3. Review and Select from the following: Have us call you or Chat with us.

Check this article for more information about the different types of support we offer and their availability: Contact Payroll Support.

Don't hesitate to come back to this post if you have concerns about handling your employees' SSNs or filing 1099s. I'm here to help you in any way I can. 

I am having this same issue.  i have verifed the format of the SSN several times in settings and it is showing correctly, but when i go to print up the 1099s it shows EIN format.

i just realized this thread is from 2024!!!!!  I am posting Jan 27, 2025!  ugh

I appreciate your efforts to fix the formatting of your SSN, and I acknowledge the urgency of getting this resolved, twilk. Allow me to share some steps to handle this situation and route you to our support team if needed.

To rectify the issue of your SNN displaying in EIN format, I recommend logging into your account using a private browser. It could help us verify if this matter is due to excessive data build-up. Kindly follow the keyboard shortcut keys below to proceed:

• Microsoft Edge: Ctrl + Shift + N
• Google Chrome: Ctrl + Shift + N
• Mozilla Firefox: Ctrl + Shift + P
• Safari: Command + Shift + N

From there, see if the SNN is still in the EIN format when printing the 1099 form. If not, I suggest reverting to your standard browser and clearing its cache and cookies. Doing so eliminates the accumulated browser utilities that impact the platform's performance.

You can also consider using another supported browser once the problem continues.
 

If the issue persists, kindly contact our Customer Support Team. They have the tools that can ensure this matter gets investigated thoroughly.

I'm also attaching this link so you can gather more insights about setting up and preparing 1099s: Create and file 1099s with QuickBooks Online.

You might also find this article handy once you need to revise your 1099s in the platform: Correct or change 1099s in QuickBooks.

Accurate tax form details are essential for tax compliance purposes. Please add a response below should you have more questions about fixing your SSN format in the printed 1099 form. The Community always has your back.