Do You Write Your Social Security Number on Checks to the IRS?
While the big tax day is still a few months in the future, for business owners, January 15th is one of the dreaded estimated tax payments deadlines. As I was writing out my check to the IRS, I got to the part where it says “Write your social security number and 2008 Form 1040-ES on your check or money order” and wondered in this day and age of identity theft, is this such a great idea?
A little over a year ago, Nina wrote about “How to Prevent Identity Theft” . All good, basic tips. When I think about it, it seems like a total display of negligence to scribble my social security number in the memo of a handwritten check that will be wander through the postal service, into the hands of government processing centers, and ultimately back through the banking system. Yet, if I don’t clearly identify myself on the check and it gets separated from the form along the way, the chances my payment will be properly credited is about nil. On more than one occasion in the past, the PA Department of Treasury has sent me a nasty gram telling me I didn’t pay my taxes. When I investigated and dealt with their offices by sending in a copy of my cancelled check, it was discovered that the payment was accidentally credited to someone else. And THAT was WITH my social written on the check.
According to eHow, here is what they have to say about this matter in “How to Write a Check to the IRS”:
Write clearly in the memo section of your check your Social Security number, the tax year to which the payment applies, and the tax form related to the check (1040, 1040A, 1040EZ – or ES for estimated payments).
I find it fascinating that the IRS explicitly tells you to write your social security number on your check. Then, if you hop on over to another venerated government agency, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and check out their tips on “DETER: Minimize your Risk of Identity Theft”, they tell you:
Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check.
Um, OK, Got it, I wouldn’t think of writing my Social Security number on a check, but…. Uncle Sam just TOLD ME TO.
I certainly don’t have any earthshattering answer to this conundrum. I suppose you could do a hybrid and put the last 4 digits of your Social on the tax check but I’m not sure that helps a thing.
What has been your experience? What do you do when you write a check to the IRS — do you put your Social on it or not? If you have been a victim of identity theft how has that changed your approach? Please share in the comments…
This makes no sense. Why would you put your SSN rather than the TID you’re assigned when you apply for a business license? These are business taxes, not personal taxes, right?
For sole proprietors who file as such, the Social Security Number IS the Tax ID #….
Got it.
Paula,
I usually get a refund rather than having to pay in, but wouldn’t one solution be to put your checking account info on the tax form and let them do a direct debit?
I keep a separate checking account that is only used for direct debits from various companies. I only put cash in when I plan to have something debited. This extra step prevents the company from double dipping or adding extra zeroes to the amount they want to take. It also keeps my main checking account safe from tampering in case any fraudsters get a hold of the account number I provide on a paper form or a hacked web form.
How about filing electronically? Not sure how that works for businesses, but for individuals it is very handy.
I thought one of the functions of the Form 1040-V payment voucher was so you didn’t have to write your SSN on your check for security purposes–you write it on the voucher instead. I thought that was the purpose of the voucher when it first came out years ago–has policy changed?
I don’t like the idea of writing my full ss number on the check. However, on the payment voucher that already has my SS number printed on it, I write my check number and the name and address of my bank.
Why that would not be sufficient for the IRS is beyond me. If the voucher gets separated from the check, the check number is written on it and can be cross referenced to my check. If the check was to miracleously appear without the voucher, then the partial SS number on the check should enable them to find the return and apply it correctly.
I put the SS# on a post-it note stuck to the check. The IRS gets it, but the check processing and banking systems don’t.
I just got off the phone with IRS regarding payment owed 2010. The representative told me I need to put my ss number on the check. when I told him I was not comfortable with this he told me without it there is no quarentee it will get credited to the right account.I explained I wasn’t comfortable with identity theft and he acted like they(IRS)are gods and that no one sees it but them and the bank. Sorry that is not concrete enough for me.
I was HORRIFIED when I had to pay my federal taxes this year. Then the IRS wants you to put your social security number on the check for everyone in the world to see. if that’s not an open invitation to identity fraud, I DON’T KNOW WHAT IS!!!!!!!
I cannot believe the public has not been outraged by this request. I know I am.
SOMEONE should tell the IRS to wake up and drop that request for your social security number. They have enough info on you from your taxes and there is NO NEED of it.
This actually answered my drawback, thank you!