Is it allowed to keep a Tax ID a secret?

Question

My parents are having a hard time with this doctor and his assistant refuses to give us an active Tax ID to give to their Insurance. Is it illegal to hide your Tax ID? Thank you so much.

Answer 1

TIN number (tax identifiaction number)for a business is the same as a social security number for an individual-it shouldn't just be given out like a phone number Is it illegal to hide the TIN #? No, but just as a social security numbers it's given at that person's discrection-if they choose. But I would question as to why they are keeping it a secret In order to process certain documents a TIN number is necessary and the doctor should be advised of that if he hasn't already

Answer 2

If there is a valid reason for requesting a EIN or Social Security #, the owner HAS to provide it. There are penalties for not providing it.

In your case, I would think that the insurance company should be requesting it directly from the doctor. They have a valid reason. Payments made to an individual or Partnership or LLC are required to be reported to the IRS if over $600.00 in a calendar year. Form W-9 is used to request the EIN/SS # and a signature is required to state it is the correct number under penalty of perjury.

If a valid SS/EIN is not provided, the IRS requires what they call Back Up Withholding. 20% must be withhheld if no valid tax ID # is provided.

Valid reasons for requesting a SS# would be for Child care credit or payments made over $600 (sub contractors).

Answer 3

If anything is illegal in this scenario, it is the insurance company requesting the Tax ID. Unless you want to post your tax ID (aka SSN) don't complain about someone else not publishing theirs.