Bug Report: Dashboard, Profile.Tax, cannot enter TIN or Social Security number

Question

The data entry field on the W9 form for individual social security number is disabled and refuses to accept data if:

1. Business type is LLC Disregarded Entity (LLC with sole owner acting as sole proprietor for tax purposes)
2. Originally enter data for LLC for all fields EXCEPT LLC classification and then click Next.
3. Red box appears around empty LLC classification field
4. Read IRS documentation and realize I need to enter SSN and not EIN.
5. Social Security field on W9 form is now disabled and refuses input.  Can't figure out a way to reset to original clean slate.

I've tried cleaning all cookies and session data, so this problem must be a back-end database issue which is remembering a partially completed form and now cannot be reset to allow entry of SSN.

Answer 1

Hello DeepZoomLLC,

I am sorry that you are having trouble with this. Please go to our support site and open a service request to get this resolved for you.

Thanks,

Jesse

Answer 2

I have the same problem.  I have submitted a service ticket, and have not received any reply.

Answer 3

Hello JohnO2005,

Have a look at the following blog and in particular the second section on what tax information is needed. http://blogs.msdn.com/b/windowsstore/archive/2012/08/03/getting-paid-from-the-windows-store.aspx

I hope this helps!

Thanks,

Jesse

Answer 4

I just tried this again on Sept 7, 2012, and have the exact same issue (cannot enter my Social Security number).  This is a disheartening start to the developer experience if I can't even sign up without hitting a bug.

---

Jay Alan Borseth

Answer 5

Hi DeepZoomLLC,

Did you manage to get your W9 form submitted.

Thanks

Answer 6

I am having the same issue. I have an LLC with a single owner. I need to enter my SSN number but I am unable to. The form will not accept an entry for the SSN.

Thanks

Mark

Answer 7

I am having the same problem please help!!

Answer 8

Same here, eager to submit apps but this simple thing is a roadblock.  Please help!

Answer 9

I called the IRS EIN help line and this is what they said I should do (others may want to call themselves to verify their individual situation):

1. Enter LLC name in the Name line on W-9

2. Select Individual/sole proprietor as the tax classification

3. Provide your LLC's EIN as your TIN

Answer 10

Unfortunately I am still stuck.  Called the IRS again today, and they gave me contradictory advice.  This time they said to do this:

1. Your name on the Name line

2. LLC name on Business name line

3. Individual/sole proprietor tax classification

4. Use your SSN as the TIN

I'm currently unable to even try these steps because the form on the website is not letting me type anything in the SSN field.  Please help!

Answer 11

I have the same problem.

Answer 12

My attempts to get help with this are becoming comical.  Getting nowhere via email I thought I would request a telephone call.  That form only allows 100 characters to describe the problem.  It took me 5 attempts to submit this form and not have it show me "session expired, sign in or start over".  This is really a poor experience for a new store developer.  Let's see if a phone call helps...

Answer 13

"how can I help you?"

i'm a windows app store developer trying to submit a W-9 but cannot

"w9?  what is that?"

It's a tax related form for store developers.

"Please hold..."

"i'll transfer you now to someone that can help you..."

ring... ring..

"welcome to the Microsoft Store online, how can I help you?"

Is this the Microsoft retail store?

"Yes"

Sigh...

Answer 14

I'm not sure if this helps but let me relate the problem I found and how I worked around it.

I incorrectly filled out my tax form for the part that said that I was subject to withholding.  I realized this almost immediately after making the submission.  After waiting a day to see that it was not accepted at the store, I tried to redo the form.  Like you, I was not able to enter anything into the SSN field.

I worked around this problem by checking the box that said something like 'Change SSN/TIN' and that let me enter the SSN info and complete the form correctly.  The tax form was then quickly accepted.

Answer 15

I don't see anything that says "Change SSN/TIN" - do you recall where you saw this?  On the W-9 page or elsewhere?

Answer 16

Must be this, which is hidden for me:

<input checked="checked" id="isUpdateTIN" name="isUpdateTIN" onclick="checkUpdateTIN()" title="I would like to update my TIN" type="checkbox" value="true" /><input name="isUpdateTIN" type="hidden" value="false" /></div> <div class="toLeft paddingLeft lineHeight"> I would like to update my TIN</div>

Answer 17

I managed to get a version of this to pass by using the EIN associated with my personal name (my household employer EIN).  This is not what the IRS recommends, however.  After doing so, I now see the "I would like to update my TIN" checkbox.  Unfortunately the form will still not let me enter anything in the SSN field.  Amazing.... :(

Answer 18

Next step in this saga: support staff via email asks for a screenshot describing the problem.  I provide that and articulate very clearly that the web site won't allow entry in the SSN field.

Response more than 24 hours later: "I did some research and because you are an LLC with no employees you should use your SSN".  Gosh golly gee what a great idea!  If only your web site would let me!

Is there some way to escalate this to someone that will listen?

Answer 19

BTW, are you registered as a company?  Here's the last thing I was told from support staff over email:

"your tax profile will not validate using your SSN because your developer account was registered as a company subscription (rather than individual). For company developer subscriptions, you MUST use your EIN. "

This contradicts form W-9 instructions as well as what the IRS told me verbally (they all say to use the LLC's owner SSN if you are a single member LLC). 

Jrboddie - were you able to fill out a W-9 using your SSN using a developer account registered as a company rather than individual?  I'm assuming there are a lot of people in this category - and if someone did it successfully there must be a way for me to convince support folks that I should be able to do this.

Answer 20

Jrboddie - were you able to fill out a W-9 using your SSN using a developer account registered as a company rather than individual? 

I registered as an individual.  I just thought I would pass along my experience that when editing the form it was necessary to check the 'change SSN' box in order to proceed even though I didn't need to actually change it (i.e. I entered the same SSN while correcting the other field in the form.)  I hope someone with better info can help you soon.

Answer 21

This is probably the end of the road on this issue for me.  Here's the state of things:

1. I called the IRS again today.  They again confirmed that a single member LLC should use their personal name on line 1, business name on line 2, and personal SSN as the TIN.  Tax status should be individual/sole proprietor.  The EIN associated with the LLC should not be used in this case.

2. Microsoft's online W-9 form does not allow me to use the SSN.  This is clearly a bug as it does not allow me to follow IRS instructions for the W-9 (see #1).

3. I've found a workaround for this bug.  I have an EIN associated with my personal name (this EIN is different from the LLC's EIN).  Microsoft's W-9 submission form was able to find a match when I use this EIN.  The W-9 form verbiage indicates that this is a valid option: "If you are a single-member LLC that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner (see Limited Liability Company (LLC) on page 2), enter the owner’s SSN (or EIN, if the owner has one)." While on the phone with the IRS I explained to them that the party requesting my W9 is not allowing me to use my SSN.  They were surprised by this but confirmed that my workaround for this bug is a perfectly valid option, since that EIN is connected to my SSN anyway.

Answer 22

Are you saying put the LLC's EIN in the SSN field?