SSN Question

[MasterThespian 2]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 2:40pm

Quick question for the board. I sold two show tickets on Stub Hub recently. Just got an email saying my payment will be withheld until I provide my SSL. I have no intention of doing that. I’ve heard from a few that it’s a standard email they send out and you still get paid. 
Anyone have experience with this? Thanks.   

[Huss417]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 4:08pm

Thought this was an acronym for a show that I couldn't figure out.

[MasterThespian 2]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 4:24pm

So sorry, my bad. Social security number.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 4:32pm

What is the amount you are to be paid? If >600, they are required to issue a 1099 to you and that requires that you provide your SSN, obviously. Otherwise, I don't know why it would be necessary, unless there is some other reason.

[Once upon a time, this was not a question I would have asked about two tickets. But that was then.]

[Musigamist]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 4:33pm

This has been a fairly common requirement on third-party seller platforms since some IRS policy changed requiring people to report income over a certain amount using peer-to-peer platforms. You can read the StubHub FAQ about it on their website: https://support.stubhub.com/articles/61000276811-overview-of-1099k-regulations

[MasterThespian 2]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 5:10pm

Sold both tix for about $240 total. Was less than thrilled selling on Stub Hub, so no chance I give them my SSN. Guess I lose my payout. If this is a requirement going forward, no idea how these online resellers survive…unless most people have no issues with sharing their SSNs these days. 

[CJRochester]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 5:16pm

I believe the >600 threshold for a single transaction that Hogan cited is from the previous rules. The latest IRS policies are that they must report via 1099K the total you were paid for the entire year. The same rules apply if you sell things via Amazon, EBay, PayPal, Venmo, etc. 

[MasterThespian 2]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 6:19pm

So, are people more open with their SSNs these days? I’m a bit older, and we were taught to guard it with our lives. Never give it out. Perhaps some believe privacy is gone anyway, so what’s the difference. 

[Mike66]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 7:04pm

Selling stuff at a profit is taxable income.  ALL of the platforms are required to issue you a 1099K form at the end of the year if yout total sales exceed the amount that has been set.  (The number is going DOWN each year during this implementation period).   They are required to collect your SSN you they can send you the form next January.

I am actually surprised StubHub let you list without giving them your SSN.  (They definitely have it in their listing rules that you have to provide it.). Just in the same way that you have to provide a valid credit card number to list with them (or most others).

As to protecting your SSN -- YES -- everyone needs to do that -- its not a question of age (Im probably older than you are -- my first Broadway visit was to Pajama Game -- with John Raitt).  but There are times you have to give your SSN to companies -- (like when you get health care, for example).  

If you feel uncomfortable typing it into a computer, call them.  (They hide their customer service number because they dont want to actually provide customer service.  But I have it, so if you want to call them and give them the number over the phone, PM me and I'll give you the phone number).

BTW -- When you get the 1099K next year, you will have to fill out and file a Schedule C return   You may also have to pay self employment tax Form SE on the net amount of profit.  But if you happen to sell one clothes or things like that at a loss, (or sell Briadway tickets at a loss) there is a place on the form to claim exemption.  But you are still going to have to fill out the form and file.

(If you ignore the 1099K, you will find that about a year and a half later you get a little letter in the mail with the amount that you owe -- which at that point will include penalty and interest.  And since ALL of the cross checking of the 1099K forms are done by a computer, this will still continue to happen until the last employee of IRS is DOGEd.)

Hope this helps.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 10:19pm

CJRochester said: "I believe the >600 threshold for a single transaction that Hogan cited is from the previous rules. The latest IRS policies are that they must report via 1099K the total you were paid for the entire year. The same rules apply if you sell things viaAmazon, EBay, PayPal, Venmo, etc."

Yes, I was giving the info under the previous provision. My [weak] defense is that I have not sold anything on any platform under the new rule. Under that rule, as I now understand it, they must track all payments under the SSN and if, at year's end, they are $5000 or more (2024, $2500 or more for 2025), file a 1099k.

 

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 3/23/25 at 10:28pm

MasterThespian 2 said: "Sold both tix for about $240 total. Was less than thrilled selling on Stub Hub, sono chance I give them my SSN. Guess I lose my payout. If this is a requirement going forward, no idea how these online resellerssurvive…unless most people have no issues with sharing their SSNs these days."

You do not have to lose your payout. Instead, all you have to do is get a TIN (taxpayer Identification Number) for a business (online from IRS) and give that number to Stubhub. They will then pay you. If your business with Stubhub for the year is more than the triggering amount for a 1099k [$5000 for 2024, $2500 for $2025] to be issued (this sounds highly unlikely based on what you wrote), then you would follow the procedure someone else outlined for reporting it on a Schedule C.