Civil/Commercial Litigation (Lawsuits)/W-9 form request from tenant

Advertisement

Expert: Liliana Gonzalez - 1/14/2012


Question
A tenant of my residential rental property has just requested a W-9 from me.  I file this rental income on schedule E each year.  A tenant has never asked this from me before. Do I need to supply this?  I am very uncomfortable giving my tenants my social security number.

What do I do?

Thanks, Gabe

Answer
Gabe:

What you should do is first ask your tenant why he/she needs this information, and what exactly is the information they need. Perhaps all they need is a letter or proof of tenancy or address not any social security or rental income information.

Also, I would not give anyone a w-9 form unless you are applying for a loan or it is an official bank or institution, not a private individual especially, a tenant. You are not obligated to provide this information.

Hope this helps.

Liliana Gonzalez

Civil/Commercial Litigation (Lawsuits)

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Liliana Gonzalez

Expertise

I am an expert in Human Rights (Equal Employment etc.). I can answer questions related to the EEO laws, Human rights, FMLA, ADA, Discrimination, Sexual harassment, opressive environmets, hostile environments for women and minorities.

Experience

I have over 25 years of work experience. I have worked in the Utility business where diversity and equality have not reached optimum levels. I was the Director of the Equal Employement Opportunity (EEO) office for the company. We handled all types of EEO complaints.

Organizations
American Gas Association Polytechnic University - Education Advisory group NE Gas Association Cornell University - School of EEO and Affirmative Action

Education/Credentials
BS in Electrical Engineering - Pratt Institute, NYC MS in Engineering - Electrical Engineering - Polytechnic University, NYC Power Certification in - Power Engineering - Energy Business - PTI - NY Equal Employement Opportunity Certification - Cornell University - NYC Affirmative Action Certification - Cornell University - NYC Labor Relations Certification - Cornell University - NYC I speak fluent Spanish, French and Italian, I read Latin.

Awards and Honors
> Selected as one of the 100 most influential Hispancis in USA - 2007 > Selected as Hispanic Achiever in the Company, - 2000 >Highest ranking Latina in the Company since 2000 to current. >Represented the Company in Washington DC for the past 10 years to receive the Latina Style Award at the White House.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.