Question regarding an MSC requiring a W9 for shop payment

Warning: This User Has Been Banned or Is No Longer Active

I am currently scheduled for a shop with an MSC who schedules through Isecretshop.com. This MSC has a new twist for me on being paid for mystery shopping - they require a W9 for each and every shop you complete for them. I find the form very intimidating and I don't understand as with all my other MSC's of course I claim all income and keep receipts and claim all my legal deductions and I do this all on the Schedule C. I have had no IRS issues in doing so since I began mystery shopping in 2010.

I know you'all really can't give out tax advice here, and I'm not asking for tax advice. I'm just posing this question: Is this strange that this MSC requires a W9 for each and every shop? I've yet to run across this until dealing with this MSC. Thanks for any input.

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

More About Payment

I work for a few companies that require W-9's. But I've never heard of having to resubmit for each assignment!

I would put the company on my 10 ft. pole list. Too much hassle -- every W-9 I submitted has always required going to a notary. No way would I bother with that for each and every assignment.

If that's their policy, it's their policy, no matter how odd.

I keep a completed one in my drive, and send it to the MSCs when I hit that dollar threshold.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

I did a job for a company I never worked for and was asked to fax my W-9 (for a 15.00 job). When faxing, you
always have the original. I was not told to have it notarized.

Live consciously....

Mine wasn't notarized. I didn't even know that was necessary.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

Hi Squire, are you referring to any of the following companies: Mystery Shopper Services, BMA, or Customer 1st in regards to your inquiry? We are one of a handful of companies on the ISS platform that require a W9 form and would like to make sure you are getting accurate information. We only request one form to update your profile for all three of our companies. Please feel free to call me and I will be happy to answer any questions pertaining to our three companies. If it is another company you are referring to then please disregard my reply. Thank you.
Emma A. Valdivieso
Accounting Manager
Phone: 805-472-4396
Toll Free: 888-300-8292 extension 1009
Email: emma@mysteryshopperservices.com
Website: www.mysteryshopperservices.com
MY Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm (PST)

@HonnyBrown wrote:

Mine wasn't notarized. I didn't even know that was necessary.

I don't know why. Truly, every W-9 I've ever been asked to submit I had to take to a notary with two forms of current government ID and swear under penalty of perjury that those were MY ID's, have the forms notarized, and mail them in.

I've never had a W9 notarized.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

It is most certainly NOT required to have a w-9 notarized.

But, it is entirely ordinary for any company that you work for, as an IC or as an employee, to require that you file one in order to be paid.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

I've never had a W-9 notarized, nor have I ever notarized a W-9 for someone. I'm a notary.

Shopping up and down the Colorado Rocky Mountain front range.

Well, I appreciate some of the answers! I could have gone away wondering why I've only filed a few W-9s, that were never notarized.

@ceasesmith wrote:

@HonnyBrown wrote:

Mine wasn't notarized. I didn't even know that was necessary.

I don't know why. Truly, every W-9 I've ever been asked to submit I had to take to a notary with two forms of current government ID and swear under penalty of perjury that those were MY ID's, have the forms notarized, and mail them in.

I do believe that you are thinking of an I9 report. You know proof that you can work in the states. Have had to do a couple of those and some banks will do them and some will not. All depends on the wording on the forms.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/21/2017 07:41PM by 2stepps.

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login

Question regarding an MSC requiring a W9 for shop payment

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine