W9 for Property Manager

[Jay Lam]

Hello,

My property manager is asking us fill out a W-9. If our rental is owned in my spouse and I's name, do file as a sole proprietor or partnership? Also can we use an EIN rather than one of our SS numbers? Thank you! 

[Jason Watson]

Do you have a separate LLC or something? I see EIN in your post. Do you have an EIN?

If you have an entity with an EIN, and that entity either owns the property (named on title) or constructively owns the rental, then use that.

Otherwise, then SSN.

Ultimately this has very little effect on the tax return, liability, etc. We see all kinds of crazy stuff, and we sort it out on the tax return whether it is a Form 8825 on a 1065 or if it is Sched E Page 1 on a 1040.