Submitted by ButtBlock t3_1000eqi in personalfinance

Hey all, I opted to do my own payroll for our nanny, which has been an eye-opening experience for how complicated small business taxes are.

I have to transmit the wages I paid to the social security administration by the end of January. To setup an account online, the SSA was supposed to mail me an activation code. I didn’t want to leave this to the last minute but a month later nothing has arrived in the mail. I’ve tried emailing them no response, and I can’t get someone on the phone in a timely manner. Now that it’s a holiday this is just going to have to wait until early January.

Anyways just wondering if anyone has successfully been able to setup an online account, specifically with the SSA Small Business Office, and if not does anyone here have experience filing paper W2/W3? I find the instructions online a little bit confusing because they explicitly say you cannot just print the form and mail it in. Like do I need to buy forms at staples or something and the print them on there?

It’s like their trying to make it impossible to comply with tax laws. Very frustrating. I know for some people here this stuff is second nature, but super confusing for me. Thanks in advance for any advice!

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Citryphus t1_j2er0gl wrote

I'm not sure you can file W2 before January 1. Try tax1099.com in a week. It will cost you a few bucks to e-file but it's worth it.

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ButtBlock OP t1_j2ew2le wrote

Thanks. Really appreciate it. I’ll check it out in a week or so.

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shadracko t1_j2f5ajp wrote

You're applying for an EIN number?

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online

EDIT: I guess you're trying to register for an account at BSO: https://www.ssa.gov/bso/bsowelcome.htm

It does seem that they just changed their policies to require the mailed info, so perhaps nobody yet has experience solving this.

Yeah, this process was frustrating the 1st time I went through it. But after you've done it once, it's pretty straightforward. Do you have a friend who could talk you through the process?

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ButtBlock OP t1_j2faton wrote

Already have an EIN fortunately. Unfortunately don’t have anyone else I can ask. No one I know does any small business stuff and the other folks I know who hired a nanny did so through an agency. Hopefully will be easier next year once this is theoretically set up.

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shadracko t1_j2fsgux wrote

Seems mostly like a new problem. I'd wait a few weeks and then check back. I know you're supposed to do this by the end of Jan, but I wouldn't worry if it takes longer. Just do the best you can.

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