Is it a must to ask for SSN or Tax ID if you run an affiliate program in the United States?

Question by John.exe: Is it a must to ask for SSN or Tax ID if you run an affiliate program in the United States?
I want to know is it illegal not to ask for SSN or Tax ID? If so what are the steps in making people submit their SSN? Who do I send this information too? I sell web hosting and the billing software that I got (WHMCS) has a built in affiliate program, but they do not ask for SSN or Tax ID in the script. Any help would be great!

Thank you!

Best answer:

Answer by Bash Limpbutt’s Oozing Cyst©
WHMCS is a privately owned company based in the UK. (UK Registered Company #6265962. Vat No. GB 927 7746 76)

They could care less about your SSN and won’t be asking for it. They are not subject to US tax laws since they have no operations in the US. Since you are not a UK customer they won’t be asking for any UK specific tax information.

You, on the other hand, as a reseller, may need to ask for a TIN from your customers that are based in the US.

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