I just received this email from Patreons support:
"Hi there,
As we approach the end of the year, we need to make sure that we have the required tax forms on file for all of our creators. Please complete your W9 by October 26th. After that date, you will be required to submit a W9 in order to initiate an earnings payout. Don’t worry, it only takes a few minutes, and payouts will be available again as soon as you submit the form."
In my two years on Patreon, as a non-US creator, I have never been asked to fill out this tax form.
In fact, I don’t even have a US Social Security number, so it’s actually impossible for me to fill this thing out.
Is this a mistake?
Why am I getting this email?
Am I now being forced to fill this out before I can get paid now?
I’m kind of in panic mode now.
Anything that affects our income shouldn’t be just dropped on us like this. And if I’m not even supposed to bother with this ‘W-9’ form, then why am I being sent this email?
Am I mistakenly being taken for a US creator?
What gives? I need an answer before I have a heart attack here…