Question: Why Do Sweepstakes Sponsors Need my Social Security Number?
When you win sweepstakes, you are often contacted by a sweepstakes sponsor and asked for additional information including your social security number. Why do sponsors need this information? Is this an attempt at identity theft, or is it legitimate?
Answer: Requesting a social security number is perfectly legitimate. By law, sweepstakes sponsors are required to report prizes awarded to U.S. residents to the IRS if the value is $600 or more. For tax purposes, the sponsors may also choose report prizes of lower values. In order to be sure that the win is being attributed to the right person, the sponsor needs to include your social security number on the forms that they send to the IRS.
