[jcborro]

I was shocked to read about this requirement snuck into the health care bill. It is insane.

Can you imagine anyone who buys a computer needing to send HP or Dell a W-9 to request their tax id, then waiting for the response, and then filing a 1099? I can't imagine what was going through the lawmaker's heads.

Pretty much all goods would start to be priced at $599.

[_delirium]

Individuals wouldn't have to file 1099s in any case; if the law went into effect, it'd be only for businesses. It would still be a hassle for businesses buying equipment, but not quite the same as your grandmother having to send Dell a 1099 when buying a home computer.

[jcborro]

yeah, i meant anyone with a business...exactly the people that don't have time for the paperwork. like many of us on HN.

[_ouxp]

And that would probably be outlawed, like "structuring" currency transactions. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structuring#United_States