W-9 Required for Child Support Garnishments

[Payrollgeek]

My question involves child support in the State of: All

We are an employer: Our Vendor Master Data department has declared that for all vendors to be set up, including a Child Support Garnishment order, a W-9 is required from the state agency or attorney BEFORE we can remit payments withheld from the employee's pay. They have told us that they can set up a "dummy" vendor so we can withhold the child support; but that we cannot remit the monies withheld; and when we are contacted by the employee or the agency we should merely tell them that once we get the W-9 we will release the funds.

We have tried on numerous occasions to tell them that a W-9 isn't required, since these child support payments are not 1099 reportable. But they insist. Now W-9 = no payment. Is there something somewhere in writing that we can use to convince them that this won't work; that it's opening the company to some serious legal issues? And they need to drop this silly W-9 requirement?

[Mr. Knowitall]

This is your internal department? Why not have whoever supervises that department talk some sense to whomever is being so difficult.

[Payrollgeek]

It is an internal department and that rule is being passed down by the supervisor of that department. Apparently "Audit" (I don't know if it was an internal audit or an external audit group) told them they had to have this rule last year. They weren't as up tight about the rule last year.