eBay will require sellers to provide their full social security numbers for 2022 activity. The company previously announced the new requirement, but the topic came up again during Wednesday’s weekly chat session when a seller asked about a discrepancy in eBay’s messaging about the personal data it would be requiring.
The seller said eBay displayed a message about 1099 forms in the Seller Hub overview page on December 20th. “A few days ago, a banner has appeared that contradicts what I read. In a ominously deep red colored alert, it is asking(? ) insisting(?) I now must divulge more personal data.”
The seller said they had reluctantly onboarded to Managed Payments in 2021because they felt PayPal “provided a safe financial data barrier for my personal data, financial identity etc. It gave me a huge sense of trust.”
But the discrepancy in information eBay provides to sellers when it changes policies fosters feelings of mistrust, the seller said.
An eBay moderator confirmed that the notification displayed at the top of Seller Hub is correct – “we will eventually need your complete 9-digit Social Security number. This is particularly pressing as we enter the new tax-reporting changes for 2022.”
The moderator explained that the information the seller provided when onboarding was sufficient for 2021 reporting (qualifying that he was not a tax pro or payments expert) but said seller information would need to be updated as early as January “in order to remain compliant with the IRS and avoid any impacts to your account’s ability to sell on eBay.”
The eBay moderator said it was not an arbitrary eBay requirement but an industrywide one – “PayPal is also being held to these changes, including needing a complete EIN/ITIN or SSN.”
eBay published a video on YouTube Tuesday about the new requirements, writing, “Did you receive a notification asking for detail verification? These checks are necessary for eBay to meet regulatory requirements and keeps eBay a trusted marketplace.”
In the video, eBay explained it requires different information depending on whether a seller is a business or not:
If you’re a private seller, you may need to provide:
- Name
- Address
- Date of Birth
- Social Security Number
- Photo ID
- Bank Account Details
If you’re a business seller, you may need to provide:
- Business Name
- Address
- Employer ID Number
- Beneficial Owner Information
- Company Documents
- Bank Account Details
And, eBay said in the video, “If you receive a notification from us, you should verify your information before the deadline to get paid.”
It said, “Verifying your information allows us to comply with know-your-customer obligations, which keeps eBay a trusted marketplace,” and it pointed to eBay.com/verification-help.
Rival marketplace Etsy is similarly requiring sellers to provide their social security numbers and, in fact, some sellers ran into problems in early December when they received a notice from Etsy to update their information and had their accounts frozen.
The New Year looks like it could be fraught with challenges for sellers and marketplaces trying to comply with regulations.
I can’t believe all the information to be given to eBay.
You know . . . .
The Tech Savy eBay that has glitches galore.
I don’t mind giving to paypal and stripe since they are “professional money transmitters”, but to willy nilly to all these different sites – no way.
I don’t mind selling on a slower site that offers paypal, stripe, check and such.
The scammers are having a good time with the sellers, wait for the hackers.
EVERY platform will require your full social security number in 2022. If you don’t like it . . . have a garage sale and collect cash. People need to get over it. This is simple, if you don’t want to give it to ebay . . . don’t sell on ebay. Go find another platform that does not require it. Quit whining and complaining..
The requirement should be once you hit 600. eBay should also not be collecting sales tax on behalf of sellers who sell only a couple of $ worth of items in each state. The rulling by the federal judge clearly attempted to distinguish between large sellers vs. small sellers. Unfortunately, ebay and the others are just too lazy to defrentriate. Or they don’t want to punish their powerhouse sellers. While you may say buyers regardless have to remit sales tax. The difference is sellers get charged a fvf on the sales tax they don’t have to collect! I just fail to comprehend the IRS or senators they are always supposably trying to figure out how to give tax breaks to the poor etc. Don’t you think anyone making under 20k in sales – meaning a fraction of that is profit is far from rich? Why go after people like this?
ooooo do you know a place dear?
@SenatorsWife A person’s Social Security number is a most important asset. When eBay makes changes nothing, and I mean nothing, is simple. About a year ago, I bid eBay goodbye concerning managed payments. Not everyone is entitled to your driver’s license number, your social security number, your credit card information, your banking information, etc. I don’t know what your problem is. The only one cranky here is you.
It pop up on FB market place yesterday requiring SSN if you sell and ship. Was mention that the poor would not pay more taxes is wrong with the new President. I run a business so have always paid taxes but this does hit the poor, even at the 20K, after you subtract shipping and fees, you only make at best $10k. Honestly, the time and paperwork for the $600 requirement probably cost the Government more then what it will receive with paperwork and man hours.
I have Thousands of collectible items that I sell….or at least attempt to sell. I am Not getting Rich, but am Sharing my time in The Biz with the world and making a few bucks from those years and memories.
I just made a sale of $125 on ebay…which ebay and the IRS/DemoKKKrat SS will consider ‘income’…never mind the 12-15% FEES that ebay will Take from that…including Shipping and Tax! And the Expense to Me for Creating the Product (in this case, photos of celebrities that I took in 1978, that I have had new prints made from, bought storage for, mailing supplies, labels, ink, gas to the post office, etc.)
So…..I will now be Done with selling. Unless and until Demento Joe and his Commie Socialist Cabal are OUT and Sanity returns, and hopefully this IRS Scam will be Stopped!
If you have “thousands of collectible items that (you) sell” then you are in business. It doesn’t matter what political party is in power, as you are still required to file a statement for tax purposes showing (a) your gross income from your business, less (b) your cost of what you sell, and less (c) the expenses you incurred while in the process of selling which are related specifically to your business, such as eBay fees, the cost of making your prints, and your office supplies.. You pay taxes only on your NET income,
No one is “scamming” you. Either talk to a tax accountant (the cost of this is a deductible expense), or buy a basic book on how to keep financial records while running a small business.
Yeah…no. Just because I have Thousands of Collectible Items that I would Like to sell, does Not mean that I have a ‘business.’ I am a casual seller of some of the fun things I have from my years in the biz. What I offer cost me money years ago, and does now. Do You know how much you spent for things 40 years ago that you are trying to sell Now? And, yes…the new IRS rule on any movement of money over $600 IS a Scam…no matter who is in control, but Especially because of who is currently in control.
Get an EIN. It’s free, easy, and you don’t need to be an employer of anyone else.