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Illegal or Not?
 

Hi

I need to create multiple stealth Amazon associates accounts - however Amazon requests a name & social security number for tax purposes. I know I can create multiple LLCs and get a unique EIN for each one, however it is tedious process. And more importantly, it will cost me several hundred dollars per LLC.

My question is - is it illegal if I claim I'm from outside the US when I sign up for Amazon associates so they do not ask me for my SSN / EIN ?

Of course, I will be paying taxes on these funds I just don't want Amazon to link the accounts.

Is it illegal ? Can I get in trouble from the IRS?


Thanks

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

If you claim that you are from outside US, you need everything from outside - IP, address, phone, ID, other docs. If you are able to provide them with such details, go ahead.

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

IP, address and phone is no problem. What other docs do you mean? And how do you know they collect this for ALL international affiliates?

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

If you claim to be Pedro Gonzales from Mexico, they may ask you to send in proofs, like utility bills and ID, so they can verify your identity. They may ask for it at any time. So, being stealth requires some "creativity" at certain points. They actually ask for an ID every their member, if it starts to sell high risk items, or if the account turnover is too high.

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

This is for Amazon associates - not to sell on Amazon. I never heard them asking ID from associates..

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

Depending on what country you claim you are from, you may need an ITIN.

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

Missed about associates. Cant say anything about them, sorry.

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

........Anyone?

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

Follow jeffweico's advice and experiment a bit - you might be able to teach the forum new things agag2

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

How can I experiment with potentially illegal stuff? Experimenting is fine but not in this case..

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

If you are concerned about legalities then you need to seek legal advise (and perhaps an accountant advise as well in this case)

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

Well I thought someone might know on the forum

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

Have you considered what amazon will do if they discover you are making a claim that is unture?

Make your stealth accounts correctly to reduce problems.

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

Just set up companies outside the US, then there is no legal issue. Bank accounts can be in the US in the offshore companies name.

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

whether its illegal or not is another thing
but for those saying amazon will verify the details if you tick another country.i can confirm they wont send any followups for any verifications

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

Thanks! This is a step in the right direction.. Which country are you from?

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

Check alim's flag.

You will find it is from Canada.

:canada:

:welcome;

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

its canada

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

Do they ask Canadians for any tax info? For example, do they ask you for a Canadian tax ID? Does the whole tax interview exist?

Thanks

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

when you start the tax interview for amazon and if your country is Canada,you simply tick that youre not a us resident and theyll give you 4 questions to tick and once you do and they determine that youre non us resident for tax purposes theyll just take your canadian or whichever country it is,its details.

by details i mean legal address and stuff not ein or SIN number for canada or anything those are not asked

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

ALL countries has tax matters to deal with: what stops your just making use of USA tax needs?

Explain if you could, please.

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

Sorry not sure if I understand.. Do you mean signing up as US resident and use my tax info?

As I pointed out in original post, I need to have multiple stealth affiliate accounts and they would be linked instantly like this...

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

Separate business entity with each it's own Tax Id , this is the Legit way

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

Do they ask to verify what you write "under penalty of perjury"?

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

I am from Singapore, and so far I have created 3 accounts (1 account being suspended, that's why I am here.. LOL) and 2 new stealth accounts (just only 1-2 weeks old). And I have never received any request from amazon for my identity documents. Although I do heard that amazon do request such documents randomly, from some sellers in my private group.. Hope that helps. Maybe you can just try to create a account from another country and see how it goes. Just make sure the IP, address, phone, is from that country. Bank account and credit card can be USA.

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

For me, the difficult part of creating multiple accounts, are the bank accounts. Since I am a REAL non-usa seller. :(

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

Thanks for reply.. I think people may not realize I'm specifically referring to Amazon associates accounts, not seller accounts..

However, thanks for sharing your experience..

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

theres hongkong in the banking list for amazon which is the closest for you.
youre eligible to open a bank account as non resident .However its only beneficial if the cost benefit works

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

If I open account in Singapore / Canada is there a website like whitepages where I can get an address?

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

All places have this.

You need to do your own homework.

Good Luck

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

I just tried signing up as a user from outside the US however in the "tax interview" they as me to sign I am not a US resident under penalty of perjury.. Would it be illegals for me to do this?

When you sign up from Canada do they ask you to sign for this?

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

Probably, you are signing a document that you are not a US citizen and it says penalty of Perjury, Id take that for what it says

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

You seem to know what is legal and what is not, but your fishing for someone here to give you the Ok to go and do something that you know is not legal, if you keep asking you may hear one answer that you like

But I'm not sure If that will hold up in a court of Law

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

So do they ask this question from Canadians too?

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

Yes they CAN based on amount of sales - not always done but chances exist.

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

whether canada or any other country ,when you sign in theyll ask you to tick 4 points to determine whether youre a US entity or not.theyll include points like whether you lived in the us for certain time and whats your country of citizenship and do you have business facilities or anything in us and all that .
for example if i am actually not a us resident i will tick no to all of them and ofcourse tick the penalty and perjury thing and then it will take me to another page where it will say that it determined that i am not a us individual for tax purposes and then will take my canadian details such as address and name .thats all

this is same whether canada or any other country

if the above dont apply to you,i think Dmshark's idea of separate entities in us is best and wont link you

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

All users from overseas are asked questions.

Taxes are asked for by all the 1st world countries.

:croc:

Re: Illegal or Not?
 

agag2,

I wonder if you should stop making accounts until you get everything sorted.

You run a risk of errors and that will maybe cause problems.