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Is there an exact threshold for Paypal to ask for SSN?
 

Let's say I sell high-value items at around 300$ each. Will PayPal ask for SSN just because I reach 20K but am still a long ways away from 200 items sold?

Do they ask when you hit 100 items sold? Does anyone know how it works?

Re: Is there an exact threshold for Paypal to ask for SSN?
 

It is nearly impossible to know when they will request it.

Re: Is there an exact threshold for Paypal to ask for SSN?
 

Surely there is some logic to it?

Re: Is there an exact threshold for Paypal to ask for SSN?
 

Sure.
The moment they think it is possible to cross either threashold. I had an account get the request January 13th this year. Sold a couple thousand dollars.....

If you sell cheap items really fast. 100ish items..... If you sell higher dollar items really fast a couple grand. If you sell slowly, who knows when....

Re: Is there an exact threshold for Paypal to ask for SSN?
 

I'm still waiting for someone to do what I suggested a while back.

Pick a number that we agree on that shouldn't ever be asked for documents(150/15k, 180/18k, or whatever amount), and divide those numbers by 12 and sell that much per month on it. Then see what happens.

For example, let's say we agreed that 100 items and 18,000 in sales, at a slow pace throughout the year should never trigger a request for docs. Just divide it by 12 and do that amount every month. So... ~8-9 items per month at ~$175 a piece for a total of ~$1500 a month total in sales.

Then adjust those numbers up or down, depending on what happens.

Re: Is there an exact threshold for Paypal to ask for SSN?
 

The calculation is one a bot can apply which means it's mathematical in nature. Some things are obvious:

If you sell $300 a week for the first 4 weeks of the year, $300 X 52 weeks in a year = $15.6K. That's pretty darn close to 20K. You're gonna get the request, as Yankee did.

If you average sales of 5 items each for the first 4 weeks of the year or over a longer period of time, 20X12=240 annual transactions, you're going to get the request pretty quickly. Your projection is going to go over.

If you sell three items a month at $19.99 for three months, you're not going to get a request.

In between are multiple combinations of sales/volume that will get the request.

Keep in mind it doesn't matter what actually happens - what matters is what MIGHT happen. They're going to err on the side of caution. It's easy to get the info sooner rather than not get it later.

They probably check the account every 3-4 weeks, make a projection, and automatically reach out for the data if there's any reasonable chance they'll need it.

And now it seems they're heading towards requiring a SSN or EIN from everyone all the time, at the very beginning of the account's creation, so these requests may go away entirely.

Re: Is there an exact threshold for Paypal to ask for SSN?
 

I get hit with this when I reach 180-190 items sold and I do this often...
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Re: Is there an exact threshold for Paypal to ask for SSN?
 

So once they request it, you just wait till next year? You can still withdraw money no problem right?

I guess I could also get EINs for free right? That won't link my accounts though?

Re: Is there an exact threshold for Paypal to ask for SSN?
 

The only downside is putting in last 4 of social and dob. I've done this with one account to upgrade to business and a month later they wanted full ssn. They probably figured out the name doesn't match last 4 this person doesn't exist. Limited