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I got the tax-ID messages for seemingly months and was limited in early May. Went back to the sales reports and found only about $3,500 for 2013 up to that time INCLUDING S&H, so the notices were probably based on 2012.

For 2012 I had just over $9K in sales and $14.4K total gross including shipping and before PayPal fees. Average sale $10-11, so the number of sales was somewhere around 900.

I focused on other sites & then took a long vacation, so only now am I getting back to this. My problem is that the PPal and ebay accts are stealths. I had gotten the EIN for Amazon, which is not a stealth (probably a mistake). Also no business name but as sole proprietor, so in looking at what the IRS sent me back I just see my real name.

(Question: Have screenshots of the tax-interview screens from PayPal been posted anywhere here? That would seem to be very helpful)

If PayPal gets the real name they *might* link it (though I've never been suspended from PayPal). It's not the same name they've had for all this time, so I dunno if that's cause an SSN demand. Address would definitely be linkable.

I've had to rebuild from the ground up and it's no fun with a 500-item inventory and low-value items, and I know I might have to spread it. I also use Turbo Lister.

Might have to spin the wheel and take my chances, as the worst case of losing the accounts and starting from scratch (last done in 2006) isn't much worse than having the 2 accounts dead in the water, as now. About all I can do is pay non-ebay vendors via PayPal.

i'm actually trying this right now..my current paypal isn't limited..they just asked for a ssn and i made a new paypal under a business account and verified it..it's been almost a week..i won't sell on there until next week as i already hit my limit...we don't know unless we try..i have nothing to lose..that's what a crap load of back up accounts are for :)

Hard to say. Similar situation. I got the Tax ID Email request and the reminder every time I logged into PayPal for at least 3 months then just got the can't receive funds limitation. It is hard to say and I am speculating but I think once you get the initial Tax ID Request where you have the reminder page every time you log on. You have about 3 months before it you get hit with the can't receive funds limitation.

It even says when I log into my can't receive funds PayPal account that they tried to contact me several times. Can still withdrawal funds, send money, etc. Just can't receive money or close the account. Hoping that it gets reset in 2014 like the one I had with this limitation in 2012.

This goes against principle of stealth and causes link with old banned PP - lot of posts about this

well the first paypal account isn't banned..do you know how to read? obviously this won't work if it's limited..but it's not..and you know there are other methods that work that aren't listed in the stealth book..i've been doing my own things for years and many here disagree with it and it works fine for me

I think they must be getting a bit stricter on this now.

For this year on 1 account I have 190 sales @ $3350 total gross sales for the year.

Got the account can not be closed limit today. Still can receive fund tho.

My guess is the amount of sales had to trigger this...and not the dollar amount.

Just a heads up for anyone doing low dollar sales and trying to do volume.

I think you could be right. When I just got the can't receive funds limitation I was at 197 sales.

Re: Paypal limited for SSN or EIN. What worked last year isn't working this year.
 

Having gotten more requests on different stealth accounts. I am certain now that the even if you are well under the 20K threshold if you get close to the 200 transaction limit you get the dreaded can't receive funds or close your account restrictions.

Which is different than previous years. Had multiple accounts with well over the 200 transaction limits and well below the 20k thresholds with no complications.

Looks now like once you get to close to either they shut you down to protect themselves. Time to start prepping extra accounts so they are ready for the new year.

Re: Paypal limited for SSN or EIN. What worked last year isn't working this year.
 

@vogeltron

Interesting variation (again).

Agree with multiple accounts to spread sales.

Should be standard practice by now.

Re: Paypal limited for SSN or EIN. What worked last year isn't working this year.
 

Sooner or later, the account goes down and funds are held :(

Re: Paypal limited for SSN or EIN. What worked last year isn't working this year.
 

Hope the poster notices after making that post 5 weeks ago.

:juggle:

Re: Paypal limited for SSN or EIN. What worked last year isn't working this year.
 

My main account I am at 36k and 145transactions and have not been requested to provide info yet. I did about the same last year so maybe it is taking that info into count.

I did get a request last year around this time and it reset at the begining of 2013. I was going to push this account to 170 transaction but after reading this thread I might back off. No one knows if it will reset again in 2014 :(

Re: Paypal limited for SSN or EIN. What worked last year isn't working this year.
 

Wow you have been lucky.

36k is way over the number but your sold items is only 145 and that might have saved you.

I would put this account away until Jan 1 if it were mine.

Re: Paypal limited for SSN or EIN. What worked last year isn't working this year.
 

hi guys

So my paypal has just gotten limited. After a week for IRS info requests and around 3 emails from paypal, I hit my 200 Item sold today and got limited. I thought paypal would wait until i get near the $20k mark
(Around $2000 in sales in under 2 months) my paypal has just gotten limited. Yes.. I made the mistake of not spreading sales as Im using only 1 stealth account.

By the way, this stealth account has 300/$15000 limits with over 90 feedback and perfect DSR so i don't want to give up on it!!

I dont know what to do to save this account, should I get a EIN with my real info for a corporation?

Re: Paypal limited for SSN or EIN. What worked last year isn't working this year.
 

This is exactly what I have been thinking. Noticed myself the closer to 200 payments received the more frequent I would get those reminders even way way way under the 20k threshold. Last year I had PayPal accounts with 300-400 payments received but was way under the 20k and had no problems. So it has definitely changed. Time to start making more stealth accounts.

As far as the EIN and all that goes. It is an option. Depends on how serious you are about selling. Even if you have "legit" account with Tax ID etc. Almost all the senior members on here would still advise you to have extra stealth accounts as backups.

Re: Paypal limited for SSN or EIN. What worked last year isn't working this year.
 

Arrange an EIN as soon as you can.

Avoid underestimating paypal for the future.

Work on the basis they will ask for info for IRS purpose at any time.

There is no definitive amount.

Much is done of projected sales.

Good Luck

Re: Paypal limited for SSN or EIN. What worked last year isn't working this year.
 

I can't believe u didnt receive a motice yet I received 3 in total and average of all 3.


125/ $4500, so that is crazy that u haven't received one yet, but I really don't see a problem with this requests, if ur accounts make it to this point than u probably have a solid account and are given the option get an EIN which is free and can be done online one per day and u get the. Number instant and I used it right away on all 3 , and months later no pronlrms.


I have a lawyer and accountant for various other businesses I was and am involved in and let them handle everything, just try to put all expenses for each account on a separate credit card if possible ,

Re: Paypal limited for SSN or EIN. What worked last year isn't working this year.
 

Most important step is to take action as soon as possible to get the account restored.

Re: Paypal limited for SSN or EIN. What worked last year isn't working this year.
 

I wonder if the accounts will get unlimited in 2014?

Re: Paypal limited for SSN or EIN. What worked last year isn't working this year.
 

You mean just reset by themselves? Doubt it.

Re: Paypal limited for SSN or EIN. What worked last year isn't working this year.
 

Have you considered other options?

Re: Paypal limited for SSN or EIN. What worked last year isn't working this year.
 

Happened the last two years. End of Jan right when they send out the 1099k forms. Will be interesting to see what happens. Personally I think greed will overcome everything else and they will reset the accounts again as they have the past two years.