Sole Proprietor EIN used as a SS

[alekov]

Can I open a new stealth using my real name (used previously on another account) but with EIN number instead of SS? New address, (new city) new bank, new phone, new everything else? Also can I open a Pro account with this setup, without having an LLC/Corporation?

Thanks

[boysangur]

I'd really like to know this too.

When I go to https://www.irs-taxid-number.com, I get the option to get an EIN for Sole Proprietorship online, with an optional field for DBA.

I'm thinking of getting this EIN after I register a DBA. Anyone gone this route with Amazon? Do they check the sole proprietorship EIN against your sole proprietor name (your real name), or the DBA?

[jeffweico]

No. The problem is, when you enter an EIN as your personal tax-id number, the IRS is going to verify the number you entered against the SSN database. So, it will come back "No Match".

When you enter an EIN AS an EIN, if it is a personal EIN, then it will verify against your real name. If the EIN is for an LLC or a corporation, then it will verify against the BUSINESS NAME. THAT is what you want to happen, so that Amazon cannot see who is behind the account.

However, if your name is a COMMON NAME and your stealth account is far enough from your real address, then you MIGHT be able to get away with it. For example, there are a lot of "John Smith" and "Steve Jones" in the world, so Amazon could not link by the name in this case. But if your name is UNIQUE, like "Adoyobatu Kenshavi" then it is more difficult to pull off.

[boysangur]

Does Amazon check the sole proprietorship EIN against your sole proprietor name (your real name), or the DBA provided when registering for the EIN?

[jeffweico]

It is the way that the IRS records are maintained, as they verify against what the IRS has on file. That will always be the legal entity. In the case of a sole proprietorship, YOU are the legal entity.

[Maliquest]

You can use an EIN to substitute amazon social security. Use the sole proprietor option. Remember, well for CA anyway, this method can only be used once. You can only have one EIN attached to your social under sole prop. However, you can have numerous using an LLC or other. In CA, LLC will cost you 800 dollars to maintain. You can bypass this by having an LLC in a different state. Beyond this is past my knowledge.
But to answer shortly. YES, applying for an EIN under sole prop works with Amazon. Just enter the EIN number in place of social. You will need to enter the same info you gave to the IRS so you might wanna change it and use a different address. Slightly alter your name in Amazon. John Smith will be Jon Simth

[ppthump]

Consulted a tax attorney, who said you CANNOT bypass the CA $800 tax if you live in CA, regardless of where you setup your LLC. In this case you would avoid the $800 minimum franchise tax, but would instead owe an $800 foreign operator tax. Basically, anyone incorporated outside of CA must pay $800 to do business in CA, and since you live there they consider that "doing business here" even if you never actually do.