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Hey guys. Been following this thread. So what should I do first, DBA, LLC, then EIN or what? I want to LLC a website and open a merchant account under the LLC corp.

LLC and EIN docs
 

Thanks for all the info.

Based on the reading in this thread and elsewhere, I am considering registering a new LLC to protect my individual identity from PP.

I have not registered the new LLC yet; however, I did look over the documents I received from an LLC I had already registered (for a different purpose) back in January. I am concerned because the EIN doc (form SS-4) and the LLC Certificate of Registration doc both have my (real) name on the form.

The SS-4 doc shows the following:

XYZ LLC
JOHN SMITH SOLE MBR
123 MAIN ST STE 45
BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90210

I assume that if one uses an EIN rather than SS#, PP would eventually ask for the SS-4 doc to verify the EIN, correct?

The LLC Certificate of Formation doc in my state also shows my name at the end of the form, in the section that says "Signatures: Authorized Representative".

I am curious -- how have other people dealt with this problem?

On this LLC, have another authorized representative with a 'clean' SSN :spy:

Thanks - that makes sense and should take care of the LLC Certificate of Formation doc.

Any ideas on how to handle the SS-4? My previously registered LLC states "JOHN SMITH SOLE MBR" (real name used) on the doc, which I imagine could be problematic down the line.

does any of this apply to Canadians?

They won't ask for the SS-4 form... they may ask for articles of organization to verify the business. The SS-4 form only shows who obtained the Tax ID on behalf of the company, and is not always the person who is a the sole owner, president, CEO, or corporate officer, for example.

Paypal is only as smart as you let them be. You can't reallly run credit with a business like you do a person... typically, almost everyone has a credit score. Whereas a business, may not. So it may be impossible for paypal to verify anything other than articles of organization for the company, a cc statement, bank statement, etc. Even at that point, they're not going to get the paperwork, and call the state just to make sure. Even businesses have privacy laws that prevent this kind of thing.