Getting an EIN through PayPal...

[ploughman]

OK, sorry if this is duplicative in any way, but it seems like one of those things where I may have only one shot to get it right and I don't want to blow it.

I'm getting the big PayPal tax-ID clampdown on a stealth account:

We've asked you several times to provide your tax ID number due to new IRS rules, but we haven't heard from you. Until you provide your tax ID number, you can't receive money or close your account.

Please provide this information today in order to remove the limitations on your account.

The PayPal account and linked eBay account have both been stealth under a name not similar to mine for about 7 years now. The eBay account is also effectively dead in the water (can't even buy stuff until PayPal issue resolved). I'm probably getting the PayPal nag because of projected sales that might be over $20K, even though I'm nowhere near that yet.

I want to give them an EIN. It looks like they want me to "upgrade" to a business account if I do that, which sounds OK as long as there aren't burdensome fees, etc., vs. the current premier account.

I already have an EIN from 2011 acquired to give Amazon (linked to the real SSN), but in looking over the form for that it has only my real name and real street address (the EIN was set up as a sole proprietor).

I want to give PayPal a business name. Am concerned that if I had to give the real name they'd a) See it doesn't match the name they already have, or b) link it to an account from 7 years ago that originally motivated me to seek out this board. The b) possibility might be unlikely with just the name but very possible if they also had the street address.

I tried applying for a new EIN on the IRS site as a sole proprietor but it wouldn't let me, as it probably matched the SSN from the previous EIN (it referred me to the phone number).

From what I understand from here I'd need to get a business name on the EIN, like ACME PRODUCTS (just to take an example), and PayPal would submit that as a business name and get MATCH or DOES NOT MATCH (I obviously want it to match). So I need to get the business name onto the EIN, but am not sure how to go about doing.

Did I do this wrong by applying as a sole proprietorship before? Would I have to change the structure or apply under a new structure to get an EIN with a business name on it? Any advice appreciated.