Wow, why did I never realize this?

[hazy]

Ok when asked for EIN by paypal, I form an LLC and get a new EIN. This has to of course be done with your actual information. The problem is, when you google the business name shown on the paypal account, you can see all of the actual info, my real name and address, and all other LLC's registered at the address. What am I doing wrong or what am I missing here?

[GreenBean]

Doing nothing wrong.

It is a fact of creating the LLC. Info can be seen.

paypal does the following. ( Please read carefully & ask if you do not understand).

If paypal wants to know about the EIN belonging to your account, it 'ask' the IRS this:

is Hazy Day Car Wash EIN this number Yes or No.....

all paypal asks is if the info you gave matches the IRS info.

Note, paypal is not & does not ask if Charlie Brown is the owner of Hazy Day Car Wash....
Can you grasp what I mean, hazy?

Finding out more info would involve a different set of circumstances.

Where paypal is conforming to IRS needs, this is their ( current) method.
This is why the info you enter to paypal must match exactly what is with the IRS....

Hope this helps

[hazy]

Thanks Greenbean, I also see that when searching other LLC owners the registrants name shows as the business name instead of their actual name.

What about customers? I have a crazy buyer who is completely insane and is digging far into my account and information.

What if the buyer were to google the business name that she payed to on the paypal account and stumble across my actual info? There must be a way to prevent this.

[AuctionsDenied]

LLC information is typically public information. All information is available to be seen. Just make sure you use a business address vs. you actual home address as far as the information that is put on the LLC.

[jeffweico]

Originally Posted by hazy

Thanks Greenbean, I also see that when searching other LLC owners the registrants name shows as the business name instead of their actual name. What about customers? I have a crazy buyer who is completely insane and is digging far into my account and information. What if the buyer were to google the business name that she payed to on the paypal account and stumble across my actual info? There must be a way to prevent this.

There are a couple of states where LLC information is private, but in the vast majority of states it is a matter of public record.

You COULD open an LLC in one of the states where the information is private, but they tend to have higher fees AND you will need to hire a "registered agent" located in that state to receive correspondence regarding the LLC and to accept service of process in the event of any lawsuits. That alone can cost several hundred dollars per year.

Even if you did that, if someone is determined to find out who is behind an eBay user ID, they probably CAN find a lot of information if they have the know-how or are willing to pay for the information.

[john456]

There are good states out there where LLC owner is private by default and it does not cost you an arm and a leg to get a registered agent. Bonus of registered agent is that they offer your real street address with mail forward for cheap. I have a eb/pp business account running like this.

Keep looking

Originally Posted by jeffweico

There are a couple of states where LLC information is private, but in the vast majority of states it is a matter of public record.

You COULD open an LLC in one of the states where the information is private, but they tend to have higher fees AND you will need to hire a "registered agent" located in that state to receive correspondence regarding the LLC and to accept service of process in the event of any lawsuits. That alone can cost several hundred dollars per year.

Even if you did that, if someone is determined to find out who is behind an eBay user ID, they probably CAN find a lot of information if they have the know-how or are willing to pay for the information.

[GreenBean]

Depending on your business circumstances consider using an umbrella

[rsot]

Originally Posted by john456

There are good states out there where LLC owner is private by default and it does not cost you an arm and a leg to get a registered agent. Bonus of registered agent is that they offer your real street address with mail forward for cheap. I have a eb/pp business account running like this.

Keep looking

Interesting approach for this in the States - up here, it`s pretty standard across the board.

[hazy]

Originally Posted by rsot

Interesting approach for this in the States - up here, it`s pretty standard across the board.

Hey rsot, what is standard? Info being private or not costing an arm and a leg?

[hazy]

Originally Posted by GreenBean™

Depending on your business circumstances consider using an umbrella

Time for some research ; )

[hazy]

Originally Posted by john456

There are good states out there where LLC owner is private by default and it does not cost you an arm and a leg to get a registered agent. Bonus of registered agent is that they offer your real street address with mail forward for cheap. I have a eb/pp business account running like this.

Keep looking

Wow, just when I though I had at least 95% of the most important stealth factors figured out, this all pops into my head! Any way to revert my previously formed llc's? They are extremely well established. : ) but : (

[GreenBean]

@hazy

Time to consider a consulation with a tax professional.

Broadly speaking you should be able to regroup your businesses....

On with that research

[rsot]

Originally Posted by hazy

Hey rsot, what is standard? Info being private or not costing an arm and a leg?

Info is public here but it does not have a high cost.

[GreenBean]

Originally Posted by rsot

Info is public here but it does not have a high cost.

So actually, info is public in Canada as well but the costs to have the Canadian equivalent of EIN are not high?

Was that your message?