2025 Just a casual seller who does not want to provide SSN

[getitgonegirl]

It is 2025, I am close to $401 sales for January. Why is eBay asking me for my SSN when 1. I am not at $600 and 2. the IRS level for 2025 is $2025. I am not someone who buys for resell, I am just trying to get rid of my stuff. Any help would be appreciated.

[evry1nositswindy]

If you don't provide your social security number, the funds will be released to your state's unclaimed fund bureau.  You can collect them there...by providing your social security number. 

[kensgiftshop]

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@getitgonegirl wrote:

Wow, just wow! Mine is just  $6.39. I just talked to a rep and even though my sales for the year are $401 and payouts $253.92, they want that SSN for the $6.39. 

I will say I appreciate all the comments and advice people have given including yours, well, not really the "the entitlement of people is so disgusting," but will find the form mentioned and see what is involved.  

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No, they want your SSN for the $401.00, not $6.39.

[fern*wood]

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@getitgonegirl wrote:

Wow, just wow! Mine is just  $6.39. I just talked to a rep and even though my sales for the year are $401 and payouts $253.92, they want that SSN for the $6.39. 

I will say I appreciate all the comments and advice people have given including yours, well, not really the "the entitlement of people is so disgusting," but will find the form mentioned and see what is involved.  

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That sounds like the sales tax on your sales that ebay collected.  That is not what we are talking about when it comes to reporting your sales to the IRS and needing your SS number to do so.

[kensgiftshop]

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@fnfj1200 wrote:

Exactly!

We already paid taxes on these items. This is a gross overreach by the Fed/State Govs and corps like eBay. 

I personally just want my money and will not sell on eBay again. But they want to try and force me to provide SSN for my $75 sale when they shouldn't have allowed me to sell anything if SSN is required. It's unethical and manipulative. In addition, why do we need to micromanage every transaction people have in order to "fight money laundering". Last I checked police states are oppressive and criminalize tend the innocent.

It's sad people sheepishly excusing this behavior from eBay and the Gov. 

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You paid sales tax when you bought the item, when you sell the item, it's income, totally different.

If you don't plan on selling again, you might want to remove the listings you have up now.

I agree, they shouldn't let you list an item unless you have provided all the required information.

[pickapaper]

@getitgonegirl 

I understand your reluctance to give out your SS number.    It used to be said not to give your number to anyone, however that didn't pan out the way they thought it would as many institutions still required it.  There are government rules to be followed and there are times when you WILL need to give someone your SS number.

During Covid, I had two unemployment claims filed against my SS number.  I notified the correct people very quickly.   Three years ago, my husband and I also had a phony tax refund filed against us; the IRS questioned it because it was out of the norm for how we have filed for years.   

I have just gone through a probate situation in which I had to give my SS number every time I turned around.  The courts, the lawyers, the real estate people, the banks, you name it.  And it wasn't just once; the banks use SS numbers for ID purposes so asked for it every time I talked to them.  

You can be protective of your SS number but don't go overboard.   I'm protective of mine but I am also realistic.   There are times when you will need to give out your SS number and eBay is one of them. 

[kensgiftshop]

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@bonjourami wrote:

"We already paid taxes on these items. This is a gross overreach by the Fed/State Govs and corps like eBay. "

Such a mass of confusion, Ill just address this statement tho.You may have paid state tax when you purchased your items. You certainly didnt pay Federal tax on those items...you can Google the difference between state and Federal tax..maybe that will be easier for you to understand.

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It's amazing how many don't know the difference from sales tax and income tax.

[michaelruszkowski]

Because they are a pain in the ass just like being a Seller. I sold $200 some and they sent the same **bleep** the me. Had to give SS to get funds. All the while the actual figure was adjusted from $600.00 to 5,000.00. 

EBay CAUSES THIS CONFUSION to belittle their Sellers. I'm quitting Tomorrow yes eBay they suck. GrandNationalMike 

[pickapaper]

"Everyone" wants your Social Security number these days.  Some, like eBay for financial reasons, also doctors, lawyers, bankers, you name it.   

I was curious about the process involved regarding people who still refuse to give eBay this info and it gets to the point where their money goes to unclaimed funds so I went to the unclaimed funds site for my state (Kansas) and entered my last name.  It brought up a list of all the money they are holding for people with my last name.  I was totally surprised to see my name on there twice!  The only info they initially give is whether the amount is "over $100" or "less than $100".  I clicked on the Claim buttons and it asks for info, including your Social Security number and of course, address and all that other stuff.  When you give them all that info, they confirm it and then send more forms to fill out and if necessary, mail in with additional documents to prove you are who you say you are.  One of mine is a pretty substantial amount (surprise!) so it is more lengthy and involved; the other is a small amount so not so involved.   

The point of this is, even if a seller refuses to give eBay their SS number and it does get to the point where their money is sent to unclaimed funds, to retrieve that money they will still have to provide their SS number.  So they are back to square one of either providing their number or not.   It is up to them how hard they make it on themselves. 

[a_c_green]

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@pickapaper wrote:

I was curious about the process involved regarding people who still refuse to give eBay this info and it gets to the point where their money goes to unclaimed funds so I went to the unclaimed funds site for my state (Kansas) and entered my last name.  It brought up a list of all the money they are holding for people with my last name.  I was totally surprised to see my name on there twice!  The only info they initially give is whether the amount is "over $100" or "less than $100".  I clicked on the Claim buttons and it asks for info, including your Social Security number and of course, address and all that other stuff.  When you give them all that info, they confirm it and then send more forms to fill out and if necessary, mail in with additional documents to prove you are who you say you are.  One of mine is a pretty substantial amount (surprise!) so it is more lengthy and involved; the other is a small amount so not so involved. 

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That's what I discovered too: if the amount is over $100, there is more proof required and more forms to fill out. I have something like $118 waiting for me once I figure out how to prove that I was the account holder on something or other that was so many years ago now that I can't remember the details at this moment. I do have file cabinets full of old papers that I never threw out, so I will probably find the numbers I need eventually. Conversely, another family member discovered that they had $37 waiting for them, and got a check in the mail from the state after submitting some basic details on-line, and that was that.

[pickapaper]

@a_c_green 

Same here.  One of mine is for $1,200 and it's for a business that we used to have so I am going to have to dig through a lot of old papers to find the info they want but for that much, I will dig.  I have no idea where that money is from, they just list a bank name that I have never had an account at.    The other is just $22 so no biggie on that one to send in.  I'm just very happy that I went in and looked at that unclaimed funds website.  A surprise, to say the least. 

[az93]

Profile indicates casual seller for 26 years with 924 sales.