Business internet account

[kukulaka]

Are you legally required to have a business/commercial account for selling on ebay ? I'm not a big seller and have a residential account.  Husband is concerned that online selling requires a business account.

[cashvaluerecovery2011]

To have an ebay account no you do not. You are allowed to sell stuff you own without a business license as well. Its state laws you want to read. Here in Georgia as example the law reads.......you can not purchase with intent to sell for profit without a business license.

For years I sold my own stuff on ebay with no business license. I did buy stuff and then sell for more as well. When I decided to get legit and do big volume and get wholesale accounts to buy in bulk those businesses would only sell to me with business license. So I went that route.

The only thing you want to be careful of is the tax issue. If you turn a lot of money paypal will 1099 you. You then need to prove what you paid for sold items vs revenue taken in. The irs wants to tax you on the profit. A business license or not does not change this fact.

[heckofagame]

Ebay policy states the following: "An eBay seller must register as a business if, for example, they sell items they have bought to resell, they make items in order to sell them, or if they buy items for their business."

My interpretation is, if you are a business, then you need to register as a business, otherwise, a personal account is just fine. 

I hope this helps.

[kukulaka]

Thanks for replying. What I should have made more clear is do I need a business internet account  as opposed to a residential internet account. Can't seem to find anything definitive in searches.

[heckofagame]

If you are referring to the account which gives you access to the internet, then no, any access will work. 

[kukulaka]

Thanks!