Opening a new account without a ss number

[chariot_badges]

My next door neighbor was hanging in my garage the other day, watching me wrap and pack ... he asked me a question about eBay policies and I honestly didn't know.  So I came here because I just bet there's somebody here (probly more than one) that knows the answer.

He is a foreign national (French, but a good guy anyway).   Here legally.   He does not have a SS number and, for some reason, doesn't want one.  Wants to sell on eBay on an individual.  He has a few things that may have some value.  

I don't think that eBay will allow him to open an individual account with an EIN.  
I contacted chat assist and they said he'd need to do the W8 route.  

So, how does THAT work.  The W8 application gives you a temp ss number?  Do I file that with eBay, or IRS? or both?   

[maxine*j]

Whether or not he can work (and selling here qualifies for that) depends upon his immigration / visa status.

There are about 185  visa types, and working in the U.S. is allowed under far fewer than half of them, and then the type and duration of work usually has restrictions.

The fact that he does not already have an SSN and does not want one makes me suspect that he is in an immigration / visa status that does not allow work.

I would tell him in a friendly way to deal with his on his own and consult an immigration attorney, as it is best to not involve yourself in this matter. 

-

[soh.maryl]

His not wanting an SS # leads me to think that you should not get involved here.  "Do I file that with eBay, or IRS? or both?"

None of the above.  

[maxine*j]

---

@soh.maryl wrote:

His not wanting an SS # leads me to think that you should not get involved here.  "Do I file that with eBay, or IRS? or both?"

None of the above.  

---

Yep.  If is in an immigration / visa status that allows him to work, he can obtain an SSN rather easily. 

And one needs an SSN to get a W-8, by the way.

-

[maxine*j]

---

@chariot_badges wrote:

...  I contacted chat assist and they said he'd need to do the W8 route.  

So, how does THAT work.  The W8 application gives you a temp ss number?  Do I file that with eBay, or IRS? or both?   

---

"Chat assist" is not programmed for the complexities of U.S. immigration / visa law. 

YOU do not file anything on his behalf.  Period. 

A W-8, which is filed with the IRS, requires an SSN.  It is not work permission.

Do not rush in where an angel would fear to tread.

-

-

[reallynicestamps]

He can open an account with eBay France.

I think they use Managed Payments too.

He would be supplying the French equivalent of a SSN (I'm Canadian and my dotCA account needed government issued ID but not my Social Insurance Number, which we are discouraged from using in the marketplace.) and a checking account with a French bank.

While his account would be registered with eBay dot FR, he could sell on any eBay site in the world.

Payment would be transferred to that French bank account.

[bonjourami]

"He is a foreign national (French, but a good guy anyway). "

What the heck does that mean? 

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

---

@bonjourami wrote:

"He is a foreign national (French, but a good guy anyway). "

What the heck does that mean? 

---

😆 🤣 lol, the way OP worded it down the post, me thinks it's him.

[mam98031]

If he has a legit EIN, he can set up a selling account on Ebay.  IRS issues EIN's, so your friend has likely been running monies earned under that EIN while here in the states.

Please review the below link carefully. It contains very important information as to how Ebay needs to see the information you provide them on your account. It is likely easier to change your Ebay account to match your bank account if you find there to be a difference.

https://www.ebay.com/help/selling/getting-paid/registering-seller?id=4792

Confirming your identity

To sell on eBay, we'll need to confirm your identity at registration. We may also need to confirm your identity at other times. If you’re a Registered Business seller, we’ll need to confirm information about your business, as well as any beneficial owners, officers, directors, or account managers.

Individual sellers (one person or a married couple) will need to provide:

• Full name
• Address
• Date of birth
• Social Security Number (SSN)

If you're selling as a Registered Business (Sole proprietor/Single member LLC, Corporation/Multi member LLC, Partnership), you'll need to provide:

• Individual identification information for beneficial owners, officers, directors, or account managers
• Legal business name
• “Doing Business As” (DBA) name (if you have one)
• Employer Identification Number (EIN)
• Business address
• Phone number

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Payments-Resources/Have-questions-about-payments-Check-out-this-post-f...

[mam98031]

---

@soh.maryl wrote:

His not wanting an SS # leads me to think that you should not get involved here.  "Do I file that with eBay, or IRS? or both?"

None of the above.  

---

@soh.maryl 

OMG, do you know how many people legitimately use EINs and TINs.  There is not a darn thing wrong with the OPs friend to run everything under their EIN.  And just so you know, it also means the OP's friend is claiming their income here in the USA.  I say the person is acting responsibly not trying to be underhanded.

[mam98031]

---

@maxine*j wrote:

---

@soh.maryl wrote:

His not wanting an SS # leads me to think that you should not get involved here.  "Do I file that with eBay, or IRS? or both?"

None of the above.  

---

Yep.  If is in an immigration / visa status that allows him to work, he can obtain an SSN rather easily. 

And one needs an SSN to get a W-8, by the way.

-

---

The OP said the friend is here legally.  Seems some are really jumping to conclusions here.

To have an EIN, means the friend contacted IRS and filled out all the appropriate paperwork.

[itsjustasprain]

---

@bonjourami wrote:

"He is a foreign national (French, but a good guy anyway). "

What the heck does that mean? 

---

It means he has seen 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'.

• French Soldier: I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty-headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071853/quotes/?item=qt0470576&ref_=ext_shr_lnk 

[mam98031]

@chariot_badges 

I'm not sure why some of the regulars on the threads are seeing this as problematic.  Clearly your friend has been upfront with the US Government, applied and received and EIN so they can report their income.

FYI anyone can file to get an EIN so they DON'T have to use their SSN.

Your friend should be just fine.  If they reside here now, they don't have to claim they are an international Ebay member just because they were born in a different country.  I'm simply not sure where some of these posts are coming from.

As to the W8, if Ebay needs it, they will ask your friend for it.  It is just a form, nothing more.

[maxine*j]

---

@mam98031 wrote:

---

---

@soh.maryl 

OMG, do you know how many people legitimately use EINs and TINs.  There is not a darn thing wrong with the OPs friend to run everything under their EIN.  And just so you know, it also means the OP's friend is claiming their income here in the USA.  I say the person is acting responsibly not trying to be underhanded.

---

---

@mam98031 wrote:

---

@soh.maryl wrote:

His not wanting an SS # leads me to think that you should not get involved here.  "Do I file that with eBay, or IRS? or both?"

None of the above.  

---

@soh.maryl 

OMG, do you know how many people legitimately use EINs and TINs.  There is not a darn thing wrong with the OPs friend to run everything under their EIN.  And just so you know, it also means the OP's friend is claiming their income here in the USA.  I say the person is acting responsibly not trying to be underhanded.

---

True.  But whether or not a foreign national residing in the U.S. will be issued an EIN or a TIN depends upon that person's immigration / visa status. 

One must be in a status that allows one to work and that work, must in turn, meet guidelines and restrictions.  

Those on non-immigrant visas must obtain an EAD card, and must present other documents, to obtain a SSN or an EIN is that person's visa status allows employment.

It puts the cart before the horse to think about getting an SSN, EIN, or TIN before having work authorization in accordance with immigration / visa status.

We have no idea what OP's "friend's" status is, so we have no idea if he can obtain work authorization and, in turn, obtain as SSN, EIN, or TIN.

Lawful presence in the U.S. does not grant the right to work.  Only those in certain immigration / visa statuses may work.  Being here legally is only one requirement.

This is my wheelhouse.

-

[maxine*j]

---

@mam98031 wrote:

---

@maxine*j wrote:

---

@soh.maryl wrote:

His not wanting an SS # leads me to think that you should not get involved here.  "Do I file that with eBay, or IRS? or both?"

None of the above.  

---

Yep.  If is in an immigration / visa status that allows him to work, he can obtain an SSN rather easily. 

And one needs an SSN to get a W-8, by the way.

-

---

The OP said the friend is here legally.  Seems some are really jumping to conclusions here.

To have an EIN, means the friend contacted IRS and filled out all the appropriate paperwork.

---

You are jumping to conclusions if you think that anyone who is in the country legally is allowed to work.  That is not at all the case.  Being here legally is only one criteria to be met in order to obtain work authorization. 

Many, many immigration / visa statuses do not permit work of any kind.  Others allow work with certain restrictions.  Some allow work of any kind, no restrictions.  Lawful presence alone does not mean one has work authorization.