eBay

longtimealaskan · ‎02-13-2022

I received a notice from ebay that they are holding my payouts until I give them my social security number. I have no issue with the 1099. I'm not a big seller and the vast majority of things I sell are things my wife and I bought over the years for personal reasons, used them, and then eventually stopped using them. Although I sell some items to make a profit, I mostly sell items that we bought but no longer use. I'm sure I would be showing a loss on the 1099. Either way, I don't have a problem reporting my profit or reporting my loss to the IRS. I've already set up an Excel spreadsheet listing the items I sold, the sell dates, the selling price of the item and any expenses like ebay fees, shipping cost, insurance, shipping labels, packaging materials, etc.

My issue is giving my social security number to ebay. I cringe at giving ebay or any other online business my personal/financial information. I wouldn't trust the ebay clowns to protect my information. Bigger and better firms than ebay have been hacked and personal information for the firm's clients stolen. My personal information has been hacked from large firms 4 times already, firms in theory more concerned about protecting personal information than ebay is likely to be. I'd rather ebay withheld the 24% and sent it directly to the IRS. I will have to file a 1099 anyhow so why not eliminate the weakest link with respect to protecting my social security number? I don't mind waiting to get my money back from the IRS. I'm more concerned about protecting my personal information. If ebay doesn't have my social security number they can't lose it or have it stolen from them. Do you feel comfortable trusting ebay to properly protect your personal information?

What's wrong with my plan? Any and all constructive comments and thoughts are welcome.

winterpalace25 · ‎02-14-2022

If ebay were to send the 24% to the IRS, how would you get credit for it if your SS number was not attached?

longtimealaskan · ‎02-14-2022

Yes, I'm sure my information is on the dark web. I didn't find it and Experian didn't find it but it is likely there somewhere. I know my data has been hacked in at least 4 large firms/government agencies, including the Equifax and Blue Cross hacks. Both I and Experian have monitored the dark web for my data but the only thing either of us found was my name, telephone number, and email address. Between telephone calls and emails I probably get in the ball park of 20 scams a day. I never knew how many super rich relatives I had, that without ever having met me, want to leave me millions of dollars. Many of them are from Nigeria and other poor countries. I didn't know I had any relatives in those countries, but it gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling knowing so many unknown wealthy relatives are always thinking about me. I'm always amazed how many scumbags are trying to rip people off. I've always suspected the phone calls and emails are a direct result of my telephone number and email address being on the dark web.

longtimealaskan · ‎02-14-2022

I'm not sure but I would bet if IRS punched in my name, address, and date of birth, which ebay has, my name/account/SS# would pop up on their screen. Here's the interesting part. I vaguely recalled that ebay required my SS# I opened my account so I checked my personal information. Guess what? They already have my SS#, so why the big "If you don't provide us with your SS# we will do backup withholding." To me that proves my point about ebay's ability to safely handle personal information. Ebay already has the very information they are threatening their clients about and they don't know they have it or where to look for it. Makes me feel perfectly about safe about having ebay protect my personal information. Does that make you feel safe?

longtimealaskan · ‎02-14-2022

Lacemaker3; I should have thought of this before but it just occurred to me today. I vaguely recalled that ebay required my SS# when I opened my account so I checked my personal information. Guess what? They already have my SS#, so why the big "If you don't provide us with your SS# we will do backup withholding and restrict your account, blah, blah, etc." To me that proves my point about ebay's ability to safely handle personal information. Ebay already has the very information they are requesting and threatening their clients about and they don't remember/know they have it or where to look for it. Makes me feel perfectly about safe about having ebay protect my personal information.

theteamsetguy · ‎02-14-2022

Do you have a business or personal selling account? I had to fill out a new W9 because I sell under a business account.

longtimealaskan · ‎02-14-2022

Mine is just a personal account. I mostly sell things we bought over the years and no longer use.

downunder-61 · ‎02-14-2022

@longtimealaskan wrote:
Lacemaker3; I should have thought of this before but it just occurred to me today. I vaguely recalled that ebay required my SS# when I opened my account so I checked my personal information. Guess what? They already have my SS#, so why the big "If you don't provide us with your SS# we will do backup withholding and restrict your account, blah, blah, etc." To me that proves my point about ebay's ability to safely handle personal information. Ebay already has the very information they are requesting and threatening their clients about and they don't remember/know they have it or where to look for it. Makes me feel perfectly about safe about having ebay protect my personal information.

Do they have the full SSN? or just the last 4 digits - they need your full SSN now for the 1099k

********************************************************************
I have been imported from Australia and this is my posting ID

espresso_warehouse · ‎02-14-2022

@downunder-61 wrote:
@longtimealaskan wrote:
Lacemaker3; I should have thought of this before but it just occurred to me today. I vaguely recalled that ebay required my SS# when I opened my account so I checked my personal information. Guess what? They already have my SS#, so why the big "If you don't provide us with your SS# we will do backup withholding and restrict your account, blah, blah, etc." To me that proves my point about ebay's ability to safely handle personal information. Ebay already has the very information they are requesting and threatening their clients about and they don't remember/know they have it or where to look for it. Makes me feel perfectly about safe about having ebay protect my personal information.
Do they have the full SSN? or just the last 4 digits - they need your full SSN now for the 1099k

Posting ID pays taxes in the USA?

longtimealaskan · ‎02-14-2022

There are 9 digits total with only the last 2 digits showing as numbers. I clicked on "Edit" and it said if they couldn't verify the update they would withhold payments. My guess is with 9 digits and the warning about verifying the update means that's the entire SS#.

Where at from down under? I love visiting Australia and the people. My wife and I have been there a couple of times. The people are so friendly I felt like I was welcome everywhere I went. When we were in Brisbane we found a small family owned grocery store/pizza place. We were looking for a place to eat so we stopped in for a pizza. The guy said they were about ready to close (around 8 pm as I recall) and then said What the heck or something like that and told us to sit down and asked what we wanted. He said it was his store so he would stay open longer. We didn't want onions on the pizza so he said he would add more sausage to make up for not having onions. It was a great pizza. He and his wife came over and sat with us and we talked about everything under the sun. He had customers come in from time to time and he would go wait on the customers and then come back and talk some more. It was close to 11 pm by the time we left. We were in Alice Springs and went to a restaurant that had a band playing. At intermission I asked the band leader if he knew a song. He didn't but he asked me where I was from and I told him Alaska. When he got back on the stage he told the crowd that people from Alaska were in the audience. Several people left their tables and came over to talk to us. A man from Adelaide asked if we would be coming through Adelaide. If so he said he would take us out on his boat. Unfortunately we had already been to Adelaide.

tools* · ‎02-16-2022

@southern*sweet*tea wrote:
If you are worried about protecting your personal information online, forget it. It's already out there, ready for sale on the dark web. All anyone needs is a few dollars and everything about you can be bought. If you've ever filled out a form on the internet, your info is out there. If you've ever signed up for your doctor's website, or your bank's website, or paid your power bill online, that information is out there. They say it's not, but it is.

The horse left the barn over two decades ago as far as internet security goes. You should always assume that any information you give, no matter where you give it, even on the most 'Secure' websites, is available to anyone who wants it.

I'm not saying to be stupid and blast your information all over for the world to see, because most people aren't hackers on the dark web. But your info is out there. You have to constantly keep check on your information to make sure it's not being used by someone who's not you.

The ONLY way to reverse this would be to change your SSN, get a new driver's license with a new number, get new bank accounts (or use cash exclusively) and never use the internet.

What is this "dark web" you speak of?

sun*moonbygrace · ‎03-16-2022

How could I possibly be able to prove to an "auditor" how much I paid for a personal item that I may have bought 20 years and then sell it on EBay? I doubt it that we all knew 20 years ago that we would need to retain receipts for the IRS to look at for what we bought for personal use. EBay isn't a business for me and I may have actually made a profit of $50 in 2022 after all the EBay fees, cost of packing materials etc. What a waste of time do have to deal with 1099 forms.

So, I guess I just close my EBay account and have a garage sale and be done with it.

kensgiftshop · ‎03-16-2022

@longtimealaskan wrote:
Yes, I'm sure my information is on the dark web. I didn't find it and Experian didn't find it but it is likely there somewhere. I know my data has been hacked in at least 4 large firms/government agencies, including the Equifax and Blue Cross hacks. Both I and Experian have monitored the dark web for my data but the only thing either of us found was my name, telephone number, and email address. Between telephone calls and emails I probably get in the ball park of 20 scams a day. I never knew how many super rich relatives I had, that without ever having met me, want to leave me millions of dollars. Many of them are from Nigeria and other poor countries. I didn't know I had any relatives in those countries, but it gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling knowing so many unknown wealthy relatives are always thinking about me. I'm always amazed how many scumbags are trying to rip people off. I've always suspected the phone calls and emails are a direct result of my telephone number and email address being on the dark web.

We must have the same relatives.

I'm always getting emails from rich long lost relatives from Nigeria wanting to send me money.

When I tell them to keep their share and send me the rest, never hear from them again.

Want to wish everyone a Safe and Happy Independence Day.