Other platform asking for additonal information other than my tax ID# | Selling | eBay Canada EN

Other platform asking for additonal information other than my tax ID# | Selling | eBay Canada EN

Buying & Selling

Other platform asking for additonal information other than my tax ID#

Summary: The discussion revolves around concerns with another platform requesting additional information beyond a tax ID number. Multiple participants, including rosscd57 and intimewithmusic, are involved, sharing their opinions and experiences. Some participants seem to be providing alternative solutions or advice, though the specifics are not detailed in the content provided. The conversation reflects a general sense of inquiry and exchange of information among the members.

like most of you sellers out there, I also sell on other platforms. On of them is asking for this additional information and they want me to give it to thier 3rd party site. They want me to upload another type of Goverment ID and a selfie. This is nuts and I have refused as this is my personal information as I don't want it sitting on 3rd party server. So they have told me they will be withholding funds from my sales until I do so. This forced me to remove all my listings.

They claim that the DOD of Revenue Canada requires it. That is an outright lie as I called he DOD and they do not require it. I have spoken to the other platforms Agents and Supervisors and still get the same answeres - do it or quit the platform. They will not budge.

Any one have any thougts?

rosscd57

856 View listings

Posted 5 months ago·Last reply 5 months ago

24 comments

reallynicestamps

·5 months ago

The Zonos company donated a million to the Trump re-election campaign.

intimewithmusic

·5 months ago

"Zonos is primarily owned and led by its founder and CEO, Clint Reid, who started the cross-border technology company in 2009. While it operated as a bootstrapped company for many years, in 2021, Silversmith Capital Partners led a $69 million Series A funding round, becoming a significant institutional investor. "

After Chris Reid and the main Zonos investor (Silversmith) was put in play following their donation & Trump's election Trump appointed them trustee to collect his tariffs.

Please correct me if I am wrong, in my mind, under these circumstances, Canada Post never should have undertaken it's partnership with Zonos.

visual-sound

·5 months ago

Big Brother is watching!

doc_scribe

·5 months ago

All good points @intimewithmusic. And yes, even 2-factor authentication requires diligence, especially if your bank has a login option which includes a stack of 'cookie' acceptance preferences (all pre-selected by default). Typically, you will see a checkbox for 'Essential' cookies, but unless you scroll down it's easy to miss another pair of options for 'Targeting/Marketing' and always last but not least '3rd Party'. Even if thin tracked, why would that latter type of cookie ever be a good idea on a bank account?

Whenever pooh-poohed for being overly cautious on this subject, I simply ask the pooh-pooher "Remember the 2017 Equifax data breach???"

intimewithmusic

·5 months ago

Interesting stuff

Ironically Equifax is now selling subscriptions for online identity fraud protection. Maybe they hired "that guy" to create the app... 🙂

doc_scribe

·5 months ago

@intimewithmusic wrote:
Interesting stuff

Ironically Equifax is now selling subscriptions for online identity fraud protection. Maybe they hired "that guy" to create the app... 🙂

I would bet serious dough on it!

...much like the data security consultants who end up in the financial management or electronic tabulation fields. 😎

lotzofuniquegoodies

·5 months ago

@rosscd57 wrote:

like most of you sellers out there, I also sell on other platforms. On of them is asking for this additional information and they want me to give it to thier 3rd party site. They want me to upload another type of Goverment ID and a selfie. This is nuts and I have refused as this is my personal information as I don't want it sitting on 3rd party server. So they have told me they will be withholding funds from my sales until I do so. This forced me to remove all my listings.

They claim that the DOD of Revenue Canada requires it. That is an outright lie as I called he DOD and they do not require it. I have spoken to the other platforms Agents and Supervisors and still get the same answeres - do it or quit the platform. They will not budge.
Any one have any thougts?

@rosscd57

If they are specifically asking for Tax ID Number also known as Federal Tax ID Number that is a US thing. It used to be a requirement for any seller shipping to a US customer by courier. See current alternative at bottom (red) for Canadians.

United States: Generally, tax IDs aren't mandatory for importing goods into the U.S. unless required by the shipper or recipient. However, providing an Employer Identification Number (EIN) can help facilitate customs. (Having that info helps speed up the customs process.)

A Federal ID number for a business, commonly known as an Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), is a unique nine-digit number assigned by the IRS to business entities operating in the U.S. for tax administration. It acts as a "Social Security Number" for a company, required for hiring employees, opening bank accounts, or forming corporations/partnerships.

Key Details About Federal ID Numbers (EIN/FEIN):

Purpose: The IRS uses it to identify businesses for tax reporting, including employment, excise, and income taxes.

Cost & Application: Obtaining an EIN is free through the IRS website.

When It's Needed: Necessary for hiring employees, operating as a corporation/partnership, filing tax returns (alcohol, tobacco, firearms), or opening a business bank account.

Uniqueness: Each business generally requires its own EIN. Changes in structure (e.g., sole proprietor to corporation) may require a new number.

Canadian Businesses: Canadian companies operating in the U.S. or hiring U.S. residents can obtain an EIN for U.S. compliance.

Alternatives in Canada:
If referring to Canadian operations, the equivalent is a Business Number (BN), a 9-digit identifier issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for tax, payroll, and import/export accounts.

A Federal Tax ID Number (EIN or SSN) is required for shipping primarily when importing commercial goods into the U.S. valued over $2,500, or for smaller courier shipments (often >$2000) requiring formal entry. It is mandatory for U.S. Customs clearance, with courier services requiring it to avoid costly, slow manual entries.

reallynicestamps

·5 months ago

Tap payments terrify me. DH uses them because he can't remember his PIN anymore, but they are an accident waiting to happen.

intimewithmusic

·5 months ago

Yep. It also happened to me as a merchant on the other side of the counter. I did a closing deposit thru a Moneris POS machine and poof gone It took them months to find the missing money. Actually they refunded it but never found it I had to sign an NDA to get it back.

marnotom!

·5 months ago

Does this platform have a business presence on Canadian soil the way eBay does? In other words, is this information being requested by a Canadian or foreign entity?

intimewithmusic

·5 months ago

If it's a platform where you use your image IE: YouTube, Go Daddy or a live auction it's not uncommon to get this request. Whether or not you provide it depends on other options that may exist in your account settings.

Given it's tax time verify the legitmacy as pointed out by @mrdutch1001 . You can phone or chat with Go Daddy for example. I would be sure to go into my account settings with the platform and see if there are other options to confirm your identity. somewhere in your account there should be an indication of the confirmation of ID request. You may find even some features suspended until you comply.

YouTube sends out a bot msg. Other options are open to accounts with history in the settings area. If the request is ligit and you don't act you may find your account has limits or restrictions.

Even if it's legit you don't have to submit a photograph if the result isn't worth the compromise.

I doubt this photo (and sometimes a short video) confirmation method will be around for long due to AI. Some now insist that the photograph or short video must be sent to them from your phone which helps avoid fruadulent AI submissions.

Just be very sure the request is ligit.

doc_scribe

·5 months ago

@intimewithmusic wrote:

I doubt this photo (and sometimes a short video) confirmation method will be around for long due to AI.

Yep. We've already crossed the rubicon on that...and much longer ago than most realize.

Yet smartphone biometrics are equally unreliable due to the built-in security vulnerabilities of devices and apps, plus proliferation of 'ease-of-use' access points.

Annoying as it might be, I always opt for 2-factor verification via auto-generated PIN + call, like I do for CRA, my bank, or any other accounts.

intimewithmusic

·5 months ago

@doc_scribe Thank you for your input. I agree. I'm not crazy about uploading personal info from my phone either. One thing I should have mentioned is an eBay forum isn't the best place to ask about another platform's security policies. Shopify is currently going thru a lot of litigation over retention and release of private data. If the other platform doesn't have a forum Reddit might be a place to look.

What is the platform going to do with the data after? Is it being requested for more than tax purposes? How long will they retain it? Will it be distributed to 3rd parties etc?

I agree with you regarding 2 factor ID. It's best but even that isn't 100% safe. I recently had a $100 taken from my major bank account which has two factor. It took me over a month to get the money back. The bank wouldn't tell me how someone was able to reach into my account without any card data. I spent 4 phone calls and a visit in person to the bank before they returned the money. That same bank is currently looking for one of their missing financial advisors who stole $350K from a couple of seniors' accounts. They think he's somewhere in France. You can't even trust the bank these days. I recommend watching any account with vigilance.

I returned to paying cash. If I need a card it's a secure credit card with no tap. The security on tap is supposed to be better than swipe but no 2 factor. My bank's lowest tap limit is $250. If a debit card with tap is lost or stolen it's potentially a much bigger problem than a credit card. People say

"Someone used my card and the bank gave me the money back immediately!" I've got news for them. That's not always the case if the money came out of your bank account instead of a credit card.

One of the best defences is lessen online disclosure and never underestimate the vulnerability of electronic transactions.

flipistics

·5 months ago

@intimewithmusic wrote:
@doc_scribe Thank you for your input. I agree. I'm not crazy about uploading personal info from my phone either. One thing I should have mentioned is an eBay forum isn't the best place to ask about another platform's security policies. Shopify is currently going thru a lot of litigation over retention and release of private data. If the other platform doesn't have a forum Reddit might be a place to look.

What is the platform going to do with the data after? Is it being requested for more than tax purposes? How long will they retain it? Will it be distributed to 3rd parties etc?

I agree with you regarding 2 factor ID. It's best but even that isn't 100% safe. I recently had a $100 taken from my major bank account which has two factor. It took me over a month to get the money back. The bank wouldn't tell me how someone was able to reach into my account without any card data. I spent 4 phone calls and a visit in person to the bank before they returned the money. That same bank is currently looking for one of their missing financial advisors who stole $350K from a couple of seniors' accounts. They think he's somewhere in France. You can't even trust the bank these days. I recommend watching any account with vigilance.

I returned to paying cash. If I need a card it's a secure credit card with no tap. The security on tap is supposed to be better than swipe but no 2 factor. My bank's lowest tap limit is $250. If a debit card with tap is lost or stolen it's potentially a much bigger problem than a credit card. People say
"Someone used my card and the bank gave me the money back immediately!" I've got news for them. That's not always the case if the money came out of your bank account instead of a credit card.

One of the best defences is lessen online disclosure and never underestimate the vulnerability of electronic transactions.

If you have an iPhone, use Apple Wallet / Pay where you can. My understanding is that the card numbers aren't transmitted, but it instead generates an unique one-time passcode for each transaction. That means that even if someone was able to get the passcode, they wouldn't be able to do anything with it. I think that's how it works anyway.

Some banks will also give you alerts whenever something is charged to your card. I know CIBC does for my card, and it's almost instant.

intimewithmusic

·5 months ago

Thanks for the input.

I enjoy the ease and of cash. Having kept up with tech since I used a Commodore w floppies to run my business cash is still the only thing around without risk of fraud. Id sleep fine if I lost $50 but not so much if I lost a phone full of data.

Cash is faster, easier,

and you still get Canadian Tire money!

flipistics

·5 months ago

@intimewithmusic wrote:
Thanks for the input.
I enjoy the ease and of cash. Having kept up with tech since I used a Commodore w floppies to run my business cash is still the only thing around without risk of fraud. Id sleep fine if I lost $50 but not so much if I lost a phone full of data.
Cash is faster, easier,
and you still get Canadian Tire money!

Cash isn't really free of fraud either. There's lots of reports of increased counterfeit money in circulation.

intimewithmusic

·5 months ago

Good grief. You're pretty funny.

@flipistics wrote:
@intimewithmusic wrote:
Thanks for the input.
I enjoy the ease and of cash. Having kept up with tech since I used a Commodore w floppies to run my business cash is still the only thing around without risk of fraud. Id sleep fine if I lost $50 but not so much if I lost a phone full of data.
Cash is faster, easier,
and you still get Canadian Tire money!
Cash isn't really free of fraud either. There's lots of reports of increased counterfeit money in circulation

Of course, counterfeit cash has being circulating before the birth of Christ. My learning curve of cash began in 1960 dragging refundable bottles a few miles in my wagon to cash them in at a convenience store. I could buy the latest Superman comic. Unfortunately the owner short changed me and my mom had to go there and give him lip service. I got my money.

Try this. Arm yourself with 2 x$20 8 x $10 and 6 x$5. Leave your I phone alone. go about your business. I bet your experinece is easier and, if you leave a cash tip you get a bigger smile than normal.

Many millions in cash have passed thru my hands since 1960 working and operating multiple music stores including the largest of it's kind on the planet. How much counterfeit was encountered?

None.

ypdc_dennis

·5 months ago

Cash is still a counterfeit risk. The crooks keep getting better at creating them -- the recent BC batch has the plastic paper feel, but still does have flaws: the holigram image can be peeled off and the serial numbers are the same.

Canadian stats (2020-2024):

https://www.bankofcanada.ca/rates/banking-and-financial-statistics/statistics-on-the-counterfeiting-of-canadian-bank-notes-formerly-b4/

reallynicestamps

·5 months ago

My Canadian Tire only hands out "points" on purchases.

I almost never used the "money" but I noticed that at my church there was always a certain amount of it in the collection plate.

The church janitor was grateful for it as she used it for minor supplies and purchases.

intimewithmusic

·5 months ago

I love to see that. If anyone needs purchasing power at Canadian Tire it's churches.

Over the years I've reviewed a lot of rewards programs. Many are travel oriented which isn't something I need. My dad often said CT points added up. When he passed away he had enough CT dollars for me to buy all of the paint I needed to paint the exterior of his house.

These days I accumulate and apply approx $50 a month on purchases there or at Mark's which CT owns. A couple of years ago a guy here went into CT with a briefcase full of his Ct money and left with a free garden tractor.

reallynicestamps

·5 months ago

Since they are sending you money, that is income.

All income must be reported.

After appropriate deductions of course, like site fees.

So asking for your SIN (or other registered tax info) is acceptable.

As for the picture--

How would they determine that was really you ?

MOOD SWING.jpg

mrdutch1001

·5 months ago

and you are 100% positive and sure that this message is directly from the site's authorized personnel and is not a scam message?

rosscd57

OP5 months ago

Here is the Banner that comes up when I go into the site. A Threat - nothing less. They need some coaching in Customer Service. Oh right - they prolably think the buyers are there customers.

"Unfortunately, you can't get paid until you confirm your seller info

Since you haven't confirmed your info within 10 days of our first request, you can't receive funds from your sales. To start getting paid again, make sure to confirm your info—this helps us meet new regulations that keep our community safe and create a better experience for buyers. If you don't confirm your info within 40 days, your shop will be put on pause via Vacation mode and you won't be able to unpause your shop or receive new orders until you complete this request."