Etsy's EIN verification system is broken, can't launch my store, I'm about to give up

[ArcaneArsenal]

I've been trying for two weeks now to get this tax information issue resolved since trying to launch my store. When I set up my store, I put my EIN and my full LLC name and personal name but I keep getting the "Your shop has been frozen due to unverified taxpayer information" error. I have done everything including the different naming conventions people on here keep saying to do (LLC NAME FULL NAME, FULL NAME LLC NAME, LLC NAME FULL NAME SOLE MBR, LLC NAME, FULL NAME, etc. All caps, no caps, no spaces, I tried everything.) Tried both as a disregarded entity and not.

Emailed the help email, and I only responded to one thread trying to get it resolved so I wouldn't get sent to the back of the line like everyone says. I was simply sent copy-pasted text instead of a real answer. They marked it resolved when it was not resolved and they stopped responding. I dug up the page where you can get Etsy support to call you, and I've had daily conversations with someone but this has never been resolved. I get left hanging every time. I get told it will be escalated to the finance department and they will email me, I have never gotten an email. The few times I got the rep to transfer me on the phone to a finance department person the finance person just seemed pissed off and told me I hit my 5 daily attempts to try to input tax info. I explained that I had not hit the limit and purposely didn't so it could be resolved on the call. They just wanted me to hang up.

On top of this, I was on hold for 2 hours before talking with the IRS yesterday just to verify my info is all correct in their database and I have been inputting the correct name. Everything is correct in the IRS database and I have been inputting everything correctly. This is an issue on the Etsy side, and customer support has no answers and no fixes. Good luck trying to open an Etsy store under an LLC. It is clearly impossible. I don't want to use my SSN but I even caved and said screw it I'll put that in and change my info later to my LLC/EIN, which customer support told me I could do. There is no option in the shop manager for me to put a SSN in after selecting the "individual" bubble.

This whole system is broken and they don't appear to be fixing it. I've abandoned hope. Good luck but if you're having a similar situation they will not fix it. I have tried everything I can possibly think of, had so many dead end conversations with support. I don't see light at the end of the tunnel. 

Does anyone know other platforms than Etsy to open a shop they can recommend?

[NanaLetha]

You enter your SSN in the taxpayer info section.

[ArcaneArsenal]

The is no field to input my SSN, unless you're saying to put that where it asks for my LLC's EIN? when I go to edit store info and select individual/sole proprietor there is no field to put my SSN in.

[NanaLetha]

Shop dashboard>finances>legal and tax info.

[ArcaneArsenal]

Yes.. that's where I've been doing all of this...

[bradgoodell]

Your shop appears to be open?  

[ArcaneArsenal]

Shop Manager says my shop is suspended. If you add one of my items to cart and try to check out, it won't let you and says "All payment methods for this shop are temporarily unavailable".

[ArtDollsbyJD]

@bradgoodell   If you put an item in the cart, there is no way to pay.  Etsy isn't removing the payment method. 

@ArcaneArsenal   in Ohio we don't need an LLC to sell on Etsy.  WE don't even need a vendor's license if we only sell on Etsy.  You could also get by with a vendor's license if you sell in more places outside Etsy.  In Ohio LLC is is really for businesses that have employees.

[ZenCatPottery]

Your shop is open.  I would send a help request to Etsy.

[ArcaneArsenal]

Shop Manager says my shop is suspended. If you add one of my items to cart and try to check out, it won't let you and says "All payment methods for this shop are temporarily unavailable". 

[ArtDollsbyJD]

@ZenCatPottery   You can tell a shop is suspended for tax by placing an item in the cart.  If no ability to pay then the shop is on hold.

Just looking no longer tells the tale as it once did.

[Munmingo]

How to do since I cannot find it as an option for myself

[ArtDollsbyJD]

It can take about two weeks or so as there are many needing verification.

Does your LLC name, EIN name and bank account name match?  Are they all legal entity names?  If you don't have employees but have an LLC the IRS considers you disenfranchised which makes it harder for Etsy to verify.  

It could be your LLC, not the IRS that is making for an issue.

Take one email and use that to talk with Etsy.  Don't open multiple tickets.

It has been taking 2 weeks into three so hang in there.   

[MetroRetroVintage]

Did you recently apply for an EIN?  During last year's re-verification, people that had applied a few weeks prior, reported that it took about 2 months for the information to be in the 'system' and for it to be accepted.

[ArcaneArsenal]

Bump. I just hit the 1 month mark trying to get my store up and running stuck on the same problem. Verified with IRS all my info is live and accurate. I set up a PayPal account for my LLC which verified my EIN right away. Etsy still says my info doesn’t match. It’s clearly an Etsy problem and they aren’t interested in fixing it. I’ve been trying daily, have had numerous calls with support who can’t help. The emails are copy-pasted language. Etsy does not want to help me it seems, and there are many others in the same position. I wonder if the company is struggling..

[HellaBlessings]

@ArcaneArsenal could you provide an update... I'm a new LLC owner and I know my info is correct. I've tried the ALL CAPS business name workaround and I'm just waiting... At one point I saw a red message saying to upload my paperwork - but it just takes you to the same old Legal Tax Info interface. 

[HoundandHoneyCo]

I'm in the same situation. I've been trying to edit the information and when I go to save the new info. IT WILL NOT UPDATE my account with the new info. Very frustrating that Etsy doesn't have phone support and they don't have an option to upload documents for a manual verification process.

[Munmingo]

A call? Goodness, I haven't reached any person at all. Could you send me advice on how to find a number?

[HaphazardCreation]

I'll also bump as I got the email saying to make sure my info was accurate. Somehow my business name (llc) was listed as the 'first name' of the owner, not sure how, guess years ago they let that go through. I'm trying to get everything perfect to avoid suspension but after submitting my personal info successfully (though pending verification) I'm trying to add my LLC details and I keep getting an error that the EIN verification service is down.

[ArcaneArsenal]

I have been trying for over a month now and your system still can’t verify my tax info. I even tried it how it now also asks for SSN along with EIN and your broken system still won’t work. I have followed all instructions and tried everything. For OVER A MONTH!! This is ridiculous. Fix this ASAP. My SSN and EIN are locked in your system so now not only am I at full risk if you get hacked but I literally can’t do anything on your platform. And you need to refund my listing fees since you haven’t fixed the issue and I haven’t been able to sell. I need my store to be live. Waiting over a month for you guys to fix a technical issue regarding my SSN and EIN is completely unacceptable for a publicly traded company. I’m about to share my whole experience here with the BBB and SEC, because frankly I’m at a loss with what to do now. I would bet through either SEC or IRS, Etsy is out of compliance. I’ve set up with my EIN on several other platforms with no issue within minutes.

[HaphazardCreation]

I noticed this also, that a business entry now wants the owners SSN, the business name, and the EIN. Despite being correct it couldn't validate me.

You may want to look into what agency will be enforcing the INFORM act as I believe the current push to get things documented is for compliance with that.

[ArcaneArsenal]

Holy crap you’re smart! INFORM Act requires Etsy to be compliant by 6/27/23. And part of the compliance is they have to be able to verify tax info within 10 days. Heck yeah thanks for the heads up!

[SerenovaCrafts]

I've been having the same problem!

Checked with the IRS everything was correct. I even copy and pasted my EIN right from the PDF the IRS gave me into Etsy, and no dice. it's all very frustrating.

I'm going to try using my social, but i made an LLC and got an EIN so that I didn't need to use my social 🤦‍

[BuildThingsCo]

@ArcaneArsenal Did you get this resolved? My shops has been down for over two months, I tried everything as well. I get the same run around through etsy customer support. They have stopped responding to me all together. I am also stuck without being able to revert my account to use my SSN. There is no option to input it. 

[ArcaneArsenal · Accepted solution]

UPDATE: I checked again after getting frustrated and stepping away for several months. They have you include a SSN now with the EIN info. I don't like having to submit both but it's whatever. On my tax info page it said "Your Tax info has been verified" in a blue banner on the top of the page, but under it said "We are checking your tax info check back in an hour". My shop was still suspended, and that check back in an hour has been on there for a week. However, today I simply hit the edit button on my tax info and just hit submit again without changing anything and boom my store is FINALLY LIVE 6 months later. So it was messy, took forever, but they have obviously been updating stuff on the back end to try and create some solutions. Knock on wood it's worked. Good luck to everyone else trying to get info verified.