EIN for Amazon sellers

Key findings (concise):When an EIN is required: The IRS states you generally need an EIN to hire employees, operate a partnership or corporation, pay sales and excise taxes, change business structure or ownership, and administer certain trusts/retirement plans.

Formations of entities (LLC, partnership, corporation) should be formed with the state before applying for an EIN.How to apply: IRS online EIN Assistant issues an EIN immediately for applicants with a U.S. principal place of business; international applicants can apply by phone (+1 267 941-1099), fax, or mail using Form SS-4.

The EIN application is free; beware of paid third-party sites.Amazon tax interview and where to enter EIN: Amazon requires all sellers to complete the U.S. Tax Identity Information Interview which produces the appropriate W-9 or W-8.

For U.S. taxpayers, a TIN (EIN or SSN) is required. Amazon’s guidance notes that single-member LLCs may enter the owner’s SSN or alternatively an EIN (but do not enter the disregarded entity’s EIN).

If tax info fails validation, Amazon may invalidate forms and sellers must correct information to retain selling privileges.Foreign sellers: Non-U.S. persons still must complete Amazon’s tax interview and may need to provide W-8 documentation.

For foreign-owned US entities, additional IRS filings (e.g., Form 5472) and use of EINs for banking and tax filing are common — and international applicants use phone/fax/mail application methods described by IRS/Amazon KDP guidance.State sales tax and marketplace facilitator rules: Marketplace facilitator laws have broad-taking effects — in many states Amazon collects and remits sales tax on marketplace transactions, but sellers still need to understand nexus, register where required, obtain reseller certificates and comply with state reporting obligations.

Thresholds and specifics vary by state; consult state DOR pages and marketplace facilitator guides (TaxJar/Avalara) to determine registration and certificate handling.

Key findings (concise):When an EIN is required: The IRS states you generally need an EIN to hire employees, operate a partnership or corporation, pay sales and excise taxes, change business structure or ownership, and administer certain trusts/retirement plans.

Formations of entities (LLC, partnership, corporation) should be formed with the state before applying for an EIN.How to apply: IRS online EIN Assistant issues an EIN immediately for applicants with a U.S. principal place of business; international applicants can apply by phone (+1 267 941-1099), fax, or mail using Form SS-4.

The EIN application is free; beware of paid third-party sites.Amazon tax interview and where to enter EIN: Amazon requires all sellers to complete the U.S. Tax Identity Information Interview which produces the appropriate W-9 or W-8.

For U.S. taxpayers, a TIN (EIN or SSN) is required. Amazon’s guidance notes that single-member LLCs may enter the owner’s SSN or alternatively an EIN (but do not enter the disregarded entity’s EIN).

If tax info fails validation, Amazon may invalidate forms and sellers must correct information to retain selling privileges.Foreign sellers: Non-U.S. persons still must complete Amazon’s tax interview and may need to provide W-8 documentation.

For foreign-owned US entities, additional IRS filings (e.g., Form 5472) and use of EINs for banking and tax filing are common — and international applicants use phone/fax/mail application methods described by IRS/Amazon KDP guidance.State sales tax and marketplace facilitator rules: Marketplace facilitator laws have broad-taking effects — in many states Amazon collects and remits sales tax on marketplace transactions, but sellers still need to understand nexus, register where required, obtain reseller certificates and comply with state reporting obligations.

Thresholds and specifics vary by state; consult state DOR pages and marketplace facilitator guides (TaxJar/Avalara) to determine registration and certificate handling.