Do I need LLC to sell on Etsy?

If you're based in the US, you can either operate your Etsy shop as an unincorporated entity — a sole proprietorship or a general partnership — or you can incorporate and form a corporation or a limited liability company (LLC). Sole proprietorships and general partnerships are the two simplest options.

Do I need a company to sell on Etsy?

Etsy's seller policies do not require you to have a business license to sell on their platform. However, the inquiry doesn't end there. A seller of goods on Etsy may need a license or permit from municipal, county, state, or federal agencies regulating businesses. Your Etsy shop is either a business or a hobby.

Do you need a business account for Etsy?

Etsy doesn't require sellers to have a business license to sell on Etsy. However, when selling on Etsy you're required to follow any laws that apply to you as a small business selling online. If you have any questions regarding which laws apply to you, please contact a qualified professional.

Do I need a tax ID to sell on Etsy?

If you've registered your business as a sole proprietorship, which is very common for Etsy sellers, you aren't required to get an EIN since you'll report taxes on your personal tax returns. If you've formed a partnership or LLC, you'll need an EIN.

👉 For more insights, check out this resource.

How much do I have to make on Etsy to file taxes?

Schedule SE, Self-Employment Tax: If your total net income from your Etsy shop is $400 or more, you must file a Schedule SE form for self-employment tax that includes coverage for Medicare and Social Security taxes.

28 related questions found

Do I need a business license to sell digital products on Etsy?

Simply put, Etsy doesn't require sellers to have a business license and suggests you “contact a qualified professional” if you have questions. But here's where things get tricky: Just because Etsy doesn't require a business license doesn't mean that you don't need or shouldn't get one.

👉 Discover more in this in-depth guide.

Do you need a business license to sell online?

The short answer to whether a business license is a requirement for online selling: yes. A business license is a requirement for online selling and it's a crucial part of establishing your business as legitimate and legal. But getting an online business license is not as simple as just applying for a document.

Who pays sales tax on Etsy?

Etsy calculates the state sales tax rate (they can vary from location to location, and item to item) for the shipping address, charges the buyer, and sends the tax owed to the state. For orders placed through standalone PayPal, the sales tax collected is sent to you as a part of the payment.

How much do you have to make on Etsy to get a 1099?

You may qualify to receive a 2021 federal 1099-K form if: You had $20,000 USD in sales through Etsy Payments during the calendar year. You received 200 or more payments through Etsy Payments over that same period.

Is my Etsy shop a hobby or business?

If you're selling on Etsy without expecting a profit, your shop may qualify as a hobby. If your Etsy shop is something you dedicate time to on a regular basis (and the time you spent is not inconsequential), and your primary purpose for the shop is for income or profit, your shop qualifies as a business.

Does Etsy automatically add sales tax?

Note: Etsy automatically calculates, collects, and remits sales tax for items shipped to states that require marketplaces such as Etsy to collect sales tax.

Do I pay taxes if I sell online?

Online sellers, including those selling through online sales websites such as ebay.com and Amazon.com, are responsible for reporting sales income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in their income tax returns.

Do I need a business license if I have an LLC?

In most states, forming an LLC doesn't require a business license, but you'll need to follow your state's procedures. An LLC requires registering with the state and filing the appropriate forms. But even though you don't need a business license to form an LLC, you probably need one to operate the LLC as a business.

Do you need a business license to sell on Wix?

Before creating a Wix Payments business account, make sure you meet the requirements: Your business must have an EIN or the relevant company registration ID for your country. Your bank account must be a business account registered under your company's name.

Don't Use Artwork That Isn't Yours!

Copyright law centers around the protection of someone's creative work – and that includes art. Don't use artwork from the Internet without an artist's permission and then reproduce it on t-shirts, jewelry or other paraphernalia.

What do you need to start selling on Etsy?

It's easy to set up a shop on Etsy. Create an Etsy account (if you don't already have one), set your shop location and currency, choose a shop name, create a listing, set a payment method (how you want to be paid), and finally set a billing method (how you want to pay your Etsy fees).

Why does Etsy need tax ID?

If you're located in the EU, Norway, Switzerland, or the UK and your gross sales meet or exceed the local threshold in the calendar year, Etsy requires that you add your taxpayer name and VAT ID to your Etsy shop in order for you to continue selling on the Etsy platform.

What is better LLC or sole proprietorship?

A sole proprietorship is useful for small scale, low-profit and low-risk businesses. A sole proprietorship doesn't protect your personal assets. An LLC is the best choice for most small business owners because LLCs can protect your personal assets.

What are the benefits of being an LLC company?

Some of the benefits of an LLC include personal liability protection, tax flexibility, their easy startup process, less compliance paperwork, management flexibility, distribution flexibility, few ownership restrictions, charging orders, and the credibility they can give a business.

What is better for a small business LLC or S corporation?

If there will be multiple people involved in running the company, an S Corp would be better than an LLC since there would be oversight via the board of directors. Also, members can be employees, and an S corp allows the members to receive cash dividends from company profits, which can be a great employee perk.

How much can I sell without paying tax?

Effective next year, sellers on certain online platforms like Etsy and eBay will receive a 1099-K if their sales are at least $600, down from the current threshold of $20,000 with a minimum of 200 transactions. Not all online sales are taxable, whether you receive tax form or not.

How much can I sell before I have to pay taxes?

It depends on how long you owned and lived in the home before the sale and how much profit you made. If you owned and lived in the place for two of the five years before the sale, then up to $250,000 of profit is tax-free. If you are married and file a joint return, the tax-free amount doubles to $500,000.

Is selling personal items considered income?

Sold goods aren't taxable as income if you are selling a used personal item for less than the original value. If you flip it or sell it for more than the original cost, you have to pay taxes on the surplus as capital gains.

Is it hard to sell on Etsy?

Selling on Etsy is not easy. It is not simple, and it is not a get rich quick scheme. It is a selling platform that can be used by those with enough drive to jump in and try. Why do so many fail to sell on Etsy, leaving rich pickings for those willing enough to get it?

What states does Etsy not collect sales tax?

Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Alaska, and Delaware do not collect any sales tax at the state level, although towns and cities within these states might collect their own.