Can You Sell on Amazon, Etsy, Shopify, or Stripe With an ITIN?

Last updated: June 28, 2026
By ITINWorks Team

Can You Sell on Amazon, Etsy, Shopify, or Stripe With an ITIN?

Yes. All four platforms accept a US Tax ID, and an ITIN counts as one. Etsy, Stripe, and Shopify Payments take an ITIN in place of an SSN, while only Amazon strictly requires a tax ID before you can sell. The table below shows how each platform treats an ITIN and whether a tax ID is mandatory.

The distinction matters when you choose a platform. Etsy and eBay let you list before fully resolving the tax ID, but they will withhold payouts later if it is missing. Amazon blocks selling until its tax interview is complete. If you are weighing whether to register as yourself or form a company, see our guide to starting a business with an ITIN.

Does Etsy Accept an ITIN to Open a Shop?

Yes. Etsy collects a taxpayer ID for US sellers and accepts an EIN, SSN, or ITIN in that field. The ID is tied to Etsy's 1099-K reporting, not to verifying immigration status, so entering your ITIN where Etsy asks for a Social Security number is enough to open and operate your shop legally.

When you set up Etsy Payments, the platform asks for your legal name and taxpayer ID so it can match your earnings to your tax return. Use the exact name on your ITIN assignment letter (CP565) to avoid a mismatch. If you also have a business and want to keep finances separate, an EIN can be used instead — read more in our ITIN vs. EIN comparison.

Can You Use Stripe With an ITIN?

Yes. Stripe accepts an ITIN. During onboarding you provide the last four digits of your SSN or ITIN to verify your identity, and that is enough to start accepting payments. Once your account reaches $500,000 in lifetime processing volume, every owner with 25% or more of the business must supply a full government ID.

Think of Stripe as the payments layer behind a store or custom checkout — it powers the "buy" button on your own site or app rather than paying out freelancers. To clear identity verification smoothly, enter the name and ITIN exactly as they appear on your IRS letter, and have a US business bank account ready for payouts. Our guide to a business bank account with an ITIN covers that step.

Does Shopify Payments Require an SSN or Accept an ITIN?

Shopify Payments requires an SSN or ITIN for the account representative — that personal tax ID is mandatory even when the business itself has an EIN. An ITIN is handled case by case, and Shopify may grant a waiver, so an ITIN can work but is not guaranteed to clear automatically the way an SSN does.

If your application stalls, contact Shopify support and ask about the ITIN review or a third-party payment gateway as a backup. Many ITIN sellers run Shopify Payments successfully; others route checkout through Stripe or PayPal instead. Either way, the store itself opens normally — the tax ID requirement applies only to the payment processor.

Does Amazon Require an SSN to Sell, or Will an ITIN Work?

Amazon requires a US Tax ID to sell, but it does not have to be an SSN. An ITIN works for a sole proprietor, while a registered company uses its EIN instead. You enter the tax ID during the seller registration tax interview so Amazon can report your earnings to the IRS, and selling stays blocked until that interview is finished.

Choose the "individual" tax classification if you are selling as yourself with an ITIN, or "business" if you formed an LLC or corporation with an EIN. Keep your name, address, and ITIN consistent across the application to avoid verification holds. If you plan to scale, an EIN-based company structure is often cleaner, which we cover in starting a business with an ITIN.

Can You Get an EIN for Your Store Without an SSN or ITIN?

Yes. You can get a free EIN for an LLC or business even without an SSN or ITIN by filing Form SS-4 by mail or fax, leaving the responsible-party SSN/ITIN line blank or writing "Foreign." The IRS charges nothing for an EIN. Only the online EIN tool requires an existing SSN or ITIN, so use the paper form.

Fax is faster than mail — the IRS typically returns the EIN within about four business days by fax versus several weeks by mail. Complete the SS-4, list yourself as the responsible party, and send it to the fax number on the IRS instructions. The IRS explains the process on its Apply for an EIN page. An EIN keeps your personal ITIN off invoices and platform forms.

Do You Need an LLC to Sell Online With an ITIN?

No. You do not need an LLC to sell online with an ITIN — a sole proprietor can list on Etsy, Amazon, eBay, Shopify, and Stripe using just their ITIN. An LLC is optional. It adds liability protection and a separate EIN, but it is not a requirement to open any of these accounts or to get paid.

Many sellers start as sole proprietors and form an LLC later once sales grow or they want to separate personal and business assets. An LLC also lets you open a dedicated business bank account with an ITIN and apply for an EIN. To weigh the trade-offs of forming a company, see how to start a business with an ITIN.

What Taxes Do Online Sellers With an ITIN Owe?

Online sellers owe income tax and self-employment tax on their profit, reported on Schedule C with their tax return. For tax year 2025 the Form 1099-K reporting threshold is $20,000 in payments and 200 transactions, after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act reverted the lower thresholds. You owe tax on profit even without a 1099-K.

Keep records of every sale, fee, shipping cost, and supply purchase, because those expenses reduce your taxable profit on Schedule C. Platforms issue a Form 1099-K only when you cross the threshold, but the income is reportable regardless. The IRS explains the form on its Understanding Your Form 1099-K page. For the full picture, read our guide to self-employed taxes with an ITIN. If you still need to get your number, see how to apply for an ITIN.

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