New shop, business type issue, SSN vs EIN

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

Issue: In Shopify’s Finance admin, the business type was set to “Single Partner LLC.” Per IRS guidance, this should allow using an SSN (Social Security Number) instead of an EIN (Employer Identification Number), but Shopify rejects the SSN and requires an EIN. Entering the SSN in the EIN field returns “invalid,” and the section is now locked with a prompt to contact support.

Support status: Chat support acknowledged SSN should be acceptable for this setup but couldn’t fix it, escalated to advanced support, and promised an email. No follow-up received yet and no ETA provided.

User request: Looking for expected wait time and alternative ways to resolve.

Outcome: No resolution yet; the issue remains open. Key question: how to proceed without an EIN and when support will respond.

Summarized with AI on December 17. AI used: gpt-5.
1

In the admin Finance section, I selected a business type of Single Partner LLC, since that is how I’ve set the business up. Per IRS website, that allows me to use my SSN instead of getting an employer ID number (EIN). Shopify does not recognize that and wants an EIN. I used my SSN in the EIN field but it came back as invalid. And now I can change nothing in that section am told to “contact support”. I did a chat with support yesterday and the rep acknowledged that I should be able to use my SSN but was unable to help me directly. He said he was opening a ticket with the advanced support folks and that they would email me. Still waiting for that email.

Sooooo, any ideas on how long I’ll be waiting or other methods to fix my dilemma? Thanks!