Forum Discussion

AFease's avatar
AFease
Active Contributor
4 months ago
Solved

SMS registration question

Hi, I have a sole proprietorship as my business, and have registered with my town as such.  I started the biz at the beginning of this year, so I have not filed income tax yet (that would be in 2025). As a sole proprietorship, my EIN would be my SS, but since I haven't filed with the IRS yet I don't have an IRS record.  Do I need to wait until I file taxes in 2025 to be able to register my local number for SMS?

Or should I just drop the local number and get a toll-free number, where no EIN is required?

Thanks for any help you can give!

Andrea

  • Hi AFease 

    Welcome to the Community.

    According to the user guide, it appears: It is not currently possible for sole proprietor businesses without an EIN / business tax I.D. to register, but Grasshopper is actively working with its carrier to support that use case in the future.

    So at this time you would need to wait unit you get an EIN/Business tax I.D. to register your local number. 

8 Replies

  • AFease's avatar
    AFease
    Active Contributor
    4 months ago

    Thank you so much for your help and support KateG - I really appreciate it!!

    Andrea

     

  • KateG's avatar
    KateG
    GoTo Manager
    4 months ago

    Hi AFease, You would need to contact customer support if you are looking to remove a number, I would contact support for further information and options on the best thing to do, based on your plan. 

  • AFease's avatar
    AFease
    Active Contributor
    4 months ago

    KateG 

    OK, that sounds like a good possibility. Is the Toll-free number much more expensive than the local number? If it's fairly comparable, that would be something I would be interested in.

    Do I just add the toll-free number to my account, then release the local number?

    Thank you!!

     

  • KateG's avatar
    KateG
    GoTo Manager
    4 months ago

    AFease

    Checking with the team, at the moment being a sole proprietor using a SSN is not something we can accommodate for The Campaign Registry (TCR) registration.

    Right now the best option we can offer is to change the number to a Toll-free, where the EIN/Tax ID is not required. 

    I'm sorry about this. 

     

  • AFease's avatar
    AFease
    Active Contributor
    4 months ago

    KateG 

    I tried and was rejected, but this was several months ago and I didn't have the opt-in language or privacy policy on my website.  I suppose I could give it a try again, but since the IRS doesn't know about my DBA, I suspect it will still get rejected.

  • KateG's avatar
    KateG
    GoTo Manager
    4 months ago

    AFease

    I can't really speak to how EIN and filing taxes work, but if you are able to use your SS# as an EIN is seems like you should be able to register.

    Reviewing the user guide, a legal business name, business information, and Tax ID Number/EIN, is what is needed and this must exactly match or the application will be rejected (and a $15 fee applies). Have you tried registering the company as a brand? 

  • AFease's avatar
    AFease
    Active Contributor
    4 months ago

    Thank you KateG !

    So since my EIN is my SS#, as I am DBA, will I be able to register next year after I file my taxes and the IRS knows about my sole proprietorship?  Or can I not register at all until Grasshopper can find a solution for my use case?  I really don't want to create an LLC, that would entail changing everything with my town, bank accounts, etc. and would be a major pain :) .

  • KateG's avatar
    KateG
    GoTo Manager
    4 months ago

    Hi AFease 

    Welcome to the Community.

    According to the user guide, it appears: It is not currently possible for sole proprietor businesses without an EIN / business tax I.D. to register, but Grasshopper is actively working with its carrier to support that use case in the future.

    So at this time you would need to wait unit you get an EIN/Business tax I.D. to register your local number.