name on second (business) Adsense account

[numnum]

I have one personal AdSense account, and I'd like to open a second (business) account. My understanding is that using the same address on both accounts is fine but that the payee name must be different than for my personal account.

Rather than going to the trouble of establishing a DBA (fictitious business name), I'm thinking of just using my domestic partner's name and directing payments into our joint bank account (her name is also on the account).

Anyone see any reason this wouldn't work -- why Google would balk at this? I don't.

[netmeg]

Are you in the US? There might be tax ramifications, mainly for her.

I would think it would be worth the effort to create an S Corp or LLC (in Michigan it only cost me $100 plus $25/year) just to avoid any potential tax issues.

[LifeinAsia]

What about the tax id? I'd think Google would be more likely to match up tax IDs than payee names.

Assuming you're using your SSN for your personal account, are you going to use your domestic partner's SSN on the "business" account? That means your AdSense income will be attributed to your partner's taxable income.

[ember]

That means your AdSense income will be attributed to your partner's taxable income.

Yep. You really need an FEIN for the business account. Keeps things clean and separate.

[numnum]

OP here. Yes, I would use my partner's SS number (we're in the U.S.), and the income would be attributable to her. That poses no problem for either of us. And I'd much rather do it this way than to establish a business entity just for this purpose.

An alternative is for her to be the person applying for an AdSense account -- rather than this being my second (business) account. But what I've been reading suggests that there might be a lengthy delay before approval -- whereas I assume I'd be approved right away if this is my second account. Am I right about that?

[netmeg]

Dunno. To my mind you are making a pretty big mistake not creating the company (and for all I know, if you don't give Google an EIN instead of a SSN, they might not approve it at all, since it would look like a second personal account) But good luck to you.

It does say here:

[support.google.com...]

That payments for business accounts will be made out to the business name, and not the contact.

[numnum]

Dunno. To my mind you are making a pretty big mistake not creating the company (and for all I know, if you don't give Google an EIN instead of a SSN, they might not approve it at all, since it would look like a second personal account) But good luck to you.

It does say here:

[support.google.com...]

That payments for business accounts will be made out to the business name, and not the contact.

OP here. Yes, netmeg, this is exactly what my concern is and why I posted this query. Google is not indicating explicitly whether the payee name for one's second (business) account must be a fictitious business name rather than the name of an individual person (other than the name on the personal account) or whether you must use a tax ID number other than a SS number of an individual.

What it boils down to is this: Can the "business name" simply be the name of another person whose SS# I'm using for payments and tax reporting? Framing the question this way, my hunch is that the answer is no.

[eek2121]

Depends on what kind of money you are talking about as well. If you are talking about dollars per month, it may not be worth setting up a business account. However, if you are talking hundreds or thousands of dollars a month, you should strongly consider setting up a business. It's not hard, just a bit of paperwork and some cash. Failing to do so can create an extremely complicated tax situation for both of you.

[numnum]

I'm the OP. I disagree that Google would focus on the Social Security number rather than the payee name for he purpose of determining whether my second AdSense account application is also for a personal account or whether it is for a business account. I can establish a business banking account using my SS# and a business name that includes my last name (Smith) -- e.g., Smith Services -- without filing a FBN (fictitious business name) statement with the county. So it makes sense that Google would require a different payee name for a second, business account (e.g., Smith Services) but not necessarily a different tax ID number.

As for the expense of incorporating, in my state things get quite expensive: about $1,000 each and every year, apart from the initial fees and other costs. And I would still have to file costly forms every year with my state's Department of Corporations even if I incorporate in another state. I want to avoid those expenses because I don't see this second (business) account as a big money-maker at all -- perhaps a few hundred dollars a month.

So I'm wondering if anyone here has actually obtained a second AdSense account using the same social security number under a business name that contains their last name but is different than their individual name. Anyone?