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Everything You Need to Know About Seller Account Identification

February 13, 2024

We are committed to ensuring a safe and trusted marketplace for you to discover, buy, and sell music. We verify some of your seller account information to validate that you are a real person interested in selling on Discogs. This is an important part of our efforts to ensure overall marketplace security and compliance with various global regulations. Sellers will be required to complete different measures for identification depending on when they started selling, where they operate, and what volume of business they do on Discogs.

Before you begin

You can navigate the verification process smoothly by making sure your information is complete and accurate. We’ve put together a short, preliminary checklist to help you prepare:

Review your Seller Settings. Take a moment to confirm that all of the information in your Seller Settings is consistent and accurate. Your full, legal name should match your ID, Seller Settings, and any additional documentation you need to provide.
Connect your PayPal account. Ensure that your PayPal account is connected to your Discogs account through your Seller Settings.
Assemble your documents. Collect all of the necessary documents ahead of time, including (but not limited to) your ID, bank statements, and, if applicable, business registration details.

What kind of seller are you?

New sellers | Current sellers | Hobby sellers v. business sellers

Important legislation affecting account identification:

DAC7 | INFORM Consumers Act

New sellers

Thank you for your interest in selling on Discogs! Before we begin your account verification, you need to fill out a few things in your Seller Settings:

Select whether you are a hobby or business seller
Provide your legal name and address for your shipping details
Connect your PayPal account to ensure a smooth checkout process

Once you set up your Discogs shop and connect your PayPal account, you will undergo an introductory waiting period. At this time, you can still add items to your inventory, but they will be placed in a “Pending” status until we complete the verification, which means they will not be available for sale in the Marketplace yet.

Next, you’ll receive an invitation to complete your seller account identification after the waiting period is over.

If you identified as a hobby seller or as a business seller in the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, or Australia in your Seller Settings, then you should receive the invitation within approximately one week.
If you are a business seller in another country, then we must ask for a little more patience. Verifying business sellers like you is complicated due to varying regulations in different regions. We will continue to keep you informed as we finalize the information needed for each location.

We are processing new sellers in the order that they sign up. While you wait, you can learn more about how to sell on Discogs.

Current sellers

Current sellers will be asked for additional information to verify their accounts. First, we simply want you to tell us what kind of seller you are. In your Seller Settings, you will make a selection to self-identify as a business or hobby seller. You may be asked to provide more details depending on where you operate and the size of your business. If you are affected by any regulations that require supplementary information, you will receive an email from Discogs. Learn more about the INFORM Consumers Act and DAC7 regulations.

Hobby sellers v. business sellers

All sellers on Discogs must self-identify as a hobby seller or a business seller in your Seller Settings. The amount of sales you make will help you determine which selection makes the most sense for you.

Generally, hobby sellers only list items occasionally and do not use Discogs as their primary business while business sellers are registered entities that earn over USD $5,000 or sell more than 200 items per year.

Learn more

DAC7

New sellers in the EU

DAC7 is an EU directive that requires online marketplaces like Discogs to collect, verify, and disclose certain information about some sellers in the European Union.

If you meet the criteria for DAC7 reporting, you will receive an email directly from Discogs requesting the necessary information about your business to help complete the seller identification process.

What is DAC7?

DAC7 is a directive that requires online marketplaces like Discogs to collect, verify, and disclose specific information about certain sellers in the European Union. Designed to enhance tax reporting accuracy and foster cooperation among EU member states, the initial reporting under this directive occurred in January 2024, covering seller data from 2023. This reporting is an annual requirement, with the next report due in January 2025 for the 2024 seller data, and continuing yearly thereafter.
Who is affected by DAC7?
You will be contacted to provide additional information if:
- You have a primary address, tax identification number (TIN), or permanent establishment in an EU member state, and
  You have completed 30 or more transactions on Discogs and/or earned €2,000 in a calendar year.
Affected sellers will also be re-verified at least every 36 months.
What constitutes a transaction according to DAC7?
What information do I need to provide?
You will be required to submit information including (but not limited to):
- Full name or business name, as applicable
- Birthdate, as applicable
- Physical address
- Tax identification number (e.g., BSN, RSIN)
- Business registration number, as applicable
When do I need to provide this information?
What happens if I do not provide this information?
Who has access to this information?

Discogs is registered in the Netherlands for DAC7 reporting obligations. Your information will be reported to the Dutch tax authorities, who will subsequently share that information to relevant EU tax authorities in compliance with DAC7. The protection of your personal information is important to Discogs and guided by our Privacy Policy. Part of this identification process is handled by a trusted partner, Persona, which is also governed by strict security and privacy expectations.
What are the tax implications of providing this information?
I am having difficulty with my DAC7 verification.

The most typical challenge with DAC7 verification is using the correct name. It’s important to include your full name in your Seller Settings and ensure that the business name is not listed as the sole contact. Verify all necessary fields and documents for accuracy.

If you are still experiencing difficulty, please contact Discogs Support and we will be glad to assist you.

INFORM Consumers Act

High-volume sellers in the US

The INFORM Consumers Act is a US law that requires online marketplaces like Discogs to collect, verify, and disclose certain information from high-volume sellers that do business within the United States. High-volume sellers are defined as those with over 200 transactions totaling $5,000 USD or more in sales revenue tied to new items within a 12-month period over the last 24 months.

If you meet the criteria for a high-volume seller that sells into the U.S., you will receive an email directly from Discogs requesting the necessary information about your business to help complete the seller identification process.

What is the INFORM Consumer Act?

The INFORM Consumers Act is a law that requires online marketplaces like Discogs to collect, verify, and disclose certain information from high-volume sellers that operate within the United States. This legislation was passed to help protect consumers from fraudulent online transactions that include stolen, counterfeit, or unsafe products.
Who does the INFORM Consumers Act affect?

The INFORM Consumers Act affects high-volume sellers, which are defined as those who have completed over 200 transactions in the U.S. totalling $5,000 USD or more in sales revenue tied to new items within a 12-month period over the last 24 months. In other words, you are affected if you have made at least $5,000 USD on 200 or more transactions of mint-condition items with buyers in the U.S.
What qualifies as a new item?
What information do I need to provide?
Those that meet the criteria for a high-volume seller under the INFORM Consumers Act will be required to provide information that may include:
- Phone number
- Physical address
- Email address
- Birthdate
- Social security number
- Copy of government-issued ID
- Tax identification number (or EIN)
- Banking information:
  - Bank statement (or equivalent document such as an online banking screenshot) issued within the last 6 months
  - Name of the bank
  - Name of the account holder
  - Complete IBAN or account number;
  - Routing code, BSB or ABA (for specific countries)
When do I need to provide this information?
What happens if I do not provide this information?
Who has access to this information?

High-volume sellers will have their name or business name, address, email address, and phone number visible on their seller profile on Discogs. Exceptions include high-volume sellers that use a personal phone number, different address for returns, or residential address for selling purposes. In these cases, buyers will be encouraged to reach out to sellers privately if additional contact details are needed.

The protection of your personal information is important to Discogs and guided by our Privacy Policy. Part of this identification process is handled by a trusted partner, Persona, which is also governed by strict security and privacy expectations. You can ask that your information be deleted from Persona by submitting a request with Discogs Support.
I am having difficulty with my INFORM Consumers Act verification.
There are three common challenges with INFORM Consumers Act verification. It’s important to include your full name in your Seller Settings and ensure that the business name is not listed as the sole contact. Verify all necessary fields and documents for accuracy.
- Unaddressed verification requests: Please respond to your verification notice within 10 business days to maintain account functionality.
- Inconsistent details: Double check the consistency of your name across all documents and Seller Settings. Confirm the submission of your bank account information, bank statement, and valid ID.
- Account suspensions: If your account faces suspension, please review and fulfill the verification requirements to facilitate account reinstatement.
If you are still experiencing difficulty, please contact Discogs Support and we will be glad to assist you.

Discogs will continue to roll out seller identification measures for new and existing accounts as part of our commitment to maintaining a trusted marketplace. We will keep communicating with sellers directly and update this guide with more details.

If you have questions about the current seller account identification process, please contact Discogs Support.

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Everything You Need to Know About Seller Account Identification

Before you begin

New sellers

Current sellers

Hobby sellers v. business sellers

DAC7

INFORM Consumers Act

Seller Updates

Your Guide to All of the New Inventory Management Upgrades

Where to Source Vinyl Records to Sell Online

4 Essential Tips for Selling on Discogs as a Beginner

Everything You Need to Know About Seller Account Identification

Before you begin

New sellers

Current sellers

Hobby sellers v. business sellers

DAC7

INFORM Consumers Act

Seller Updates

Your Guide to All of the New Inventory Management Upgrades

Where to Source Vinyl Records to Sell Online

4 Essential Tips for Selling on Discogs as a Beginner

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