(Resolved/Update) Please DO NOT pay for a Subscription to my Substack!
Substack uses Stripe for payment processing.... we have issues.
(Resolved/Update) Please DO NOT pay for a Subscription to my Substack! Until I get this sorted out:
I just got my first paid subscription. Thank you!
It was just $5. If I can get 150 more at this level, I can meet my monthly living expenses!
However, I have just learned that Substack exclusively uses Stripe.com for payment processing.
When I logged in to the dashboard, I get the following message:
First of all, Stripe does not cite the US Tax Law which requires them to collect this information. (Leave a comment if you know it)
Paypal has been bugging me like this for 6 months, but so far, I can still take out money. Last I checked, the new US law requiring the collection of this info was still DRAFT and in committee.
Next, I AM NOT A BUSINESS! I do not run a business.
I am a non-profit person. I do public service work.
When people pay for a subscription to my Substack, they are MAKING A DONATION.
The problem is, there is no option for this on Stripe’s dashboard.
This looks like Stripe wants to COERCE me into declaring that I am running a business (I have to in order to get paid, hence coercion), so that they can collect my Tax ID and tell the IRS I made a whopping $5.
This is the email I sent to Stripe support:
Your dashboard is telling me, "Your tax information needs review. We couldn’t verify the tax ID provided for your business."
Issue #1: Please cite the US Law that requires you to collect this information.
Issue #2: I am not a business! I am a non-profit person. I work in the public interest. Anyone subscribing to my Substack is offering me a DONATION to support my work. Please correct this.
Thank you,
William Huston, Endicott NY
I’ll let you know how they respond.
For now, the only way to send me money is via PayPal:
1: TinyURL.com/DonateToBillHuston
2: PayPal.me/BillHuston
Thank you for your generous donations in any amount.
Really needed now!
BH
Update: It looks like it might be just a nag, not a threat.
They are now telling me I will be paid in 7 days.
So maybe I can ignore the (apparent) demand to declare myself a business.
We’ll see…
UPDATE: 7/31/2022
I got my first payout, so (after a dozen frustrating emails with Stripe), I got my first payout without having to declare that I am a business, despite the Stripe Dashboard’s constant nagging.
So I am again grateful to receive Paid Subscriptions!