Hi,

I'm new to this forum and want to ask a question as I'm applying for a tax ID number. I'm not sure the closest category for a jewelry artist business principal activity. Manufacturing? Wholesaler? Retail? Other? I mostly consign to stores and I'm just by myself. Help please, thanks...

Depends on what state you live in, I think.  In North Carolina if you are a Sole Proprietor, your tax id would be your social security number.  You would have to charge sales tax and report your earnings quarterly.

 check out irs.gov for more information.

Thanks, Diana. Do you feel safe revealing your social security number to strangers? For when you buy supplies wholesale, etc? I'm thinking about applying for a EIN so I don't have to show my social security number. Let me know, thanks again.

I dont worry about it too much but you can never be too safe.  Getting an EIN would make you feel very secure if you dont feel safe using your SS#.

 Good Luck!

:-)

Here in Kansas an EIN and a Retailer's Sales Tax Certificate are two different things.  The EIN (Employer's Identification Number) is for businesses who have employees and will be submitting wage taxes.  The Retailer's Sales Tax Certificate, I believe, is what you are looking for, and will allow you to purchase beads etc. without paying sales tax (but you will, of course, need to collect and report sales tax on anything sold).  It was easy to apply for (and free for us in KS), and makes you appear more like a reputable buyer at markets etc.  Alice 

serasi:

I'm not sure the closest category for a jewelry artist business principal activity. Manufacturing? Wholesaler? Retail? Other?

Here in California, they seem to want to know what you sell-- e.g., what you/your resellers collect sales taxes for. Mine is for "fashion jewelry"-- the councilor at the BOE office chose it for me. They didn't seem to care whether it was for wholesale/retail or something in-between (my sales tax payments probably cost them more to process than I pay because most of my sales are consignment).

 Federal EIN is only if you have employees and need to pay federal withholding and social security taxes on your employees.

What category you list depends, as others said, on your state. From your description of consigning to stores and the choices you listed, I'd say wholesale might be the right choice for you.

Each state has different tax requirements. Your City Hall, Chamber of Commerce or State Department of Revenue (Dept revenue) can help you.
Here are some links to revenue departments in all US states. If one is not updated one of the others might be:

http://www.bcfm.com/links/tax.htm

http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/link/default.html
(Also has info on movement towards a uniform sales tax system.)

http://www.digital-women.com/state-tax.html

This site lists information on "How to start your business in your state."
http://jewelrymakinghq.com/state_busines_startup.htm

This e-book  "The Ultimate Guide to Your Profitable Jewelry Booth" by Rena Klingenberg tells how to set up your business selling at craftshows. http://www.jewelry-books.com/jewelry-booth.html
Her website http://www.home-jewelry-business-success-tips.com/  is quite helpful, too.

 Here are some previous threads about starting a business from the old forum archives. There is a lot of really great info in the archives.

http://cs.beadandbutton.com/beadingforumarchive/forums/t/26562.aspx

http://cs.beadandbutton.com/beadingforumarchive/forums/t/13738.aspx

http://cs.beadandbutton.com/beadingforumarchive/forums/t/13738.aspx

http://cs.beadandbutton.com/beadingforumarchive/forums/t/12043.aspx

http://cs.beadandbutton.com/beadingforumarchive/forums/t/5734.aspx