Legal Question in Business Law in Florida

1. Do I have to report all my earnings from this service to the IRS?

Yes.

2. Do I have to get a business license for this service?

Probably. Depends on your location, but most communities require it.

3. If I do have to pay the IRS, do I do it under my SSN?

Yes

4. What would be my excuse?

excuse for what

5. Can I not just keep the money and say they were gifts?

Sure. That would be a lie. They call that tax fraud.

1. Yes.

2. Likely.

3. Yes, unless you take payments through a company which you establish for the business. Then, the business would pay taxes.

4. No excuse.

5. No, not legally.

You do have to report the taxes. They are paying for a service, not providing gifts. You could operate as a sole proprietor, but may still have to register the business with your locality (county, city) and pay business taxes. There are other details about running an online business that you may need to consider, depending upon your exposure to liability. Check your library for books on how to start a small business, check the small business administration's website, and contact an attorney for legal help if you still think you need it. Good luck.