Paypal account, under 18.

[XFactorLogo]

I'm in a little predicament here.

I have started completing web graphic jobs in California about three months ago, such as making logos/business cards/website headers just as a way to accumulate enough funds to purchase electronics that my parents refuse to fund (Macbook, iPod Touch, etc) and my venture has expanded quite a bit within these three months from where I first expected. As you can imagine, I have quite a stash in my Paypal now.

However, I would like to become Verified/add a bank account to my account.

Just a few statements before I ask my questions, just to make sure we all know the same information about my circumstances.

1) I am under 18.
3) I reside in California, US.
2) During the registration process for my Paypal account, no date of birth was required to complete the registration. I have not lied in any part of the registration process.
3) My address is confirmed. (My parents have fully supported my graphics venture, and have given me a credit card only to lift my Paypal spending limit, and not use it for other purposes)

My questions are:

1) In the United States, are minors legally allowed to have bank accounts?
2) If not, (see question 1) can my parents open a joint account for me?
3) If I attempt to become "Verified" with a "joint" account, can Paypal find out I am underage?
4) Does the Paypal "Verification" process match the Paypal account holder's name to the bank account holder's name? The way I read Paypal's Terms of Service, Paypal can freeze the funds in my accounts if they find out I am underage. Correct?

[chatxplanet]

Answers:
1. Yes minors allowed to own bank accounts but they have to have a legal guardian or parents as co-owner (signers)

2. Same as question 1's answer

3. They possibly could. Whenever you do business with anyone its possible they can find out more about you than you want them to know.

4. I believe it does. I do remember they actually called me once to verify the information provided and what not but not sure if they do that all the time now or not. With that said, I just opened another account for a different bank and the verification process was simply verifying my bank account with my personal information such as name etc. Can't remember if it asked me for a birth date or not.

And you are right. If PayPal finds out or even thinks you are doing something you shouldn't be doing they may freeze your account.

[mybuks]

Hmmm, I have no idea on this one. Is there another service he can use?

[Jacob34]

Ya I'm Under 18 and have mine

[mrgee]

I experienced the same issues lately. I activated my account with a VCC so I can remove the limits of sending and receiving money. Then I asked my mother to open a bank account and a PayPal account for herself. Then I verified her PayPal with her bank account information (yes, PayPal does require that the name in the PayPal account and the one of the bank account holder match fully and as far as I know you can not have a bank account of your name, that's why I did the steps above). Then I sent the money from my PayPal to my mother's PayPal and withdrawn them to her bank account with no problems.

You can do the same, until you reach 18 years and make a bank account for yourself.

[selfhelpebooks]

As a minor, make sure you have a parent or guardian open the account with you. Then you will have no problems with PayPal or other bank related companies.

[francis84]

As far as I know, you can have a paypal acct or any bank acct PROVIDED you have your parents or guardians' concern.

[busman3000]

If your dad is kind enough to give you a card then maybe the safest way would be to ask him if you could use his account?
That's what I do, now my google cheques always get cashed and he sorts the Tax bill too!