WHY are Airbnb asking are you a business and demanding resubmittal of personal information with threats

[Marvin39]

Airbnb are asking hosts 'are you a business?' Ok, so the tax man is maybe asking,

but then they ask for the re-submittal of personal identity information including DOB, address etc. that they have had on file for years. This is very scary - Has AIrbnb had a disastrous security breach that requires them to get hosts to re-submit stolen data ?

Even scarier, cannot get a straight answer out of Airbnb 'Experts', just bland statements and evasive answers.

Any idea what's going on ?

[Jackie570]

I've been an Airbnb host for years and I've never had this happen. It sounds like you might be dealing with scammers. Do not give any personal information through links they send or anything else like that.

[Dwayne62]

This is definitely from Airbnb. I just recently had this happen too and it was from the Airbnb App. 

I am also curious why they are asking for all this information now. It just didn't sit right with me. 

[Joe4383]

I have the same problem with Airbnb. They claim it’s a know your customer law. I researched it using google and found no such law. There is a Know Your Client process for financial institutions in the U.S., but is Airbnb now a financial institution? They have had my information for years and I’m verified on their platform, I sent them a screenshot. I have no intention of providing this information. I get the feeling Airbnb is trying to monetize the information and also force its hosts to use its new credit card payment feature so they can squeeze more money out of the system. Airbnb makes most of its profits from interest made on payments made by customers before they arrive. This should be illegal.

[Brian2036]

@Marvin39 @Dwayne62 @Jackie570 

It’s because they are subjected to ongoing and increasing pressure from tax authorities.

I’m seriously doubt that Airbnb wants to deal with all that nonsense but they are required to do so by law.

 We can expect to have to resubmit the information every year from now on.