Requirements when using Shopify Payments for the United States
Before you can use Shopify Payments in the United States, you need to understand the requirements that are in place to comply with regulations and to prevent financial crimes. This article explains why personal information is collected, the accepted types of documentation, and guidance for ensuring that your documentation meets the necessary criteria.
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Requirements for using Shopify Payments in the United States
Before you can use Shopify Payments in the United States, you must meet the following requirements.
Business types
To use Shopify Payments in the United States, your business mustn't be a prohibited or restricted business in the United States as outlined in the Shopify Payments Terms of Service (TOS). You must have either a valid Social Security Number (SSN), Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), or Employer Identification Number (EIN). An EIN is required to use Shopify Payments as a registered business, even if it's not legally required to be considered a registered business.
Bank accounts
Shopify Payments payouts can be sent to a Shopify Balance account or an eligible external account. If you use an external account, then your bank account must meet the following requirements before you connect it to Shopify Payments:
- The bank account is a full checking account with a bank in the United States in USD currency.
- The bank account is eligible for Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfers.
Checking accounts that are set up to accept only wire transfers don't work with Shopify Payments. Savings accounts, flex-currency accounts, and money-transferring services that mimic bank accounts aren't supported by Shopify Payments. Although non-Shopify virtual accounts are supported, you can experience more payout failures with these accounts.
To confirm that your account can accept the transfer type listed for your region, contact your bank.
Customer statement name compliance
When using Shopify Payments, your customer statement name must be between 2 and 19 characters in length and include one of the following:
- your shop name
- legal entity name
- store name ("Doing Business As" name)
- your store's URL
You can update your customer statement name at any time.
If you don't create a customer statement name, then Shopify helps you to comply with these requirements by automatically generating a compliant customer statement name, or by updating it on your behalf if the one you created was insufficient. The account owner is notified by email when Shopify makes a change to your customer statement name.
Purpose of collecting information
Shopify and its banking partners are required to collect and verify information about you and your business, to comply with regulations in the United States that are designed to prevent financial crimes. As local rules and regulations evolve, you can be contacted by Shopify and its banking partners to provide additional information throughout the lifespan of your Shopify Payments account.
The information that is collected is used to confirm the identity of the business, the identities of individuals linked to it, and the nature of the relationship between the two.
Shopify never physically mails documentation to you. Any important documents or communications are emailed, or made digitally available to the person listed as Account Owner of the store, in the Account page in your Shopify admin.
Visit Shopify's Privacy Policy to learn about how your information is kept confidential and safe.
Required information
It's important that you correctly identify your business type because it determines the information that you need to provide.
If you don't have an EIN and you only have an SSN or ITIN, then select Individuals. If you have an EIN, then select from one of the other options according to your business structure. If you're unsure of your business type, then contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to confirm.
If your business type isn't listed below, then contact Shopify Support for help with selecting the correct business type.
Individuals
- Legal first and last names
- Date of birth
- SSN or ITIN
- Email address
- Phone number
- A residential address in the United States
Ensure that your name, date of birth, SSN or ITIN, and home address are accurate and that they match your government issued documentation. If your SSN or ITIN can't be verified with the IRS, then you're asked to update the number to match your IRS documentation, and you can be asked to provide a photo ID. Acceptable photo ID documents are listed here.
Sole Proprietorships
- Legal first and last names
- Date of birth
- SSN or ITIN
- Email address
- Phone number
- Residential address in the United States
Ensure that your name, date of birth, SSN or ITIN, and home address are accurate and that they match your government issued documentation. If your information can't be verified, then you can be asked to provide a photo ID. Acceptable photo ID documents are listed here.
Sole Proprietors also need to provide the following details about their business:
- Registered name
- EIN
- Business phone number
- Business address
If your EIN can't be verified, then you can be asked to provide an IRS document (an SS-4 or a 147c Letter). Ensure that the registered name, EIN, and business address listed in your account matches exactly with the information on the document. Your registered name is always above the business address on your IRS documentation. Update the information in your account to match the document if necessary. Acceptable business documents are listed here.
Private Single Member LLC
- Legal first and last names
- Date of birth
- SSN or ITIN
- Email address
- Phone number
- Residential address
- Job title
- Equity
If the account representative doesn't live in the United States, then they can provide a photo ID instead of the SSN/ITIN.
Ensure that your name, date of birth, SSN/ITIN, and home address are accurate and that they match your government issued documentation. If your information can't be verified, then you can be asked to provide a photo ID. Acceptable photo ID documents are listed here.
Single Member LLCs also need to provide the following details about the business:
- Registered name
- EIN
- Business phone number
- Business address
If your EIN can't be verified, then you can be asked to provide an IRS document (an SS-4 or a 147c Letter). Ensure that the registered name, EIN, and business address listed in your account matches exactly with the information on the document. Your registered name is always above the business address on your IRS documentation. Update the information in your account to match the document if necessary. Acceptable business documents are listed here.
Private Multi-Member LLC
Private Multi Member LLCs must designate one of the owners or an executive as the account representative of their Shopify Payments account. The account representative needs to provide the following information:
- Legal first and last names
- Date of birth
- SSN or ITIN
- Email address
- Phone number
- Residential address
- Job title
- Equity
If the account representative doesn't live in the United States, then they can provide a photo ID instead of the SSN/ITIN.
Ensure that your name, date of birth, SSN/ITIN, and home address are accurate and that they match your government issued documentation. If your information can't be verified, then you can be asked to provide a photo ID. Acceptable photo ID documents are listed here.
Multi Member LLCs also need to provide the following details about the business:
- Registered name
- EIN
- Business phone number
- Business address
If your EIN can't be verified, then you can be asked to provide an IRS document (an SS-4 or a 147c Letter). Ensure that the registered name, EIN, and business address listed in your account matches exactly with the information on the document. Your registered name is always above the business address on your IRS documentation. Update the information in your account to match the document if necessary. Acceptable business documents are listed here.
You need to additionally list any other people who own 25% or more of the business equity on the account, and provide their name, date of birth, SSN/ITIN, home address, job title, and contact information. If their identities can't be verified automatically using the information provided, then they can need to provide a photo ID.
Private partnerships
A private partnership is a business where equity is privately owned by at least two partners. A partner can be an individual, a company, or another partnership. This can include general partnerships, limited partnerships, or limited liability partnerships.
Private partnerships must designate one of the owners (members) as the account representative. The account representative needs to provide the following information:
- Legal first and last names
- Date of birth
- SSN or ITIN
- Email address
- Phone number
- Residential address
- Job title
- Equity
If the account representative doesn't live in the United States, then they can provide a photo ID instead of the SSN/ITIN.
Ensure that your name, date of birth, SSN/ITIN, and home address are accurate and that they match your government issued documentation. If your information can't be verified, then you can be asked to provide a photo ID. Acceptable photo ID documents are listed here.
Private partnerships also need to provide the following details about the business:
- Registered name
- EIN
- Business phone number
- Business address
If your EIN can't be verified, then you can be asked to provide an IRS document (an SS-4 or a 147c Letter). Ensure that the registered name, EIN, and business address listed in your account matches exactly with the information on the document. Your registered name is always above the business address on your IRS documentation. Update the information in your account to match the document if necessary. Acceptable business documents are listed here.
You should additionally list any other people who own 25% or more of the business equity on the account, and provide their name, date of birth, SSN/ITIN, home address, job title, and contact information. If their identities can't be verified automatically using the information provided, then they can need to provide a photo ID.
Public partnership
A public partnership is a business where a government entity or public sector has partnered with a private organization to provide services that benefit the community.
Public partnerships must designate an executive as the account representative. The account representative needs to provide the following information:
- Legal first and last names
- Date of birth
- SSN or ITIN
- Email address
- Phone number
- Residential address
- Job title
- Equity
If the account representative doesn't live in the United States, then they can provide a photo ID instead of the SSN/ITIN.
Ensure that your name, date of birth, SSN/ITIN, and home address are accurate and that they match your government issued documentation. If your information can't be verified, then you can be asked to provide a photo ID. Acceptable photo ID documents are listed here.
Public partnerships also need to provide the following details about the business:
- Registered name
- EIN
- Business phone number
- Business address
If your EIN can't be verified, then you might be asked to provide an IRS document (an SS-4 or a 147c Letter). Ensure that the registered name, EIN, and business address listed in your account matches exactly with the information on the document. Your registered name is always above the business address on your IRS documentation. Update the information in your account to match the document if necessary. Acceptable business documents are listed here.
Private companies
A private company is an entity whose shares are owned privately by individuals, groups, or other entities, rather than by the public.
Private companies must assign either a beneficial owner or an executive as the account representative. The account representative needs to provide the following information:
- Legal first and last names
- Date of birth
- SSN or ITIN
- Email address
- Phone number
- Residential address
- Job title
- Equity
If the account representative doesn't live in the United States, then they can provide a photo ID instead of the SSN/ITIN.
Ensure that your name, date of birth, SSN/ITIN, and home address are accurate and that they match your government issued documentation. If your information can't be verified, then you can be asked to provide a photo ID. Acceptable photo ID documents are listed here.
Private companies also need to provide the following details about the business:
- Registered name
- EIN
- Business phone number
- Business address
If your EIN can't be verified, then you might be asked to provide an IRS document (an SS-4 or a 147c Letter). Ensure that the registered name, EIN, and business address listed in your account matches exactly with the information on the document. Your registered name is always above the business address on your IRS documentation. Update the information in your account to match the document if necessary. Acceptable business documents are listed here.
You should additionally list any other people who own 25% or more of the business equity on the account, and provide their name, date of birth, SSN/ITIN, home address, job title, and contact information. If their identities can't be verified automatically using the information provided, then they might need to provide a photo ID.
Public companies
A public company is an entity that offers its shares to the public to be traded on a stock exchange. Equity can be purchased, sold, and traded by individuals and investors, rather than owned privately.
Public companies must assign an executive as the account representative. The account representative needs to provide the following information:
- Legal first and last names
- Date of birth
- SSN or ITIN
- Email address
- Phone number
- Residential address
- Job title
- Equity
If the account representative doesn't live in the United States, then they can provide a photo ID instead of the SSN/ITIN.
Ensure that your name, date of birth, SSN/ITIN, and home address are accurate and that they match your government issued documentation. If your information can't be verified, then you can be asked to provide a photo ID. Acceptable photo ID documents are listed here.
Public companies also need to provide the following details about the business:
- Registered name
- EIN
- Business phone number
- Business address
If your EIN can't be verified, then you might be asked to provide an IRS document (an SS-4 or a 147c Letter). Ensure that the registered name, EIN, and business address listed in your account matches exactly with the information on the document. Your registered name is always above the business address on your IRS documentation. Update the information in your account to match the document if necessary. Acceptable business documents are listed here.
Non-profit organizations
A non-profit organization (NPO) is an entity that's established for purposes other than generating profit for its shareholders. Its primary mission is to serve a public or community benefit.
Non-profits must assign an executive as the account representative. The account representative must provide the following information:
- Legal first and last names
- Date of birth
- SSN or ITIN
- Email address
- Phone number
- Residential address
- Job title
- Equity
If the account representative doesn't live in the United States, then they can provide a photo ID instead of the SSN/ITIN.
Ensure that your name, date of birth, SSN/ITIN, and home address are accurate and that they match your government issued documentation. If your information can't be verified, then you can be asked to provide a photo ID. Acceptable photo ID documents are listed here.
Non-profits also need to provide the following details about the business:
- Registered name
- EIN
- Business phone number
- Business address
If your EIN can't be verified, then you might be asked to provide an IRS document (an SS-4 or a 147c Letter). When providing this document, ensure that the registered name, EIN, and business address listed in your account matches exactly with the information on the document. Your registered name is always above the business address on your IRS documentation. Update the information in your account to match the document if necessary. Acceptable business documents are listed here.
Private unincorporated associations
An unincorporated association is an entity that was formed by a group of people to serve a common interest, such as hobby clubs, community organizations, or advocacy groups.
Unincorporated associations must designate one of the entity's key decision makers as the account representative and assign them the role of "Executive". The account representative needs to provide the following information:
- Legal first and last names
- Date of birth
- SSN or ITIN
- Email address
- Phone number
- Residential address
- Job title
- Equity
If the account representative doesn't live in the United States, then they can provide a photo ID instead of the SSN/ITIN.
Ensure that your name, date of birth, SSN/ITIN, and home address are accurate and that they match your government issued documentation. If your information can't be verified, then you can be asked to provide a photo ID. Acceptable photo ID documents are listed here.
Unincorporated associations also need to provide the following details about the business:
- Registered name
- EIN
- Business phone number
- Business address
If your EIN can't be verified, then you might be asked to provide an IRS document (an SS-4 or a 147c Letter). When providing this document, ensure that the registered name, EIN, and business address listed in your account matches exactly with the information on the document. Your registered name is always above the business address on your IRS documentation. Update the information in your account to match the document if necessary. Acceptable business documents are listed here.
Acceptable document types
This section explains which documents you can use to verify your identity and business details.
Identity documents
The name and date of birth on your Shopify Payments account must be updated to match the information shown in the identity document you're providing. The documents must be valid and must not be expired. The following documents are accepted as proof of identity:
- Passport
- Driver's license
- State-issued ID Card
Business verification documents
Business documents are issued to you by the IRS when you register for your EIN, or when you request confirmation of your EIN from the IRS. You should update the registered name and EIN on your account to match exactly what's shown on your documentation. The following documents are accepted for business verification:
- IRS SS-4 Confirmation Letter
- IRS Letter 147c
Your registered name is listed above the business address on IRS forms, and it can contain the owner's name. The following example shows a Single Member LLC where the registered name and EIN are highlighted. In the example, the registered name is "ACME LLC THERESA LOPEZ-FITZGERALD SOLE MBR". You must enter your registered name on Shopify Payments exactly as it is shown on your IRS documents, including the same punctuation and capitalization.
