Bank account and personal information requirements for Shopify Payments in Australia

Before using Shopify Payments in Australia, 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 provides guidance for ensuring that your documentation meets the necessary criteria.

Requirements for using Shopify Payments in Australia

Before you use Shopify Payments in Australia, ensure that you meet the following requirements:

Eligible business types: Certain types of businesses and services aren't permitted to use Shopify Payments. To determine whether your business is eligible, refer to the list of prohibited business types for Australia in the Shopify Payments Terms of Service.
Bank account requirements: Your bank account must meet the following requirements before you can connect it to Shopify Payments:
- The bank account must be with a bank in Australia in AUD currency.
- The bank account must be eligible for Bulk Electronic Clearing System (BECS) transfers.

Unsupported bank account types

Certain bank account types aren't compatible with Shopify Payments. The following account types aren't supported:

Checking accounts that accept only wire transfers: These accounts don't work with Shopify Payments.
Savings accounts: Savings accounts can't be used for Shopify Payments payouts.
Flex-currency accounts: Accounts that support multiple currencies simultaneously aren't supported.
Money transfer services: Services that mimic bank accounts, such as some fintech platforms, can't be used with Shopify Payments.

Although non-Shopify virtual accounts are supported, you can experience more payout failures with these accounts.

To confirm whether your account can accept the transfer type listed for your region, contact your bank.

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 Australia that are designed to prevent financial crimes. As local rules and regulations evolve, you might be contacted by Shopify and its banking partners to provide additional information throughout the lifespan of your Shopify Payments account.

The information that's collected is used to confirm the identity of the business, the identities of individuals linked to the business, 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 store owner in the Settings > Users page of your Shopify admin.

Review Shopify's Privacy Policy to learn about how your information is kept confidential and safe.

Required personal and business information for activating Shopify Payments in Australia

You must correctly identify your business type because it determines the information that you need to provide. The business you choose depends on whether you've an Australian Business Number (ABN).

If you don't have an ABN, then you must select the Individual business type.

If you do have an ABN, then you can review your business type by entering your ABN on the Australian Business Register. To select the correct business type, refer to the following guidelines:

If your business type says "Individual/Sole Trader", then you must select sole trader.
If your business type contains the word "partnership", then you must select partnership.
If your business type contains the word "public" (for example, "Australian Public Company" or "Listed/Unlisted Public Trust"), then you must select public company.
If you're simultaneously listed on the Australian Charity and Non-Profit Register, then you must select non profit.
All other business types must select corporation.

Review the following details of the information that's required for each business type.

If you're unsure of which business type to select, then contact Shopify Support.

Individuals

Individuals are single-person businesses that don't have an ABN and are doing business privately. Individuals need to provide the following information:

Legal first and last name: Your full legal name as it appears on government-issued documentation.
Date of birth: Your birth date.
Email address: A valid and active email address.
Phone number: A valid and active phone number.
Residential address in Australia: Your home address, matching your documentation.

Ensure that your name, date of birth, and home address are accurate and that they match your government-issued documentation. If your information can't be verified, then you'll be asked to provide government-issued photo ID. You should update your name and date of birth to match what is shown on your photo ID. Review the accepted identity documents.

If your address can't be automatically verified, then you must upload a proof of address document. When providing this document, ensure that the address listed in your account matches exactly with the address on the document, and update the information in your account to match the document if necessary. Review the accepted address documents.

Sole traders

Sole traders are businesses wholly owned by one person. Legally the owner and the business are the same entity, and the owner is responsible for the actions of the business. They are otherwise known as sole proprietorships.

The person displayed on your business registry as the owner should be the account representative. The account representative must provide the following information:

Legal first and last name: Your full legal name as it appears on government-issued documentation.
Date of birth: Your birth date.
Job title: The job title you hold with the business.
Email address: A valid and active email address.
Phone number: A valid and active phone number.
Residential address in Australia: Your home address, matching your documentation.

Sole traders must also provide the following details about their business:

Registered business name: The legal business name as shown in the Australian business register.
Australian Business Number (ABN): The business's ABN as shown in the Australian business register.
Business phone number: An active contact phone number for the business.
Business address: The official registered address of the business as shown in the Australian business register.

Our banking partners verify your information by comparing it against the business registry in Australia. Ensure that you use the correct letter case, punctuation, and symbols.

If the information that you provide about the business can't be verified, then you might need to provide a business verification document. When providing this document, ensure that the registered name, ABN, and business address listed in your account match exactly with the information on the document. Update the information in your account to match the document if necessary.

Corporations

A corporation is a business whose equity is divided into shares, owned by shareholders. A corporation is considered its own legal entity, separate from the people who run it. Corporations typically also have a board of directors.

Corporations must assign either a beneficial owner or an executive with decision-making power as their account representative. The account representative must provide the following information:

Legal first and last name: Your full legal name as it appears on government-issued documentation.
Date of birth: Your birth date.
Job title: The job title you hold with the business.
Email address: A valid and active email address.
Phone number: A valid and active phone number.
Residential address: Your home address, matching your documentation.
Equity: If applicable, the equity percentage you own of the business.

Corporations must also provide the following details about their business:

Registered business name: The legal business name as shown in the Australian business register.
Australian Business Number (ABN): The business's ABN as shown in the Australian business register.
Australian Company Number (ACN): The business's ACN as shown in the Australian Securities & Investments Commission registry (ASIC).
Business phone number: An active contact phone number for the business.
Business address: The official registered address of the business as shown in the Australian business register.

Our banking partners verify your information by comparing it against the business registry in Australia. Ensure that you use the correct letter case, punctuation, and symbols.

You also need to list any other people who are beneficial owners of the company or on the board of directors. Ensure that you enter their names, dates of birth, and home addresses exactly as shown on their government documents. If their identities can't be verified, then they might need to provide a photo ID or proof of address.

Partnerships

A partnership is a business owned by at least two partners. Partnerships have equity, and the partnership is its own entity, separate from the owners.

Partnerships need to designate an owner or partner as the account representative of their Shopify Payments account. The account representative must provide the following information:

Legal first and last name: Your full legal name as it appears on government-issued documentation.
Date of birth: Your birth date.
Job title: The job title you hold with the business.
Email address: A valid and active email address.
Phone number: A valid and active phone number.
Residential address: Your home address, matching your documentation.
Equity: If applicable, the equity percentage you own of the business.

Partnerships must also provide the following details about their business:

Registered business name: The legal business name as shown in the Australian business register.
Australian Business Number (ABN): The business's ABN as shown in the Australian business register.
Business phone number: An active contact phone number for the business.
Business address: The official registered address of the business as shown in the Australian business register.

Our banking partners verify your information by comparing it against the business registry in Australia. Ensure that you use the correct letter case, punctuation, and symbols.

You also need to list any other people who are also partners. Ensure that you enter their names, dates of birth, and home addresses exactly as shown on their government documents. If their identities can't be verified, then they might need to provide a photo ID or proof of address.

Non profits

A non profit (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 with decision making power as their account representative. The account representative must provide the following information:

Legal first and last name: Your full legal name as it appears on government-issued documentation.
Date of birth: Your birth date.
Job title: The job title you hold with the business.
Email address: A valid and active email address.
Phone number: A valid and active phone number.
Residential address: Your home address, matching your documentation.
Equity: If applicable, the equity percentage you own of the business.

Non profits must also provide the following details about their business:

Registered business name: The legal business name as shown in the Australian business register.
Australian Business Number (ABN): The business's ABN as shown in the Australian business register.
Business phone number: An active contact phone number for the business.
Business address: The official registered address of the business as shown in the Australian business register.

Our banking partners verify your information by comparing it against the business registry in Australia. Ensure that you use the correct letter case, punctuation, and symbols.

You also need to list any other people who are on your board of directors or who are key decision makers. Ensure that you enter their names, dates of birth, and home addresses exactly as shown on their government documents. If their identities can't be verified, then they might need to provide a photo ID or proof of address.

Public company

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 must provide the following information:

Legal first and last name: Your full legal name as it appears on government-issued documentation.
Date of birth: Your birth date.
Job title: The job title you hold with the business.
Email address: A valid and active email address.
Phone number: A valid and active phone number.
Residential address: Your home address, matching your documentation.
Equity: If applicable, the equity percentage you own of the business.

Public companies must also provide the following details about their business:

Registered business name: The legal business name as shown in the Australian business register.
Australian Business Number (ABN): The business's ABN as shown in the Australian business register.
Australian Company Number (ACN): The business's ACN as shown in the Australian Securities & Investments Commission registry (ASIC).
Business phone number: An active contact phone number for the business.
Business address: The official registered address of the business as shown in the Australian business register.

Our banking partners verify your information by comparing it against the business registry in Australia. Ensure that you use the correct letter case, punctuation, and symbols.

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. For all documents except passports, photographs of both the front and back are required. The following documents are accepted as proof of identity:

Passport
Driver's license
Government-issued photo card
New South Wales driving instructor license
Tasmanian Government Personal Information card
ImmiCard
Proof of age card
Australian Defense Force (ADF) ID card (military ID)

Address documents

The name and address on your Shopify Payments account must be updated to match the information displayed in the address documents that you're providing.

Photo ID cards (such as a driver's license) can only be submitted once as either an identity document or an address document. If you've already submitted your photo ID as proof of identity, then you must select a different document from the list as proof of address. The following documents are accepted as proof of address:

Utility bill (dated within 6 months)
Bank account statement (dated within 6 months)
Medicare document (dated within 12 months)
Centerlink document (dated within 12 months)
Australian Taxation Office letters or assessments (dated within 12 months)
Council rates or land valuation notices (dated within 12 months)
Driver's license
Government-issued photo card
Tasmanian Government Personal Information card

Business verification documents

The following documents are accepted for business verification. They must clearly display the legal entity name, ABN, and address of your business. The details on your Shopify Payments account must be updated to match the information displayed in the documents that you're providing:

Australian Business Number confirmation (certificate of registration)
Australian Business Register extract (commercial register extract)
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) record of registration (certificate of registration)
Certificate of registration of change of name

If you are a non profit, then the following is additionally accepted:

Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission extract (charity or non-profit extract)
Consumer Affairs Association extract (incorporated association extract)

Ensuring documentation compliance

When providing your documents, ensure that they meet the necessary criteria. Review the following guidelines to ensure compliance:

Accuracy: Ensure that the information on your documents matches what you've entered in your Shopify Payments account. Update your account to match your documents, if necessary.
Clarity and legibility: Make sure that your documents are clear and large enough to read. Ensure the entire document is visible in the photograph.
Completeness: Ensure all the necessary details are visible on your document. Review the acceptable document types listed on this page to understand what details must be included on the document.
Original documentation: Take an original photograph of your document using a camera. Don't photocopy, scan, or screenshot your documents. Don't paste photos of documents into other documents. Don't take photos of computer screens or printouts.
- If your document was issued to you digitally, then provide the PDF file with all pages as it was originally given to you, with no alterations.
Validity: Ensure photo IDs aren't expired and that proof of address is recently issued. If providing proof of business registration, then your business should still be actively registered and in good standing.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Before contacting Shopify Support, review these common onboarding issues and their solutions.

My digital driver's license was rejected

Australia issues digital driver's licenses for some states, but these aren't accepted for verification purposes. You need to provide a clear photograph of your physical plastic driver's license card, displaying both the front and back.

The digital license doesn't replace the physical card. If you no longer have access to your physical license, then you'll need to use an alternative form of accepted photo ID, such as a passport or government-issued photo card.

My ASIC document is missing information

ASIC (Australian Securities & Investments Commission) documentation doesn't always include all the information required for account set-up or verification. Here's how to handle common missing information:

Missing ABN:

Some ASIC documents don't display your ABN. You can verify your ABN by searching your business name and ACN on the Australian Business Register. You can still submit your ASIC document for verification. If additional information is needed, Shopify Support will contact you.

Missing business address:

ASIC Records of Registration typically only display your business name, business type, and registration numbers. If your document doesn't include your business address, then you should enter the business address shown on your business's entry in the Australian Business Register.

My document was rejected

Make sure the information on your account matches the information in the document you're submitting, and update your account to match your documentation if needed. If your documents are still being rejected, then refer to the following sections on this page:

Acceptable document types: Which documents are accepted and what details they must include. Screenshots, printouts of online searches, and registry screenshots are not accepted.
Ensuring documentation compliance: Requirements for accuracy, clarity, completeness, original documentation, and validity.

My bank account information isn't working

Bank account issues can be caused by unsupported account types or incorrect formatting.

Unsupported account types:

Certain bank account types can't be used with Shopify Payments in Australia:

Savings accounts: Only checking or current accounts can be used for payouts.
Virtual bank accounts: Although virtual accounts (such as those from Revolut or Payoneer) are technically supported, they have a significantly higher payout failure rate. It's recommended to use a traditional Australian bank account when possible.
Flex-currency accounts: Accounts that support multiple currencies simultaneously aren't supported.
Accounts that only accept wire transfers: Your account must be eligible for BECS (Bulk Electronic Clearing System) transfers.

Format requirements:

When entering your bank account details, ensure they're formatted correctly:

BSB: Must be exactly 6 digits with no hyphens, spaces, or extra characters.
Account number: Usually 6-8 digits with no hyphens, spaces, or extra characters.
Currency: Your account must be in Australian dollars (AUD).
Swift codes: Not supported for Australian bank accounts.

If your payout fails, then verify that you've entered your account information in the correct format and are using a supported account type.

My payouts are on hold after updating my bank account

When you update your bank account details in Shopify Payments, an automatic 3-5 business day security hold is placed on new payouts. This is a security feature to protect your account from unauthorized changes.

During this period:

Any payouts already scheduled at the time of the update will be sent to your previous bank account.
New payouts created after the update will be held for 3-5 business days.
After the hold ends, new payouts start processing to your updated bank account according to your payout schedule.

This hold can't be removed and applies to all bank account changes.

My business information isn't being verified

When entering your business information, ensure that your business name, ABN, ACN (if applicable), and address match exactly as they appear in the Australian Business Register. This includes:

Correct letter case (uppercase and lowercase)
Correct punctuation and spacing
Complete business name as registered

Our banking partners verify your information automatically by comparing it against official registries. Even small differences can cause verification to fail. Ensure the documentation you're submitting shows legal name, ABN/ACN, and business address, and that these details match what is shown on your account. Update your account to match your document, if necessary.

My address can't be automatically verified

If your address can't be automatically verified, then you'll be asked to provide a proof of address document. Proof of address documents must show your full name, home address, and be one of the document types shown here. You should also ensure:

Ensure the address you entered in your Shopify Payments account matches exactly with the address on your proof of address document.
Update your information in your account to match your document if necessary.
Upload a clear photograph of your proof of address document.
Ensure the document you're uploading shows your own full name. If for example, you have a utility bill in someone else's name, you'll need to provide a different document.

Remember that photo ID cards (such as a driver's license) can only be submitted once, either as identity verification or as address verification. If you've already used your driver's license as your photo ID, then select a different document from the accepted address documents list.

Frequently asked questions

Review these frequently asked questions about Shopify Payments requirements in Australia.

I'm a citizen of Australia and I was born there, but I don't currently live there. Can I use Shopify Payments Australia?

If your business type is individual or sole proprietorship, you’re required to live in Australia to be eligible for Shopify Payments Australia. If you do not currently live in Australia, you should instead create a Shopify Payments account for the region you live in.

Update your store address to your current location. If your location is eligible for Shopify Payments, you can then create a Shopify Payments account for that region instead.

If you are a type of partnership, company, or nonprofit, then you’re not required to personally live in Australia, but your business is required to be registered there and have an Australian business address. If you need help, contact Shopify Support.

Can I use my Medicare card or Centerlink document as photo ID?

No. Medicare cards and Centerlink documents are accepted as proof of address documents, not as identity verification.

The following documents are accepted as proof of identity:

Passport
Driver's license
Government-issued photo card
Other accepted photo ID listed in the identity documents section

Remember that documents can only be submitted once, either as identity verification or as address verification. If you've already used your driver's license as your photo ID, then you must select a different document for proof of address.

I'm a trust. What business type should I pick?

If your trust’s shares are publicly traded, you should select “public company”. If your shares are privately held, you should select “corporation”.

You can get more information on the type of trust you are by looking up your ABN in the Australian Business Register.

How do I update my Shopify Payments account information?

If you are actively being asked to complete account verification, then you can make any updates to your information from in the verification page along with submitting any documents that are being requested.

Outside of the verification process, the account owner of the store can update these details through Settings > General > Business Details. Click the three dots beside your business entity and then click "edit" to update that business's information, including business type.

Note that any changes you make here are automatically sent to our banking partners for review, and the new information is re-run through their verification process. It's possible the changes automatically re-verify, but you may also be asked for supporting documents.

If you have an outstanding Shopify Australia Capital loan, then you may not be able to update some of your business information until after the loan is completely paid off first. Your loan was issued to the business currently on file, so it cannot be transferred to a different business. Contact Shopify Support if you have questions.

Before you contact Shopify Support about Shopify Payments in Australia

Before reaching out to Shopify Support, gather this information to help resolve your issue faster:

Screenshots of any error messages you received (censor sensitive information like bank account numbers)
The business type you selected during setup
Your Australian Business Number (ABN) and Australian Company Number (ACN), if applicable
The specific step where you encountered the issue
The browser and device you're using
Your bank account details (BSB, account type, currency) without sharing the full account number
Any documents you've uploaded and when you uploaded them

Having this information ready helps Shopify Support assist you more efficiently.

Bank account and personal information requirements for Shopify Payments in Australia

On this page

Requirements for using Shopify Payments in Australia

Unsupported bank account types

Purpose of collecting information

Required personal and business information for activating Shopify Payments in Australia

Acceptable document types

Identity documents

Address documents

Business verification documents

Ensuring documentation compliance

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Frequently asked questions

Before you contact Shopify Support about Shopify Payments in Australia