Bank account and personal information requirements for Shopify Payments in Germany

Individuals are single owner businesses that haven't registered with the government and are doing business privately. Sole proprietors are single owner businesses who are registered with the government under their personal information. Both are businesses that are owned and controlled by one individual living in Germany. This includes freelancers and self-employed small business operators.

These business types are treated the same way and must provide the same information. Individuals and sole proprietors must provide:

• 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 Germany: Your home address, matching your documentation.

If your information can't be verified automatically, then you'll receive a request to verify your identity. If any of your information such as your name, date of birth, or home address, is incorrect, then you should update your account information.

If the information is correct and you still receive a request for verification, then you can resolve the request by completing either one of the following tasks:

• Confirm your identity by taking a selfie with a valid photo ID.
• Upload separate proof of identity and proof of address documents in your Shopify admin.
  • The information on your documents must match what you enter on your account exactly. Update your account information to match your documents if needed.

A private 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. They typically also have a board of directors.

Private 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.
• Email address: A valid and active email address.
• Phone number: A valid and active phone number.
• Residential address: Your home address, matching your documentation.
• Job title: The job title you hold with the business.
• Equity (if applicable): If applicable, the equity percentage you own of the business.

If your information can't be verified automatically, then you'll receive a request to verify your identity. If any of your information such as your name, date of birth, or home address, is incorrect, then you should update your account information.

If the information is correct and you still receive a request for verification, then you can resolve the request by completing either one of the following tasks:

• Confirm your identity by taking a selfie with a valid photo ID.
• Upload separate proof of identity and proof of address documents in your Shopify admin.
  • The information on your documents must match what you enter on your account exactly. Update your account information to match your documents if needed.

Private corporations must also provide the following details about their business:

• Registered name: The legal business name as shown in the business registry.
• HRB (Registernummer): The business's HRB number as shown in the business registry.
• Register court (Registergericht): The court in Germany where your business is registered.
• VAT number (if applicable): Your VAT registration number, if applicable.
• Business phone number: An active contact phone number for the business.
• Business address: The official registered address of the business as shown in the business registry.

Shopify's banking partners verify your information by comparing it against government registries in Germany. Pay careful attention to case, punctuation, and symbols.

If the information 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, HRB, and business address listed in your account matches exactly with the information on the document. Update the information in your account to match the document if necessary.

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

The owners you provide must match against the owners listed in your government's business registry. If a mismatch is detected, you'll be asked to either complete the attestation process by clicking the "sign" button, or provide a proof of ownership document. Signing the attestation is fast and simple, but if you'd prefer to submit a document, ensure the names of the owners listed on your account matches exactly with the owners listed on your document. Update the information on your account to match your document, if necessary. If your business is owned by a holding company (either wholly or partly), sign the attestation to complete verification.

If your business has no owners you'll be asked to either sign an attestation, or provide a document confirming your directors instead. If you'd prefer to submit a document, ensure the names of the directors listed in your account matches exactly with the directors listed on your document. Update the information on your account to match your document, if necessary.

A registered partnership is a business owned by at least two partners, who have registered for commercial activity and obtained an HRA. Registered partnerships have equity, and the partnership is its own entity, separate from the owners.

Registered 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.
• Email address: A valid and active email address.
• Phone number: A valid and active phone number.
• Residential address: Your home address, matching your documentation.
• Job title: The job title you hold with the business.
• Equity (if applicable): If applicable, the equity percentage you own of the business.

If your information can't be verified automatically, then you'll receive a request to verify your identity. If any of your information such as your name, date of birth, or home address, is incorrect, then you should update your account information.

If the information is correct and you still receive a request for verification, then you can resolve the request by completing either one of the following tasks:

• Confirm your identity by taking a selfie with a valid photo ID.
• Upload separate proof of identity and proof of address documents in your Shopify admin.
  • The information on your documents must match what you enter on your account exactly. Update your account information to match your documents if needed.

Registered partnerships must also provide the following details about their business:

• Registered name: The legal business name as shown in the business registry.
• HRA (Registernummer): The business's HRA number as shown in the business registry.
• Register court (Registergericht): The court in Germany where your business is registered.
• VAT number (if applicable): Your VAT registration number, if applicable.
• Business phone number: An active contact phone number for the business.
• Business address: The official registered address of the business as shown in the business registry.

Shopify's banking partners verify your information by comparing it against government registries in Germany. Pay careful attention to case, punctuation, and symbols.

If the information 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, HRA, and business address listed in your account matches exactly with the information on the document. Update the information in your account to match the document if necessary.

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

The owners you provide must match against the owners listed in your government's business registry. If a mismatch is detected, you'll be asked to either complete the attestation process by clicking the "sign" button, or provide a proof of ownership document. Signing the attestation is fast and simple, but if you'd prefer to submit a document, ensure the names of the owners listed on your account matches exactly with the owners listed on your document. Update the information on your account to match your document, if necessary. If your business is owned by a holding company (either wholly or partly), sign the attestation to complete verification.

An unincorporated partnership is a business owned by at least two partners who haven't registered for an HRA, but who have a partnership agreement. The owners are considered the legal entity in this case, and the business is not a separate entity. A common form of unincorporated partnership is Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts (GbR).

Unincorporated partnerships need to designate an owner 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.
• Email address: A valid and active email address.
• Phone number: A valid and active phone number.
• Residential address: Your home address, matching your documentation.
• Job title: The job title you hold with the business.
• Equity (if applicable): If applicable, the equity percentage you own of the business.

If your information can't be verified automatically, then you'll receive a request to verify your identity. If any of your information such as your name, date of birth, or home address, is incorrect, then you should update your account information.

If the information is correct and you still receive a request for verification, then you can resolve the request by completing either one of the following tasks:

• Confirm your identity by taking a selfie with a valid photo ID.
• Upload separate proof of identity and proof of address documents in your Shopify admin.
  • The information on your documents must match what you enter on your account exactly. Update your account information to match your documents if needed.

Unincorporated partnerships must also provide the following details about their business:

• Registered name: The legal business name as shown in the business registry.
• VAT number (if applicable): Your VAT registration number, if applicable.
• Business phone number: An active contact phone number for the business.
• Business address: The official registered address of the business as shown in the business registry.

Shopify's banking partners verify your information by comparing it against government registries in Germany. Pay careful attention to case, punctuation, and symbols.

If the information 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 and business address listed in your account matches exactly with the information on the document. Update the information in your account to match the document if necessary.

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

The owners you provide must match against the owners listed in your government's business registry. If a mismatch is detected, you'll be asked to either complete the attestation process by clicking the "sign" button, or provide a proof of ownership document. Signing the attestation is fast and simple, but if you'd prefer to submit a document, ensure the names of the owners listed on your account matches exactly with the owners listed on your document. Update the information on your account to match your document, if necessary. If your business is owned by a holding company (either wholly or partly), sign the attestation to complete verification.

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. Registered non-profits have registered for commercial purposes and obtained an HRB or HRA.

Registered non-profits must assign either a director 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.
• Email address: A valid and active email address.
• Phone number: A valid and active phone number.
• Residential address: Your home address, matching your documentation.
• Job title: The job title you hold with the business.
• Equity (if applicable): If applicable, the equity percentage you own of the business.

If your information can't be verified automatically, then you'll receive a request to verify your identity. If any of your information such as your name, date of birth, or home address, is incorrect, then you should update your account information.

If the information is correct and you still receive a request for verification, then you can resolve the request by completing either one of the following tasks:

• Confirm your identity by taking a selfie with a valid photo ID.
• Upload separate proof of identity and proof of address documents in your Shopify admin.
  • The information on your documents must match what you enter on your account exactly. Update your account information to match your documents if needed.

Registered non-profits must also provide the following details about their business:

• Registered name: The legal business name as shown in the business registry.
• HRA/HRB (Registernummer): The business's HRA or HRB number as shown in the business registry.
• Register court (Registergericht): The court in Germany where your business is registered.
• VAT number (if applicable): Your VAT registration number, if applicable.
• Business phone number: An active contact phone number for the business.
• Business address: The official registered address of the business as shown in the business registry.

Shopify's banking partners verify your information by comparing it against government registries in Germany. Pay careful attention to case, punctuation, and symbols.

If the information 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, HRB or HRA number, and business address listed in your account matches exactly with the information on the document. Update the information in your account to match the document if necessary.

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

The directors you provide must match against the directors listed in your government's business registry. If a mismatch is detected, you'll be asked to either complete the attestation process by clicking the "sign" button, or provide a proof of directorship document. Signing the attestation is fast and simple, but if you'd prefer to submit a document, ensure the names of the directors listed on your account matches exactly with the directors listed on your document. Update the information on your account to match your document, if necessary.

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. An unregistered non-profit doesn't have an HRB or HRA number, but has registered with local courts and has non-profit status.

Unregistered non-profits must assign a key decision maker or organizer as their account representative and mark that person as an executive. 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.
• Email address: A valid and active email address.
• Phone number: A valid and active phone number.
• Residential address: Your home address, matching your documentation.
• Job title: The job title you hold with the business.
• Equity (if applicable): If applicable, the equity percentage you own of the business.

If your information can't be verified automatically, then you'll receive a request to verify your identity. If any of your information such as your name, date of birth, or home address, is incorrect, then you should update your account information.

If the information is correct and you still receive a request for verification, then you can resolve the request by completing either one of the following tasks:

• Confirm your identity by taking a selfie with a valid photo ID.
• Upload separate proof of identity and proof of address documents in your Shopify admin.
  • The information on your documents must match what you enter on your account exactly. Update your account information to match your documents if needed.

Unregistered non-profits must also provide the following details about their business:

• Registered name: The legal business name as shown in the business registry.
• VAT number (if applicable): Your VAT registration number, if applicable.
• Business phone number: An active contact phone number for the business.
• Business address: The official registered address of the business as shown in the business registry.

Shopify's banking partners verify your information by comparing it against government registries in Germany. Pay careful attention to case, punctuation, and symbols.

If the information 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 and business address listed in your account matches exactly with the information on the document. Update the information in your account to match the document if necessary.

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

The directors you provide must match against the directors listed in your government's business registry. If a mismatch is detected, you'll be asked to either complete the attestation process by clicking the "sign" button, or provide a proof of directorship document. Signing the attestation is fast and simple, but if you'd prefer to submit a document, ensure the names of the directors listed on your account matches exactly with the directors listed on your document. Update the information on your account to match your document, if necessary.