Bank account and personal information requirements for using Shopify Payments in the United States

Before using 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 section 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 the United States

Before you use Shopify Payments in the United States, 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 the United States in the Shopify Payments Terms of Service.
Bank account requirements: 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 must be a full checking account with a bank in the United States in USD currency.
- The bank account must be eligible for Automated Clearing House (ACH) 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.

Domestic United States virtual bank accounts that can accept ACH transfers might work for Shopify Payments payouts, but they can experience more payout failures than traditional bank accounts. To reduce payout failures, use a full checking account with a bank in the United States that can accept ACH transfers.

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 that 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 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 the United States

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 Employer Identification Number (EIN) and you only have a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), then select Individual.

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.

Contact Shopify Support if you're unsure of which business type to select.

Individuals

Individuals are single person businesses that haven't registered for an EIN and are doing business privately. Individuals need to provide the following information:

Legal first and last names: Your full legal name as it appears on government-issued documentation.
Date of birth: Your birth date, formatted as MM/DD/YYYY.
SSN or ITIN: Your Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.
Email address: A valid and active email address.
Phone number: A valid phone number in the United States.
Residential address in the United States: Your home address, matching your government documentation.

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. Review the list of acceptable photo ID documents.

Sole Proprietorships

A Sole Proprietorship is a business that's owned and controlled by an individual in the United States and which is registered for an EIN. Sole Proprietorships need to designate the Owner as the account representative of their Shopify Payments account. The account representative needs to provide the following information:

Legal first and last names: The full legal name of the account representative as it appears on government-issued documentation.
Date of birth: The birth date of the account representative, formatted as MM/DD/YYYY.
SSN or ITIN: A valid Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number for the account representative.
Email address: A valid and active email address.
Phone number: A valid phone number in the United States.
Residential address in the United States: The home address of the account representative, matching government documentation.

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. Review the list of acceptable photo ID documents.

Sole Proprietors also need to provide the following details about their business:

Registered name: The legal business name as registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
EIN: The business's EIN as issued by the IRS.
Business phone number: An active phone number for the business.
Business address: The official physical address of the business in the United States, where the business operations primarily occur.

If your EIN can’t be verified, then you might be asked to provide an IRS document such as an SS-4 or a 147c Letter. When providing this document, ensure that the registered name and EIN listed in your account matches exactly with the information on the document. Your registered name is always the line or lines above the business address on your IRS documentation. Update the information in your account to match the document if necessary. Review the list of acceptable business documents.

Private Single Member LLC

A Private Single Member LLC is a type of Limited Liability Company (LLC) that has one owner (member).

Private Single Member LLCs must designate the Owner as the account representative of their Shopify Payments account. The account representative must provide the following information:

Legal first and last names: The account representative's full legal name as it appears on government-issued documentation.
Date of birth: The account representative's birth date, formatted as MM/DD/YYYY.
SSN or ITIN: A valid Social Security Number, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. If you are a non-US resident, then you can provide a photograph of a valid passport instead.
Email address: A valid and active email address.
Phone number: A valid phone number.
Residential address: The account representative's home address, matching government documentation.
Job title: The job title of the account representative.
Equity: The equity percentage of the account representative in the business.

If the account representative doesn't have an SSN or ITIN, then ensure their residential address is correctly set to their home outside of the United States. This displays an option to provide a photograph of a valid passport instead of an SSN or ITIN.

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. Review the list of acceptable photo ID documents.

Single Member LLCs must also provide the following business details:

Registered name: The legal business name as registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
EIN: The business's EIN as issued by the IRS.
Business phone number: An active phone number for the business.
Business address: The official physical address of the business in the United States, where the business operations primarily occur.

Private Multi-Member LLC

A Private Multi Member LLC is a type of Limited Liability Company (LLC) with multiple owners (members). Owners can be individual people, corporations, other LLCs, or foreign entities.

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 must provide the following information:

Legal first and last names: The account representative's full legal name as it appears on government-issued documentation.
Date of birth: The account representative's birth date, formatted as MM/DD/YYYY.
SSN or ITIN: A valid Social Security Number, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. If you are a non-US resident, then you can provide a photograph of a valid passport instead.
Email address: A valid and active email address.
Phone number: A valid phone number.
Residential address: The account representative's home address, matching government documentation.
Job title: The job title of the account representative.
Equity: The equity percentage of the account representative in the business.

Multi Member LLCs must also provide the following business details:

Registered name: The legal business name as registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
EIN: The business's EIN as issued by the IRS.
Business phone number: An active phone number for the business.
Business address: The official physical address of the business in the United States, where the business operations primarily occur.

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 or ITIN, home address, job title, and contact information. If their identities can't be verified automatically using the information provided, then they can be asked 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: The account representative's full legal name as it appears on government-issued documentation.
Date of birth: The account representative's birth date, formatted as MM/DD/YYYY.
SSN or ITIN: A valid Social Security Number, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. If you are a non-US resident, then you can provide a photograph of a valid passport instead.
Email address: A valid and active email address.
Phone number: A valid phone number.
Residential address: The account representative's home address, matching government documentation.
Job title: The job title of the account representative.
Equity: The equity percentage of the account representative in the business.

Private partnerships also need to provide the following details about the business:

Registered name: The legal business name as registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
EIN: The business's EIN as issued by the IRS.
Business phone number: An active phone number for the business.
Business address: The official physical address of the business in the United States, where the business operations primarily occur.

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: The executive's full legal name as it appears on government-issued documentation.
Date of birth: The executive's birth date, formatted as MM/DD/YYYY.
SSN or ITIN: A valid Social Security Number, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. If you are a non-US resident, then you can provide a photograph of a valid passport instead.
Email address: A valid and active email address.
Phone number: A valid phone number.
Residential address: The executive's home address, matching government documentation.
Job title: The job title of the executive representing the partnership.
Equity: The equity percentage of the executive in the business, if applicable.

If the account representative doesn't have an SSN or ITIN, then ensure their residential address is set to their home outside of the United States. This displays an option to provide a photograph of a valid passport instead of an SSN or ITIN.

Public partnerships also need to provide the following details about the business:

Registered name: The legal business name as registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
EIN: The partnership's EIN as issued by the IRS.
Business phone number: An active phone number for the business.
Business address: The official physical address of the business in the United States, where the business operations primarily occur.

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: The account representative's full legal name as displayed on government-issued documentation.
Date of birth: The account representative's birth date, formatted as MM/DD/YYYY.
SSN or ITIN: A valid Social Security Number, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. If you are a non-US resident, then you can provide a photograph of a valid passport instead.
Email address: A valid and active email address.
Phone number: A valid phone number.
Residential address: The account representative's home address, matching government documentation.
Job title: The job title of the account representative.
Equity: The equity percentage of the account representative in the business, if applicable.

Private companies also need to provide the following details about the business:

Registered name: The legal business name as registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
EIN: The company's EIN as issued by the IRS.
Business phone number: An active phone number for the business.
Business address: The official physical address of the business in the United States, where the business operations primarily occur.

You also need to list any other people who own 25% or more of the business equity on the account, and provide their name, date of birth, SSN or 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: The account representative's full legal name as displayed on government-issued documentation.
Date of birth: The account representative's birth date, formatted as MM/DD/YYYY.
SSN or ITIN: A valid Social Security Number, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. If you are a non-US resident, then you can provide a photograph of a valid passport instead.
Email address: A valid and active email address.
Phone number: A valid phone number.
Residential address: The account representative's home address, matching government documentation.
Job title: The job title of the account representative.
Equity: The equity percentage of the account representative in the business, if applicable.

Public companies also need to provide the following details about the business:

Registered name: The legal business name as registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
EIN: The company's EIN as issued by the IRS.
Business phone number: An active phone number for the business.
Business address: The official physical address of the business in the United States, where the business operations primarily occur.

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: The account representative's full legal name as displayed on government-issued documentation.
Date of birth: The account representative's birth date, formatted as MM/DD/YYYY.
SSN or ITIN: A valid Social Security Number, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. If you are a non-US resident, then you can provide a photograph of a valid passport instead.
Email address: A valid and active email address.
Phone number: A valid phone number.
Residential address: The account representative's home address, matching government documentation.
Job title: The job title of the account representative.
Equity: The equity percentage of the account representative in the business, if applicable.

If the account representative doesn’t have an SSN or ITIN, then ensure their residential address is correctly set to their home outside of the United States. This displays an option to provide a photograph of a valid passport instead of an SSN or ITIN.

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. Review the list of acceptable photo ID documents.

Non-profits also need to provide the following details about the business:

Registered name: The legal business name as registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
EIN: The company's EIN as issued by the IRS.
Business phone number: An active phone number for the business.
Business address: The official physical address of the business in the United States, where the business operations primarily occur.

Private unincorporated associations

An unincorporated association is an entity that is 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 must provide the following information:

Legal first and last names: The account representative's full legal name as displayed on government-issued documentation.
Date of birth: The account representative's birth date, formatted as MM/DD/YYYY.
SSN or ITIN: A valid Social Security Number, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. If you are a non-US resident, then you can provide a photograph of a valid passport instead.
Email address: A valid and active email address.
Phone number: A valid phone number.
Residential address: The account representative's home address, matching government documentation.
Job title: The job title of the account representative.
Equity: The equity percentage of the account representative in the business, if applicable.

Unincorporated associations also need to provide the following details about the business:

Registered name: The legal business name as registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
EIN: The company's EIN as issued by the IRS.
Business phone number: An active phone number for the business.
Business address: The official physical address of the business in the United States, where the business operations primarily occur.

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 that you're providing. The documents must be valid and mustn't 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 Notice CP575
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.

Example of Form SS-4 with the registered name and EIN highlighted

Business address documents

The business address on your Shopify Payments account must be updated to match the information shown in the business address document that you're providing. The documents must show a date of issuance within the past 6 months. The following documents are accepted as proof of business address:

Utility bills
Credit card statements or bank account statements
Insurance statements
Tax assessment notices
Proof of business registration

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 the following common onboarding issues and their solutions.

I don't have an SSN or ITIN. What should I enter?

If you're signing up as an Individual or a Sole Proprietorship, then having a valid SSN or ITIN is a requirement that can't be bypassed.

If your business is any other type, then ensure your residential address is entered correctly. After you update your residential address to your location outside of the United States, an option appears that allows you to declare that you don't have an SSN or ITIN. You're required to provide a valid passport instead. Ensure you photograph your passport clearly, and don't scan, screenshot, or copy it.

I'm having issues with verifying my address.

I'm being asked for a US residential address, but I don't live in the United States:

If you live outside of the United States and are being asked for a US home address, then you might be signed up under an incorrect business type. For Shopify Payments in the United States, Individuals and Sole Proprietorships are required to live in the United States. If your account is any other business type, then you should be able to update your home address to a different country.

If you have simultaneously signed up for any additional financial products, such as Shopify Balance, Credit, or Capital loans, these products require you to have a residential address in the US as well, and you may be asked to update your address, or your account representative, in order to remain eligible for them.

My address can't be automatically verified:

If your address can't be automatically verified, ensure you're entering it correctly and that your city, state, and postal code all align. Our banking partners may have difficulty verifying an address if it's a rural area, or part of new area developments. If this is the case for your address, update it according to what Google Maps or USPS shows.

If you're having difficulty, please contact Shopify Support for assistance.

My Employer Identification Number (EIN) can't be verified.

If your EIN can't be verified, then you might be asked to provide an IRS document such as an SS-4 Confirmation Letter, an IRS Notice CP575, or an IRS Letter 147c. When providing this document, ensure the following details are correct:

The registered name and EIN listed in your account match exactly with the information on the document.
Your registered name is always the line or lines above the business address on your IRS documentation.
Update the information in your account to match the document, if necessary. Everything should be an exact match, including punctuation and capitalization.

For details on accepted business documents, refer to the business verification documents section.

My document was rejected.

Ensure the information on your Shopify Payments 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 aren't accepted.
Ensuring documentation compliance: Requirements for accuracy, clarity, completeness, original documentation, and validity.

I'm in the military and I have an APO/FPO mailing address. Can I use this address with Shopify Payments?

If you are US military personnel that is currently stationed overseas, you will not be able to sign-up for Shopify Payments using your APO/FPO mailing address. This is because APO/FPO addresses are functionally the same as a PO box or private mail box, and Shopify needs an actual residential location where you reside.

If asked for your residential address, please provide the residential address you will occupy upon your return to the US. If you're not yet sure where you will be living when you return, use your most recent US domestic address that shows on your government issued documents, utility bills, bank account statements, etc. You can update this address later upon request, if you need to.

Frequently asked questions

Review the following frequently asked questions about Shopify Payments requirements in the United States.

Why does Shopify need my SSN or ITIN if I've already provided my EIN?

Even if you sign up as a registered legal entity using an EIN, Shopify requires the SSN or ITIN of the people on file to verify their identities.

For sole propreitorships, an SSN or ITIN is used to report your income tax. For single member LLCs, you can optionally choose whether to report using your EIN or your SSN/ITIN.

For all other business types, SSNs and ITINs are only used for identity verification of the people associated with the business. SSNs/ITINs of owners, directors, and other key officers are not used for tax reporting. This would not affect their personal finances, credit score, etc. This request is similar to when opening a business bank account, you'd be required to provide the SSN/ITINs of the owners and directors.

What should I do if I don't know what business type to choose?

If you don't have an EIN and only have an SSN or ITIN, then select Individual as your business type.

If you have an EIN and you're not sure what business type you are, then contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or speak with an accountant to confirm.

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 US 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.

My business is owned by a holding company. Who do I list as the owners?

Beneficial owners are defined as any individual person who directly or indirectly (through ownership in a parent or holding company) owns 25% or more of the company. If there are individuals who own equity of your company through their ownership of the holding company, then you should list them as beneficial owners. Here is an example:

Company A is owned by:

John - 50%
Company B - 50%

Company B is owned by:

Jane - 100%

Therefore Company A is owned by:

John - 50%
Jane - 50%

As equity and ownership breakdowns can vary a lot between businesses, and because these details are typically only included in internal company documents, Shopify is unable to advise you on who you should list on the account as an owner. For advice, consider speaking with an accountant.

My business has equity and is privately owned, but there are no beneficial owners. Who should I list as an owner?

If you have no beneficial owners, then you can skip the sections that ask you to list owners and proceed to the next step of the setup process. You're not required to list beneficial owners if you don't have any.

I'm an unincorporated association. I don't need an EIN, so why am I being asked to provide one?

Having an EIN isn't a requirement to be an unincorporated association, but an EIN is a requirement to use Shopify Payments in the United States. If your business doesn't have an EIN, then you can register for one with the IRS, or you can set up as an Individual instead.

Will my customers be able to see my business information?

Your business name, business phone number, and business address can appear on your customers' credit card statements, but visibility varies depending on their financial institution. Personal information for owners and directors, such as their names or home addresses, is never made publicly available.

Can I use Shopify Payments if my business is in a US territory?

Shopify Payments in the United States supports business addresses in the 50 states and Puerto Rico only. The US Virgin Islands, Guam, and other US territories aren't supported for Shopify Payments.

If your business is in a US territory that isn't supported, then you need to use an alternative payment provider. Update your store address to your current location to see available payment options.

My account was already verified. Why am I being asked to provide new information?

Shopify and its banking partners are required to keep merchant information up to date in accordance with evolving regulations in the United States. Even after your account has been verified, you might be contacted to provide additional or updated information. This can happen for the following reasons:

Regulatory requirements in the United States have changed, and additional documentation is needed.
Your existing information has expired or needs to be refreshed.
Changes to your business structure, ownership, or address require updated verification.

To resolve this, review the request in your Shopify admin and provide the updated information or documents as prompted. Ensure that the details you provide match your current government-issued documentation.

Before you contact Shopify Support about Shopify Payments in the United States

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

Screenshots of any error messages you received, with sensitive information such as bank account numbers censored
The business type you selected during setup
Your Employer Identification Number (EIN), if applicable
Your Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) status, without sharing the full number
The specific step where you encountered the issue
The browser and device you're using
Your bank account type and currency, without sharing the full account number
Any documents you've already uploaded and their status

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