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Verify Identity

Last updated: November 20 2024

Written and researched by experts at Avada Learn more about our methodology

With Shopify store owners, after having set up Shopify Payments, they could now enjoy the convenience of accepting online payment, managing an entire business and financials at ease on the same platform. However, they are also required to verify their identify on Shopify Payments once their stores make any sales.

In this article, you would find detailed instructions with illustration on how to verify your identity on Shopify Payments.

Why you need to verify your identity on Shopify Payments?

As an account owner on Shopify, you will be asked to verify your identity once a certain number of sales made from your store is recorded. When the action is required, Shopify would inform you through both a pop-up notification on your Shopify home page, and an email from Shopify.

After receiving this request, you should take action as soon as possible, as your Shopify Payments account will contemporarily be deactivated until your identity is verified. This could be done with a few simple steps by submitting a government-issued photo ID or your SIN through the Payment providers section in your Shopify admin.

How to verify your identity on Shopify Payments?

Follow our simple guide below to help you verify your identity on Shopify Payments at instant:

Step 1: Access the Shopify Payments

  • Log into your Shopify admin.
  • Click on “Settings” in the bottom left corner.
Verifying Identity On Shopify Payments

  • Select “Payments” from the list.
Verifying Identity On Shopify Payments

Step 2: Set up Shopify Payments 

Verifying Identity On Shopify Payments

You need to set up Shopify Payments in order to conduct the verification process later on. Simply click on the “Complete account setup” to proceed.

Verifying Identity On Shopify Payments

Fill in the necessary information

Fulfill the required information to finish your Shopify Payments setting

Here are the key information you need to fulfill:

1. Business type

Choose one of the three main business types to continue

  • An individual
  • A registered business
  • A non-profit 
Verifying Identity On Shopify Payments

2. Business details

Fill in all of the information about your business detailed

Verifying Identity On Shopify Payments

3. Store details

Now, you need to select the Industry type that matches your business most

Verifying Identity On Shopify Payments

4. Account representative

At this stage, you need to fulfill the account representative information to proceed to the review stage

Verifying Identity On Shopify Payments

5. Review

Click “Confirm” at the review stage to finalize your setup process.

Wait for confirmation from Shopify

You need to wait for a few days so Shopify team can check and validate your information

Note: To get the green light for Shopify Payments, Shopify experts need to double-check a few things. Your identity, address, and business documents need to match perfectly with what you’ve told Shopify on your account. 

While Shopify is on the review stage, your payouts might be on pause, but don’t worry, your store stays open and customers can still shop! If you’ve uploaded everything correctly and still get a ‘not verified’ message, just give Shopify support team a shout.

Step 3: Verifying your ID

You might notice a banner displayed within your admin panel indicating that the Shopify Accounts team is currently conducting a routine account review.

Verifying Identity On Shopify Payments

The next thing you need to do is to click the “Contact Support” button above to see what information that Shopify may need more to validate your information. 

Some information you may need to provide include:

  • Proof of Business Ownership: A scanned copy of documentation that verifies your ownership of the business.
  • Proof of Identity: A scanned copy of a government-issued photo ID (passport, driver’s license, or national ID card) belonging to the account owner, credit card owner, or business entity owner.
  • Proof of Address: A scanned copy of a recent document (dated within the last three months) that confirms the representative’s personal home address, not the business address.

Step 4: Upload the additional documents

Once you have prepared the necessary documents as mentioned above, you can submit them to Shopify and wait for their approval.

FAQs

Why does Shopify Payments require me to verify my identity?

Shopify Payments needs to verify your identity to comply with financial regulations and prevent fraud.   

What types of ID are accepted for verification?

Typically, government-issued photo IDs like passports or driver’s licenses are accepted.   

How long does the verification process usually take?

The verification process usually takes a few business days.

What if my identity verification fails even after submitting valid documents?

If you’ve uploaded documents that meet the requirements and still receive a notification that your information wasn’t verified, contact Shopify Support for assistance.

Will my payouts be on hold during the verification process?

Yes, your payouts might be temporarily placed on hold until your identity is verified, but your store will usually remain open for customers to make purchases.

In conclusion

The above information is a detailed guide and explanation on how to verify your identity for Shopify Payments on Desktop, iPhone, and Android. I hope it helps in making the most out of your experience with managing your online store through Shopify Payments.

If you have any questions concerning how to use Shopify in managing your store, visit our Help Center to view similar instructions.

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Sam Nguyen is the CEO and founder of Avada Commerce, an e-commerce solution provider headquartered in Singapore. He is an expert on the Shopify e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems. Sam loves talking about e-commerce and he aims to help over a million online businesses grow and thrive.