Stripe Business Verification
How to Verify Your Business in Stripe
Before Stripe releases your payouts, they require identity and business verification. This is a one-time process. Follow the steps below and you will be done in about 10 minutes.
Your information is submitted directly to Stripe. We are not involved in this step and do not see or store what you enter.
Why This Matters
Stripe Will Hold Your Payouts Until This Is Done
Federal law requires payment processors to verify the identity of every business on their platform. Stripe enforces this hard.
Until verification is complete, your balance can be held and payouts blocked, even if customers are successfully paying you. Getting this done right away prevents any interruption to your cash flow once your site goes live.
Why Stripe Requires This
Federal KYC Requirements
Stripe is required under the Bank Secrecy Act and FinCEN guidelines to verify the identity of every business that processes payments. It is not optional, and it applies to every business, no matter how small.
- Payouts held or frozen
- Transaction limits enforced
- Account can be restricted
- Disputes may be blocked
- Payouts on the normal schedule
- Full transaction volume
- Account in good standing
- Disputes handled normally
Verification is one-time and permanent. Once approved, your account stays verified. You only need to update if your business name, EIN, or ownership changes.
Before You Start
Gather These Before You Open Stripe
Having everything ready means you can complete the whole process in one sitting without stopping to hunt anything down.
Best source: most of this is on your EIN letter or state filing documents. Pull that out before you start.
- Legal Business NameExact name on your EIN or state filing. Even small differences cause delays.
- Business StructureLLC, Sole Proprietorship, Corporation, etc.
- EIN (Employer Identification Number)Federal tax ID from your IRS documents. Sole props can use an SSN instead.
- Industry / Business DescriptionA brief summary of what your business sells or does.
- Business AddressYour registered address. No P.O. Boxes accepted.
- City, State, ZIPMust match your IRS or state filing records exactly.
- Business Phone NumberA working number associated with the business.
- Business Email AddressUsed for your Stripe account login and notifications.
- Full Legal NameAs it appears on a government-issued ID.
- Date of BirthRequired for identity verification of all account owners.
- Last 4 Digits of SSNA full SSN is required in some cases. Submitted directly to Stripe.
- Home AddressThe personal residential address of the account representative.
- Website URLMust be live and publicly accessible. Stripe reviewers check it.
- Privacy Policy URLMust describe how customer data is collected and handled.
- Refund Policy URLRequired for most business types.
- Bank Account for PayoutsRouting and account number for where Stripe sends your money.
You Will Not Need
- Bank login credentials
- Full SSN (usually)
- DUNS number
- Stock ticker
- Articles of Incorporation (usually)
- Hosting credentials
Step-by-Step Guide
Complete Verification in Stripe
Follow these steps in order. Log into your Stripe account at dashboard.stripe.com before you begin.
Pro tip: keep this page open on one screen and your Stripe dashboard on another, then follow along without losing your place.
- 1 Log In to Your Stripe DashboardGo to dashboard.stripe.com and sign in. If verification is required you will see a banner at the top. You can also go to Settings, then Business settings, then Business details.
- 2 Enter Your Business InformationFill in your legal business name, business type, EIN, registered address, phone, and email. This must match exactly what is on your IRS or state filing documents. A mismatch is the most common cause of delays.
- 3 Enter Your Personal Identity InformationEnter your full legal name, date of birth, home address, and the last 4 digits of your SSN. This is required by federal law and goes directly to Stripe.
- 4 Add Your Website and Policy URLsEnter your live website, privacy policy, and refund policy URLs. Stripe reviewers look at your site, so it needs to be publicly accessible and describe what you sell. No policy pages yet? Let us know before you submit. Missing policies can trigger a manual review and delay approval.
- 5 Connect Your Bank Account for PayoutsAdd the bank account where Stripe will send payouts. You will need your routing and account number. Stripe verifies it instantly via Plaid, or within 1 to 2 business days via micro-deposit.
- 6 Submit and Wait for ConfirmationSubmit your verification. Most accounts are approved within a few hours to 1 business day. Stripe emails you when your account is verified and payouts are enabled. Check spam if you do not hear back within 2 days.
- 10 minWith documents ready
- 1 to 2 daysTypical approval time
- One-timeNever expires
- $0Cost to verify
Common Questions
Stripe Verification FAQ
The most common questions when completing Stripe business verification.
Why does Stripe need my Social Security Number?
Federal law requires Stripe to verify the identity of any individual with ownership or control over a business account. Stripe uses your SSN, typically just the last four digits, to match you against identity records. This is the same check banks run when you open a business account. It is submitted directly to Stripe and is not visible to anyone outside their verification process.
I am a sole proprietor without an EIN. Can I still verify?
Yes. Sole proprietors without an EIN can verify using their full SSN in place of a Tax ID. Stripe accepts this. If you would rather not put your SSN on more forms going forward, applying for a free EIN through the IRS website takes about 10 minutes and you receive it instantly.
Stripe is asking me to upload a photo ID. Is that normal?
Yes, this is normal for some account types or when Stripe’s automated verification cannot confirm a match. Upload a clear photo or scan of a government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or passport. Make sure all four corners are visible and the text is legible. This step is handled entirely within Stripe’s secure dashboard.
Stripe flagged my account due to a mismatch. What do I do?
The most common cause is a difference between your business name as entered and how it appears in IRS or state records. Even small differences like “LLC” versus “L.L.C.” can trigger this. Go back through your information carefully, compare it to your EIN letter, and resubmit. If Stripe flags it a second time, reach out to us and we will help you troubleshoot before you contact Stripe support.
Does verification expire or need to be renewed?
No. Once your account is verified it stays verified. You only need to update your information if something material changes, such as a new legal name, new EIN, change in ownership, or a new bank account for payouts.
My website is not live yet. Can I complete verification now?
Stripe requires a live, publicly accessible website. A coming-soon or placeholder page will likely trigger a manual review and slow down approval. The cleanest path is to have at least a basic page live that describes your business and includes a privacy policy before you submit. Reach out to us if your site is not ready. Getting it launched is step one anyway.
Is there a cost to get verified?
No. Stripe does not charge for business verification. It is part of the standard account setup process. The only fees associated with a Stripe account are their standard processing fees on live transactions, not during setup.
If Stripe is asking for something you do not understand, or you are getting an error you cannot resolve, reach out. Send us a screenshot of what you are seeing and we will point you in the right direction fast.
Verified and Ready to Accept Payments
Once your account is verified, payouts start flowing on your standard schedule. If you hit a wall at any point in the process, we can help you get unstuck fast.
- Same-day response
- No runaround
- Monday to Sunday, 9 AM to 9 PM ET