Shopify Payments without Social Security Number (SSN)

[Sergio_Bravo]

Hi everybody!

Is it possible to use Shopify Payments without having a Social Security Number (SSN)? I was able to set up Paypal and Amazon Pay express checkout but can't manage to set up Shopify Payments as I'm not a resident neither born in the US...

I've read some articles about creating an LLC and getting a EIN, but I want to make sure this works before going ahead with it.

Appreciate Y'all.

[Victoria]

Hi, @Sergio_Bravo.

Welcome to the Shopify Community and thank you for sharing your question here.

Could you let us know where you're based and what issues you're currently running into while setting up Shopify Payments? Shopify Payments is available only to stores in certain countries. Our Supported Countries for Shopify Payments lists what countries are eligible. If the country you're based in is listed, I recommend clicking on it to see the specific requirements.

In regard to not having an SSN, I encourage you to contact our support team to take a look at your account as specific documents may be requested. Our team will need to review your account and documents for Shopify Payments. To create a support request, head to the Shopify Help Center and follow the prompts to view our available support options. 

I'd also love to hear what else you're working on with your store. Have you already added your products and launched your store? I'll be happy to share applicable resources to assist you depending on what you're working on. 

[Sergio_Bravo]

Hi Victoria!

Thank you for your reply. I'm still a bit confused whether I will be able to connect Shopify Payments or not. If I own an LLC + EIN, will I be able to accept payments through Shopify Payments in my USA store even though I'm not a resident of the United States?

I would like to know in what cases will my application get denied. I'm able to get a LLC with an EIN, however my country of residency is not listed in Shopify Payments compatible countries. 

Best regards, 

Sergio.

[Victoria]

Thanks for your reply, @Sergio_Bravo.

If you're located outside of the USA and you'd like to set up a Shopify Payments account in the USA, you'll need to confirm you have a US tax ID and your business has physical operations on US soil.

In addition to those requirements, you will require all of the following to be considered:

• Government-issued photo ID (driver's licence, passport, etc. A non-US ID may be accepted)
• A Tax ID in the United States: EIN if you own an LLC/Corp.
• Business registration document (Registered in the US with the government)
  
• Proof that your business is actually operating from the US. This can include tracking showing you are shipping from the US or proof of a physical US address (not a forwarding address.)
  
• A USD checking account, opened with a real US banking institution, located on US soil.
• Virtual banks and currency services will not work for this, it has to be a real US bank.
  

Through our community forums, we are not able to determine the status of your Shopify Payments account. However, I encourage you to reach out to our support team via the Shopify Help Center so our team can review once your account has been authenticated.

[Mukuna]

Hello Victoria, 

As NRA, Non Resident Alien we don't fall into this category as long as we don't have a physical presence in the US, like renting a warehouse under our business or personal name. We only operate through Third party companies. In this case we must provide you with the W-8 BEN form especially for us the NRAs, it's 100% legal.

Form W-8BEN

Form W-8BEN ("Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding and Reporting") must be submitted by foreign persons who receive certain types of income in the United States. The form, sometimes referred to as a "certificate of foreign status," establishes that the individual is both a foreign person and the owner of the business in question.6

******

Can you check please

[Victoria]

Hi, @Mukuna 

Thanks for reaching out to the Shopify Community. 

We noticed that you included personal information in your post so I've gone ahead and removed it for privacy and security reasons. In the future, if you notice you have included personal information in your post, you can click the 3 dots next to your post, and select Edit message to remove this information. Please note that there is a 2-hour window once you've published your post to edit it.

I'll share a screenshot below of how to do this.

For further clarification on what documents are accepted for Shopify Payments, I recommend reaching out to our support team through the Shopify Help Center. This process will ensure your account is authenticated and our support team can safely access any necessary information. When navigating the help center, log into your store, select a topic and on the following page, our support options will be displayed.

[neelprasad2008]

Hello!

I am not a US citizen but currently living under conditions where I cannot make money from one source other than my job. However, I am a citizen of another country. Would it be possible to connect the bank account overseas to Shopify and transfer the money there in USD and not provide the SSN?

[Victoria]

Hi, @neelprasad2008.

Welcome to the Shopify Community and thanks for joining the thread!

I understand you're not a U.S. citizen, are located in a different country/region and looking to use Shopify Payments without obtaining an SSN. US merchants (using US Shopify Payments) are required to provide all 9 digits of their SSN/ITIN as verification, even if they have an EIN for their business. You can find more information on this through the U.S Shopify Payments Terms of Service: Section B-3. 

Shopify Payments accounts are region specific and there are certain conditions that will need to be met for each region. To investigate this further, I would contact our support via the Shopify Help Center so our team can advise accordingly. 

Additionally, you should also consult with a tax advisor or specialist to understand the tax implications of receiving payments in USD from Shopify in your country. Countries have different tax laws and regulations, and you may need to report these payments and pay taxes accordingly.

I hope this helps!

[Mukuna]

Hello,

Could you tell me if I should register my website on Shopify France or the
USA ?

Important : I buy from the US and sell within the US.
I just want to know what works for you, I already have a US company but I
can register a French company if needed so that my US Clients can find me
easily and that I can get paid.

Best regards

[Victoria]

Hi, @Mukuna.

Thanks for joining the thread and sharing your questions.

As mentioned above, Shopify Payments accounts are region specific and there are certain conditions that will need to be met for each region. I would encourage you to reach out to our support team to discuss this further as there may be additional documents/information required. To learn more about the requirements for each country/region check out our help center resource. You can create a support request via the Shopify Help Center so that your account is authenticated and our team can proceed further. 

If you have any non-account-specific questions or would like tailored feedback for your business, feel free to share them here. 

[AC15]

Hi @Victoria  

I have question regarding Shopify payments or payment gateway.

I do reside in the USA but I don't have a SSN, however I do have a ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number). 

My question would be, if I could put my Individual ITIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) in the part where it says SSN as a replacement in Shopify payments or do I have to  find another payment gateway? and if that's the case what payment gateway would you recommend?

[Victoria]

Hi, @AC15.

Thanks for sharing your question here.

As per our Shopify Payments Terms of Service - United States, U.S merchants are required to provide all 9 digits of their SSN/ITIN as verification. You should be able to submit your ITIN in place for your SSN. 

[Juan35]

Hi Victoria, I am in the same situation, but I have all the requirements.  Where can we submit our LLC, business registration, EIN, phisical address in the US, etc.?

[Victoria]

Hi, @Juan35.

Welcome to the community and thanks for joining the thread.

As shared above, our Shopify Payments Terms of Service - United States, requires U.S merchants to provide all 9 digits of their SSN/ITIN as verification. If you don't have an SSN, you should be able to submit your ITIN in place for your SSN. 

This information can be submitted when onboarding to Shopify Payments. If you have issues submitting this information, please connect with a member of our internal team via the Shopify Help Center.

[Juan35]

It's July 1st 2023 and I cannot set up the payments without a SSN. I do not have a SSN but I have a EIN. Can someone start a Shopify account with a SSN?

[yow_altuf_offic]

I'm non-USA residents, haven't SSN number, but I'am startup Retailer career in Shopify and via the connect to Facebook and Instagram, Shopify payment is must have SSN number

Please Solve the problem 

[Victoria]

Hi, @yow_altuf_offic.

Welcome to the Shopify Community.

I would like to advise that Shopify Payments account requirements are region specific. In order to be eligible, you will need to provide valid personal and business registration information for the region you sign up for. You can find what information is required for Shopify Payments here.

[Aqibhussain]

Can You Tell Me How Can I Add My Shopify Payment Gateway without SSN And I have A EIN But I Don't Have a SSN So Please Tell How can Solve This Issues 

[Victoria]

Hi, @Aqibhussain.

Welcome to the Shopify Community, and thanks for joining the thread.

Could you confirm where you're based?

If you're based in the U.S. and using Shopify Payments, you're required to provide all 9 digits of your ITIN as verification, even if you have an EIN for your business. You can refer to the US Shopify Payment Terms of Service: Section B-3 for any legal related inquiries surrounding this topic.