When you set up a shop with checkout so customers can complete purchases on Facebook and Instagram, we must complete a security check in Commerce Manager. For this process, we may ask you to submit some information that our payment processors use to confirm your personal or business identity. You may need to submit additional documents for a business representative at a later time.
You can submit documents in Commerce Manager in the Overview, Settings or Payouts tabs where you see Please complete this security check. Note that we can't use handwritten documents for this process.
Why Facebook needs this information
This is a standard process that's a legal requirement for selling online. It helps keep your business and Facebook secure. The information you provide is governed by our Data Policy and will be shared with our payment processors so you can receive payments. It will never be shared on Facebook.
This is how it works:
- If your payouts or sales have been put on hold until we can confirm your identity, they'll continue once this is complete.
- After you upload documents, it could take several business days for them to be reviewed.
- If we find inconsistencies with your business, you may be asked to upload additional documents.
- Your shop may be closed if we can't confirm your business identity.
What you can submit to confirm your business identity
Your business representative should be a beneficial owner, or a person with a significant role in managing your business. Business identification documents must be submitted by them, or on their behalf. Documents must be visible in full, without alterations, and must match the business name and business address you provided in Commerce Manager.
Depending on what you're requested to provide, submit a scan or photo of any of the below items from each category:
- Business Tax Info: Submit a scan or photo of one of these items.
- Your business's entire IRS EIN allocation letter
- Your business's IRS name change letter
- Your business's prior year tax return signed by a third party or bank statement showing the last 4 digits of your EIN
- Business Address: Submit a scan or photo of one of these items. The item must be dated within the last 12 months and must not be a P.O. box.
- Your business license
- Your business’s credit card statement
- Your business’s insurance statement
- Your business’s tax assessment
- Your business’s utilities bill
- Business Existence: Submit a scan or photo of one of these items.
- A current certificate or other registration document filed with the Secretary of State dated within the last 12 months. This may include:
- A certificate of organization or incorporation
- A partnership agreement
- A business license
- A permit
- A screenshot from your state's Secretary of State website showing active business status (including Secretary of State logo and URL) is also acceptable. An IRS SS-4 Form isn't acceptable.
What you can submit to confirm your personal identity
When you opened a shop with checkout, you provided a business representative, also known as a beneficial owner or person with a significant role in managing your business. Personal identification documents must be submitted by them, or on their behalf. Documents must be visible in full, without alterations, and must match the business representative and business representative address you provided in Commerce Manager.
Depending on what you're requested to provide, submit a scan or photo of any of the below items from each category:
- Personal Identity: Submit a scan or photo of one of these items. The document must be current and can’t be expired.
- Driver’s license
- Passport (or passport card)
- State-issued ID card
- Tribal ID
- Personal Address: Submit a scan or photo of one of these items for your business representative. Your item must be dated within the last 12 months and must not be a P.O. box.
- Driver’s license or other government-issued ID with a current address
- Bank or credit card statement
- Utility bill
- Personal Social Security Number or ITIN: Submit a scan or photo of one of these items for your business representative. Note that all documents must show the full document.
- Social Security card or ITIN card
- Employer-issued W-2 or paystub (must be dated in the last 12 months)
- Tax return signed by both the representative and a third-party preparer from the previous year (only the first page of this item is required and it must be signed and visible in full)