Etsy thrives as a trusted community where buyers and sellers can transact with confidence. A critical component of this trust is the verification process for sellers using Etsy Payments. Here’s how to ensure your seller information is up to date and verified, keeping you compliant and ready for business.

Choosing Your Business Identity

Before diving into the details, decide if you’ll operate as an individual or a registered business:

• As an Individual or Sole Proprietorship: This is most common among Etsy sellers. Choose this option if you haven’t legally registered your business.
• As an Incorporated Business: Select this route only if you have officially registered your business entity and possess the required documentation.

Registering as an Individual or Sole Proprietorship

Here are the steps to register on Etsy Payments as an individual or sole proprietor:

1. Provide personal details such as your full name, date of birth, home address, and depending on location, tax identification number (e.g., SSN in the US).
2. Enter financial information including the bank account holder’s name (as it appears at your bank) and account number where Etsy will transfer your payments.
3. In some cases, you may need to provide a clear scan or photo of government-issued ID (driver’s license/photo ID/passport) via this secure upload link. Ensure all required details are visible—full name, date of birth, expiration date—and in Latin characters.

Bank Details Verification Process

For Sellers in the US:

Verify through Plaid when setting up shop or updating bank details—this involves agreeing to Plaid’s terms and privacy policy.

For International Sellers:

Post-first-sale bank verification is done within Shop Manager.

To add/update bank information:

1. Sign into Etsy.com.
2. Go to Shop Manager.
3. Click Finances.
4. Visit Payment settings.
5. Click Update next to Bank details, verify correctness, then click Save new details.

To add a payment card:

Finally, add a debit or credit card to your shop. This is a requirement for most Etsy shops.

1. Sign into Etsy.com.
2. Navigate to Shop Manager.
3. Choose Finances.
4. Go to Payment settings.
5. Select Billing, then enter card details accurately.

How do I enroll as a business?

When registering as a business, both your personal and business identities will be scrutinized carefully:

1. Personal Information

This includes all individual details mentioned in the previous section such as full name, date of birth, residential address, and tax identification number.

2. Business Details

You’ll need to supply comprehensive information about your enterprise:

• Entity name (as specified on your government-issued business verification document)
• Legal business address
• Employee identification number (U.S. only)
• Business identification number
• Jurisdiction where the business is registered (Canada, Germany, and U.S. only)

The name of your business identification number may vary by location. Although this list is not exhaustive, this number may be known by the following names:

• Entity number or ID
• Business number or ID
• Department number or ID
• Company number
• Filing number
• Document number
• Control number
• Organization number
• Charter number
• License number
• Registry number

Finding Your Business Identification Number

If pinpointing your BIN proves challenging:

1. Search for your company’s registration via local government websites.
2. Contact local government offices where your enterprise was registered.

Adding Additional Owners in the US

For US businesses enrolling in Etsy Payments:

• Up to three additional owners can be added.
• Each must possess at least a 25% ownership stake.

When Verification Doesn’t Go as Planned

Occasionally, the information provided might not be verifiable due to various reasons. Here’s how to handle such situations:

• Notification: You’ll receive an email alerting you of the issue.
• Action Required: Revisit your entered details, comparing them meticulously against your official business documents.
• Further Validation: Should problems persist, prepare to furnish Etsy with copies of said government-issued documents.

Request for Government-Issued Business Documentation

If re-entering details doesn’t resolve the issue:

1. Scan or photograph relevant documents.
2. Submit these through the designated channel communicated by Etsy in their follow-up correspondence.

Understanding Disregarded Entities for US Sellers

For those in the U.S., particularly LLC owners who file taxes individually:

• Defining Disregarded Entity: This term typically applies if you own an LLC and are subject to individual tax filing requirements.
• Confirmation Process:
• Refer back to the IRS letter received upon LLC registration—lookout for indications like “sole mbr.”
• Consider consulting with a tax expert familiar with local regulations for personalized advice.

Learn more about LLCs and disregarded entities through these IRS resources.

What business verification documents are accepted for my country?

You’ll need to provide one of the listed documents based on your legal entity.

1. Austria:

• Extract from the Firmenbuchauszug Registry of less than 3 months
• Registration proof from the Bundesministerium fûr inneres (Vereinsregisterauszug)
• Trade licence of less than 3 months

2. Belgium

• Screenshot of the company data of less than 3 months (BCE website – Banque-Carrefour des Entreprises)
• Screenshot of the organization data (BCE website – Banque-Carrefour des Entreprises)
• Screenshot of the soletrader data of less than 3 months (BCE website – Banque-Carrefour des Entreprises)

3. Bulgaria

• Certificate from the Registry Agency of less than 3 month
• Screenshot of the association data (NGOBG)
• Registration proof from the Commercial Register of less than 3 months

4. Croatia

• Certificate of incorporation from the Commercial Registry court of less than 3 months
• Proof of registration at the State Administration office
• Registration document from the Commercial Register of less than 3 months

5. Cyprus

• Certificate of incorporation from the Department of the Registrar of Companies of less than 3 months
• Founding act
• Registration document from the D.R.C.O.R of less than 3 months

6. Czech Republic

• Certificate of incorporation from the Registry of the Regional Commercial Court (Krajský/Městský soud) of less than 3 months
• Proof of registration
• Trade licence of less than 3 months

7. Denmark

• Certificate of registration (Registreringscertifikat or Registeringsbevis) of less than 3 months
• Registration proof from the Central Business Register (Det Centrale Virksomhedsregister)
• Registration proof from Indberet Virk print of less than 3 months

8. Estonia

• Extract from the Commercial Register (äriregistri) of less than 3 months
• Memorandum of association (Asutamisleping)
• Registration document from the Tax and Customs Board of less than 3 months

9. Finland

• Electronic extract from the trade register of less than 3 months
• Registration proof from The Register of Associations
• Business ID from the Employer and Trade Register of less than 3 months

10. France

• “Kbis” extract of less than 3 months
• Subprefecture declarationExtract from the "Journal officiel "SIRENE declaration
• “Kbis” extract of less than 3 months URSAFF declaration “Avis de situation SIRENE” of less than 3 months

11. Germany

• Handelsregisterauszug of less than 3 months
• Genossenschaftssatzung Stiftungssatzung Vereinsregisterauszug
• Gewerbeschein Handlungsbevollmächtigung Handelsregisterauszug Prokura Steuernummer attribution letter

12. Greece

• Notice of registration at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry/ General Electronic Commercial Registry of less than 3 months
• Proof of registration from the Independant Public Revenue Authority
• Proof of registration at the General Electronic Commercial Registry Trading license of less than 3 months

13. Hungary

• Company register extract from the Hungary companies registry of less than 3 months
• Proof of registration
• Document with Tax ID Number of less than 3 months

14. Ireland

• Signed Company printout of less than 3 months
• Signed Business printout of less than 3 months (if not available, document from Revenue with PPSN number)

15. Italy

• “Visura Camerale” extract of less than 3 months
• Certificate from the “Agenzia Entrate”

16. Latvia

• Certificate of incorporation from the Register of Enterprises of the Republic of Latvia (Latvijas Republikas Uzņēmumu reģistrs) of less than 3 months
• Proof of registration from the Register of Associations and Foundations
• Registration proof from the Commercial Register (if above 284.000€ of revenue per year) of less than 3 months

17. Lithuania

• Detailed Extract with History from RegistruCentras of less than 3 months
• Proof of registration from the Center of Registers
• Business license Self-employment certificate of less than 3 months

18. Luxemburg

• Extract from the Registre de commerce et des sociétés (RCS) of less than 3 months

19. Malta

• Certificate of registration from the Registrar of Companies/ Malta Business Registry of less than 3 months
• Proof of registration from the Registrar of Legal Entities
• Document with VAT and/or PE number of less than 3 months

20. Netherland

• KvK uittreksel of less than 3 months
• KvK uittreksel

21. Norway

• Certificate of incorporation from the Brønnøysundregistrene of less than 3 months
• Proof of registration of the association
• Sole proprietorship proof of registration

22. Poland

• Extract from the Centralna Informacja Krajowego Rejestru Sadowego of less than 3 months
• Proof of registration

23. Portugal

• Certidao permanente de registo comercial of less than 3 months
• Documento Inicio de Actividade

24. Romania

• Certificate from the Romanian National Trade Register Office (Oficiul Național al Registrului Comerțului) of less than 3 months
• Proof of registration from the Register of Associations and Foundations at the Registry of the Court
• Proof of registration at the National Trade Register (ORCT) of less than 3 months

25. Slovakia

• Extract from Business Register of the District Court of less than 3 months
• Proof of registration
• Trade license of less than 3 months

26. Slovenia

• Certificate from the Slovenian Business Register (Agencija Republike Slovenije) of less than 3 months
• Proof of registration
• Proof of registration at the AJPES of less than 3 months

27. Spain

• Extract from the Registro Mercantil Central of less than three months
• Extract from the Registradores de Espana (information General Mercantil) of less than three months Modelo 600 of less than 3 months (only for civil society)
• Proof of registration from the Registro Nacional de Asociaciones
• Resolucion “Regimen Especial de Trabajadores por Cuenta Propia o Autonomos” of less than 3 months Tarjeta de identificación fiscal

28. Sweden

• Certificate of registration from the Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket) of less than 3 months
• Proof of registration for foundation No proof of registration for voluntary association (ideell förening)
• Proof of registration from the Swedish Tax Agency of less than 3 months

29. Switzerland

• Proof of registration from the Companies Register of less than 3 months
• Certificate of registration from the Commerce Registry (if monthly income is above 100K CHF); if not available, statutes or constitution document (PV)
• Screenshot from the IDE Register OR (if not not available) Address Proof (utility bill of less than 3 months)

30. United Kingdom

• Latest confirmation statement or annual return (if not available, Certificate of incorporation)
• Proof of registration
• Proof of registration from the HMRC (less of 3 months) or Self Assessment Tax Return

Etsy’s Commitment to Your Privacy

At Etsy, we take your privacy seriously and hold ourselves to the highest standard when it comes to safeguarding your personal data.

How We Handle Your Information

Etsy is dedicated to protecting your privacy. We guarantee that your name, email address, and other personal details will remain confidential. We pledge not to share this information with any third parties without obtaining your explicit consent beforehand, except as clearly outlined in our Privacy Policy.

Ensuring Security of Data

The security of your personal information is a top priority for us at Etsy. To ensure that your details are secure, we adhere to widely recognized industry practices both when transferring and receiving personal data. During the transmission of information and once we’ve received it, we implement appropriate measures designed to protect against unauthorized access or disclosure.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, successfully verifying your business on Etsy is a vital step towards building a trustworthy and legally compliant online presence. By understanding and adhering to the specific documentation requirements for your country, you can navigate this process with confidence. Remember that Etsy values the privacy and security of your personal information, employing industry-standard practices to keep it safe.

Take advantage of the resources provided in this guide to gather the necessary documents and complete your verification seamlessly. With clear instructions, up-to-date information, and dedicated support from Etsy’s platform, you can focus on what truly matters – growing your business and connecting with customers worldwide.

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