How to Verify Identity on TikTok Shop

Setting up your TikTok Shop is exciting, but the required identity verification step can feel like an unexpected hurdle. This guide walks you through the entire process from start to finish. We'll cover exactly what documents you need and provide a step-by-step walkthrough for both individual creators and registered businesses, so you can get verified quickly and start selling.

Why Verification is a Must-Do for TikTok Shop Sellers

Before jumping into the "how," it's helpful to understand the "why." TikTok isn't just creating busy work, this verification process is a foundational step for building a secure and trustworthy marketplace. Think of it from a few different angles:

• It Builds Buyer Trust: Shoppers want to know they are buying from legitimate sellers. Verification acts as a badge of authenticity, assuring customers that there's a real person or registered business behind the storefront. This trust directly translates into more confidence and, ultimately, more sales.
• It’s a Legal Requirement: In the United States, e-commerce platforms must comply with regulations like the INFORM Consumers Act. This law requires online marketplaces to collect, verify, and disclose certain information for high-volume third-party sellers. By verifying identity upfront, TikTok Shop ensures it meets these legal obligations, protecting both the platform and its sellers.
• It Prevents Fraud: Verification is one of the most effective tools against scams and fraudulent accounts. By confirming that sellers are who they say they are, TikTok can create a safer environment and weed out bad actors who might try to sell counterfeit goods or fail to ship products.
• It Secures Your Payouts: This is a big one for you. Proper verification links your shop directly to you or your legal business entity. This ensures that when you make sales, the funds are sent to the correct person or business bank account without hitches or delays.

In short, it’s a standard operating procedure for legitimate e-commerce. Getting it right from the start saves you headaches down the road and lets you build your shop on a solid foundation.

Gather Your Documents: What You’ll Need to Get Verified

Having your documents ready before you begin saves a ton of time and frustration. The requirements differ slightly depending on whether you’re operating as an individual or a registered business. Here’s a simple checklist for each.

For Individual Sellers (U.S.)

If you're operating as a sole proprietor or simply as an individual creator without a formal business structure like an LLC, you fall into this category. The process is very straightforward. You will need one piece of government-issued identification.

Acceptable documents include:

• U.S. Driver's License
• State-Issued ID Card
• U.S. Passport or Passport Card
• Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)

Before you take a picture of your ID, make sure it meets these criteria:

• It must be unexpired. An out-of-date ID will be rejected immediately.
• Images must be crystal clear. All text, photos, and holographic marks should be easily readable without any blurriness or glare.
• Show all four corners. Do not crop the image. Place the card on a flat, plain background and take a picture showing the entire document.
• No screenshots. You must upload a direct photo of the physical document.

For Business Sellers (Corporations, LLCs, etc.)

If you have a registered business entity like a Corporation, LLC, or Partnership, you will need to provide information for both the business itself and a legal representative who manages the account.

For the Business:

• Legal Business Name: The official name registered with the government. This must match your business formation documents exactly.
• Employer Identification Number (EIN): This is the unique nine-digit number assigned by the IRS to your business for tax purposes. You'll find this on your EIN confirmation letter (CP 575) or other official tax documents.

For the Business/Legal Representative:

• A Government-Issued ID: The primary owner or legal representative of the business will need to provide one of the same accepted IDs listed above for individual sellers (Driver's License, Passport, etc.). TikTok needs to verify the identity of the person operating the shop on behalf of the company.

Gathering these details and having clear images of the IDs on hand will make the following steps go much more smoothly.

Step-by-Step: How to Verify Your Identity in TikTok Seller Center

With your documents in hand, you’re ready to complete the verification. Log in to your TikTok Seller Center and follow the prompts, which typically appear right on your homepage after signing up. If you don't see them, you can usually find the section under "My Account" then "Account Settings" and look for "Identity Verification."

The process will branch depending on your seller type.

Verification for Individual Sellers

1. Select Your Seller Type: When prompted, choose "Individual."
2. Enter Your Personal Information: Type your full legal name precisely as it appears on your government ID. Do not use nicknames or abbreviations.
3. Choose Your ID Type: From the dropdown menu, select the type of ID you will be uploading (e.g., "Driver's License").
4. Upload Your ID: You’ll be asked to upload images of your ID.
   • For a driver's license or state ID, you’ll typically need to upload a separate image for the front and the back.
   • For a passport, you'll just need an image of the main photo page.
   Remember the tips: good lighting, flat surface, all four corners visible.
5. Complete the Liveness Check: The system will prompt you to take a live selfie using your device's camera. This is an anti-fraud measure to confirm that you are a real person holding the ID. Simply center your face in the frame as directed. For best results, make sure you are in a well-lit area and remove any hats or sunglasses.
6. Review and Submit: Carefully check that your typed name and the uploaded ID information match perfectly. Once you’re confident everything is correct, hit submit.

Verification for Business Sellers

1. Select Your Seller Type: When prompted, choose "Corporate" or "Company."
2. Enter Your Business Information:
   • Business Name: Enter your full, legal business name exactly as it appears on your IRS documents. Don’t forget suffixes like "LLC" or "Inc." if they are part of your official name.
   • EIN: Type in your 9-digit Employer Identification Number. Double-check this number for accuracy.
3. Enter Business Representative Information: Now, you'll verify the identity of the person acting on behalf of the business. Enter their full legal name exactly as it appears on their ID.
4. Upload the Representative's ID: Choose the ID type (Driver's License, Passport) and upload clear images of the front and back of their document.
5. Complete the Liveness Check: The person listed as the business representative will need to complete the live selfie check. Ensure they're available to do this when you’re completing the application.
6. Review and Submit: Take a final look at all the information - the business name, EIN, and the representative's details. Typos here are a common cause of rejection. When everything looks correct, submit the application.

Troubleshooting: Common Rejection Reasons and How to Fix Them

If your verification is rejected, don't panic. It's usually due to a small, fixable error. Here are the most common issues sellers run into and how to sail past them:

• Issue: Unclear or Cropped Photos. The Fix: This is the number one cause of rejection. Retake your photos in a very well-lit room without harsh shadows. Place the ID card on a dark, non-reflective surface to help your camera focus. Ensure all four corners and every edge of the document are visible in the frame.
• Issue: Mismatched Information. The Fix: The name you type in must be a 100% match to the name printed on the ID or business document. Robert can't enter "Bob." J. Smith must include the initial. For businesses, "My Awesome Shop, LLC" and "My Awesome Shop" are not the same. Check every letter and punctuation mark.
• Issue: Expired Documents. The Fix: Simple but important - your documents cannot be expired. There's no way around this. If your ID is out of date, you'll need to renew it before you can be verified.
• Issue: Information is Obscured. The Fix: Make sure no fingers, thumbs, or wallet sleeves are covering any part of your ID. Glare from overhead lights can also obscure important information or the photo, so try taking the picture from a slight angle if you're getting reflections.
• Issue: Failed Liveness/Selfie Check. The Fix: Again, lighting is key. Face a window or a bright light source. Make sure your face isn't partially covered by hair and remove glasses and hats. Keep a neutral expression and follow the on-screen prompts carefully.

You’ve Submitted Your Info. Now What?

Once you hit submit, the waiting period begins. Verification times can vary. For some sellers, approval comes through in just a few minutes. For others, it might take a few business days, often around 48 to 72 hours, as the system and potentially human reviewers check your submission.

You can check the status of your verification directly in the TikTok Seller Center. You’ll see a notification on your dashboard once a decision is made. Be patient, especially during peak times, but if more than 3-4 business days have passed without an update, it's reasonable to reach out to TikTok Shop support through the help portal in your Seller Center account.

Final Thoughts

Verifying your identity on TikTok Shop is a straightforward but essential step to building a trustworthy store and securing your business. By preparing your documents and carefully following the steps for either an individual or business seller, you can get approved efficiently and start focusing on what truly matters: creating content, connecting with customers, and growing your brand.

Of course, once your shop is verified, managing your promotional content becomes the next big opportunity. Keeping up with video posts, planning new content to drive traffic to your products, and responding to every comment can feel like a full-time job. That's where we built Postbase to help. Our visual calendar lets you plan all your TikToks and social content in one clean dashboard, so you can see your entire strategy at a glance and schedule posts reliably, giving you back an incredible amount of time to focus on your shop.