Beginner's Guide: What documents do I need to register as an Individual Seller or Sole Proprietorship?
Captured: TikTok page date: Hash: 69d1eb313b77
Creator TL;DR
AI-generated from the captured TikTok policy text. Verify against the TikTok source before acting.
This page lists the document types and formatting rules an individual seller or sole proprietorship must follow when registering for TikTok Shop. It explains acceptable ID, address, and business proof documents, plus what is rejected and how to request missing documents.
Key points
Submit valid, unexpired documents only.
Upload a full image; ID photo and personal info must be clear.
Uploaded files must be under 10 MB and in JPG, PNG, JPEG, or PDF format.
ID info must match TikTok Shop registration info.
Accepted ID types are U.S. Passport/Passport Card, U.S. Driver’s License, U.S. ID/State ID, or Permanent Resident Card.
If proof of address is requested, use a utility bill, bank/credit card statement, or insurance policy.
If proof of business is requested, use an IRS-issued document such as IRS 147C, 252C, or CP 575 notices listed on the page.
Rejected items include expired documents, paper-form identification, cropped documents, screen photos, files over 10 MB, and other ID types.
To request missing proof of address, contact the company’s customer service.
To request IRS proof of business, the page says to visit the IRS website and follow its guidelines for an IRS 147C.
Say / show
Use valid, unexpired documents only.
Make sure the full document image is visible and readable.
Keep file size under 10 MB and use JPG, PNG, JPEG, or PDF.
Match your document details to your TikTok Shop registration details.
Use only the ID types listed on the page.
If asked, provide proof of address with an acceptable utility bill, statement, or insurance policy.
If asked, provide proof of business with one of the IRS-issued documents listed on the page.
Verify details against the TikTok source before acting.
Do not say / show
Use expired documents.
Submit a paper form of identification.
Crop out any document information.
Upload a photo of a computer or phone screen.
Upload files larger than 10 MB.
Assume any ID type besides the listed U.S. documents will be accepted.
Use screenshots of the IRS website as proof of business.
Use SS-4 applications, tax returns, or e-file confirmations as proof of business.
Violation risks
Registration may be rejected if the document is expired, unreadable, cropped, oversized, or mismatched.
Other ID types will be rejected per the page.
Non-allowed IRS documents will not be accepted as proof of business.
Who it affects
Individual sellers
Sole proprietorship sellers
Creators helping with seller account setup
Community operators supporting registration questions
Source notes
The page says proof of address and proof of business are requested only if TikTok asks for them during registration.
The page says all other types of ID verification will be rejected.
The page includes a note to verify against the TikTok source before acting.
Confidence: high · Model: gpt-5.4-mini · Prompt: creator-policy-summary-v1
Readable Policy Copy
Captured policy content rendered without TikTok navigation, scripts, tracking markup, or page chrome. Source: article-html.
Let's get started on TikTok Shop! After selecting your business type as an individual seller or sole proprietorship, you will be prompted to submit specific documents to set up your seller account. In this article, we'll go through each document requirement and give you tips to look out for when you submit your documents.
Overview
Requirements for All Documents
All submitted documents must meet the following requirements:
All documents must be valid and not expired.
Must be full image of the ID
The ID photo and personal information must be clear and visible.
ID information must match the TikTok Shop registration information.
Files must be less than 10 MB and in a JPG, PNG, JPEG, or PDF format.
The following are not accepted:
Expired documents
Paper form of identification
Documents with information cropped out
Photos of a computer or phone screen
Files larger than 10MB
For identification verification, you can provide a copy of either a United States Passport/Passport Card, a United States Driver's License, a United States Identification Card or State ID, or a Permanent Resident Card. Please note that all other types of ID verification will be rejected.
Identity Verification: United States Passport/Passport Card
The image of the passport must include all the following:
First and last name
Photo of the passport holder
Passport number
Date of birth
Expiration date
Identity Verification: United States Driver License or State ID
The image of your license or ID must show the following information clearly:
First and last name
License/permit number
Date of birth
Residential address
Expiration date
Identity Verification: United States Permanent Resident Card
The image of your license or ID must show the following information clearly:
First and last name
USCIS number
Date of birth
Expiration date
If asked to provide proof of address during registration, you can use any utility bill, bank or credit card statements, or insurance policy.
Proof of Address: Utility Bill
You can use any utility bill from your gas, water, electricity, phone or Internet company. Make sure that the image you upload shows your address clearly, and matches the address that you manually entered in your TikTok Shop registration.
Proof of Address: Bank or Credit Card Statement
You can use any bank statement or credit card statement. Make sure that the image you upload shows your address clearly, and matches the address that you manually enter in your TikTok Shop registration.
Proof of Address: Insurance Policy
You can use the following types:
Life and Disability Insurance
Term/Permanent Life Insurance
Health Insurance
Medicare/Medicaid
Property and Casualty Insurance
Home Insurance
Car Insurance
Make sure that the image you upload shows your address clearly, and matches the address that you manually enter in your TikTok Shop registration.
Proof of Business: IRS-Issued Document
If proof of business is requested, please submit one of the following:
IRS 147 C
IRS 252 C
IRS CP 575 A
IRS CP 575 B
IRS CP 575 G
IRS CP 575 E
The proof of business IRS-issued document must clearly show all of the following information:
Legal business name
Business address
EIN (tax number)
Also known as the Federal Employer Identification Number or the Federal Tax Identification Number
Date of notice
The following are not allowed:
A screenshot of the IRS website
SS-4 Applications (or any IRS application to update or file information), tax returns, or e-file confirmations.
If you are missing any of the following required documents, you can follow the guidelines below to request them.
Proof of Address
The process for requesting this document varies depending on the type of document and the company who has it. Call the customer service phone number of the company to have it emailed or mailed.
Proof of Business (IRS-issued document)
Visit the IRS website and follow the guidelines to request a copy of the IRS 147C. If the initial CP 575 notice has been lost, businesses can request the IRS 147C by calling the number on the IRS website.
Employer Identification Number (EIN)
You can apply for an EIN through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) form SS-4.