Since providing payment acceptance is a regulated service, we'll need to gather some more information about your business before you can start taking payments.
You'll see a step to complete verification when you log in. Select Complete verification (or Resume verification if you've already started).
Before you begin, have these to hand so you can get verified quickly:
Company details: your address, contact details and website. Have your registration document ready, for example your certificate of incorporation. Make sure it's the official version with the security barcode, which you can download from Companies House.
Decision-makers: the details of the important people in your business, including their address, date of birth and contact details. You'll also need a photo ID for each of them (a passport, or a driving licence with both sides). It must be a clear, original photo or scan, not edited or cropped.
Bank details: a PDF bank statement showing the same name and details as the account you've given us.
If you are a Company or Partnership
If your business is registered as an organisation (for example a private limited company, public company, LLP or registered charity), verification asks for a bit more detail to comply with payment regulations.
1. Company details
We'll match your company's legal name and company number. You'll provide details such as your website and contact details, along with a document that confirms your business. What we ask for depends on your business type:
Private company: certificate of incorporation.
Incorporated partnership: certificate of incorporation and register of members.
Unincorporated partnership: partnership agreement.
Non-profit: a Charity Commission or Companies House document.
2. Company address
Your business's official registered address in the United Kingdom.
3. Decision-makers
As part of the checks for an organisation, we also verify the identity of the people associated with it.
We group these people as directors, secretaries, representatives, owners and controlling persons. The table below explains who counts as each, and the minimum number you need to add:
Role | Who counts | Minimum to add |
Directors | Someone appointed to manage the company's business and affairs. Directors are listed on the companies register. | At least one, added as a Director/Secretary. Everyone listed as a director on Companies House must be added to Adfin. |
Secretaries | Someone appointed to help manage the company's business and affairs. Secretaries are listed on the companies register. | Added as a Director/Secretary. Everyone listed as a secretary on Companies House must be added to Adfin. |
Representative | The person authorised to sign official documents on behalf of the company. The representative is usually also an owner or a controlling person. | Exactly one person must be the representative. |
Owners | Someone who owns 25% or more of the company, through voting rights, equity or similar. Where ownership runs through another company, add the individuals who are the ultimate beneficial owners. | Up to four. Everyone who meets the criteria must be added. |
Controlling Person | Someone authorised to make major business decisions. They may or may not be an owner or director. | At least one person. |
For each decision-maker, you'll provide their details in this form:
You'll also upload a photo ID for each person, for example a passport or a driving licence (for a driving licence, upload both sides). It must be a clear, original photo or scan, not edited or cropped.
Between your decision-makers, make sure every role (Owner, Controlling person, Representative, Director/Secretary) is covered. For example, one person could fulfil all roles. Ensure all Officers on Companies House are added with Director/Secretary ticked and all Persons of Significant Control on Companies House with ownership over 25% are added with Owner ticked.
4. Bank statement
Upload a PDF bank statement that matches the company name, address and bank details you gave us. If you entered the wrong bank details when you signed up, contact support and we'll help you put it right. It should be an original pdf document, not edited or cropped.
5. Review and submit
Check your information, accept our Privacy Policy and Terms, and submit.
If you are a Sole Proprietorship
If you operate as a sole trader (that is, not registered with Companies House), these are the steps to follow:
1. Personal details
As a sole trader, you'll provide some personal information, including your date of birth, address, contact details, website and business description.
We need these to comply with financial regulations and to verify everyone who uses our services. We check this information against official records as part of our due diligence.
2. Documents
Before you can submit, you'll upload:
Photo ID (passport, driving licence or ID card; for a driving licence, both sides).
Document confirming your business address.
HMRC document: your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) letter or your VAT registration certificate.
Make sure all documents are an original photo, scan or pdf. Not edited or cropped.
3. Bank account details
Verify the bank account where you'll receive your funds. The account must be in your name. We require a recent bank statement matching your payout account. Ensure this is an original pdf document that has not been edited.
4. Review and submit
Check your information, accept our Privacy Policy and Terms, and submit.
What happens after you submit
Once you submit, your details go for review.
Under review: most checks finish quickly, often within a few minutes if everything's complete. Occasionally it takes a little longer, see What to do when your verification is not instant.
Approved: you're verified and can start taking payments.
If we need a bit more
If something needs fixing, you'll see a clear message about what to do, for example correcting a detail, re-uploading a document or adding a new one. You can pick up where you left off on the review page, make the change and resubmit, there's no need to start again.
Most often it's a detail about a decision-maker that needs editing before you resubmit.
If your owners were correct but there's still an error, we may ask for a document that proves your ultimate beneficial owners (UBO), that is, the list of owners and how much each one owns. We recommend a CS01 (Confirmation Statement), which lists all owners and their shares and is available from your Companies House filing history. We also accept a certificate of incorporation, Register of Persons with Significant Control (PSC), register of members, certificate of good standing, or IN01. The document must list all owners and their ownership stake.
If your directors or secretaries were correct but there's still an error, we may ask for a document that lists them. We recommend a register of members. We also accept a Register of Persons with Significant Control (PSC), confirmation statement, certificate of incumbency, or IN01. The document must list all directors and secretaries.
Common reasons we ask for more:
Names don't match: enter each person's full legal name, including any middle names, exactly as it appears at Companies House and on their ID.
A decision-maker is missing: include every director, secretary and person of significant control listed at Companies House.
A role isn't marked: make sure each person is ticked with the right role, for example director/secretary or owner.
The registration document isn't the official one: it needs to be the original PDF with the security barcode, which you can download from Companies House.
The photo ID is too low quality or not the original. e.g. was cropped or saved then screenshot).
Only one side of a driving licence was uploaded: upload both sides.
Later on, we may occasionally ask you to confirm or update your details even though you're already taking payments. That's routine, and we cover it in Why am I being asked to verify my account again?
What you can do before you're verified
You don't have to wait to get set up. You can add your customers and prepare invoices as drafts before you're verified. Sending invoices for collection, taking payments from your customers and receiving payouts all switch on once your verification has been approved.
Direct debit needs a few extra checks, which usually include a short onboarding call. If you see a banner about direct debit being under review and you've already had your onboarding call, or you don't need direct debit, you can safely ignore it.