How to Verify Your Venmo Account: Step by Step With Photos

Are you stuck on Venmo’s verification step like every beginner out there? If so, you’re not alone. Verifying an account on Venmo can be overwhelming, as sometimes the platform asks for additional documents, such as a driver’s license, passport, pay stub, utility bills, amongst others. But that’s not always the case; you can easily verify your Venmo account in most instances.

The primary requirements for making a Venmo account include the user’s name, email address, and contact number. The platform then creates an account number, allowing users to add more information, like their bank account. To verify your Venmo account, you’ll provide your date of birth, address, and the last four digits of your Tax Identification Number or Social Security Number.

Verifying your Venmo account is required to use your Venmo Balance to send and receive money. Luckily, you can do it within the app. Here is everything you need to know to verify your Venmo account. 

Venmo: Customer ID Verification Requirements

The first thing you’ll need to know to verify your Venmo account is the customer ID verification requirements in the US. The country’s Patriot Act obliges Venmo to implement specific CIP requirements for customer ID data collection. They primarily include your physical address, name, SSN, ITIN, and date of birth. 

You can verify your Venmo account from the Settings menu in the Venmo app. Remember, you must provide your current information, or the electronic ID verification process may fail due to the unavailability of data or a changed name or address. If Venmo fails to authenticate your information, it will ask you to upload more documents to the application to verify yourself. You can also update your date of birth or name by providing the most recent record, such as your passport or license. 

When updating your documentation, be sure to submit clear pictures. Venmo may also ask you to provide additional documents to authenticate your address. In addition, these documents must be no more that 12 months old. Venmo accepts the following documents as proof of your address:

• Bank statement/credit statement/401(k) brokerage statement
• Utility bill (any; electric, gas, internet, or phone) 
• IRS letter
• The check stub 
• W2 
• Lease for dwelling
• Current auto registration
• Driver’s license
• US ID (government-issued)

If the platform asks you for a Social Security number (ITIN), you may have to provide the following documents (also not more than the last 12 months old):

• SSN card
• IRS letter
• ITIN assignment letter
• W2 
• Paystub

Remember, these are the general customer ID requirements in the US. Your state or locality may have different rules. Also, you won’t have to provide all the above documents when verifying a Venmo account. The platform only requires them in rare instances. 

How to Verify Your Venmo Account in the App

You can verify your Venmo account in the app installed on your Android or iPhone. Simply follow the below steps to get started:

Step 1: Launch the Venmo App

First, install the Venmo app on your Android smartphone or iPhone, and then open it. Log in to your account if you’re not already logged in.

Step 2: Open the Settings Menu

The next step is to tap the “hamburger” icon or three bars on the upper left corner of your screen. It will open a side menu in the app. Look for the “Settings” option and choose it to proceed further.

Step 3: Choose Identity Verification

On the next screen, scroll down to the bottom to the “Security” section. It will have four options; choose the last one—“Identity Verification.” 

Step 4: Follow the Instructions

The onetime security check info page will open on the next screen. Choose “Next” and enter your correct information, including your first and last name, address info, date of birth, and Social Security Number’s last four digits. You can also choose “I don’t have an SSN”. 

Follow the remaining on-screen instructions. Venmo then accepts your provided documents and verifies them. If it doesn’t, the platform will contact you for more documentation, including the US driver’s license, passport, tribal ID card, or SSN/ITIN assignment letter. After submitting your information, you must wait up to three business days for the platform to verify it. You will receive a confirmation email address once it’s authenticated. And that’s it; this is all you need to verify your Venmo account.

Is It Important to Verify Your Venmo Account?

Most businesses ask customers for their confidential information for many purposes. While some sell it to third-parties, others use it to improve their services. Therefore, you’ll have to share your credentials with Venmo without thinking too much. The platform states that it uses its customers’ data to strengthen its security protocol further. 

If you’re on PayPal, you can raise your funds from Venmo balance during the account verification process. The best way to learn about PayPal’s or Venmo’s security policies is by visiting their websites. 

Here is why verifying your Venmo account is essential:

Easy Bank Account Transfers

Do you find bank account transfers easier? Verifying your Venmo account will allow you to use your issued card to make transactions from your phone. Without verification, you can’t transfer or send money from your bank account on Venmo. The platform applies many restrictions to users who provide insufficient personal information.

No Venmo Limits

Another benefit of verifying your Venmo account is that you can pay for many services through your Venmo Balance. Venmo will limit your spending amount in the app if you don’t authenticate your account. You may have many more restrictions, but you can eliminate them by confirming your identity.

Beneficial in Minimizing Fraudulent Accounts

There are many scams and fraudulent activities on Venmo, which the platform has been unsuccessful in coping with. Venmo says it is taking all the necessary measures to prevent unauthorized accounts from entering the platform’s premises. But that’s challenging in this fast-paced world. Therefore, verifying your Venmo account will help the platform build a safe environment. There will be fewer scams, so you feel assured when using Venmo. 

Is It Safe to Provide Personal Information to Venmo?

Venmo has been a reliable money transfer platform, helping people send and receive the money within a few clicks since 2009. The company strives to improve its security system with high-end encryption to protect the users’ information. So you don’t have to worry when providing your personal information. 

Since PayPal owns Venmo, the platform is completely trusted. You don’t have to enter your information on Venmo’s internet page. The safest way is to provide all the personal documents through the app. Venmo asks users for their email details, then sends them a notification asking for their identity verification. Always ignore the emails that take you to an external website and ask for your personal information. Follow the above steps to verify your Venmo account safely.

Is It Legal for Venmo to Ask Users for Verification Details?

Venmo requires users to complete the identity verification process to continue using the app and get access to more services. However, the platform asks them to be careful and ignore emails requiring their documents. Venmo also asks users to perform identity verification through the app. 

Venmo complies with the US laws related to customer ID verification requirements. If the company fails to verify any user’s identity, it won’t allow you to use Venmo Balance for payments. However, you can still receive money from other accounts and transact via your linked debit, card, credit card, and bank account. You just can’t send money to another account with your Venmo Balance.

How Long Does Venmo Account Verification Take?

To verify your Venmo account, you just have to invest a few minutes. The company will take a maximum of a day or less for account verification. However, the process can take up to three days if your provided documents or information doesn’t match the National Directory’s records. Once you’ve submitted the required information, you just have to sit back and wait with patience. You will receive a verification email from Venmo soon!

Is Your Venmo Not Working Correctly? Try These Steps

Are you having difficulty verifying your Venmo account? Your Venmo app might be having software glitches or updates issues. Luckily, you can resolve this problem in just a few steps. Here is what you should do when you can’t verify your Venmo account:

1. First, check the details of your Venmo application and ensure it’s updated to the latest version. Don’t worry; the update process won’t affect your Venmo Balance or account.
2. If that doesn’t work, uninstall the Venmo app on your smartphone. Then, reinstall the app’s latest version from the Google Play Store.
3. You must be able to complete the Identity Verification process in the latest version of Venmo.

Updating your Venmo account will resolve all the issues besides the verification process. But if it doesn’t, contact Venmo’s customer support to find the solution.

Summary

You must verify your Venmo account to use all Venmo’s services without any limitations. If you skip this step, you can only receive money from other accounts or make transactions via debit or credit card and bank account. Also, you won’t be able to use Venmo Balance for the payments. Venmo will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and SSN ITIN for account verification. If the platform successfully verifies your provided information, they will confirm your account quickly. However, if things go south, you might have to provide additional information or documentation, including your passport, driver’s license, paystub, amongst others.

For a quick refresher of the points in this post check out the video below which walks you through the process of verifying your identity on Venmo.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©rafapress/Shutterstock.com.