Identity Verification Requirements for Giving (Canada)

Our payment processor, Stripe, is a Level 1 PCI Compliant Service Provider and adheres to the payment card industry’s most stringent levels of protection. In Canada, Stripe adheres to the rules and guidelines of the regulators such as the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC). These regulations aim to create a safer, more secure financial ecosystem by helping prevent crimes such as money laundering, fraud, and tax evasion.

Requirements

In Canada, the following information is required of Registered Charities and Non-profit organizations:

Company Information

  • Legal business name
  • Address (cannot be a PO Box)
  • Business Phone number
  • Support Phone number (can be the same as Business Phone number)
  • Website or Social Media URL
  • CRA program account number (for registered charities)

Company Documents

  1. Legal Entity Verification (one of the following documents)
    • A current and valid municipal, provincial, territorial or federal government issued document that contains the entity name and address
    • Corporate profile report
    • Notice of Assessment issued by the Canadian Revenue Agency dated within 12 months
    • Articles of Incorporation
    • Articles of Association
    • Notice of Articles
    • Company Summary 
    • Search for an entity on the register
    • Business license
    • Partnership agreement or registration
    • A signed resolution confirming the individuals opening the account on behalf of the organization have the authority to do so
    • Utility bill dated within 12 months
    • NOTE: We've seen T3010's been accepted as a valid government issued document. 
    • NOTE: Need a quick copy of your organization's T3010? Look up your charity's details on the CRA's website.  The "Detail page", which includes your organization's registration number and address, is recommended.
  2. Registration Status Verification for Registered Charities (one of the following documents)
    • Notice of charity registration issued by the Canada Revenue Agency
    • Charity Information Return (Form T3010) (recommended)
    • Registered Charity Basic Information report
    • Official Donation Receipts
    • A document issued by the Canada Revenue Agency that confirms charity registration status
    • NOTE: Need a quick copy of your organization's T3010? Look up your charity's details on the CRA's website.  The "Detail page", which includes your organization's registration number and address, is recommended.
  3. A Form of Directorship Verification (one of the following documents)
    • A current and valid municipal, provincial, territorial or federal government issued document that contains the entity name and directors
    • Corporate profile report
    • Articles of Incorporation or Association
    • Notice of Articles
    • Notice of Change of Directors (eg. Form 6, Form 4006, Form 3006)
    • Board meeting minutes/resolution dated within 12 months
    • A signed resolution confirming the individuals opening the account on behalf of the organization have the authority to do so
    • NOTE: The document must include the legal entity name and all director, shareholder, and beneficial owner names and positions.
    • NOTE 2: Need to update your Directors with the Charities Directorate? Check here

Representative

Stripe requires at least one representative for the account. The following information is required of that individual:

  • Name
  • Date of birth
  • Address
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Job title
  • Photo ID
  • Secondary Address Verification Document
    • Insurance document
    • Investment account statement
    • Property tax statement
    • Bank statement
    • Utility bill dated within 12 months

Directors

Stripe requires that all directors be added as well. The following information is required of each director:

  • Name (must match the name listed on the document used for Directorship verification)
  • Email address (can be a group email address if you wish)

Additional Details

Some documents require a manual review. Please wait 24 hours after submitting your documents to see if your account is in good standing or requires further information. Should Stripe be unable to verify the information provided, additional information or documentation may be required. The banner will continue to display until all verification requirements are met.

 

 

FAQs

Is an SIN a required for verification?
No, Stripe does not require an Social Insurance Number (SIN) for any representatives or Directors.
How does Stripe handle my organization's details and my personal information?
Stripe validates the information supplied about your organization and any personal details about Representatives and Directors against trusted third-party systems for the purpose verifying legitimacy of both the organization and proof of life of any individuals. This is done to ensure a safe and secure financial ecosystem. For more information about how data is handled, please check out Stripe's Security Details and Privacy Center.
What is the deadline to update my organization's information?
The current deadline to have all required details and documents verified is January 29, 2025.
What happens if I do not update my information by the deadline?
If you cannot update your account information by the deadline provided by Stripe, payouts to your bank account and your ability to accept payments will be paused. We want to make sure that does not happen. We encourage you to reach out with questions if you get stuck. 
I need more time to update my information. Can you give me an extension?
We are unable to provide extensions to any deadlines as this is a requirement enforced by our back-end payment processor, Stripe. This should be a quick update—and we are here to guide you along the way.