TikTok Shop US seller requirements: documents, account types and registration steps
To sell on TikTok Shop US, individual accounts require US residency and business accounts require a primary business address in the US. We cover the documents, account types and registration steps. Custombull integration coming soon.
TikTok ShopOne dashboard
TikTok Shop US is one of the new channels drawing attention from POD sellers. But its registration requirements are stricter than Etsy's or eBay's: TikTok Shop US wants to verify the seller's identity and address with US documents. Knowing which account type you qualify for before you start registering saves time.
In this post we summarize the requirements in the official registration guides in TikTok Shop US Seller Center as of September 2026. Requirements can change, so check the current guides at seller-us.tiktok.com before registering.
Account types
TikTok Shop US accepts two seller types: Individual and Business. Business accounts are further divided into sole proprietorship, corporation and partnership.
| Requirement | Individual seller | Corporation / partnership |
|---|---|---|
| Age | At least 18 | Owners and representatives at least 18 |
| Location | US residency | Primary business address in the US |
| ID document | US passport/passport card, US driver's license, state ID or Permanent Resident Card | Same document types for owners and representatives |
| Tax number | SSN (last 4 digits) or ITIN | EIN |
| Proof of address | Utility bill, insurance policy, bank or credit card statement matching the residential address | Registered physical business address |
| Bank | Bank account details | Bank account details |
| Contact | Phone and email not used on another shop | Unique phone and email |
Registration steps
- Create an account: sign up in Seller Center with a phone number or email and select the US region.
- Business verification: choose your account type and upload your documents.
- Tax information: US sellers fill out Form W-9, sellers outside the US fill out a W-8 form.
- Add products: add at least one product to the shop. Products won't be visible until document verification is complete.
- Link an account: link an official TikTok account to the shop. One official account can be linked per shop, and it can be changed at most three times.
Documents must be uncropped, legible and current. The guide specifies JPG, PNG, JPEG or PDF formats and a file size limit per file; check the current limit before uploading.
What does this mean for sellers in Turkey?
The official guides list US residency for individual accounts, a primary business address in the US for business accounts, and US-issued ID documents for owners. So according to these guides, a seller living in Turkey does not appear to be able to open an individual TikTok Shop US account with Turkish documents alone.
If you have a US company and a partner or representative residing in the US, the business account route may be an option. Separate programs for sellers outside the US are announced from time to time; check the current options in TikTok Shop Seller Center and plan your company structure together with an accountant.
The product side: how does POD fit in?
Once registration is complete, your products need to reach US buyers quickly. In the POD model, the product is printed by a US producer and shipped directly to the buyer, so you can sell without holding inventory. Check the current shipping time, returns and performance rules in Seller Center's policies; these rules determine your account health.
On Custombull, orders are printed in our partner production network in the US. Over the last 60 days, half of all orders shipped in under 2.8 days (median, from order to shipment). The Gildan 64000 t-shirt starts at $6.50 with printing included. Custombull checks and guarantees the quality of every product: if a defective item ships, you get a no-questions-asked refund or a free reprint.
Fees
TikTok Shop charges a commission (referral fee) on every sale based on category; on returns, part of the commission may be kept as an administrative fee. Because rates can vary by category and new seller campaigns, check the current rates in the referral fee table in Seller Center and calculate your price accordingly.
Pre-registration checklist
- Which account type do you qualify for: individual, sole proprietorship or corporation?
- Are your ID documents US-issued and current?
- Do you have your SSN/ITIN or EIN ready?
- Does your proof of address match the address you'll enter at registration exactly?
- Do you have a phone number and email not used on another shop?
- Are your bank account details ready?
- Have you decided which official TikTok account will be linked to the shop?
Custombull TikTok Shop connection: coming soon
Custombull's TikTok Shop connection is in development and is in early access today. Once it opens, your TikTok Shop orders will arrive in the same dashboard as your other channels, and POD orders will be printed and shipped by our partner producers in the US. Because account approval can take time, completing your registration now and joining the Custombull early access list lets you start right away when the connection opens.
Frequently asked questions
Can I open a second shop with the same phone number?
According to the registration guide, you can't open a new shop with a phone number and email address that have been used on another shop.
Can I upload products before my documents are verified?
You can upload products, but they won't be visible to buyers until document verification is complete.
soon