Learn what Know Your Customer (KYC) means and how Upwork conducts identity verification checks to comply with U.S. regulations and ensure account authenticity.
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What is Know Your Customer?
Know Your Customer (KYC) is a regulatory requirement imposed by the U.S. Department of Treasury, as part of the U.S. Patriot Act. It exists to ensure that businesses know who their customers are and have checks to ensure a person is who they say they are, does what they say they are doing, and is complying with tax laws.
Does Upwork conduct Know Your Customer checks?
Yes, we conduct regular KYC checks. At times, we may handle this process on our end as needed, without any additional information from you. However, we may also reach out to you for information to verify that your identity information — legal name, birthday, address, and Social Security or tax identification number — is accurate and that you’re using Upwork the way it was intended. Occasionally we may also request that you verify your identity.