Although a billing address can often get confused for a mailing or a shipping address, a billing address is specifically the address that you need to provide when you conduct an online transaction.
A personal billing address is an address associated with a person's payment method, such as a credit card, used for billing and delivery purposes when making purchases or payments online or in-store.
To dig into this further, this article will break down exactly what a billing address is, where it can be used, the difference between a shipping vs. billing address, how to find and change your billing address, and what would happen if you use the wrong billing address.
What is a billing address used for?
A billing address is where a person or organization receives bills and invoices. It's the address associated with your credit or debit card account when you sign up, and this address will normally get asked whenever you conduct an online transaction. In addition, you need a billing address to send invoices and receive bank statements, tax returns, and other documents.
For example, the IRS, insurance companies, payroll companies, USPS, and all other online vendors will typically require a billing address when you register and start transacting funds. That means the address that you provide when registering for a bank account or card is the address that you will need to use when transacting items on that card. Moreover, since physical invoices can also be sent to this address, any merchant or entity with whom you do financial business may also require a billing address in order to mail an invoice to request payment.
How is a billing address structured?
A billing address is the same structure as a street address. It begins with a street number and name, followed by a code for the city, state, and ZIP (i.e., 123, Main St, San Francisco, CA, 66801).
What is the difference between a shipping and billing address?
When you order a product/service or register your business for something online, the vendor will often ask you to provide a billing and shipping address. The billing address is what you’ll provide when you actually enter in your card details to make the payment. This is where your business should typically receive invoices for its purchases, and it should match the address you have on file with the credit or debit card company you’re using.
On the other hand, the shipping address is where the seller will actually deliver the good or service. This can also be known as a mailing address. Depending on a buyer’s location preference, a shipping address can easily change anytime or be modified whenever you’re expecting something to be specifically delivered.
Here are some other ways that a shipping address and billing address can differ:
- Shipping addresses may not always be required if you aren’t physically expecting something in the mail
- I.e., when you're taking care of important business transactions (i.e., paying taxes with the IRS), your billing address is the address you’ll use when you pay for the taxes, and you usually won’t be asked for your shipping address in this case. Billing addresses are usually verified via an Address Verification System (AVS) check in order to ensure it is from an authorized user. The payment will then be granted after successful confirmation.
- On the flip side, shipping addresses may not get verified and rejected if it’s not correct.
What is the billing address used for?
The billing address is vital in ensuring financial security and enables a well-managed system of records. Here are some purposes of the billing address:
- Identity verification during the ordering process
- Location verification for proper tax documentation
Without a billing address, businesses would not be able to verify your identity or account, and in many cases, you may also not be taxed appropriately for your purchase. In addition, it may be helpful also to notice the following:
- To prevent the loss of personal information, it is important to use a reliable business address as banks, IRS, and other merchants can regularly send financial reports, statements, invoices, and other sensitive documents to their customers’ billing addresses.
- Online vendors will typically use AVS to curb the threat of credit card fraud and identity theft. This means the billing address you provide when setting up an account with a vendor or entity can be synchronized in their system to ensure that only authorized users can withdraw from the customer's account.
What happens if you provide an incorrect billing address?
Incorrect billing address, whether intentionally or accidentally, could have some consequences. These include:
- Identity theft and data breach
- Documents sent to a billing address are usually sensitive and should not be lost. Invoices for services received, tax returns, subscription applications, and monthly bank statements are the kind of documents you do not want in the hands of a stranger.
- Transaction rejection
The AVS matches the sequence of numbers contained in the billing address with the address provided. It will allow a transaction if there is a match and all other criteria is met. However, if an incorrect billing address is entered, the AVS automatically detects discrepancies, and the debit card payment is not executed.
How to find your billing address?
To find your billing address, we recommend doing one of these to know your current billing address.
- Log in to your online banking account and verify the billing address for your credit or debit card.
- Look at the address on your bank statement. It's usually under your name and account number. Whether you use a debit or credit card, your billing address will always appear on the statement. Request a statement if you haven't received it in the past.
- Contact your bank via phone or email if you’re unsure
- If you’re looking for your billing address for a specific vendor, go to your online profile with the vendor or take a look at any past invoices that you have with the vendor
How to change a billing address
If you’d like to change your billing address, you can easily change it by providing a new billing address to the bank/vendor you’re working with.
Use any of the following ways to change your billing address with banks, IRS, and others:
- Log in to your account on the merchant's website and change the billing address associated with your profile. You can usually find this option through your account’s “Settings,” “Profile,” or “Payment Information” pages.
- Call or email customer support to change your billing address. You can usually find the customer support number or email on the merchant’s website.
- If you’re looking to change your billing address with a bank, you can visit one of the bank’s physical locations to request an update to your account.
- Contact our customer support to help you if you want to change your billing address to one of our virtual addresses.
Conclusion
A billing address is the address you provide when you’re conducting any online transaction, and it can be used to help protect you against potential credit or debit card fraud. It is an important element in carrying out successful and secure online transactions, and
for businesses, specifically, it is an important piece to think about — especially when setting up your business’s bank account, registering with the IRS, or setting up paying methods with the different vendors you work with.
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At Stable, we provide virtual business addresses and mailboxes for LLCs, startups, corporations, and more. Our permanent business addresses can be used as your business’s billing addresses for banks, IRS, insurance companies, and others while you remain remote. We also digitize all the business mail you receive at your address so you can access it anywhere in the world.
If you'd like to learn more or have further questions about how our virtual addresses work, please feel free to contact us at: [email protected].
You can also get started with Stable and create a virtual business address in less than 3 minutes.
Disclaimer: Stable is not a legal or accounting firm; therefore, we cannot provide legal or tax advice. You should consult legal and tax professionals for advice on how to meet ongoing obligations that apply to you and your company.
