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What identity verification actually asks for
See how an ID photo, a selfie and sometimes address or tax details help a platform check your identity before work or payouts, and how to submit them safely.
Drawn in 7 stages, the way an illustrator fills a field sketchbook. Press play to watch it drawn.
What identity verification actually asks for FreelanceSites sketchbook
IDENTITY CARD Photo ID Live selfie Faces match? Review Verified identity clear, current, yours camera ready SOMETIMES Address proof Tax details Why ask? Less fraud. Correct payouts. Legal checks where required. Official upload flow only A face check, not a character reference. Finished sketch: 7 stages, 101 pencil marks
Watch it drawn 1× Skip to finished Blocking in the identity trail Documents and phone outlined, with a wash Details: a selfie and a face match Details: sometimes extra paperwork Texture: document edges and camera marks Shading away from the upper left Caption
What the sketch shows
Identity verification asks a practical question: is the account holder the person they claim to be? A platform may request a valid government photo ID and a selfie, phone photo or short video check. The visual step compares your face with the document; it is not an audition for a modelling job.
Requirements differ by platform, country and account. Some services also need proof of address, such as an accepted recent statement. Tax details may be collected separately before payouts. A tax form is not automatically a substitute for photo ID. Use the document list and instructions shown in your own account rather than a stranger's checklist.
Make the check easier
Use clear, readable images, include the requested edges, and avoid glare. Your legal name should agree with the relevant payout and tax records. If a name or location genuinely differs, ask official support how to document it. Never alter a document to make it fit. Checks help reduce impersonation, connect money to its recipient and meet applicable legal obligations. They may happen again later, and passing does not guarantee access to every job.
Open the official app or type the site's address yourself to confirm any request. Upload through its secure verification flow, not a prospective client's messages. Never share your password or login code. Verification checks identity; it cannot certify someone's intentions.
Key points
Verification may compare a government ID with a selfie or live video. Address evidence and tax information are separate checks that may also be required. Use the official verification flow and keep sensitive documents out of client chats. A verified identity does not guarantee honest behaviour or good work.
Real numbers, from our listings
Upwork Fees: 0-15% variable service fee per contract (5% on Direct Contracts, 0% with Freelancer Plus)Minimum payout: Varies by method, from $5 via Direct to Local BankPayout speed: Hourly: 10 days after the billing week ends (5 days sooner for Top Rated), fixed…See it sketched
Fiverr Fees: 20% seller commissionMinimum payout: $1 PayPal, $10 Payoneer, $20 bank transferPayout speed: 14 days after order completion (7 for Top Rated, Pro and Seller Plus), Early Pay…See it sketched
TaskRabbit Fees: 0% - clients pay the service feeMinimum payout: No minimum, paid via StripePayout speed: Within days of task completionSee it sketched
Figures in the drawing are examples. These are the platforms' own listed terms, checked by our editors.
