To open a Cash App account, you need a phone number or email address, a smartphone, and you must be at least 13 years old. The signup process takes just a few minutes, but unlocking the app’s full features requires additional steps like identity verification and linking a bank card.
Basic Signup Requirements
Cash App keeps the initial signup simple. You need three things to get started: a smartphone (iPhone or Android), a working phone number or email address, and a connection to the internet. When you download the app, you’ll enter your phone number or email, receive a confirmation code, and create your account from there.
Anyone 13 or older can create an account in the United States. If you’re between 13 and 17, you’ll need an eligible parent or guardian to sponsor your account before you can access Cash App’s features. Adults 18 and older can sign up and use the app independently. Cash App is only available in the U.S. and U.K., so you’ll need a U.S.-issued phone number or a supported international number to register.
Identity Verification for Higher Limits
A brand-new, unverified Cash App account comes with transaction limits. Once you hit $1,000 in sends or receives over a rolling 30-day period, or $1,500 total, Cash App will require you to verify your identity before you can move more money.
The verification process asks for your legal name, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). In some cases, Cash App may request additional information: your full SSN or ITIN, your residential address, an unexpired government-issued photo ID, or documentation showing your income or source of funds. This typically happens when the app needs to confirm details that don’t match existing records or when you’re requesting access to certain features like direct deposit or stock trading.
Verification usually processes quickly, but if Cash App asks for a photo ID, make sure the document is current and clearly photographed. An expired driver’s license or a blurry image will delay the process.
Linking a Bank Account or Card
You don’t technically need a linked bank account to create your Cash App profile, but you’ll need one to move money in and out of the app. Cash App supports U.S.-issued debit and credit cards from Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Most standard U.S.-issued prepaid cards work for adding money, though withdrawing funds back to a prepaid card may not be supported.
Two card types are not compatible: ATM-only cards and business debit cards. If your bank gave you a card that works only at ATMs and doesn’t carry a Visa or Mastercard logo for purchases, it won’t link to Cash App. To connect a card, you’ll enter the card number, expiration date, CVV, and billing ZIP code directly in the app. You can also link a bank account using your routing and account numbers for direct transfers, which is the standard way to cash out your balance without fees.
What You Need for a Business Account
If you plan to accept payments from customers, you can switch your personal account to a Cash App for Business profile. The setup happens within the same app, and you don’t need a separate account. You’ll toggle on the business features in your settings and provide a business name that customers will see when they pay you.
The main difference with a business account is tax reporting. The IRS requires Cash App to generate a Form 1099-K for business customers who receive payments above a certain threshold during the calendar year. That means you’ll want to keep your personal and business transactions organized. Cash App charges a 2.75% fee on incoming business payments, which is deducted automatically from each transaction.
Accounts for Teens (Ages 13 to 17)
Teens can use Cash App, but the process involves a parent or guardian. The sponsoring adult must have their own verified Cash App account, then approve the teen’s account through the app. Once sponsored, the teen gets access to peer-to-peer payments and can receive a Cash App Card if the parent approves it. The parent retains some oversight of the account, including the ability to view transaction history and manage settings.
Teens cannot access all features available to adult users. Certain products like stock investing and Bitcoin trading are restricted to users 18 and older, even with parental sponsorship.
Quick Checklist
- Smartphone: iPhone or Android with the Cash App downloaded
- Phone number or email: needed to create your login
- Age: 13 or older (13 to 17 requires a parent sponsor)
- Debit or credit card: U.S.-issued Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover to link for funding
- For full access: legal name, date of birth, and last four digits of your SSN or ITIN
- For additional verification: government-issued photo ID, full SSN/ITIN, or proof of income (only if requested)