Set up your trader status on App Store

Moving forward, Apple is requiring Apple Developer Account owners to declare whether their account belongs to a trader or not. If your developer account is registered under a trader’s name, then it is required to verify the company’s information as this information is now required to be made public on the App Store in the EU. Such information will include the company’s name, address, email and phone number. This is in place in order to align with the Digital Services Act in the European Union.

How to know if you’re a trader

Taking a snippet from Apple’s documentation about this requirement, the Digital Services Act defines a trader as anyone “who is acting, including through any person acting in his or her name or on his or her behalf, for purposes relating to his or her trade, business, craft or profession”. This includes anyone who is making revenue from the app, either through e-commerce or through paid adverts, or even anyone registered for VAT purposes. You are not a trader if the account owner is a hobbyist without the intention of monetising the app.

Taking action

In order to prevent hick-ups during your next App Store submission or to prevent the app being removed from the EU, it is recommended to visit App Store Connect and you will find a banner as soon as you login. If you are a trader, check the correct checkbox and verify the information. Make sure you use a phone number where you can receive an automated phone call or SMS for verification, as well as a reachable company email which could be verified. Keep in mind that this is information that will be made public to users on App Store.

The physical address is most probably the one used during registration for the Apple Developer Program and, is the one registered with Dun and Bradstreet, which is the official body used in the USA to verify EU companies. If the registered physical address is incorrect or outdated, or is not the officially registered company address, then it is recommended that you start the process of updating this information as soon as possible to avoid delays or issues, as this process might take a while. Apple recommends contacting D&B and opening a case with them to update the details by following this link. Replying to your request can take 30 days, so it’s best to get started.

We hope this helps to clarify what’s going on here and helps you be prepared for what’s coming. If you have further questions or information, we’d be happy to help. Feel free to reach out!