How to check and change a billing address

PayPal Editorial Staff

August 14, 2024

5 mins read

A correct billing address is important for keeping a financial provider up to date and for correctly processing payments. So, it’s important to take time to record a billing address properly and keep it updated for active accounts.

In most cases, updating a billing address can be done online or on an app. Making sure this piece of personal information is accurate can help ensure seamless transactions and keep payments secure.

This article explains how to find and check a billing address, its importance, and how to change it.

What is a billing address?

A billing address is the address linked to an individual's bank or credit card account. It's the address usually used when applying for a credit card or other financial account.

A billing address looks just like a physical street address. It includes a street number, street name, city, state, and zip code. If there's an apartment number, that should be included as well.

A billing address is used for correct reporting purposes on the account, along with safely verifying identity during transactions.

The importance of checking billing addresses

While providing a billing address may seem simple, it's a critical piece of information that shouldn't be taken lightly. If it's not correct, the user may miss receiving important financial statements or account notifications. Incorrect billing addresses listed when making a purchase could potentially cause issues with payments processing as well.

Here's more detail on why it matters to check and update a billing address:

Accurate billing: It's important that documentation is sent to the cardholder's correct location to stay on top of statement transactions and payment due dates.
Point-of-service fraud prevention: When at a store checkout or gas pump, for example, a merchant usually requires typing in a billing ZIP code for identity confirmation, which adds a layer of protection to the transaction. There's no ZIP code printed on a credit card. So, if someone is committing fraud with a stolen card, that person may have difficulty authorizing the transaction.
Online fraud prevention: Matching the correct billing address to an account is a main line of defense when shopping with a card online. The address verification system, or AVS, requires that a full billing address be entered at checkout. That address is compared to the address associated with the card on file. If the addresses don't match, the transaction will be declined, offering fraud prevention in case of unauthorized activity.
Seamless transactions: Having a correct billing address on file reduces the risk of processing errors, as well as delays or problems in receiving goods.

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What’s the difference between a billing address and a shipping address?

When buying things online, billing and shipping addresses are entered separately. That's because a billing address is the one linked to the payment method, and the shipping address is where goods should be sent.

For instance, there could be a time when items or gifts need to be sent to an address other than the customer’s own billing or shipping address. In this instance, the recipient's address would need to be typed in as the shipping address.

Or, perhaps the customer is temporarily staying somewhere other than their home address and need items sent directly to them. They would enter their temporary address as the shipping address.

But when it comes to billing vs. shipping addresses, they are often one and the same. If so, there's usually a box to click that auto fills the shipping address so it doesn't have to be typed again.