Many traders first meet prop firm KYC (“know your customer”) at the worst moment: the day their first payout becomes eligible. Identity verification is standard practice at prop firms because a performance payout is a real payment to a real person, and the firm has to know who it is paying and that it is allowed to pay them.
This guide explains the checks you will typically meet, what to prepare, and how verification works on QATS from checkout to the first transfer.
Why prop firm KYC exists
Banks and payment providers, including crypto payment services, generally operate under anti-money-laundering and sanctions rules, so firms that pay traders verify identity before money leaves. Verification also protects the payout itself: it helps make sure the money reaches the account holder and makes it harder for one person to run accounts under several names.
Many firms verify before the first payout rather than at signup, which is convenient until it delays an eligible request. Some verify earlier, for example at funded activation. Either way, the information requested is usually similar.
KYC and payout checks on QATS, in order
| Check | When | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Country of residence | Before purchase | Whether your country of permanent residence is currently served |
| Checkout checks | Before payment | Name, address, date of birth and phone, with age, country and sanctions checks |
| Identity verification (KYC) | Any time with an active Evaluation or Funded account; required before a payout request | An identity document and presence checks in a hosted provider flow |
| Tax details | In the payout request | Legal name, U.S. person status, tax residence, citizenship and tax ID |
| Payment details and authorisation | In the payout request | Your own bank account or USDT wallet, declarations, an electronic signature and an authenticator code |
| Finance review | After you submit | Review of the request before an approved payout is released |
Check your country before you buy
Country availability depends on where you permanently live, not only on your passport. Citizenship, your current location and individual restrictions may also matter, and using a VPN to hide an ineligible location is not allowed.
QATS publishes a searchable directory of the countries and territories it serves. “Supported” confirms that the country is served; it does not by itself approve KYC, a payout or a Live Funded account. If your residence is unclear or changes, contact support before paying or requesting a payout.
What to prepare for identity verification
On QATS, open Profile & settings → Identity verification, check your details, then continue in the secure provider flow. Do not send document images through ordinary support chat.
- A valid identity document of the type the verification provider asks for.
- A device with a working camera, since the flow includes a presence check alongside the document check.
- Profile details that match the document: full name, date of birth and address.
- Current contact details, so you can be reached about the decision.
- For the payout itself: your tax residence, citizenship and tax ID, and a bank account or USDT wallet that belongs to you.
KYC timing: verify early, not on payout day
Verification time varies. Automated checks can finish quickly, while a manual review, a blurred photo or a mismatched address can take noticeably longer. Review times also differ between firms and providers, so the practical answer is to take verification off the critical path.
On QATS you do not need payout eligibility to start. With an active Evaluation or Funded account you can verify in advance, while you are still building the 5 winning days a payout request needs. The status can show In review; trading can remain available meanwhile, but a payout request stays unavailable until approval. If verification is declined or needs a correction, the reason appears in your profile.
From an approved request to money received
Verification is one of several steps. A QATS payout request runs through Amount, Tax details, Payment details and Review, and the quote shows the gross request, the company share, any fees and what you receive before you confirm.
With an 80% split, you receive 80% of the approved gross request, less any transfer fee shown in the quote. After you submit, follow the request ID in Payout history: Pending means review or transfer is still in progress, and Funds sent means QATS has recorded the completed transfer.
Mistakes that delay payouts
- Waiting for payout eligibility before starting verification.
- A profile name or address that does not match the identity document.
- A USDT wallet on a different network from the one selected in the form, or a bank account held by someone else.
- Submitting a second request when the first response seems lost, instead of checking Payout history.
- A refunded or charged-back purchase: no payout is owed on the account it paid for, and other payout requests go on hold while the case is reviewed.
Frequently asked questions
01Do prop firms require KYC?
Identity verification before the first payout is standard practice, because payouts are real payments; some firms verify earlier, at funded activation. On QATS, identity verification is required before a payout request and release.
02What documents do I need for prop firm KYC?
Typically a government-issued identity document and a live photo or video check. On QATS the hosted provider flow names the document and information it needs, and the payout request also asks for tax details.
03Can I trade while my KYC is in review?
On QATS, trading can remain available while verification is in review, but a payout request stays unavailable until it is approved.
04Does a supported country guarantee my payout?
No. Country availability is one check. You also need to meet the account’s payout rules, pass verification and use an available lawful payout route.
Educational content, not investment advice. QATS evaluations and initial funded accounts are simulated; payouts depend on eligibility, verification and the applicable agreement.