Connecting Stripe to accept HOA dues

Before members can pay dues online, your HOA needs a Stripe account linked to your bank account. Fourplex guides you through this with a short setup form, then hands off to Stripe for identity verification. This article walks you through what to expect at each step.

Only the President or Treasurer can connect a bank account.

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What you'll need before starting

Have these ready before you begin — Stripe will ask for all three:

• EIN (Employer Identification Number) — Most HOAs obtained one when they were formed or when they opened a bank account. Check old IRS Form 1120-H filings, your articles of incorporation, or your bank's records. If your HOA doesn't have an EIN, you can apply for one for free at IRS.gov in about 10 minutes.
• Photo ID for one board member — Stripe verifies one person (you). Your personal information goes directly to Stripe for identity verification and is not shared with Fourplex or stored on our servers.
• HOA bank account details — The routing number and account number for the checking account where dues payments should land. Payouts arrive on a 2-day rolling schedule after each payment clears.

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The "About your HOA" form

Before you reach Stripe's screens, Fourplex asks you three short questions so we can pre-fill your information and reduce the number of questions Stripe asks.

How is your HOA organized? Choose the option that best describes how your HOA was set up legally. If your HOA was formed as a corporation, select Corporation. Most HOAs incorporated as a non-profit when they were formed — this is still the default selection. If you're unsure, reach out to the Fourplex team for help and we'll walk you through it.

Does your HOA have a website? Most self-managed HOAs don't have a public website, and that's fine. Selecting "No" tells Stripe your community collects dues from existing members and doesn't operate a storefront — which means you won't be asked for a website address. If you do have a website, select "Yes" and enter the URL.

Mailing address We show your HOA's address on file. Stripe uses this as your business address. If it looks wrong, click "Edit address" to update it in Settings first, then return here.

Click Continue to proceed to Stripe.

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What Stripe will ask for

Once you hand off to Stripe, you'll be guided through their standard account setup:

1. Confirm your HOA's business details (most fields will be pre-filled from what you entered above).
2. Enter your EIN.
3. Provide your personal information and photo ID for identity verification.
4. Enter your HOA's bank account routing and account number.

Follow Stripe's prompts. If you get stuck on a particular screen, Stripe's embedded help text usually explains what they need.

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What "Stripe is reviewing your HOA" means

After you submit all of the information, Stripe runs a verification check. During this time, Fourplex shows a "Stripe is reviewing your HOA" status on your Dues page (the Settings tab).

This is normal. Most HOAs are approved within a few minutes, but the process can take up to 1–2 business days in some cases. You don't need to do anything while you wait — Fourplex will check in with Stripe automatically and update your status as soon as it changes.

The status page shows when it was last checked, and you can leave the page and come back at any time.

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What to do if Stripe asks for more information

Occasionally, Stripe needs additional documents or clarification after the initial submission. If this happens, the Dues page (the Settings tab) will show a Stripe-labeled notice with a list of what's needed.

Common requests include:

• Additional documents to verify your HOA's legal structure
• Clarification on the type of organization you registered
• A voided check or additional bank verification

Click Resume onboarding to return to Stripe's screen and provide what's needed. Once you've submitted the new information, the status will return to "reviewing" while Stripe processes it.

If the notice mentions confirming an email address, that request is coming from Stripe rather than Fourplex. Completing it helps Stripe keep payouts and dues collection active.

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Email notifications

You'll receive an email at two moments:

1. When verification is complete — "Your HOA can now accept dues payments." This means Stripe has approved your account and members can start paying online.
2. If Stripe needs more information — "Stripe needs more info to verify your HOA." This email lists what Stripe is asking for and links you back to the Dues page.

These emails go to the President or Treasurer who completed the form. You can turn off email notifications from the billing status page if you prefer to check manually.

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Managing your Stripe account later

Presidents and Treasurers can return to Stripe account settings from Dues → Settings → Manage Stripe account. This opens a secure embedded Stripe screen inside Fourplex where you can update account details and payout information.

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Common questions

How long does verification usually take?

Most accounts are approved within a few minutes of submitting. In some cases — usually when Stripe needs to review your organization type or documents more carefully — it can take up to 1–2 business days.

Can I pause and finish later?

Yes. If you stop partway through Stripe's screens, your progress is saved. When you return to Billing → Setup, you'll pick up where you left off.

What if I don't have an EIN?

Apply for one free at IRS.gov (search "apply for EIN"). The online application takes about 10 minutes and gives you the number immediately. You'll need it before you can complete Stripe's verification.

Does Fourplex store my bank account information?

No. Your bank details and ID go directly to Stripe. Fourplex only stores whether the connection is active and basic account status information.

Can a Treasurer set this up instead of the President?

Yes. Either the President or the Treasurer can connect the bank account. Other roles cannot access this setup.