How to verify your Google Ads account before the 2025 transparency update
- Lyn Spindley
- May 9
- 3 min read
Why advertiser verification matters more than ever
Starting May 2025, Google is rolling out a new transparency policy that will display who paid for the ad in its Ads Transparency Center and My Ad Centre.
If your Google Ads account is not properly verified, the wrong name might be shown publicly, whether it’s your billing department, agency name, or a placeholder from a payment profile. Worse yet, if your account isn't verified, your Ads won't run.
This isn’t just a formality. It’s going to affect brand visibility and your sales if it's not done on time, and done right.
What is advertiser verification in Google Ads?
Advertiser verification is a Google Ads process that confirms who you are and how you pay for advertising. It's used to prevent fraud and misinformation, and in 2025, it becomes the foundation for how your business name is publicly shown.
Verification involves:
Providing legal business information
Confirming billing details
Declaring whether you’re a direct advertiser or an agency
If you're an agency, you'll need to verify as one, not as a direct advertiser.
How to verify your Google Ads account
To access or update your verification status:
Log in to your Google Ads account
Navigate to Billing > Advertiser verification
Check if your account is listed as:
Direct advertiser (you run ads for your own business)
Agency (you run ads on behalf of clients)
If incorrect, click “Reverify” to update your status
Submit the correct business name and payment details
Complete verification before 31 May 2025
What happens if you skip this step?
If you don’t verify or reverify correctly:
Your payment profile name may appear publicly
Agencies could accidentally show their own name on client ads
You might confuse or mislead users about who is responsible for the ad
Your ads will stop running until you fix it.
Key dates in the 2025 Google Ads transparency update
Date | Change | What you must do |
May 2025 | Google displays payer name in transparency tools | Ensure your verified status and payment profile are correct |
31 May 2025 | Deadline for agencies to reverify as agencies | Reverify now to control which name is shown |
June 2025 | Advertisers can edit their payer name in the verification panel | Log in and manually update your display name |
Pro tips for business owners and agencies
Use your legal entity name or recognisable brand name in billing
Agencies: Make sure your clients' names are listed correctly in their payment profiles
Don’t assume it’s set up correctly; check it today.
Step-by-step: how to verify your Google Ads account before the 2025 transparency update
Follow these steps to stay compliant, protect your brand, and control what name appears in Google’s public ad listings
Step 1: Log into your Google Ads account
Go to ads.google.com
Use the admin login for the account you want to verify
Step 2: Access advertiser verification
In the left-hand menu, click Billing
Select Advertiser verification from the dropdown
This page will show your current verification status and advertiser type
Step 3: Check your advertiser type
Ask yourself:
Are you an agency running ads for others?
Or a business advertising your own products or services?
If the answer is agency but you’re listed as a direct advertiser, you need to update this now.
Step 4: Review your payer name
Scroll to see the payment profile name
This is the name that will be publicly displayed starting May 2025
If it’s not your preferred public-facing brand name, take note
Step 5: Reverify if needed (by 31 May 2025)
Click Reverify
Select the correct advertiser type (Agency or Direct)
Submit updated business documentation and billing details
Complete the process before the 31 May deadline
Step 6: Plan for manual edits (June 2025 onwards)
From June, Google will allow you to edit the payer name yourself
Head back to Billing > Advertiser Verification
Update the name that appears publicly—ideal if you want to display a trading name, client name, or legal entity
Bonus Step for Agencies: Check all your client accounts
Repeat the process for each client
Make sure their payer name reflects their business, not yours
Use separate payment profiles for clarity and control
Final takeaway
You don’t want your ad to show the wrong business name, or worse, stop running altogether. By learning how to verify your Google Ads account and understanding the Google Ads transparency update for 2025, you can protect your brand, stay compliant, maintain user trust, and keep running ads!
Do you need help with this Google Ads process? Contact Treat at 01803 220369 and we can troubleshoot it for you.