Why Bidders Are Asked for an Address at Checkout
When an auction uses an organization tax table, winning bidders are asked to provide a billing address before they can pay. This article explains why, what’s required, and what you’ll see if it’s missing — useful for managers and for supporting your bidders.
Why the address is needed
Section titled “Why the address is needed”The tax rate on a winner’s invoice is determined by where the bidder is — their state/province and country. Without an address, Handbid can’t select the correct rate. For that reason, on a tax-table auction the address requirement is enforced at payment time: a winner cannot check themselves out until a valid address is on file. (For in-person point-of-sale purchases, the auction’s own location is used instead, so walk-up buyers aren’t asked.)
This is a real requirement, not just a prompt. Older versions of the mobile apps that used to skip the prompt will now ask for the address instead of completing payment without one.
What’s required
Section titled “What’s required”- Country — always.
- State/province — when the country has states/provinces (e.g. US, Canada). Countries without subnational regions only need the country.
- Street, city, and postal code are collected as part of the normal address form.
The address is saved to the bidder’s account, so they won’t be asked again.
What the bidder sees
Section titled “What the bidder sees”If a winner tries to pay without a complete address, checkout stops and they’re prompted to add one. Once they complete it (including state/province where required), payment proceeds and the correct tax is applied automatically.
What managers should know
Section titled “What managers should know”- You can’t turn off “Require an address to pay” while a tax table is attached — it’s locked on for the reason above.
- If you (a manager) take payment on a bidder’s behalf without an address, Handbid lets you proceed, but the invoice records $0.00 tax and flags the line for review so it isn’t missed. See Tax Overrides and Where Tax Appears in Reports.