Government Documentation: Certificate of Warrant

This article provides an in-depth guide to the Certificate of Warrant (COW), a crucial document for government account onboarding and financial verification. Understanding the purpose, requirements, and responsibilities associated with this certificate is essential for a smooth and efficient process.

Why We Need a Certificate of Warrant for Stripe Verification

In order for ChowNow to submit a verification package to Stripe for disbursement, we first require a signed Certificate of Warrant (COW), a W-9, and, if requested, proof of association with the government entity. This is a critical step in ensuring the security and validity of the financial transactions for your account.

The Document Requirement: Overview

For Stripe disbursement verification, a Contracting Officer’s Certificate of Warrant (COW) is required. This certificate must include the Stripe Account ID, which will be provided to you by ChowNow once your account is generated during the onboarding process. 

Please Note: This document can be submitted without your Stripe account name and ID added, and we can add these details after the fact. 

Roles and Responsibilities

The following roles are involved in preparing and signing the COW:

  • Contracting Officer: This individual is responsible for providing the COW for their specific region.
  • Military Representative: This person signs the letterhead on the COW. While they can be the same as the Contracting Officer, they cannot be the Account Owner.
  • Account Owner: This individual is the assigned responsible party for the account.

Signatory Requirements

The letterhead must be signed by a representative of the military, not the Account Owner. The business representative who signs the letterhead must meet the following criteria:

  • Can be easily validated through publicly available official documents as holding a senior position.
  • Holds a senior position within the publicly-traded entity itself (not subsidiaries).

COW Requirements & Content

The COW must be on government letterhead, in color,  matching the Stripe legal entity name and include the following nine fields:

  • Date
  • Body of the Letter: The body must contain language similar to the following: “I, [Signatory Representatives name], [title] (Example: Director of FMWR), authorize [account representative name], [account representative title] (Example: Business Operations Division Manager) to sign on behalf of the listed installments and manage the Stripe account.”
  • Stripe Account Name(s)
  • Account ID(s): The Stripe account ID (e.g., acct_xxx)
  • Business Address(es)
  • Business Name(s)
  • Website URL(s)
  • Business Tax ID(s)
  • Account Rep

Submission of Documentation

Please provide any and all documentation directly to your account manager at ChowNow.