---
title: Identity API
description: "The **Identity API** returns data for an authenticated user (user access token) based on the OAuth scopes provided. Non-confidential information, such as eBay `userID` is returned using the default scope. Confidential data for an individual, such as address, email, phone, etc. are returned based on the OAuth scope you use in the call. For business users, all the public business information is returned using the default OAuth scope. The Identity API can be used to let users log into your app or site using eBay, which frees you from needing to store and protect user's PII (Personal Identifiable Information) data."
api_version: 1.0
api_name: identity_api
api_type: REST
api_group: sell/identity_api
source_url:
  html: https://developer.ebay.com/develop/api/sell/identity_api
  md: https://developer.ebay.com/develop/api/sell/identity_api.md
---

# Identity API API

The **Identity API** returns data for an authenticated user (user access token) based on the OAuth scopes provided. Non-confidential information, such as eBay `userID` is returned using the default scope. Confidential data for an individual, such as address, email, phone, etc. are returned based on the OAuth scope you use in the call. For business users, all the public business information is returned using the default OAuth scope.

The Identity API can be used to let users log into your app or site using eBay, which frees you from needing to store and protect user's PII (Personal Identifiable Information) data.

## API Methods

The following API methods are available:

### getUser

#### GET /user
**Description:** Retrieves the account profile information for an authenticated user based on the provided **User access token**. The response includes relevant user profile data, which varies according to requested **scopes**—returning all public business account fields with the default scope, or public fields for individual accounts unless extended scopes are used.

For a business account, the `commerce.identity.readonly` scope returns all fields in the **businessAccount** container; for an individual account, returned fields in the **individualAccount** container depend on the selected scopes. For details about what each scope returns, see the [Identity API Overview](/api-docs/commerce/identity/overview.html).

## Error Codes

The following error codes may be returned by this API:

### REQUEST Errors

#### 140001 - API_IDENTITY
**Description:** The requested user was not found.

### APPLICATION Errors

#### 140000 - API_IDENTITY
**Description:** There was a problem with an eBay internal system or process. Contact eBay developer support for assistance.

## Rate Limits

See [API Call Limits](https://developer.ebay.com/develop/get-started/api-call-limits) on the eBay Developer Program.

## Resources

### Documentation

- [eBay Developer Program](https://developer.ebay.com/)
- [API Documentation](https://developer.ebay.com/develop/api/)
- [SDKs and Widgets](https://developer.ebay.com/develop/sdks-and-widgets)
- [Developer Community Forum](https://community.ebay.com/t5/Developer-Groups/ct-p/developergroup)

### Tools

- [API Explorer](https://developer.ebay.com/my/api_test_tool)
- [GraphQL Explorer](https://developer.ebay.com/my/graphql_explorer)

### Support

- [Developer Support](https://developer.ebay.com/support/)
- [API Status](https://developer.ebay.com/support/api-status)
- [Release Notes](https://developer.ebay.com/develop/api/release_notes/)

---
*Generated on 2026-07-08T04:25:00.521Z*