# Setting the customer type

A [customer's](https://docs.digitalriver.com/digital-river-api-reference/2021-12-13/customers) `type` and a [checkout's](https://docs.digitalriver.com/digital-river-api-reference/2021-12-13/checkouts) `customerType` allow you to indicate whether the entity making a purchase is a `business` or an `individual`.

When associating a [tax identifier](/digital-river-api/customer-management/setting-tax-related-attributes.md#tax-identifiers) or [tax certificate](/digital-river-api/customer-management/setting-tax-related-attributes.md#tax-certificates) to a checkout, you typically indicate the purchaser is a `business`. For more information about exceptions to this rule, refer to the [supported tax identifiers](/digital-river-api/integration-options/checkouts/creating-checkouts/tax-identifiers.md#supported-tax-identifiers) section on the [Tax identifiers](/digital-river-api/integration-options/checkouts/creating-checkouts/tax-identifiers.md) page.

## Including a business customer's organization

When [registered](/digital-river-api/integration-options/checkouts/creating-checkouts/using-the-checkout-identifier.md#registered-checkouts-or-invoices) and [guest](/digital-river-api/integration-options/checkouts/creating-checkouts/using-the-checkout-identifier.md#guest-checkouts-or-invoices) `business` customers are making a purchase, you should specify their organization by setting:

* The [checkout's](https://docs.digitalriver.com/digital-river-api-reference/2021-12-13/checkouts) `shipTo.organization` when providing a customer's [shipping information](/digital-river-api/integration-options/checkouts/creating-checkouts/providing-address-information.md#ship-to-address).
* The [checkout's ](https://docs.digitalriver.com/digital-river-api-reference/2021-12-13/checkouts)`billTo.organization` when providing a customer's [billing information](/digital-river-api/integration-options/checkouts/creating-checkouts/providing-address-information.md#bill-to-address).


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