# Setting the customer type

A [customer's](https://app.gitbook.com/s/x8fSFzVR3sg0TsNWwwVz/customers) `type` and a [checkout's](https://app.gitbook.com/s/x8fSFzVR3sg0TsNWwwVz/checkouts) `customerType` allow you to indicate whether the entity making a purchase is a `business` or an `individual`.

When associating a [tax identifier](https://docs.digitalriver.com/digital-river-api/customer-management/setting-tax-related-attributes#tax-identifiers) or [tax certificate](https://docs.digitalriver.com/digital-river-api/customer-management/setting-tax-related-attributes#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](https://docs.digitalriver.com/digital-river-api/integration-options/checkouts/tax-identifiers#supported-tax-identifiers) section on the [Tax identifiers](https://docs.digitalriver.com/digital-river-api/integration-options/checkouts/creating-checkouts/tax-identifiers) page.

## Including a business customer's organization

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

* The [checkout's](https://app.gitbook.com/s/x8fSFzVR3sg0TsNWwwVz/checkouts) `shipTo.organization` when providing a customer's [shipping information](https://docs.digitalriver.com/digital-river-api/integration-options/checkouts/providing-address-information#ship-to-address).
* The [checkout's ](https://app.gitbook.com/s/x8fSFzVR3sg0TsNWwwVz/checkouts)`billTo.organization` when providing a customer's [billing information](https://docs.digitalriver.com/digital-river-api/integration-options/checkouts/providing-address-information#bill-to-address).