What is an authorized user on a credit card?

An authorized user is someone added to another person's card account who can make purchases but is not legally responsible for the debt. The account's history may appear on the authorized user's credit report, which can help build credit.

You get a card in your name that draws on the primary holder's account, but they — not you — are legally responsible for the bill. The credit-building mechanism is that most major issuers report the account under the authorized user's Social Security number too, so a long-standing account with low utilization and a clean payment record can appear on your report. The CFPB describes this as one legitimate path to establishing credit history. The risk runs both ways: if the primary holder carries high balances or pays late, those negatives can land on your report as well — so confirm the account has a clean record before accepting authorized-user status, and know you can usually be removed at any time.

Reviewed by the ClearValue Editorial Team · Last updated 7/8/2026