Yes, American Express does report authorized users to the credit bureaus. Once an authorized user turns 18, Amex sends the account data to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion on a monthly cycle, and it does so with one important twist: only positive history gets reported. If the primary cardholder falls behind, Amex stops reporting the account for the authorized user rather than passing the damage along.1American Express. Additional Card Member FAQs and Support
The Age 18 Threshold
Amex lets you add someone as an authorized user starting at age 13. That person receives a card, can make purchases, and earns rewards. But nothing appears on their credit report until they turn 18.1American Express. Additional Card Member FAQs and Support
This trips up parents who add a teenager expecting to build credit history early. Between 13 and 17, the arrangement is purely about spending access. Credit reporting kicks in on the 18th birthday, not before. The authorized user must also have never defaulted on an Amex account.2American Express. Additional Card Membership Terms
How the Positive-Only Reporting Works
This is the piece that makes Amex unusual. Most issuers report the account’s full history to the authorized user’s file, meaning a missed payment by the primary cardholder shows up on the authorized user’s report the same as anyone else’s. Amex handles it differently. If the primary cardholder becomes delinquent, American Express stops reporting the account for the authorized user entirely, preserving whatever positive history has already been built.1American Express. Additional Card Member FAQs and Support
The practical effect is that the authorized user keeps the benefit of past on-time payments without absorbing the fallout from the primary cardholder’s slip. It makes being an authorized user on an Amex card a relatively low-risk way to build credit, particularly for younger adults or anyone rebuilding after a rough patch.
One signal to watch: if the tradeline suddenly disappears from your credit report, that may mean Amex has stopped reporting because the primary account went delinquent. You’re shielded from negative marks, but you’ve also lost the ongoing benefit.
What Shows Up on the Credit Report
The tradeline that appears on an authorized user’s file includes the account open date, the credit limit, the current balance each cycle, and the payment status. A few details are worth knowing:
- The account open date reflects when you were added, not when the primary cardholder first opened the card. Amex stopped backdating authorized user accounts years ago, so being added to a decade-old card doesn’t hand you a decade of history.
- The full credit limit of the primary account is what gets reported, which can help your utilization ratio even if the primary cardholder has set a lower internal spending cap on your card.
- Balance and payment status update monthly, so the tradeline moves with the account’s real usage.
Individual spending limits set by the primary cardholder don’t reach the bureaus. Only the account-level credit limit does.1American Express. Additional Card Member FAQs and Support
What Amex Needs to Report You Correctly
For the tradeline to reach your file, the bureaus have to be able to match the account to you. When adding an authorized user, the primary cardholder provides the person’s full legal name, mailing address, date of birth, and either a Social Security Number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.1American Express. Additional Card Member FAQs and Support
If the authorized user doesn’t have an SSN or ITIN at the time of enrollment, the primary cardholder needs to call the number on the back of the card to work through alternatives. Amex has historically allowed a 60-day window to submit the identifier after the account is added; if the window passes without it, the authorized user’s card gets deactivated. The ITIN option matters for non-citizens who have tax identification but not a Social Security Number.
Removing the Tradeline If You Need To
If the arrangement isn’t serving you anymore, only the primary cardholder can remove an authorized user through Amex. Removal is handled through the online account portal or the chat feature inside the account dashboard.3American Express. How to Add or Remove Amex Authorized User
Once removal is processed, new activity stops appearing on your credit report. The existing tradeline may remain as a closed account for a while, or the bureaus may drop it. If you want it off your file faster, you can contact each bureau directly and request removal. Because authorized users carry no liability for the account, bureaus generally process these deletion requests without much pushback.4Experian. Remove Authorized User Accounts from Credit Report
Think carefully before removing a long-standing positive tradeline. If the account has been contributing to your average age of credit or holding your utilization ratio down, deleting it can temporarily lower your scores. Weigh what the tradeline is doing for your profile before you pull it off.