Deleting your Shine account removes your profile, payment history, and access to the app permanently
Shine is a financial app that helps you manage taxes, build savings, and track income if you're self-employed or a gig worker. If you no longer use it, you can delete your account through the app itself—the process takes a few minutes and is irreversible. Once deleted, you cannot recover your account, transaction records, or any saved information.
Before you delete, download or screenshot anything you need for tax records or accounting purposes. Shine stores your income history and expense tracking, which may be useful even after you stop using the app. After deletion, you will have no way to retrieve this data.
Key Takeaways
- Account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone—Shine will not restore a deleted account even if you change your mind.
- You must delete your account through the Shine app itself; there is no web-based deletion option or customer service workaround.
- Download your financial records and transaction history before deleting, since this data will be lost immediately.
- If you have an active tax payment plan or outstanding balance with Shine, resolve it before attempting to delete your account.
- Deleting your Shine account does not cancel any linked bank accounts or payment methods—you must unlink them separately if needed.
Steps to delete your account in the Shine app
Open the Shine app and log in with your email and password. Tap the menu icon (usually three horizontal lines) in the bottom right or top left corner, depending on your phone's operating system. Select "Settings" or "Account Settings" from the menu.
Scroll down to find "Delete Account" or "Close Account"—the exact wording varies by app version. Tap it. Shine will ask you to confirm your choice and may display a warning that deletion is permanent. Read this carefully. Enter your password again to verify your identity, then confirm the deletion. The app will process the request immediately, and your account will be removed from Shine's servers.
What happens to your linked bank accounts and payment methods
Deleting your Shine account does not automatically disconnect your bank account or payment methods from Shine's systems. You should unlink these before deletion to prevent any future charges or confusion. In your account settings, look for "Connected Accounts," "Linked Banks," or "Payment Methods" and remove each one individually.
If Shine has access to your bank account through a third-party service like Plaid, that connection will be severed when you delete your account, but it is safer to disconnect manually first. This gives you full control and a clear record that the link is gone.
Downloading your financial records before deletion
Shine tracks your income, expenses, and tax estimates. If you need this information for your tax return, accounting records, or a new financial app, download it before you delete. Look in Settings for an option like "Export Data," "Download Records," or "Tax Summary." Some versions of Shine allow you to email yourself a PDF of your transaction history.
If no export option is visible in the app, take screenshots of your income summary, expense categories, and any tax estimates Shine calculated. These screenshots are not as clean as a formal export, but they preserve the numbers you may need later. The IRS does not require you to keep Shine's records specifically, but you do need to keep proof of your income and expenses for at least three years.
If you have an active tax payment or outstanding balance
Shine sometimes offers tax payment plans or allows you to pay taxes through the app. If you have an active payment scheduled or an outstanding balance, you must resolve it before deleting your account. Contact Shine's support team through the app or at their website to confirm your balance and make any final payments.
Deleting your account while a payment is pending may cause the payment to fail or create confusion with your tax records. Once you have paid what you owe, you can proceed with deletion. Keep a receipt or confirmation email from any final payment, since Shine will no longer be accessible to show proof of payment after deletion.
Alternatives to deletion if you want to keep your data
If you are not sure whether you will need Shine again, consider deactivating your account instead of deleting it. Deactivation (also called "pause" or "suspend" in some apps) hides your account and stops notifications without permanently erasing your data. You can reactivate it later if you change your mind. Check your Settings for a "Pause Account" or "Deactivate" option before choosing permanent deletion.
Another option is to stop using the app but leave your account active. This takes up no space on your phone and costs nothing, but it preserves your transaction history and tax records indefinitely. You can log back in at any time to review past income or download records. This is the safest choice if you are self-employed and may need to reference historical income data for loans, rentals, or other financial decisions.
What to do if you cannot delete your account
If the delete option does not appear in your Settings, your app version may be outdated. Update Shine from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android), then try again. If deletion still does not work, you may have an active payment or subscription that must be canceled first.
Contact Shine's support team through the app or their website and explain that you want to delete your account. Provide your email address and account details. Support can confirm whether anything is blocking deletion and can sometimes delete accounts manually if the app function is broken. Keep the support ticket number in case you need to follow up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover my Shine account after I delete it?
No. Shine does not restore deleted accounts under any circumstances. Once you confirm deletion, your account, transaction history, and all saved data are permanently removed. If you think you might need your records later, download them before deleting.
Will deleting my Shine account affect my credit score?
No. Shine is a financial management app, not a credit card or loan provider, so deleting your account has no impact on your credit. Your credit report and score are maintained by credit bureaus and are separate from Shine's systems.
Do I need to cancel a subscription before deleting my account?
If you have a paid Shine subscription, cancel it through your app settings or your phone's subscription manager before deleting your account. This stops any future charges. Deletion does not automatically cancel subscriptions, so you may be charged even after your account is gone.
What if I deleted my account by mistake?
Shine cannot restore deleted accounts. Your only option is to create a new account with the same email address or a different one. You will start fresh with no transaction history or saved data. This is why downloading your records before deletion is important.
Will my bank see that I deleted Shine?
Your bank will not be notified that you deleted Shine. However, if Shine had access to your bank account through Plaid or another connection, that link will be severed. Your bank's records will show that the third-party access has been removed, but this is normal and does not affect your account.