Payouts Policy

Updated: January 01, 2026 12:44 pm

This page describes the basis and method by which content creators (“Stars”, “Providers”) receive payments from SubscribeStar (the “Platform”).

Although this page does not outline a specific payout formula or schedule, it provides insight into how the Platform evaluates eligibility and manages payouts to maintain a consistent and dependable payout flow. All decisions are assessed on a per-Star basis. 

1. Creative works eligible for Monetization

This policy applies to all payout-eligible earnings on the Platform, including subscriptions, tips/donations, Paid Posts & Collections, and commissioned artwork.

The Platform supports monetization for a limited and clearly defined set of creative works and contribution types, as described in this section. Only offerings that fully comply with these eligibility requirements are eligible for payouts. 

Any items, activities, or contributions not covered or permitted under this section - regardless of whether funds are collected - are not eligible for payout and may instead be subject to refunds, account review, or other enforcement actions in accordance with Platform policies.

The Platform supports monetization exclusively for digital works and commissioned artwork. Eligible examples include illustrations and comics, 2D/3D models and design assets, ebooks and PDF guides, templates, videos and bonus episodes, audio files, and pre-recorded podcasts. 

Live streaming, including both audio and video formats, is not supported.

Physical goods, live services, and any similar types of services or products are not supported.

1.1 Subscriptions

Subscription-based offerings must meet the expectations described or claimed at the tier level. 

If a subscription does not deliver the promised value, if the Platform receives substantiated complaints from subscribers, or if the Star is inactive, collected subscription funds may be deemed ineligible for payout and may instead be subject to refunds. 

Digital content purchases must include a clear and accurate preview, teaser, and description that properly represent the offered item. The purchased material must deliver genuine value, align with the provided description, teaser, and preview, and must not mislead or deceive users.

Subscriptions for repackaged or duplicate content that has previously been made available elsewhere on the Platform shall not be eligible for payout.

All purchased digital works must be owned by the author (i.e., “Star”) or used with valid rights and permissions, and must comply with applicable copyright requirements. 

1.3 Commissioned artworks

Commissioned artworks must be created specifically in response to a subscriber’s request and delivered as described and agreed upon at the time of purchase. The commissioned work must provide clear value, match the agreed scope, and be delivered within a reasonable timeframe. 

Failure to deliver the commissioned artwork, delivery of materially incomplete or misrepresented work, or substantiated complaints from subscribers may render collected funds ineligible for payout and subject to refunds.

All commissioned artworks must be original and owned by the author (“Star”), or created with valid rights and permissions in compliance with applicable copyright laws. 

Works created in whole or in significant part using generative AI tools are not permitted for commissioned artworks. 

1.4 Tips / Donations

Tips and donations are voluntary contributions made by supporters without any guarantee of goods, services, or deliverables in return. 

Tips must not be presented as payment for specific content, services, or commissioned works. 

If tips or donations are used in a misleading manner, tied to unmet promises, or generate substantiated complaints from supporters, collected funds may be deemed ineligible for payout and may be subject to refunds. 

2. Eligibility for Payouts

2.1 Core requirements

To be eligible for payouts, the Star must:

• Submit all required tax and platform-reporting forms, such as W-9 (for US-individuals / residents), W-8BEN (for any foreign individuals), W-8BEN-E (for entities outside of the US), platform-connected income reporting such as DAC7 (for the EU residents and companies registered within the EU-zone), ATO (for Australia), CRA (for Canada), HMRC (for Great Britain) or other platform-reporting / seller-disclosure questionnaires, as well as any other forms applicable to their status and jurisdiction. Additional details about DAC7 and similar reporting programmes, and how they affect payout eligibility, are provided on separate pages dedicated to such similar reporting regimes.
• Content creators based in the USA are required to submit complete and accurate information necessary for the 1099-K tax form. Failure to comply may result in the termination of our services to the related Star.
• Provide accurate payout details, such as bank account or payment service details supported in their country of residence.
• Be the legal owner of the account and of the digital content and commissioned artwork offered through the Platform.
  • Payouts are generally made only to the person or entity that registered the account and publishes the content or accepts commissioned artwork orders.
  • Payouts to third parties are not allowed, except at the Platform’s explicit, case-by-case discretion.
  • In case you own/manage more than one account on the Platform, make sure that the payout information for all accounts is identical, up-to-date, and that you are indeed the rightful ultimate beneficiary of those accounts.
  • Should the ownership of an account or profile be transferred without prior notification to the Platform, the remaining balance of funds may not be eligible for payout to the new account/profile owner.
• Understand that funds accumulated on one Star’s account cannot be transferred to another Star’s account. If a transfer between accounts has ever been executed, any platform-level tax forms (for example, Forms 1099-K for U.S. Stars) will reflect only the payments processed for the original account; any onward transfers by that Star are not included in such forms.
• Complete identity verification (KYC/KYB) if requested, including providing valid government-issued ID or company registration documents.

2.2 Minimum activity and balance requirements

 In addition, the Star must meet the Platform’s minimum activity and balance requirements. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, this typically includes all of the following:

• The profile remains active. The Star continues to reasonably and consistently deliver the digital content, commissioned artwork, and other benefits advertised to subscribers and buyers, and does not abandon the profile for extended periods without prior notice or status updates.
• The profile has a fanbase: 
  • This minimum may be adjusted in individual cases at the Platform’s discretion. To help protect both Stars and subscribers, accounts with fewer than five active subscribers are subject to an initial risk period (typically, up to 90 days). During this time, some collected funds are securely held and become available for payout only after the risk period has passed. 
    
    This policy helps ensure that Stars remain consistently engaged in delivering promised value, irrespective of relatively low income, and reduces the risk of abuse, including chargebacks, unauthorized payments, or activity involving a very limited or closely connected subscriber base (e.g. relatives). By applying this safeguard early, the Platform helps create a more stable environment that supports reliable payouts as a Star’s audience grows. 
    
    At the end of each calendar year, we may lift any limits to allow full payout
  • The profile has at least USD 150 in pledges/earnings collected on balance.
    • Regional exceptions may apply; for some Stars in the United States, the threshold may be set to USD 30. 
  • At least 10 business days have passed since the first subscriber made a payment after profile approval or a period of profile inactivity.
  • At least 10 business days have passed since the previously processed payout request.
    • This interval may be reduced (for example, to 5 business days) in certain cases at the Platform’s discretion.
  • The profile maintains an acceptable pattern of refunds and chargebacks. As a guideline, both chargebacks and refunds should not exceed 0.5% of the total number of transactions processed for that profile; higher ratios may affect payout eligibility or lead to additional holds, reserves, or risk-based charges, as described in Section 6.

2.3 Payout availability by country and third-party service provider

Payouts are only possible if at least two (one as a primary option, and another one as a backup) supported payout methods are available for the Star’s selected country.

The payout account - for example, bank account, online payment account or any alternative payout method - must generally be:

• registered to the Star (or their legal entity); and
• registered in the same country that the Star selects in their payout settings, unless a specific cross-border payout option is explicitly supported.

The Platform aims to support payouts in most countries and regions worldwide. Availability is restricted for sanctioned countries/territories or where required by law, banks, or payout providers.

If a Star cannot see a payout option in their dashboard that suits them, they should contact the Platform. In many cases, the Platform can offer an alternative payout method or help configure a compatible option for the Star’s country and currency. 

3. What Counts Toward Payout

Payouts are based on Net Earnings, calculated as:

Net Earnings = Gross Earnings – Platform Service Fees – Payment Processing Fees – Applicable Taxes/Withholdings – Other Authorized Deductions

Where:

• Gross Earnings are all amounts paid by subscribers or customers for:
  • recurring subscriptions;
  • one-time tips or donations;
  • Paid Collections;
  • commissioned artwork (custom pieces ordered and paid for through the Platform).

Only digital content and commissioned artwork ordered and paid for through the Platform are included in Gross Earnings.

• Platform Service Fees are the fees retained by the Platform for providing and operating the service (described on the Pricing page, in the “Pricing for Stars” section).
• Payment Processing Fees are the costs charged by banks, card networks, processors, and payment providers for handling transactions (described on the Pricing page, in the “Pricing for Stars” section).
• Applicable Taxes/Withholdings are any amounts the Platform is required by law to withhold or collect on the Star’s earnings.
• Other Authorized Deductions include, for example:
  • chargebacks and refunds (comprising the actual refund/chargeback amount plus all applicable fees and expenses);
  • dispute-related costs and penalties;
  • risk-related reserves and holds;
  • usage-based or pass-through fees (such as age-verification checks or extra storage), as described elsewhere in this Policy and/or on the Pricing page, in the “Pricing for Stars” section.

Only fully processed and settled payments contribute to Net Earnings. Amounts related to pending, reversed, refunded, or charged-back payments are excluded from Net Earnings and therefore from payouts. 

4. Payout Fees & Additional Usage-Based Charges

4.1 Payout fees

For each payout, a payout fee will be charged. This fee depends on the withdrawal method or payout provider, the payout currency, the Star’s country, and in some cases the payout amount. It is usually deducted from the amount sent to the Star.

Fees are displayed after a payout request is submitted. In addition, payout fees and any method-specific requirements may be communicated when needed (for example, through the Platform’s dedicated Payout Team when the payout method is initially set up) and/or are made available through the selected payout provider’s dashboard or documentation.

At the moment a payout is sent, the applicable payout fee is deducted from the amount being transferred or from the available balance when the balance is sufficient. As a result, the amount actually received in the Star’s bank or payment account may be lower than the Net Earnings balance displayed on the Platform.

In addition to the payout fee described above, further costs may be imposed by third parties involved in delivering the payout – for example, the Star’s own bank, intermediary or correspondent banks, wallet operators, or other financial institutions. These third-party charges can include incoming transfer fees, currency conversion fees or spreads, and other handling charges. They are outside the Platform’s control, are not determined or retained by the Platform, and may be deducted by those institutions from the amount that ultimately arrives in the Star’s account.

The Star is responsible for all fees and taxes charged by the chosen payout provider, receiving bank, intermediary banks, and any other financial institutions in connection with receiving a payout. 

4.2 Additional usage-based charges

Some Platform features may incur additional, pass-through charges, for example:

• extra storage or bandwidth;
• content delivery network (CDN) usage;
• media encoding/transcoding;
• age-verification or age-estimation checks;
• advanced risk services or similar add-ons;
• API usage and service integrations outside the standard offering.

These charges and their pricing model are described on the Pricing page, in the “Pricing for Stars” section, and/or in specific product documentation. They may be deducted from Net Earnings before payout and/or invoiced separately to the Star. 

5. Payout Requests Limits

The minimum payout request amount is set individually per profile (refer to Section 1.2). The maximum payout amount depends on the Star’s country and the payout vendors available for that account. A payout request cannot exceed the balance available for payout. The payout amount shall not exceed the available balance at the time the payout is initiated. For example, the platform reserves the right to disburse a smaller payout amount, considering associated risks, refunds, and deductions applied to the balance after the request was submitted.

The balance available for payout is determined by the Platform’s internal algorithms and may change without notice. If the available balance is below the minimum withdrawal amount at the time of a payout request, the balance remains on the account and rolls over until the minimum withdrawal amount is reached.

Regulatory reporting requirements may require the Star to submit additional information or forms and may affect payout availability if such requirements are not completed. 

6. Payout Timing

Payouts are processed only after all required holding periods have elapsed and all payout eligibility conditions described in this Policy have been met.

When a Star leaves the Platform with a remaining balance, the Platform will place payouts of that remaining balance on hold for 30 (thirty) calendar days to allow time for refund requests, paybacks, and other disputes to be submitted and processed.

• A payout request may be submitted only after the 30-day holding period has elapsed and all other payout eligibility requirements have been satisfied.
• For payout requests below USD 5,000, once a payout request is submitted and approved, the Platform will initiate the payout within up to 10 (ten) business days.
• For payout requests equal to or exceeding USD 5,000, the Platform may split the payout into multiple payments which may increase delivery time if the selected payout method doesn’t allow it to perform any faster.
• For safety and compliance reasons, the Platform may apply a temporary payout hold when a Star:
  • submits their first payout request,
  • adds or changes a payout method, or
  • submits or updates tax, residency, or identity information.
• In such cases, an additional 5 business-day delay may apply to allow verification by payment providers and banks.

Payouts are not processed automatically. To initiate a payout, the Star must submit a payout request through the designated payout interface in the Payouts section of their account. 

7. Risk Management, Reserves, Holds & Withholding of Payouts

7.1 Rolling reserves

To manage financial and chargeback risk, the Platform may maintain a rolling reserve on certain accounts.

To cover potential chargebacks and related losses, the Platform may retain 10% of all effectively collected funds (but not less than USD 35) for 30 (thirty) business days before making that portion available to be included in a payout request. 

7.2 High decline, refund, or chargeback rates

The Platform may delay, suspend, or withhold payouts if the account shows excessive payment declines or elevated refund, dispute, or chargeback activity.
By way of guidance (subject to change by the Platform and/or payment processors):

1. If the payment decline rate exceeds 12%, the Platform may recover compensation for associated extra expenses, including by passing associated transaction fees and costs on to the Star.
2. If the card-network chargeback rate exceeds 0.25% of transactions associated with a profile, the Platform may suspend billing processing and hold the remaining balance for up to 4 (four) months.
3. The Platform may place a temporary reserve on payments that present a potential risk, for a period of up to 90 days, at the same time may release such payments if no risk is confirmed.

7.3 Fraud, policy violations, and incorrect payout data

If the Platform reasonably believes the Star has violated Platform rules or applicable law, or detects suspicious, fraudulent, or prohibited activity, it may hold, delay, or permanently withhold payouts.

If payout details are incorrect, incomplete, or invalid, payouts may fail or be returned and may remain delayed until correct information is provided and verified. The Platform will take commercially reasonable steps to initiate or facilitate the return of any failed payout through the applicable payout provider or banking rails; however, if the Star supplied incorrect payout information, the Platform is not responsible for whether the receiving bank, intermediary banks, or the payout provider successfully completes the return.

During any hold, the affected funds remain recorded as part of the Star’s Platform balance and are held by the Platform and/or its payment processors or payout partners in platform-controlled settlement or payout accounts and are not available for withdrawal while the issue remains unresolved.

Any refunds, chargebacks, dispute-related costs, penalties, reversals, return fees, currency conversion costs, or other banking and processing costs associated with failed or returned payouts may be deducted from the Star’s balance. 

7.4 Regulatory or legal requirements

Payouts may be delayed or withheld where necessary to comply with regulatory checks, sanctions screening, court orders, government requests, or required tax withholdings.

Where platform-reporting regimes apply (including DAC7 and similar programmes in other jurisdictions), the Platform may be required to collect specific reporting information from the Star. If the Star does not supply the required information within the communicated timeframe, payouts may be frozen and earnings kept on balance until compliance is completed. 

8. Cryptocurrency Payouts

This section applies only to cryptocurrency payouts. Unless stated otherwise here, the payout rules and timelines described on the rest of this page apply only to fiat payouts. 

8.1 Payout Type

Stars who request cryptocurrency payouts are subject to more extensive screening and onboarding than for fiat payouts. Cryptocurrency payouts may be made to a custodial wallet/account provided or supported by a third party, or to a non-custodial wallet controlled by the Star.

If a custodial wallet is used, the Platform will typically request verification from the custodial wallet provider or account administrator before enabling or processing cryptocurrency payouts. 

8.2 No Custody; No Fiduciary Relationship

The Platform does not act as a cryptocurrency custodian, wallet provider, broker, or fiduciary. Cryptocurrency is not held by the Platform on behalf of the Star. 

The Platform’s role is limited to facilitating payout instructions through third-party providers. 

8.3 Third-Party Execution and Availability

The Platform does not operate blockchain nodes and does not directly transmit cryptocurrency on blockchain networks.

All cryptocurrency payouts are executed exclusively through third-party payout providers selected or approved by the Platform.

The Platform does not guarantee the availability of any specific cryptocurrency, blockchain network, or payout provider, and supported options may change at any time. 

8.4 Activation

Cryptocurrency payouts are not enabled by default.

A Star who wants to receive payouts in cryptocurrency must contact the Platform to request activation. 

Cryptocurrency payouts are enabled only after the Star completes any additional onboarding and verification required for this payout type, including enhanced AML/KYC/KYB, and receives explicit approval.

The Platform may also require confirmation of the Star’s identity and confirmation that the Star controls the destination cryptocurrency wallet or account. If a custodial wallet is used, the Platform may request verification from the custodial wallet provider or account administrator before enabling or processing cryptocurrency payouts. 

8.5 Execution, Irreversibility, and Responsibility

The Platform’s role is limited to submitting the payout instruction based on the information provided by the Star to the applicable payout provider for execution.

The Star is solely responsible for providing accurate and compatible payout details (including wallet address, blockchain network, and asset type). 

Because cryptocurrency transfers are irreversible once executed, the Platform cannot cancel, reverse, or recover a cryptocurrency payout after it has been transmitted by the payout provider.

If incorrect or incompatible details are provided, or if the payout provider or blockchain network is unable to return the funds, any resulting loss is the Star’s responsibility. 

The Platform is not responsible for the successful recovery or return of cryptocurrency transfers.

8.6 Network and Third-Party Fees

Blockchain transaction fees apply to cryptocurrency transfers. These are fees charged by the blockchain network to confirm the transfer and paid to independent network operators (often called “validators” or “miners”). The amount may fluctuate based on network conditions. These fees will be deducted from the payout amount, reducing the amount of cryptocurrency received by the Star.

Additional fees, limits, processing rules, or delays imposed by payout providers, wallets, exchanges, or other third parties may also apply and may further reduce the amount received or affect payout timing. 

8.7 Valuation and Reporting

 Choosing cryptocurrency as your payout method does not change how your earnings are reported for tax purposes. The same tax reporting rules apply as for fiat payouts.

Subscriber payments and balances are accounted for in fiat on the Platform, and conversion to cryptocurrency occurs only at payout.

The Platform is not responsible for cryptocurrency price fluctuations and is not liable if the Star receives a different amount of cryptocurrency at payout time than they expected based on the fiat-denominated balance shown in their account.

8.8 Risk Management

In addition to the general risk measures in this Policy, accounts that receive cryptocurrency payouts may be subject to enhanced controls, including a rolling reserve of up to 50% of accumulated funds, held for an extended period before becoming available for payout. This helps manage the additional risk associated with irreversible cryptocurrency transfers, including cases where refunds or compensation may be required but the transferred funds cannot be recovered. 

8.9 Third-Party Provider Terms

Cryptocurrency payouts are subject to the terms, conditions, and policies of the applicable payout providers, wallet providers, exchanges, and blockchain networks. 

The Star is responsible for reviewing and complying with those third-party terms. The Platform is not responsible for acts, omissions, service interruptions, insolvency, or policy changes of any third-party provider.

Third-party payout providers may apply their own onboarding, verification, monitoring, limits, or compliance requirements, and may delay, reject, suspend, or reverse processing of a payout instruction in accordance with their policies and applicable law.

8.10 Availability and Compliance

Cryptocurrency payouts may be restricted or disabled to comply with sanctions, AML/KYC/KYB, or other legal requirements, or due to limitations imposed by payout providers or applicable networks. 

The Platform reserves the right to change or discontinue cryptocurrency payout providers or options at any time. 

9. Inactivity, Maintenance Fees & Dormant Balances

If a Star’s account becomes inactive, the Platform may classify the account as inactive or dormant and may apply restrictions or maintenance fees as permitted by law and the Terms.

For dormant accounts and unclaimed balances, the Platform may be required by unclaimed-property laws to remit remaining funds to the appropriate government authority in the relevant jurisdiction (for example, a state or national unclaimed-property division). The Platform may register and report as a holder in those jurisdictions and transfer unclaimed balances accordingly. 

10. Taxes & Withholding

The Star is solely responsible for determining, reporting, and paying all taxes applicable to their earnings on the Platform.

If valid tax or reporting documentation (and any required supporting information) has not been provided, the Platform will not process payouts until the issue is resolved. During this time, the Starr’s earnings remain on the Star’s Platform balance and are unavailable for payout. Where withholding is required by applicable law, the Platform will comply with such withholding obligations. 

11. Changes to Payout Terms

The Platform may modify payout thresholds, payout methods, timelines, and risk rules. Stars agree to review the Pricing page (the “Pricing for Stars” section) and Terms regularly for current information.

This Payout Policy is part of the overall Terms of Service and should be read together with all other applicable policies and agreements.