Payment, Invoicing & Tax Policy

Section 1 — Tax Forms (Collection & Updates)

1.1. Tax documentation is required before any payment can be processed.

• US persons/entities: Form W-9 (required before first payment).
• Non-US individuals: Form W-8BEN.
• Non-US entities: Form W-8BEN-E.

1.2. Publisher must keep all tax information accurate and update Agency within ten (10) days of any changes. Failure to maintain valid tax forms may result in payment delays or withholding.

Section 2 — Tax Reporting & Withholding

2.1. 1099 reporting. Agency will file Form 1099-NEC (or applicable form) for US-based Publishers receiving USD $600 or more in a calendar year, as required by the Internal Revenue Code.

2.2. FATCA / backup withholding. If Publisher fails to provide a valid, complete tax form (W-9, W-8BEN, or W-8BEN-E), Agency shall withhold applicable taxes at the maximum statutory rate (currently 24% for backup withholding or 30% for FATCA withholding) from Publisher Earnings until a valid form is received.

2.3. Tax responsibility. Each party is solely responsible for its own taxes. Publisher acknowledges that Publisher Earnings constitute payments to an independent contractor and not wages or salary.

2.4. Principal designation. For tax reporting purposes, Agency is the principal in advertising transactions and reports gross advertising revenue as its own income. Payments to Publishers are reported as independent contractor payments (1099-NEC or 1042-S as applicable).

Section 3 — Invoice Requirements

3.1. If an invoice is required by the applicable IO, it must include:

• Publisher legal name and address
• Tax/registration ID (if applicable)
• Unique invoice number
• Service period
• Currency and amount
• Payment details (bank/account information)

3.2. Invoices are due by day 5 of the following month, unless the IO states otherwise.

3.3. Recommended invoice description: Revenue share settlement – [Month YYYY] – IO #[ID]

Section 4 — Payment Methods

4.1. Supported payment methods: Wire Transfer / ACH / Payoneer / PingPong / PayPal.

4.2. Publisher bears all receiving fees, currency conversion fees, and intermediary bank charges unless the IO states otherwise.

Section 5 — Sanctions, AML & Source of Funds

5.1. Sanctions representation. Publisher represents and warrants that neither Publisher nor any of its beneficial owners, directors, officers, affiliates, or agents are: (i) listed on any sanctions list administered by the United States (including OFAC SDN List), the European Union, the United Kingdom, or any other applicable governmental authority; or (ii) located, organized, or resident in a country or territory subject to comprehensive economic sanctions.

5.2. Source of funds. Publisher represents that all funds used for Top-ups, payments, or settlements originate from lawful sources and are not derived from illegal activities, including but not limited to fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing, or sanctions evasion.

5.3. Compliance checks. Agency reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to conduct reasonable compliance checks, request additional verification documents (including beneficial ownership information), or suspend transactions where required to comply with applicable laws, anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorist financing (CTF), or sanctions regulations.

5.4. Enforcement. Agency may immediately suspend or terminate the Services, withhold funds, or refuse to process payments if Agency reasonably determines that Publisher may be in violation of sanctions, AML, or other financial compliance requirements. Agency shall have no liability for any such suspension or refusal undertaken in good faith for compliance purposes.

Section 6 — KYC Verification

6.1. Agency may require KYC/identity verification before processing any payment or enabling access to Services. Acceptable documents include government-issued identification, proof of address, business registration documents, and beneficial ownership declarations.

6.2. Agency may reject any funding source at its discretion and may require additional documentation for high-risk jurisdictions or transaction patterns.

Section 7 — Record Retention

Agency and Publisher will retain payout records, invoices, tax documentation, and compliance records for at least seven (7) years (or longer if required by applicable law). Publisher agrees to cooperate with Agency in providing documentation as needed for tax reporting, audits, or regulatory inquiries.