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Creator tax information FAQ

Updated March 11, 2026

How Fourthwall handles taxes, VAT, and customs so you don't have to.

Fourthwall is the Merchant of Record (MoR) for all products and memberships sold through your shop. That means Fourthwall is responsible for calculating, collecting, and remitting sales tax and VAT. You don't need to file sales tax returns or charge VAT separately. Your only tax responsibility is reporting the payouts you receive as income.

Sales Tax (United States)​

Fourthwall collects sales tax at checkout based on your supporter's shipping address and remits it directly to state tax authorities. Tax amounts collected are not included in your payouts. They are withheld and sent to the appropriate state.

  • Fourthwall maintains state-by-state nexus registrations
  • Sales tax rates are calculated in real time at checkout
  • You do not need to file monthly state-by-state sales tax returns for Fourthwall transactions

Note: For sales outside of Fourthwall (e.g., in-person events, other platforms), you are responsible for sales tax on those orders. Consult your tax advisor for guidance.

VAT for EU Supporters (IOSS)​

Fourthwall is registered under the EU's Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) scheme and handles VAT for orders shipped to EU countries.

  • Orders valued at 150 EUR or less: VAT is collected at checkout based on the supporter's country and postal code. The IOSS number is included in customs data so the package clears customs without additional VAT charges.
  • Orders valued over 150 EUR: IOSS does not apply. Duties and taxes are handled at the border, and the supporter may be charged by the carrier or customs upon delivery.

VAT rates vary by country (e.g., 19% in Germany, 21% in the Netherlands, 25% in Sweden). Fourthwall calculates the correct rate automatically.

Caution: Some EU customs offices don't always properly verify electronic IOSS data, and may charge VAT again at delivery. If a supporter reports this, direct them to your shop's customer support with a copy of the VAT payment documents. The support team will refund the VAT charge paid during checkout.

VAT for UK Supporters​

Fourthwall is registered for UK VAT and collects VAT at checkout for UK supporters at the standard rate of 20%.

  • For goods sold within the UK (domestic fulfillment), VAT at 20% applies to all transactions regardless of value
  • For goods imported into the UK with a value of 135 GBP or less, Fourthwall collects and remits import VAT at checkout under its UK VAT registration
  • VAT is calculated based on the supporter's country and postal code
  • You don't need to register for UK VAT or file UK VAT returns

Other International Markets​

For countries outside the US, EU, and UK, import duties and taxes may apply at the border and are the supporter's responsibility upon delivery. Fourthwall cannot calculate or prepay these in advance.

Note: Fourthwall ships from regional fulfillment centers when possible to minimize customs and import duties. However, regional fulfillment is not available for every product or destination.

VAT Display at Checkout​

Prices on your shop are displayed excluding tax and VAT by default. VAT is calculated and shown at checkout once the supporter enters their shipping or billing address. For memberships, the price may adjust between screens as the VAT rate is determined from the postal code.

Customs and Import Duties​

Fourthwall operates a global fulfillment network and tries to ship products from within the supporter's region whenever possible (e.g., EU orders from EU facilities, US orders from US facilities).

When regional fulfillment isn't available and a product ships cross-border:

  • EU orders at or under 150 EUR: VAT is pre-collected at checkout via IOSS. No additional VAT should be charged, though customs duties may apply depending on shipping origin.
  • UK orders at or under 135 GBP: VAT is pre-collected at checkout via Fourthwall's UK VAT registration (not IOSS). No additional VAT should be charged, though customs duties may apply depending on shipping origin.
  • EU/UK orders over 150 EUR / 135 GBP: The supporter may be responsible for customs duties and additional VAT upon delivery.
  • Orders to other countries: Import duties and taxes are the supporter's responsibility. Fourthwall cannot estimate or prepay these.

Your Income Tax Responsibilities​

Fourthwall handles sales tax and VAT. Income tax is your responsibility. You must report the payouts you receive from Fourthwall as income under the tax laws of your country or jurisdiction.

US-Based Creators​

Fourthwall payouts are considered income. If your payouts exceed the IRS reporting threshold ($600 or more during a calendar year), Fourthwall issues a Form 1099-MISC via Stripe.

  • What is a Form 1099-MISC? An informational tax form reporting your total payouts during the calendar year to you and the IRS. Learn more on the IRS Form 1099-MISC page.
  • How is the amount calculated? The amount is based on payouts processed during the calendar year, not income earned. For example, profits from December are processed in the January payout and count toward the following year's Form 1099-MISC.
  • When is it available? Form 1099-MISC is available by January 31st through your Stripe Connect dashboard.
  • W-9 forms: Maintain accurate tax profile information (full name, address, and tax ID) in your Stripe Connect account. If you update your details after mid-January, your 1099 may be delayed until late March.

Note: Only US-based individuals who meet the $600 payout threshold receive a Form 1099-MISC from Fourthwall. Corporations, partnerships, LLCs, and international creators are responsible for reporting taxes independently.

Creators Outside the US​

Fourthwall does not issue tax forms (such as 1099s) for creators outside the United States. You are responsible for reporting your Fourthwall payouts as required by your country's tax laws. We recommend consulting a local tax advisor, as rules vary by country.

W-8BEN for non-US creators: You may be asked to provide a W-8BEN form to certify your foreign status. Without a W-8BEN on file, the IRS may require 30% withholding on payments. Complete this through your Stripe Connect account.

Frequently Asked Questions​

Do I need to charge VAT separately on my sales?​

No. Fourthwall is the Merchant of Record and handles all VAT collection and remittance on supporter purchases. You don't need to separately charge or remit VAT. You only need to report your payouts as income under your local tax laws.

Do I need to file monthly sales tax returns by state?​

No. Fourthwall handles all sales tax collection and remittance for orders processed through your shop. You don't need to file state-by-state sales tax returns for these transactions.

Can VAT be included directly in the product price instead of being added at checkout?​

Not at this time. Prices are displayed excluding VAT, and VAT is calculated and shown at checkout based on the supporter's location.

How do I report my Fourthwall income for taxes?​

You are responsible for reporting your Fourthwall income under the tax laws of your country or jurisdiction. If you are US-based, Fourthwall issues a 1099-MISC when your payouts exceed the IRS threshold. If you are based outside the US, Fourthwall does not issue tax forms, but you must report your payouts as income under your country's tax laws. Consult a tax advisor for your specific situation.

My 1099 has the wrong name or entity. How do I fix it?​

Contact us at support@fourthwall.com and our team will update your information and arrange a corrected 1099.

Will my supporters be charged customs duties?​

Fourthwall ships from regional fulfillment centers when possible to avoid import fees. If an order ships cross-border, customs duties may apply based on the destination country's regulations. For EU orders under 150 EUR, VAT is already included at checkout via IOSS. For UK orders under 135 GBP, VAT is already included at checkout via UK VAT registration. Additional customs duties may still apply depending on shipping origin.

I meet the 1099 threshold but don't see a form on my Stripe Connect dashboard. What should I do?​

Confirm that your personal details in Stripe Connect are complete, including your full name, address, and tax ID. If you recently updated this information, your 1099 may take additional time to generate. In the meantime, review the Billing and payouts section in your dashboard for your financial details.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at support@fourthwall.com.

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