In order to receive payouts from the brands you work with, you need to submit your Payout information on your Live Site. This includes:
Your payout method (which must be a PayPal account).
If your brand is paying you through GRIN, a valid tax form, which is a W-8BEN for non-U.S. residents (if you're based in the U.S., see Setting Up Payouts as a U.S. Resident).
For more information on W-8BENs, check out this article from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Note: A W-8BEN is considered valid if all the information you provide, such as your name, address, and taxpayer identification number (such as an SSN or an FTIN), matches whatever is on file for you at the IRS or relevant tax agency where you originally created your tax information.
If any of the information comes back as incorrect, GRIN will send you an email notifying you that your tax form is invalid. If that happens, you will have 30 days from when you receive the email to correct your information, otherwise, you may be subject to backup tax withholdings by the IRS on your earnings.
See Yearly Income Tax Forms FAQ for more information on why your tax form may be invalid.
You’ll need to have a PayPal account already set up before adding it as a payout method, but you can complete a W-8BEN directly through your Live Site. Once you set up both of these items, you’ll be able to receive payments from the brands you work with. You’ll also receive a 1042-S tax form at the beginning of each year which will cover your payouts from the previous calendar year. For more on 1042-S forms, see our article Yearly Income Tax Forms FAQ.
If you don't connect your PayPal account on your Live Site and submit a tax form, any payments your brand makes to you through GRIN will be refunded within 30 days. Be sure to set up your payout information as soon as possible so you can start receiving payouts for your collaborations with brands!
What You'll Need
A verified Live Site account. To learn more, see Verifying Your Account.
An existing PayPal account. Your payments will be sent to that PayPal account. Currently, you can only receive payments through PayPal.
Note: If you have duplicate PayPal accounts with the same email and any of them are inactive, then GRIN won't be able to recognize that your active account can receive payments.
If you complete this setup and your brand still isn't able to send payments to you, you may have an inactive account under the same email as your active one. To receive payments, try removing the inactive PayPal account.
How to Do It
1. Navigate to your Live Site > Payouts.
2. Click Get Started under Finish Setup.
3. Select your Country. This should be the country that you file your taxes in. Then, click Set up Tax Information.
4. On the You're almost finished! screen, click Continue.
5. Click Add Payout Method.
6. Fill in your General Information, then click Next at the bottom of the page.
7. Enter and confirm your PayPal email address. This address should be the one you use with your preferred PayPal account. Then click Add.
8. Click Submit a Tax Form.
9. Select I am not a U.S. Person.
10. Select I am an individual or I am a Corporation.
11. Click Continue.
12. Select the checkbox to certify you are not a U.S. person, then select either I provide services exclusively from outside of the United States or I provide services from within the United States.
13. Enter your full name to certify the information you provided, then click Certify.
14. Fill in all fields for the W-8BEN Substitute Form and click Continue.
Note: When you reach the Tax Payer Identification section, you can choose to provide a Foreign Tax Identification Number (FTIN) or select I will not or am unable to provide a Tax Identification Number.
We highly recommend providing a valid FTIN if you are able to, otherwise you may be subject to tax withholdings from the IRS.
15. Review the popup that appears and click Continue. Depending on how you filled in your Tax Payer Identification section, this popup will be different:
If you provide a Foreign Tax Identification Number (FTIN), you’ll be informed about any possible withholding rates you may be subject to depending on your country of citizenship.
Warning: If you do not use a valid FTIN, you may be subject to tax withholdings from the IRS.
If you selected I will not or am unable to provide a Tax Identification Number, you’ll be informed that you may be subject to 30% withholding on your payments.
16. Review your W-8BEN information to ensure everything is correct, then click Continue.
17. Select all the checkboxes to certify the information you’ve provided, then check the box to confirm you've read and acknowledged the certification.
18. Enter your full name, then click Complete W-8BEN. This will open the Submitting W-8BEN popup.
19. Click Submit Form to submit your W-8BEN.
Warning: You will not be able to edit or change any information in your W-8BEN form after you submit it, so be sure all the information you provide is correct.
If you need to make any changes to your W-8BEN after you submit, you will need to complete an entirely new form and submit it or update it through our portal.
20. Choose how you'd like to receive your tax statements:
E-Delivery: Your tax statements will be emailed to you at the address provided in your Live Site > Settings.
Postal Mail: Your tax statements will be mailed to you at the address provided in your Live Site > Settings.
Note: The tax forms you receive will be called Form 1042-S, which is a tax form for non-U.S. residents who received income from a U.S. source. See our article Yearly Income Tax Forms FAQ for more information.
21. Click Continue at the bottom of the page.
That’s it! Your completed tax form should now appear underneath your payout methods along with your PayPal account. Now, you’re ready to receive payouts from brands you collaborate with!