Affiliate Payment & Payout Policy

This Affiliate Payment & Payout Policy explains how affiliate commissions are paid out. It is part of the Affiliate Program Agreement and works in conjunction with the Affiliate Commission Policy.

1. Overview

Commissions earned through the Affiliate Program are paid via Stripe Connect transfers to the affiliate's connected Stripe account. This policy explains the full payout lifecycle, requirements, and potential issues.

2. Payment Schedule

The payout process follows this timeline:

1. Sale occurs: Commission is created with pending status
2. 30-day holding period: Commission remains pending while the refund window is active
3. Holding period expires: Commission transitions to available status (if no refund/chargeback)
4. Payout request: Affiliate requests a payout when available earnings meet the minimum threshold
5. Admin review: Platform admin reviews and approves the payout request
6. Stripe transfer: Funds are transferred to the affiliate's Stripe Connect account
7. Bank arrival: Funds appear in the affiliate's bank account per Stripe's timeline (typically 2–7 business days)

3. Minimum Payout Threshold

The minimum payout threshold is $25.00 USD. Available commissions must accumulate to at least this amount before a payout can be requested. Pending commissions do not count toward the threshold. The Platform may adjust this threshold with notice.

4. Payment Methods

All affiliate payouts are processed exclusively through Stripe Connect. We do not support PayPal, wire transfers, checks, or other payment methods for affiliate payouts. Affiliates must create and maintain an active Stripe Connect account to receive payments.

5. Stripe Connect

Stripe Connect is the payment infrastructure that enables secure transfers to affiliates. Requirements:

• Affiliates must complete Stripe Connect onboarding before requesting payouts
• Stripe Connect account must be in active status
• Bank account or debit card must be linked to the Stripe account
• Stripe account must be in a supported country
• Any Stripe account restrictions or holds must be resolved

Stripe's terms of service and privacy policy apply to your Stripe Connect account. We recommend reviewing them at stripe.com.

6. Identity Verification

To comply with anti-money laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations, affiliates must complete identity verification through Stripe Connect. This may include:

• Full legal name
• Date of birth
• Social Security Number (US) or equivalent national ID
• Business information (if operating as a business entity)
• Government-issued ID verification

Identity verification is handled by Stripe. The Platform does not store sensitive identity documents.

7. Tax Information

Affiliates must provide accurate tax information through Stripe Connect. For US-based affiliates earning $600 or more per year, the Platform may issue a Form 1099-NEC as required by IRS regulations. Affiliates are responsible for:

• Providing accurate tax information
• Reporting all affiliate earnings on their tax returns
• Paying applicable income and self-employment taxes
• Updating tax information if it changes

8. Refund Adjustments

If a referred student receives a refund after a commission has been paid out, the commission amount will be recovered by deducting it from future payouts. See the Affiliate Commission Policy for complete details on refund reversals.

9. Chargebacks

Chargebacks are treated the same as refunds for commission purposes. If a referred student's chargeback is successful, the commission is reversed or recovered from future payouts.

10. Payment Delays

Payments may be delayed due to:

• Stripe Connect account issues (verification pending, restrictions)
• Bank holidays or banking delays
• High volume of payout requests
• Compliance or fraud review
• Incomplete or incorrect banking information

We are not liable for delays caused by Stripe or banking institutions. Affiliates should allow up to 14 business days for a payout to appear in their bank account after approval before contacting support.

11. Suspended Accounts

If an affiliate account is suspended, all pending and available commissions are frozen. No payouts will be processed while an account is suspended. If the suspension is resolved and the account is reactivated, frozen commissions may become available. If the account is permanently terminated for fraud or policy violations, all commissions are forfeited.

12. Inactive Accounts

Affiliate accounts that have had no activity (clicks, sales, or login) for 12 consecutive months may be marked as inactive. Inactive accounts with available earnings below the payout threshold may have those earnings forfeited after an additional 6-month grace period with notification.

13. Failed Payouts

If a Stripe transfer fails (due to closed bank accounts, incorrect routing numbers, or Stripe restrictions), the payout will be marked as failed and the funds will return to the affiliate's available earnings. The affiliate must resolve the Stripe Connect issue before requesting a new payout. The Platform is not responsible for funds lost due to incorrect banking information provided by the affiliate.

14. Currency

All commissions are calculated and paid in US Dollars (USD). Affiliates receiving funds in non-USD bank accounts may be subject to currency conversion fees applied by Stripe or their bank. The Platform is not responsible for exchange rate fluctuations or conversion fees.