Getting Paid & Taxes
This article covers how your commission turns into a check, where to track it, and what to expect at tax time.
How payouts work
- Method: Commissions are paid by check, mailed to the address on your account.
- Timing: Commission is calculated each month and paid the following month, after the related subscription revenue has actually been collected.
- Adjustments: Refunds, chargebacks, and uncollected amounts reduce your commission for that period. Any overpayment may be offset against future commissions.
Make sure your mailing address is correct and confirmed under Dashboard → Affiliate → Onboarding (the Confirm how you get paid step). You can edit it any time from the contact step.
Tracking what you've earned
On Dashboard → Affiliate you'll find:
- Your monthly commission — your current run-rate (your rate applied to your active referred customers' subscriptions).
- Your customers — each referred business, its plan, status, when it started, and your monthly commission from it.
- Commission history — a month-by-month ledger of finalized commission periods, each showing the month, number of customers, your rate, the amount, and a status of pending or paid. Override earnings (from sub-affiliates you invited) are tagged Override in this list.
If your ledger is empty, it just means no commission periods have been finalized yet — the first snapshot runs at the start of the next month.
Your W-9 and 1099
A completed, accurate IRS Form W-9 (or Form W-8BEN for non-U.S. persons) is required before any commission is paid. You complete it during onboarding (see Signing Your Agreement & Onboarding Checklist). Your filled W-9 is emailed to the operator and is never stored in the app, including your tax ID.
For U.S. affiliates, HandyBook will issue an IRS Form 1099-NEC if you're paid $600 or more in a calendar year. You're an independent contractor, not an employee, and you're responsible for all taxes owed on your commissions.
If a valid tax form isn't on file, HandyBook may pause payouts or apply backup withholding as required by law until you provide one.
FAQ
When will I get my first check? After your first full commission period closes and that revenue is collected — commission is paid the month after it's earned. Your W-9, contact info, and payout confirmation must all be complete first.
Can I get paid by direct deposit or PayPal instead? Currently the program pays by mailed check to your address on file.
Why does my commission history show "pending"? A pending period has been calculated but not yet marked paid. Once the operator sends your check and marks it paid, the status flips to paid.
Do I get a 1099 if I earned less than $600? A 1099-NEC is issued at $600+ in a calendar year. Below that, you typically won't receive one — but you're still responsible for reporting your income.
What if I never submit my W-9? We can't pay you until a valid tax form is on file, and backup withholding may apply. Finish the W-9 step to avoid any holds.