TROUBLESHOOTING

Payment Troubleshooting

Fixing payment and royalty issues

Payment Not Received

Check Your Balance

First, verify you qualify for payment:

  • Go to Dashboard
  • Check Unpaid Revenue
  • Must be $5.00 or more to receive payment
  • Balance under $5 rolls over to next month

Payment Timeline

Payments are issued monthly via Stripe Connect:

  • Processed at end of each month
  • Only if balance over $5 threshold
  • Stripe processes payout: 2-3 business days
  • Bank deposit: additional 3-7 business days

Missing Payments

If balance over $5 but no payment:

  • Verify Stripe account is connected in Account Settings
  • Check your Stripe dashboard for payout status
  • Ensure Stripe identity verification is complete
  • Verify bank account details in Stripe are correct
  • Allow up to 10 business days for full processing
  • Contact support if payment missing after 10 business days

Stripe Connect Issues

"Stripe account not connected"

Solutions:

  • Go to Account Settings
  • Click Connect Stripe Account
  • Complete the Stripe onboarding process
  • Provide bank account details to Stripe
  • Complete identity verification

"Stripe payout failed"

Common causes:

  • Bank account information is incorrect
  • Bank account has been closed
  • Stripe identity verification incomplete
  • Account restrictions on Stripe

Solutions:

  • Log into your Stripe dashboard to see detailed error
  • Update bank account information in Stripe
  • Complete any pending verification steps
  • Contact Stripe support for account issues

"Payment pending in Stripe"

Timeline:

  • Stripe processes payouts within 2-3 business days
  • Bank deposit takes additional 3-7 business days
  • Check your Stripe dashboard for payout status
  • First payout may take longer due to verification

Sales Not Showing

Reporting Delays

Sales don't appear instantly. Each retailer has significant reporting delays:

  • Apple Books: 30-45 days
  • Google Play Books: 30-60 days
  • Kobo: 45-60 days
  • Barnes & Noble: 60-90 days
  • OverDrive: 60-90 days

Learn more about sales reporting timelines →

Verifying Sales

To track sales:

  • Check Dashboard for Lifetime Revenue
  • Go to Sales & Analytics for details
  • View breakdown by retailer
  • Wait full reporting delay before investigating

Incorrect Royalty Amount

Understanding Deductions

Your payout is calculated:

  • Sale price minus retailer cut (30-48%)
  • Minus Shelf Indulgence fee (10% of net)
  • Remaining amount is your royalty

Detailed royalty calculation →

Currency Conversion

For international sales and payments:

  • Sales reported in USD
  • Converted at time of sale by retailer
  • Payments issued in USD
  • Your bank converts to local currency
  • Exchange rates affect final amount
  • Your bank may charge conversion/wire fees

Tax Withholding

If payments seem low, check tax withholding:

  • US authors: No withholding with valid W-9
  • International: Submit W-8BEN to avoid withholding
  • Missing tax forms may result in 30% withholding
  • Update forms in Account Settings

Contacting Support

If payment issues persist, contact support with:

  • Your account email
  • Expected payment amount
  • Payment method used
  • Date payment was expected
  • Screenshots of Dashboard showing balance

Payment Issues Unresolved?

Contact support for investigation.

Contact Support