No. A non-US creator generally does not need a US ITIN to receive Brillay payouts, because Stripe verifies a connected account against its own country, entity type, and tax status, and eligible non-US individuals supply their country's own tax identifier instead. A US ITIN matters only when a separate US federal tax obligation requires one. Tips let followers send a one-time thank-you, with nothing for you to deliver and no membership for them to join.
What is an ITIN, and who is it actually for?
An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a 9-digit number the IRS issues to people who need a US taxpayer identification number for federal tax purposes but are not eligible for a Social Security number, and the IRS states that an ITIN "is issued by the IRS for federal tax purposes only" (IRS, "Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN)"). It is a tax-filing credential, not a payment credential.
An ITIN is a nine-digit number beginning with the digit "9" whose fourth and fifth digits fall in the ranges 50 to 65, 70 to 88, 90 to 92, and 94 to 99, per IRS Publication 1915.
To get an ITIN, IRS Publication 1915 states an applicant "must complete Form W-7/W-7(SP) and attach a valid U.S. Federal income tax return, unless you qualify for an exception" (IRS Publication 1915) — a tax-return-driven application, not a payment-platform onboarding step.
The IRS also states plainly that "you cannot have both an ITIN and an SSN," and that someone who has or is eligible for a Social Security number should not apply for or renew an ITIN.
For someone who does need one, the IRS states it generally takes 7 weeks to notify an applicant of their ITIN status, or 9 to 11 weeks if the Form W-7 is filed during tax season (January 15 to April 30) or from overseas (IRS, "How to apply for an ITIN"). That 7-to-11-week IRS timeline runs independently of any payout platform's onboarding, because it is an IRS filing process rather than a Stripe or Brillay step.
An ITIN that is not used on a US federal tax return for any 3 consecutive tax years expires on December 31 after the third tax year of non-use, but the IRS states that an ITIN "only used on information returns that report payments you receive, like Form 1099" does not need to be renewed (IRS, "How to renew an ITIN").
Do non-US creators need an ITIN to connect Stripe?
No. Stripe may ask for different identity, business, and tax information depending on your country and circumstances. Stripe's own SSN/ITIN collection rules confirm this is a US-specific check: Stripe requires the last four digits of an SSN or ITIN "at onboarding" only from US-resident account representatives, and from US-resident owners only once lifetime payment volume exceeds $500,000 (Stripe Support, "SSN/ITIN Collection Requirements")—a threshold and residency test that does not apply to a non-US individual's own connected account.
The non-US equivalent of the US tax form is a Form W-8, not an ITIN: Stripe collects Form W-8 from non-US individuals and businesses so they can self-certify that they are not a US person for tax purposes (Stripe Support, "Form W-8 and Affidavit of Unchanged Status"), while the Form W-9 that asks for an SSN, EIN, or ITIN is the form for US-located taxpayers.
US Form 1099-K rules are separate from the country-specific identity and tax information Stripe requests from a non-US creator; verify the current tax-year threshold with Stripe or the IRS.
The exact identifier and documents requested can differ by country, so creators should follow the requirements displayed during Stripe onboarding. A creator onboarding in Germany or Canada, for example, should expect country-specific requirements rather than assume that the same tax number applies in both countries.
Stripe’s separate guidance for representatives or owners of US companies says that someone without an SSN or ITIN may provide a local, non-US tax ID and documentation establishing that they are not a US taxpayer. That page concerns US-company representatives and owners, so it should not be treated as a universal checklist for every non-US connected account.
| Creator situation | Is a US ITIN needed? | Relevant identifier or next step |
|---|---|---|
| Non-US creator with no US tax-filing obligation | Generally no | Complete Stripe’s country-specific onboarding with the local identification and tax information requested |
| US citizen or resident creator | No ITIN if eligible for an SSN | Provide an SSN or an applicable business EIN as requested |
| Non-US creator who must file a US federal tax return | Possibly | An ITIN may be needed for the US filing, separately from payout onboarding |
| Non-US owner opening a US-based Stripe account for a US entity | No personal ITIN if Stripe accepts the entity’s EIN | Provide the US business EIN and other requested ownership information |
For the table's last row—a non-US owner opening a US-based Stripe account for a US entity—Stripe says a non-US individual applying for an EIN for that entity should “indicate your foreign status and don’t include an SSN or ITIN if you don’t have one”. This path applies when someone has deliberately formed a US business entity; it is not the default route for an individual creator onboarding in another country.
When might a non-US creator actually need a US ITIN?
A non-US creator needs a US ITIN only when an independent US federal tax obligation requires a US taxpayer identification number — for example, filing a US federal income tax return, or claiming a reduced tax treaty rate on US-source income — and not merely because a follower payment arrives through a platform. The trigger is the US filing or withholding rule, not the payout itself.
The IRS identifies relevant situations such as a nonresident alien who must file a US tax return or a person claiming a tax treaty benefit when a US taxpayer identification number is required for reporting or withholding (IRS, "Am I eligible to apply for an ITIN?").
The IRS states that "a TIN must be on a withholding certificate if the beneficial owner is claiming" tax treaty benefits, exemption for effectively connected income, or exempt-organization status (IRS, "U.S. taxpayer identification number requirement"), which is the main scenario in which a non-US creator would need an ITIN.
A Form W-8BEN "generally will remain in effect for the period starting the date the form was signed and ending December 31 of the third succeeding calendar year," per the IRS Internal Revenue Manual, so a non-US creator's foreign-status certification generally has to be re-signed roughly every three years whether or not the creator holds an ITIN.
Where US-source income is paid to a nonresident alien, the IRS requires Form 1042-S to be filed with the IRS and furnished to the recipient of the income by March 15 of the following year (IRS, "Instructions for Form 1042-S"); that is a US payer's obligation, not something a non-US creator triggers by opening a payout account.
An ITIN may therefore matter if:
- You are required to file a US federal tax return.
- You need a US taxpayer identification number to claim a treaty benefit. The IRS states that US-source FDAP income paid to a nonresident alien is generally "taxed at a flat 30 percent (or lower treaty rate, if qualify)" (IRS, "Taxation of Nonresident Aliens"), and the IRS requires a TIN on the withholding certificate used to claim that lower treaty rate.
- A US payer requires a US TIN for a specific reporting or withholding obligation.
- A qualified tax professional determines that your US-sourced income creates a filing requirement.
Receiving follower payments while living outside the United States does not, by itself, establish that you need an ITIN. If a sponsor, platform, accountant, or other US-based payer requests one for its reporting, confirm why it is needed and consider getting advice for your specific tax situation.
How do Brillay payouts work without a US tax ID?
Brillay uses Stripe for creator payout onboarding, and the information Stripe requests depends on the creator’s account country and circumstances (how Brillay works). Brillay supports creator payouts in 41 countries. Check the country list, then follow the identity and tax steps Stripe shows for your country rather than assuming you need a US ITIN. (how to get paid as a creator outside the US)
- Connect Stripe during onboarding. You can create a Brillay page with no follower minimum and no monthly fee, then connect your bank through Stripe.
- Complete country-specific verification. A non-US creator provides the identity, bank, and tax information Stripe requests for the account’s country and entity type—not a US ITIN by default.
- Receive payments from eligible followers. Followers can pay for Paid Questions, Personalized Videos, Custom Work, Tips, and Goals; brands can send Brand Collaboration Inquiries without payment.
- Pay a fee only after a transaction. No monthly fee, you only pay a small platform fee when you get paid. 8% platform fee when a follower pays for work, 5% platform fee on tips and goals. Card processing is separate.
- Receive the remaining payout through Stripe. Stripe pays the balance to your connected bank account, subject to the rules for your supported country and currency. (Brillay pricing)
Creator onboarding and payouts are available in supported countries; see how to get paid as a creator outside the US for the current country information.
Do you need a business entity if you do not have an ITIN?
No. An ITIN and a business entity serve different purposes, and eligible creators can onboard as individuals using the information Stripe requests for their country and entity type.
Forming a business may affect liability, accounting, local registration, and taxes, but it does not substitute for identity or tax verification. If you are considering an entity, do I need an LLC to accept follower payments explains what an LLC may change and what it does not.
Frequently asked questions
Does Stripe require an ITIN from every non-US creator?
No. Stripe’s connected-account requirements vary by account country, business type, capabilities, and tax status. A US ITIN is not a universal requirement for non-US creators.
What is the difference between an ITIN and the tax ID Stripe requests?
An ITIN is a US federal taxpayer identification number issued by the IRS to eligible people who cannot obtain an SSN. Stripe may instead request the local tax identifier or other verification information applicable to the creator’s account country and entity type.
Does already having an ITIN change Brillay payouts?
Not necessarily. An ITIN indicates a US federal tax relationship, but Stripe still verifies a connected account according to its country, entity type, capabilities, and other account details. Creators should provide the information requested during onboarding rather than assuming an ITIN replaces local verification.
Does an ITIN expire if it is only used for payment reporting?
No. The IRS states that an ITIN "only used on information returns that report payments you receive, like Form 1099" does not need to be renewed, and that expired ITINs may continue to be used on information returns; the 3-consecutive-year expiration rule applies to ITINs included on a US federal tax return.
Do followers see or provide a creator’s tax ID?
No. A creator submits tax and identity details privately during Stripe onboarding. Followers pay for a tip, question, personalized video, or other offering without providing the creator’s tax ID as part of the payment process.
Keep reading
New in the library
Ready to get paid for the interactions you already get?
Create your free Brillay link