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Referral Rewards and Taxes

Last updated: May 2026

When you earn rewards through Stax (for example, a $5 credit for referring a friend who signs up for an annual plan), the IRS may consider those rewards as taxable income. If your total Stax rewards in a calendar year reach $600 (the current U.S. reporting threshold), Stax may need to report those rewards to the IRS and ask you for tax information.

This page is a plain-language overview of how Stax handles tax reporting for rewards. It is not tax advice. For your specific situation, consult a tax professional.

What rewards count

Rewards include any credit, payout, or value Stax issues to your account, such as:

  • The $5 referrer reward when someone you refer subscribes to an annual Stax plan
  • The $5 referee reward when you sign up via a referral link and subscribe to an annual plan
  • Booking cashback (1% on the free plan, 2% with Premium) earned when you book through Stax partners
  • Any other promotional or reward credits issued by Stax

Note: referral rewards have a 30-day pending period before they become available to withdraw.

What Stax may ask you for

If you reach IRS reporting thresholds (currently $600 in rewards in a calendar year for U.S. taxpayers), we may ask you to complete IRS Form W-9. This gives us your taxpayer identification number so we can file required tax reports.

If you don’t provide a Form W-9 when requested, we may need to pause reward withdrawals until we receive it.

What you may receive from Stax

If you cross IRS reporting thresholds in a calendar year, you may receive a Form 1099-MISC from Stax early the following year. This form summarizes the rewards we paid you and is used in your tax filing.

Your responsibility

You are responsible for:

  • Reporting reward income on your tax returns, where required by law
  • Paying any federal, state, local, or foreign taxes you owe on those rewards

Stax does not provide tax advice. Tax rules vary by location and individual circumstances. If you have questions, please talk to a qualified tax professional.

Questions

Reach us at support@stax.cash with questions about how rewards are issued or about tax forms we send.