Receiving your royalties should be the easiest part of your release cycle. This guide covers how to set up your account, when to expect your funds, and how to track your earnings.
Quick Navigation
The Setup Checklist
Before we can release your funds, you must complete these steps in your Monetization Tab:
Payout & Tax Info: Add a PayPal or Bank Account and complete the digital tax form.
Terms of Use: Sign the SoundCloud for Artists agreement.
-
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Ensure your account is secure.
- While most artists no longer require a 2FA app to distribute or monetize content, a small group may still be required to use it for account security.
- Regardless of our requirements, we still recommend 2FA to secure your account.
Complete your Payout & Tax Info
Go to the Earnings section of your SC4A account and click Payouts.
Click +Add Payout Method and choose Bank Transfer or PayPal.
Select your filing status (Individual or Business) and enter your details.
Once your payout method is saved, click Submit a Tax Form.
Follow the prompts to complete your tax documentation.
Choose your delivery preference (E-Delivery or Mail) for your end-of-year tax forms.
Tip: You can return to this section at any time to update your payment method or edit your tax information.
Your Royalty Share
As of November 2025, SoundCloud has updated our royalty share to 100%.
You keep 100% of your earnings from both SoundCloud and external DSPs.
Processing Fees: Our payout processor applies a small fee (starting as low as $0.50 USD) per transaction. You will see the exact fee estimate when you add or edit your payout method.
Payout Timeline & Minimums
The $25 Rule: Payments are automatically deposited once your balance reaches $25 USD (after processing fees). If your balance is lower, it will simply roll over to the next month until you hit the threshold.
The "Standard Delay":
First-Time Earners: You typically won't see data for the first 45–60 days. We need this time to set up your profiles and begin collecting from partners.
Ongoing Reporting: After the initial period, earnings appear on a two-month delay. (Example: January’s streams are usually reported and paid at the end of March). This is the global industry standard for royalty reporting.
Split Pay
Don't worry about manual bank transfers to your collaborators. For Artist Pro creators, our Split Pay tool automates the process:
How it works: Assign a percentage of a track’s earnings to any collaborator using their SoundCloud Profile URL.
When to add: You can set splits during the initial upload or at any time via the Split Pay tab in your dashboard.
Troubleshooting: Why didn’t I receive a payment?
If it’s the end of the month and you haven't seen a deposit, check these three common blockers:
Incomplete Tax/Payout Info: This is the #1 reason for "stuck" payments. Double-check your status in the Earnings section.
Below the $25 Threshold: If your earnings (after fees) are $24.99, the payment will not trigger until the following month.
Reporting Cycles: Remember the two-month delay. If you went viral in June, those earnings won't hit your payout method until the end of August.
"My balance shows $0, but I haven't been paid." Don't panic. Royalty statements usually refresh a few days before the actual cash transfer. Payments are typically processed on the last business day of the month.
Taxes & Withholdings: Why are my earnings being taxed?
To remain compliant with U.S. IRS regulations, SoundCloud must withhold a percentage of earnings from certain accounts.
The Reason: The U.S. government recognizes royalties as taxable income. For artists based outside of the U.S., we are legally required to withhold a portion of those payments to cover federal taxes on income earned "abroad."
The Resource: You can find more detailed information via the official IRS resource here.
Pro-Tip: Tax laws vary significantly by country and by your local tax treaties with the U.S. We strongly recommend consulting a tax professional to understand how this specifically affects your earnings.
Need more help? View our Full Fees Outline or talk to our AI Agent to escalate a specific payment discrepancy to a support specialist.