Creator Payout Disclosure

Last updated: 16 May 2026

This page describes how Fishing Codex pays its Creators — the anglers who choose to share their expertise on the Marketplace and earn revenue from subscriptions and spot guides. It applies only if you are an approved Creator who has been paid (or will be paid) by us. It does not apply to free-tier users or to buyers.

How payouts work

Approved Creators receive payouts via Stripe Connect on a weekly schedule. Every Monday, we calculate your previous week's settled earnings and send eligible balances to your verified bank account, subject to Stripe's own payout-hold rules.

The Creator/platform split is shown in your Creator dashboard before you list any content. Apple's in-app-purchase cut (15–30%, depending on your earnings tier under Apple's Small Business Program) is deducted by Apple before we calculate your share.

Minimum payout threshold

This threshold exists to keep per-transaction fees reasonable for both you and us — Stripe's per-payout costs make small payouts inefficient. You can see your accumulated balance and your next-payout-eligibility date at any time in your Creator dashboard.

Tax records

If you have been paid as a Creator, we are required by New Zealand Inland Revenue Department (IRD) rules to retain certain payout records for seven (7) years. This record is limited to:

• Your legal name
• Your NZBN (if applicable)
• The total amount paid to you per tax year

All other personal data (catches, locations, photos, etc.) is deleted on the standard schedule per our Privacy Policy. The 7-year retention applies only to users who have actually been paid as a Creator. It does not apply to buyers, free-tier users, or anyone who has never been paid.

Stripe Connect identity verification

To verify Creator identity for tax compliance and anti-fraud reasons, Stripe collects information including legal name, date of birth, address, and bank account details. This is collected and stored by Stripe directly under their own privacy policy at https://stripe.com/privacy; we never see your full bank or government ID details — only Stripe's verification status flag and a redacted last-4 of your bank account for display in your Creator dashboard.

Currency and conversion

Payouts are calculated and sent in USD (United States dollars). If your bank account is in NZD or AUD, Stripe will apply their published foreign-exchange rates at settlement time. Stripe's FX margin (typically around 1–2% above the mid-market rate) is set by Stripe, not by us.

Disputed transactions and refunds

Our default policy is "all sales final" — but if a buyer initiates a dispute via Apple, Stripe, or their card issuer that results in a chargeback, the disputed amount may be deducted from your next payout. Our full dispute policy is in the Terms of Service.

Contact

Questions about a specific payout, FX rate, or tax record? Email hello@fishingcodex.com with your Creator handle and the date range you're asking about.