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Billing & Invoices

Understanding platform fees, payment methods, and downloading invoices

Last updated Jan 25, 2025 • 12 min read

On This Page

→ Platform Fee Structure→ Payment Methods→ Transaction Receipts→ Downloading Invoices→ Tax Documents (1099)→ Subscription Billing→ Refund Policy→ FAQs

Platform Fee Structure

PayHeld uses transparent, tier-based pricing. The platform fee covers payment protection services, payment processing infrastructure, dispute resolution, and customer support.

FREE

No Subscription
5%
Platform Fee
Unlimited payment links
Payment protection
Basic support
Example Cost:
$1,000 project = $50 platform fee (5%)
+ ~$29 Stripe processing
= $79 total fees
MOST POPULAR

PRO

$29/month
0%
Platform Fee (first $2K/mo)
Then 2.3% after
Everything in FREE
Milestone payments
PRO badge
Priority support
Savings Example:
$1,000 project = $0 platform fee
+ ~$29 Stripe processing
= $30 saved vs FREE!

BUSINESS

$99/month
0%
Platform Fee (first $10K/mo)
Then 1.4% after
Everything in PRO
Custom branding
Dedicated support
Volume discounts
Perfect For:
Agencies processing $10K+/mo
Save $300+ monthly on platform fees
+ Custom enterprise features

Stripe Processing Fees (Applies to All Tiers)

In addition to PayHeld platform fees, Stripe charges payment processing fees for secure card transactions, fraud protection, and PCI compliance:

Standard Cards
2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
International Cards
3.9% + $0.30 per transaction

Payment Methods

PayHeld supports multiple payment methods powered by Stripe for secure, PCI-compliant transactions:

Credit & Debit Cards

Instant payment processing with all major card networks

VisaMastercardAmexDiscover
✓ Instant approval • Saved for future use • 3D Secure supported

ACH Bank Transfer

Lower fees for direct bank account payments

Fee
0.8% (max $5)
Processing
3-5 days
✓ Best for large payments • US banks only • Requires verification

Apple Pay

One-tap checkout on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

✓ Face ID/Touch ID authentication
✓ No card details entered manually
✓ Same fees as card payments

Google Pay

Fast checkout on Android devices and Chrome

✓ Biometric authentication
✓ Secure tokenization
✓ Same fees as card payments

Managing Saved Payment Methods

Access the Stripe Customer Portal to manage your saved cards, update billing addresses, and set default payment methods:

View All Saved Cards
Last 4 digits, expiration dates, and card brands
Add or Remove Cards
Update payment methods without re-entering for each transaction
Set Default Payment Method
Choose which card is used automatically for future payments
Manage Payment Methods

Transaction Receipts

Every transaction on PayHeld generates an automatic receipt with complete payment details for your records:

Receipt Includes

Transaction ID and confirmation number
Project title and description
Gross amount and currency
Platform fee breakdown
Stripe processing fee
Net amount received/paid
Payment method (last 4 digits)
Date, time, and timezone

Accessing Receipts

1
Email Confirmation

Instant email sent to your registered email address with PDF receipt attached

2
Dashboard Access

Navigate to Projects → [Project Name] → Transaction Details → Download Receipt

3
Payment History

View all receipts in Settings → Payments → Payment History

Downloading Invoices

Generate professional invoices for completed projects with detailed payment breakdowns:

Invoice Contents

Professional Invoice Includes:
Invoice number (auto-generated unique ID)
Billing information (client and freelancer details)
Project description and deliverables
Itemized cost breakdown with platform and processing fees
Payment dates (authorized, secured, released)
Tax information and business identifiers

How to Download Invoices

Individual Invoice Download:
Go to Projects → Completed Projects → [Select Project] → Download Invoice (PDF)
Bulk Invoice Download:
Client Portal → Tax Documents → Select Year → Download All Invoices (ZIP archive)
Invoice History:
View and download past invoices from Settings → Billing History → Filter by Date Range

Tax Documents (1099 Forms)

PayHeld automatically generates tax documents for US-based freelancers who earn $600 or more annually:

Form 1099-NEC (Non-Employee Compensation)

If you earned $600 or more through PayHeld in a calendar year, we'll generate and send you a 1099-NEC form by January 31st of the following year.

Earnings Threshold

$600 or more in annual earnings

Distribution Date

By January 31st (IRS deadline)

Delivery Method

Email notification + dashboard download

IRS Reporting

Automatically filed with IRS on your behalf

Accessing Your Tax Documents

1
Navigate to Client Portal

From your dashboard, click Client Portal → Tax Documents

2
Select Tax Year

Choose the calendar year you need documents for (current year or past 5 years)

3
Download 1099-NEC

Click "Download PDF" to save your 1099-NEC form for tax filing

View Tax Documents

Year-End Tax Summary

In addition to your 1099 form, we provide a comprehensive earnings summary:

Total gross earnings for the year
Platform fees paid (potentially deductible)
Processing fees paid (business expense)
Net earnings after all fees

Subscription Billing

PRO and BUSINESS subscriptions are billed separately from project transactions:

Billing Cycles

Monthly Billing

Charged on the same day each month
Auto-renewal (cancel anytime)
Pro-rated if upgraded mid-cycle

Annual Billing

Save 2 months (16% discount)
Billed once per year
Priority upgrade processing

Managing Your Subscription

Upgrade/Downgrade
Changes take effect immediately with pro-rated billing adjustments
Update Payment Method
Access Stripe Customer Portal to change cards or billing details
View Invoices
Download monthly subscription invoices for accounting and expense reports
Cancel Subscription
Cancel anytime — access continues until end of billing period, no refunds
Manage Subscription

Refund Policy

Refunds are handled differently based on project status and subscription type:

Project Payment Refunds

Before Freelancer Accepts

Full refund available anytime (minus platform fee). Cancel the payment link and funds return to your original payment method within 5-10 business days.

During Active Project

Full or partial refunds possible if both parties agree. Document the reason and process through the platform. Refunds take 5-10 business days.

After Work Delivered

No automatic refunds. Request revisions or raise a dispute if work doesn't meet requirements. Dispute resolution determines refund amount based on evidence.

Subscription Refunds

Monthly Subscriptions
No refunds for monthly subscriptions. Cancel anytime — access continues until end of billing period.
Annual Subscriptions
No refunds for annual subscriptions. Cancel anytime — access continues until end of 12-month period.
Exception Policy
Refunds may be granted on a case-by-case basis for technical issues or billing errors. Contact support with details.

Refund Processing Timeline

Initiation

0-2 business days to process request

Processing

3-5 business days via Stripe

Bank Posting

2-3 business days (bank dependent)

Total timeline: 5-10 business days from refund approval to funds appearing in your account

Frequently Asked Questions

Start Saving on Platform Fees

Upgrade to PRO and keep more of what you earn with 0% platform fees on your first $2K monthly.

Upgrade to PROView Payment HistoryDownload Tax Documents
Billing & Invoices | PayHeld Documentation