To keep your account secure, ensure fast and accurate payments, and stay compliant with ad platform and tax regulations, Raptive has clear rules about who can be paid. This guide explains what’s allowed, what’s not, and what to do if something changes.
Who can receive payments
Raptive payments can only go to:
- The verified site owner
-
The legally registered business, such as:
- Sole Proprietor (under your name or sole proprietor LLC)
- Corporation (C-Corp or S-Corp)
- LLC (single- or multi-member)
- Nonprofit organization
- Registered partnership
- DBA (if legally tied to the above)
Note: Creators just joining Raptive will need to complete identity or business verification to receive payment.
Who cannot receive payments
For legal and compliance reasons, we cannot send payments to:
- A family member or friend
- A contractor, assistant, or agency
- A business or business partner you aren’t legally associated with
- Any third party who isn’t the verified owner or an authorized business representative
Why this matters
This policy helps us:
- Protect your earnings from fraud and account takeovers
- Comply with IRS and international tax regulations
- Align with Google’s MCM and sellers.json requirements
- Ensure clean, auditable records for you and Raptive
Frequently asked questions
Q: I manage the site for someone else. Can I receive payment?
A: No. Only the verified owner or their registered business can be paid.
Q: My spouse owns the site. Can I get paid instead?
A: By default, payments can only go to the verified site owner or their registered business. If your spouse owns the site, they must remain the payee unless:
- You have a formal power of attorney or legal authorization on file naming you as the payee.
- Your spouse’s business is the registered payee, and you are listed as an authorized representative with supporting documentation.
- You and your spouse jointly own a verified business (LLC, partnership, corporation), in which case payments can go to that entity.
Q: I’m changing my payment from individual to my LLC. Is that allowed?
A: Yes, as long as you're the sole member of your LLC—which we’ll need to verify—you can proceed. If not, we'll need to transfer ownership of the site to the LLC and ensure the LLC is listed as the account owner with Raptive.
Q: I sold my site. How do I switch payments to the new owner?
A: The new owner must go through Raptive’s ownership transfer process.
Q: I have multiple businesses tied to my sites. Can each one receive payments?
A: Yes, as long as the above payment policies are followed. Please note this may affect the structure of your Raptive account and could impact your service level eligibility.
Q: I didn't know this when I first registered my account with Raptive. Do I need to update my account to ensure I’m following your payment policies?
A: Contact our team and let us know! We can review your account and advise on any necessary updates.
Q: Do I need to sign a new Service Agreement if I update my payment information?
A: No, you will not need to sign a new Service Agreement. However, a change in payment information may require further review.
Updating your payment info
| Type of update | What’s required |
| Personal → Personal Example: An individual opens a new bank account |
No problem—allowed at any time |
| Personal → Business |
Business verification required Transfer of ownership is potentially required |
| Personal → Partner | The partner and their involvement in the site will need to be verified, and transfer of ownership process may be required |
| Business → New Business Example: You've dissolved your original business and the site is now owned by a newly formed business. |
Business must be legally tied to you, and new business verification is required |
| Site Sold | New owner must complete the full verification and the transfer of ownership process |
Important: To prevent delays, avoid updating payment details between the 4th and 15th of the month, as changes made during this payout window may not be processed until the next payment cycle.
What happens if the policy isn’t followed
Trying to redirect payment to someone other than the verified owner may result in:
- Delayed or blocked payments
- Account compliance review
- Inability to process your tax forms
- Risk of being out of compliance with IRS, banking, or Google MCM/sellers.json requirements
Matching information is required
To process payments, the following must match:
- Your Raptive account name
- The bank account holder
- Your submitted tax form
- For U.S. creators: W-9 is required.
- For non-U.S. creators: W-8BEN (individuals) or W-8BEN-E (entities) is required.
If your business name and payee name don’t match, you may be required to provide documentation or complete identity verification before payments can resume.