Tax protection and international affiliates

What this is

The Tax documents page is built around protecting sensitive taxpayer information while still letting merchants get what they need for payout reporting.

Why it matters

Your taxpayer identification number is encrypted at rest and never shown in general account areas, not even to you, after you save it, except for the last four digits shown as a reference. Only merchants you specifically authorize can access a masked version, and only for as long as your authorization stands.

How to do it

1. Review the "Merchant tax authorizations" section on the Tax documents page any time you want to see, add, or revoke which merchants can access your masked tax details.
2. Check "Access history" for a log of recent activity involving your certified document, including the action taken and, where applicable, a reason and timestamp.
3. If you operate outside the United States, note that the W-9 form fields on this page are structured around U.S. tax classifications and identifiers (Social Security number or Employer identification number). Tax reporting requirements depend on your specific reporting year, payment relationship, and current guidance, so review current guidance applicable to your situation, and confirm directly with any merchant what they specifically require from you before your first payout.
4. Use Getting Help if a merchant is asking for tax information you are unsure how to provide.

What happens next

Revoking a merchant's authorization takes effect immediately for future access; it does not retroactively remove information the merchant already retrieved while authorized.

Common mistakes

Do not assume that because your account is on Diversified Affiliates, tax handling rules are the same everywhere. Requirements vary by country, and this platform does not replace your own tax guidance.

In short

Your taxpayer ID stays encrypted and hidden by default, you control exactly which merchants can access it, and international affiliates should confirm specific requirements directly with each merchant and independent guidance.