How to Cash Out on YouTube: The Payout Process

Earning revenue on YouTube involves meeting eligibility criteria, configuring a payment system, and receiving earnings. Understanding each step ensures a smooth transition from content creation to financial realization.

YouTube Monetization Eligibility

To earn on YouTube, creators must qualify for the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). Channels need at least 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 valid public watch hours over the past 12 months or 10 million valid public Shorts views within 90 days. These thresholds demonstrate consistent content creation and an engaged viewership.

Channels must also adhere to YouTube’s Community Guidelines and policies, maintaining no active strikes. Two-Step Verification for the associated Google Account is mandatory. Once these criteria are met, creators can apply for the YPP through YouTube Studio.

Upon YPP approval, creators must link a Google AdSense account to their YouTube channel. AdSense serves as the primary platform for managing and receiving all payments. This connection is essential, as AdSense handles financial transactions, ensuring earnings are tracked and disbursed. Without an active and linked AdSense account, payments cannot be processed.

Configuring AdSense for Payments

After YPP approval, configuring the linked Google AdSense account is the next step. Creators access payment settings by signing into AdSense, navigating to “Payments,” then “Payments info,” and “Manage settings.” This area allows for setting up how funds will be transferred.

A payment threshold must be met before funds are disbursed; for US creators, this is typically $100. All accumulated earnings, from advertising revenue to other monetization streams, contribute towards this threshold. Until the balance reaches this amount, earnings remain in the AdSense account and roll over to the next payment cycle.

AdSense offers various payment methods, with Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) directly to a bank account being the most common due to its speed and security. Other methods, such as wire transfers or checks, may also be available. To set up EFT, creators provide bank account details, including the account number, routing number, and the name on the bank account. A small test deposit is then sent for verification, requiring the creator to confirm the exact amount within AdSense.

Submission of accurate tax information within the AdSense account is required before payments can be issued. For US persons, this involves completing a Form W-9. Non-US individuals or entities typically submit a Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, which can be used to claim treaty benefits to reduce US tax withholding on US-sourced income. Failure to provide this information can result in up to 30% of earnings being withheld for tax purposes. The tax information is managed through the “United States tax info” section under “Payments profile” in AdSense.

Receiving YouTube Payments

Once the AdSense account is configured and all necessary information provided, payments follow a monthly cycle. Earnings accrued throughout a month are finalized early the following month. For instance, estimated earnings from June are typically finalized and posted to the AdSense account balance by July 3rd.

Any changes to payment information, including removing payment holds, must be completed by the 20th of the month to apply to that month’s payout. If the account balance has met the payment threshold and there are no active holds, payments are issued between the 21st and 26th of that month. The specific date may vary based on weekends, holidays, and the chosen payment method.

Once a payment is issued, the time it takes for funds to reach the creator’s bank account depends on the selected disbursement method. Electronic Funds Transfers (EFT) are generally the quickest, with funds typically arriving within seven business days. For methods like checks, delivery can take up to four weeks. Creators can monitor payment status and history within the AdSense interface. Payments might be delayed or held if the payment threshold has not been met, if an address verification (PIN) is pending, or if there are unresolved tax information issues.

Cashing Out Other YouTube Earnings

Beyond traditional advertising revenue, YouTube offers other monetization avenues, with funds typically processed through the same AdSense account. Earnings from features such as Super Chat, Super Stickers, Channel Memberships, and Super Thanks are accumulated and disbursed alongside ad revenue. YouTube retains a percentage of these transactions, typically around 30%. Platform fees, like those from app stores, can further reduce the creator’s share, sometimes resulting in a net receipt of approximately 49% of the original fan contribution.

YouTube Premium revenue, derived from subscriber fees when members watch a creator’s content, also contributes to the AdSense balance. YouTube Shopping allows creators to earn commissions from products tagged in their videos or sold through their own stores, with these earnings flowing into the same payment system. These diverse income streams consolidate within AdSense.

The YouTube Shorts monetization model is an ad revenue-sharing system within the YouTube Partner Program. Revenue generated from ads displayed in the Shorts Feed is pooled, and creators receive a share based on their proportion of total Shorts views. Creators are allocated 45% of the revenue from this Creator Pool. Creators must approve the Shorts Monetization Module in YouTube Studio to activate this earning potential.