Let's get you paid! Please reference this guide if you need more information on how to get setup within Stripe. You'll start the setup in Handshake AI and finish in Stripe. Once you've completed your setup, your payments will go to the account you added.
What is Stripe?
Stripe is a secure and widely trusted payment platform used by millions of businesses, universities, and organizations around the world. It's the same system companies like Google, Amazon, and Lyft rely on to safely send and receive payments.
Handshake AI uses Stripe to verify your identity and ensure that payments are processed accurately and securely. Your information is encrypted, never shared or sold, and handled only for verification and payout purposes. Setting up Stripe helps us confirm it's really you and ensures your payments are sent to the correct account.
Stripe setup
Before you can start earning, you'll need to complete two setup steps:
- Set up your tax details
- Set up your payout method
You can start the setup process before you're invited to a project so everything is ready when you begin tasking.
1. Access the setup flow
There are a couple of different ways to enter the setup flow.
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While waiting for a project, you can set up your payout method so you're ready to go as soon as you're invited to a project. From your projects dashboard, select Set up payout method.
- You can also access setup by selecting Payments at the top of your project dashboard.
2. Setup your tax details
You'll start by entering your tax details. Click Set up tax details when you're ready to begin.
3. Enter your tax details
Set up your tax information securely through our tax partner without leaving Handshake AI. You'll be asked to enter:
- Legal first name
- Legal last name
- Country
- Address
- City
- State
- Postal code
- Country of tax residence
4. Select your tax form
Select the form that matches your tax status:
- W-9 — applies to most users in the United States. Select this form if you are a U.S. citizen or a U.S. tax resident.
- W-8BEN — select this form if you are not a U.S. citizen or do not live in the United States for tax purposes.
Important: Handshake cannot provide tax advice or guidance on individual tax situations. For questions about your tax obligations, eligibility, or how to report your earnings, we recommend consulting a qualified tax professional or referring to guidance from your local tax authority.
5. E-Sign your tax form
Review the tax form and enter the necessary information to complete it, then e-sign. Information on this form includes your name, federal tax classification, and either your Social Security Number (SSN) or Employer Identification Number (EIN) for your Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN).
6. Set up Payout method
Once your tax information has been provided, select Start setup next to Payout method to get started.
7. Confirm your information and complete setup in Stripe
Confirm the following information:
- Legal first name
- Legal last name
Then select Continue to Stripe to finish the rest of the setup process in Stripe.
Once you've completed setup in Stripe, you'll receive a confirmation message that everything is set up, and you'll be redirected back to Handshake AI. Select Go to projects to return to your dashboard and start tasking and earning!
Troubleshooting common Stripe issues
My payment was returned or reversed
If your payment was returned, it is likely because your bank was unable to accept the deposit. This typically happens when your payout method needs to be updated, such as a changed account number or routing information. To fix this:
- Go to your Payments dashboard
- Click Manage payout method
- Re-enter or update your bank details
Once updated, the system will automatically reattempt the payment in the next payment cycle.
Enter a valid zip code
Confirm the address associated with your tax information here. If the issue persists, contact our tax partner directly at https://www.taxbandits.com/contact-us/
Failed tax verification
This means the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and name you provided could not be matched to IRS records. Unfortunately, Handshake does not have visibility into the specific reason the verification failed.
Double-check that:
- Your full legal name matches the name associated with your IRS records and, if applicable, your previous tax documents (such as W-2s or 1099s) exactly.
- Your TIN (SSN or EIN) is entered correctly.
- There are no formatting issues, such as extra spaces, punctuation, or other characters.
After verifying all of the above, try completing the tax verification one more time.
If you’ve already confirmed that your information is correct, please review the IRS's FAQs or contact their support directly at at 800-829-1040. They’ll be able to review your record and provide more details on why the verification isn’t going through.