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Why Ko-fi asks for your location

When creators earn on Ko-fi, some pay us a small service fee or a monthly subscription fee. Like any business, Ko-fi has to account for sales tax or VAT on its own income,  and the amount of tax we owe on that fee depends on where you, our customer, are based.

To calculate this correctly, we need to know your country. For creators in the US and Canada, we also need your ZIP or postal code.

For clarity, your location has nothing to do with the payments you receive from your supporters, which always go directly to you. It also doesn't replace or affect your own tax responsibilities as a creator.

  Note

Your supporters' payments are never held or processed by Ko-fi. They go straight to your own connected PayPal or Stripe account.

 

View or update your location

Your location details are stored in your account settings. You can view or update them at any time.

  1. Head to your Account settings
  2. Find the Your location section and click View or update
    The Your location section in Account settings, showing a View or update button
  3. You'll be asked to confirm your identity with a 6-digit code sent via your chosen verification method. If you haven't set up 2FA yet, you'll receive this by email
    The Enter the code dialog, with a field to enter the 6-digit verification code and a Verify button
  4. Once verified, your current location details will be displayed. Click Update location to make changes
  5. In the Update your location pop-up, select your Country from the dropdown. Click Save when done
    The Update your location pop-up, showing a Country dropdown set to United Kingdom and a Save button

  Note

If you're based in the US or Canada, you'll also be asked to enter your ZIP or postal code.

 

Your data and privacy

Ko-fi collects your country (and ZIP or postal code for US and Canada-based creators) to calculate the tax Ko-fi owes on its own service and subscription fees. Here's how we handle it:

  • Your country is stored securely and is not displayed on your public Ko-fi page
  • It is only shared with tax authorities where required by law, and only in an anonymized form that cannot be traced back to you individually
  • If you delete your account, your data is anonymized and cannot be attributed to you

For full details on how Ko-fi handles your personal data, see our Privacy Policy.

 

We're here if you need us. Feel free to send any questions our way. 💌

 

FAQ

Why am I being asked for my location now?
Ko-fi is required to account for sales tax or VAT on its own service and subscription fees. The amount owed depends on where you're based, so we need to collect your location to calculate this correctly.
Will my location be visible on my Ko-fi page?
No. Your location details are never displayed on your public Ko-fi page.
What if I entered my location incorrectly?
You can update your location at any time in your Account settings. Find the Your location section, verify your identity, and click Update location to make corrections.
Can I delete my location data?
If you delete your Ko-fi account, your data is anonymized and can no longer be attributed to you. Note that anonymized data may be retained for tax reporting purposes as required by law.
When do I need to add my location?
You'll only need to add your location if you're prompted to do so. If you haven't seen a prompt, no action is needed right now.