Understand Smartcat payments and payout methods

If you receive payments via Smartcat, this article will help you understand the process.

You’ll find all the details about payments you receive in the Payouts tab– the third menu item on the left sidebar after logging into your personal Smartcat account.

In the Payouts tab, you’ll see 3 tabs:

Payout Methods – where you can see your balance and set how you want to get paid

Job Statuses – where you can see the status of jobs and the amounts due to you

Payout History – where you can see all payout transactions made to you

In the Job Statuses tab you’ll find details about each job, including the status, which could be any of the following:

• Invitation cancelled - your invitation to the project was canceled before you started working on it.

• Approved - you accepted the invitation to the project, but the work was completed before you started it, or the segments you confirmed are not subject to payment in accordance with the Smartcat discount rules agreed upon when accepting the invitation.

• In progress - you have accepted the invitation to the project. The status will remain active until the customer approves the work.

• Awaiting payment - the customer has approved your work and marked the project as complete. Payment is due by the customer.

• Processing payment - Smartcat has received payment from the customer and the amount due to you has been added to your Smartcat account balance.

• Paid out to you - Smartcat has transferred the funds to your chosen bank account. The delivery of the funds may take 1 to 5 days, depending on your selected payout method (set by you in Payout Methods).

• Marked as paid outside Smartcat - the customer has marked this work as paid for outside of Smartcat.

1. Job status changes to Awaiting payment

When the customer approves the job, it is marked as Awaiting payment. All jobs awaiting payment are subject to the payment conditions specified in the invitation to the project.

The expected payout date is determined by the time the customer has to make the payment and the time it takes for the funds to be transferred from Smartcat to your bank account (maximum 5 working days).

Please note that if work is done outside the platform, it will only appear in your Smartcat account after it is paid for by the customer.

2. Funds are added to your personal Smartcat account

After receiving payment by the customer, Smartcat marks the job as paid and credits the funds to your balance in your personal Smartcat account.

You then receive an email notification confirming payment and the job status changes to Processing payment and includes an estimated payout date (5 working days after receiving funds from the customer, although funds often reach you within 2 days.)

If you’ve receive a payment notification and the funds have been added to your balance, but you can’t see the job in the Job Statuses tab, you may have been doing the work on another server. 

You can switch between servers in the lower left corner of the interface. This option will not be available if you are connected to one server only.

Learn more about the payout methods available in different regions.

If this is your first payout, we recommend you read this article: Receiving your first payment via Smartcat.

3. Managing your payout method

You can specify how you want to get paid in the Payout Methods tab in the Payouts page.

You’ll find all the payout methods available in your country. Choose your preferred method and provide the necessary details.

4. Transfer of funds from your Smartcat account to your bank account

Smartcat transfers funds within 5 working days of payment by the customer (i.e. when the funds are credited to your Smartcat account balance), subject to the following conditions:

• you have added a payout method to receive the funds

• your balance in your personal Smartcat account is above the minimum payout amount (this minimum is set by you in the Payout Methods tab.)

Please note:

• If you have not specified a minimum payout amount, funds will be paid out when your balance reaches the default minimum amount determined by your chosen payout method.

• If you have not specified a payout method, the funds will remain in your Smartcat account until you do so. Funds will be transferred within 5 working days after adding a payout method.

5. Payout History

You can view the history of your payouts in the Payout History tab in My payouts.

⚠️The payment details for the account must match the details of the Smartcat account, otherwise Smartcat suspends the payments.

Set up a payout method

1. Go to My Payouts

2. Review the available payout methods listed — options depend on the country set in your profile

3. Click Select next to your preferred method

4. Fill in all required details (bank account number, PayPal email, Payoneer account, and so on)

5. Click Save

6. Set your minimum payout threshold. Payouts are sent automatically when your balance reaches this amount

7. Some payment methods, such as PayPal, require additional safety confirmations, which much be completed before you can receive payment

Result: Your payout method is active. Smartcat will send payments within 5 days when your balance meets your threshold.

Review fees and limitations

Each payout method displays its own fees, limitations, and requirements in its description in My Payouts. Review these before selecting a method.

Check your payout history

1. Go to My Payouts

2. Select the Payout history tab

Result: A full record of past payouts appears, including dates, amounts, and methods used.

1. Go to My Payouts

2. Open the Job statuses tab

3. Check the current job status.

   1. If the job is In progress, the client hasn’t approved the work

   2. If the job is Awaiting payment, the client has approved the work and marked the project is complete. Payment is due from the client

   3. If the job is in Processing payment, Smartcat has received payment from the client and the amount due ahs been added to your Smartcat account balance within 5 business days.

Payouts are sent automatically when both of the following are true:

• You have a payout method selected in My Payouts

• Your balance has reached your configured minimum payout threshold

If your balance has not yet been paid out, it is typically because one of these conditions has not been met.