Host earnings, taxes & IRS reporting
Plain-English summary. This isn't tax advice — consult a tax professional for your situation.
Who handles tax reporting?
Stripe, our payment processor, handles it end to end. When you become a paid host, you complete Stripe Connect onboarding: Stripe — not WildPass — collects your Social Security Number or EIN, date of birth, home address, and bank account, verifies your identity as required by federal Know-Your-Customer law, and files the required tax forms with the IRS. WildPass never sees or stores your SSN, EIN, or bank details.
Form 1099-K
As a third-party settlement organization, Stripe files IRS Form 1099-K reporting your gross WildPass earnings when your payments exceed the federal threshold ($20,000 and 200 transactions for 2026 under current law; several states — including MA, VT, VA, MD, IL, NJ, MO and DC — use lower thresholds, some as low as $600). You'll receive a copy by January 31 each year through the Stripe Express dashboard.
- 1099-K reports gross transaction volume — before the 8% WildPass fee. The fee is a deductible business expense.
- All income is taxable even if no 1099-K is issued. Falling under the threshold doesn't make earnings tax-free.
- Land access fees are generally rental/business income — many hosts can also deduct property expenses attributable to hosting. Ask a professional.
What WildPass collects, and why
| Host type | Information required |
|---|---|
| Free-access host | Name, email, and the state your land is in. That's it — no financial or identity data. |
| Paid host | WildPass collects: name, phone, business type & name, US mailing address. Stripe collects (never WildPass): SSN or EIN, date of birth, government ID if requested, and bank account for payouts — as required by the USA PATRIOT Act and IRS regulations. |
Fees & payouts
- Guests pay your listed price plus an 8% WildPass platform fee. You receive 100% of your listed price.
- Payouts land in your bank account about 2 business days after each booking.
- Hosting is limited to land located in the United States, owned or controlled by a US taxpayer. Guests may book from anywhere in the world; all charges settle in USD.
- Earnings history and annual summaries are available in your host dashboard and Stripe Express.
Other legal notes for hosts
- Verify your state's recreational-use and landowner-liability statutes. Most states shield landowners who allow recreation, but charging a fee can change your liability profile — many hosts carry a rider on their farm/land policy.
- Hunting hosts: guests must hold valid state licenses and tags. The seasons shown on WildPass are a courtesy overlay — the state's official regulations control.
- You are responsible for local zoning/permit rules for camping or events on your land.