Payouts

Patreon Withholds 20% Without an RFC: How to Get One and When It Drops to 2.5%

If you live in Mexico, Patreon withholds 20% income tax without an RFC and 2.5% with one. How to register, what must match, and what can't be undone.

By The Pennygood team · Oct 2026 · 4 min read

You live in Mexico, you opened your Patreon payouts, and out of every $10 tier $2 was taken before fees, reason: no RFC. Short answer: with an individual RFC the income tax withholding drops from 20% to 2.5%, and you can register online with your CURP.

Two catches: Patreon doesn't correct what it already withheld, and having an RFC doesn't leave every dollar with you. Here are the numbers.

What changed, and who does it hit?

Since October 1, 2025, Patreon withholds income tax from creators who live in Mexico, no matter how much they earn or where their patrons live. The rate depends on the RFC you gave it: 20% without one, 2.5% with an individual RFC. It's calculated on your earnings before Patreon's own fees. That comes from Patreon's page on Mexican taxes, last updated June 13, 2026.

On a $10 tier the difference is $2.00 versus $0.25. If you earn $100 a month on Patreon, it's $20 versus $2.50: $17.50 more a month, $210 a year.

How do I get an RFC?

Individuals 18 or older with a CURP can register online on the SAT portal without handing over documents: Trámites, RFC, Inscripción con CURP, fill in the form with your address, email and tax characteristics, and keep the receipt with your tax ID certificate.

A CURP alone won't do it. Patreon says outright that giving it your CURP changes no withholding; only a valid RFC does.

The SAT lets you register with or without tax obligations. If you choose with obligations, the procedure sheet says you must visit a SAT office within 30 days to get your password or e.firma. Which activity and regime fit you depends on your situation, so ask an accountant or the SAT.

What do I enter in Patreon so it accepts it?

In Settings > Billing & Payouts, fill in the non-US tax form and enter your RFC (field 6 for individuals). If you're a U.S. citizen living in Mexico, Patreon says to pick "I am not a US citizen or resident" to reach that form; you can still list the U.S. as your country of residence. Patreon checks it against the SAT, and it fails on small things: your name must match your certificate exactly and the postal code must be the one registered with the SAT.

Accents are the classic trap. If your legal name is Fernández but your RFC says Fernandez, type Fernandez. You get an email when validation passes, or one asking you to review.

When does the withholding drop?

From the 1st of the month after you enter a valid RFC. Enter it on November 10 and the change lands December 1; November was already withheld at 20%. Patreon says it can't amend past withholdings, so don't put it off.

Can I get back the 20% already taken?

I couldn't confirm that, and I'd rather say so than invent an answer. Patreon doesn't say whether this withholding can be credited on your annual return. The SAT does say, in a 2019 document about ride and food-delivery platforms, that withholdings under that scheme are provisional payments creditable on the annual return. That's a different scheme, and I'm not assuming it applies to Patreon. Before counting on that money, ask an accountant with your payouts and certificate in hand.

Does an RFC mean I keep everything?

No. In the same $10 example, Patreon charges 16% VAT to your fans in Mexico ($1.60). With an RFC it sends you half, $0.80, and you must report and pay it to the SAT. The $9.55 net in its example includes that VAT, which isn't yours; without it your real income is $8.75. Without an RFC, Patreon keeps all the VAT and you receive $7.00.

You're also visible: Patreon gives the SAT the detail of each creator's sales, with their tax data. An RFC gets you the lowest rate, but it doesn't excuse you from declaring what you earn.

What should I do today?

• If you already have an RFC: enter it this month, any day, and it applies from the 1st of next month.
• If you don't: register with your CURP on the SAT portal and enter the RFC once you have it.
• Check your name and postal code letter by letter against your certificate.
• Keep your Patreon payouts and reports: your accountant will ask for them.

A note on Pennygood, which runs this blog: according to its own help pages, what you receive through Pennygood is also taxable income, and it withholds nothing, so the filing is on you. Having your RFC in order helps on any platform.