What matters here
- Typical format
- Instant digital delivery
- Key risk
- Card testing / friendly fraud
- Risk tone
- High without antifraud
- We check first
- Licenses, limits, refund window
What we set up
Checkout or an API integration, automatic access delivery after payment, a log of downloads and activations, a clear payment descriptor on the statement and confirmation emails.
Taxes on digital goods
For digital goods, VAT often depends on the customer’s country rather than the seller’s. The EU has special reporting regimes. Confirm current rules with an accountant and build them into your pricing.
Fraud protection
You need payment checks, limits on attempt frequency, 3D Secure for risky payments and monitoring of suspicious patterns. That lowers the dispute rate and protects the account.
Disputes and refunds
Keep a delivery log, IP addresses, download dates and correspondence. This data helps defend a payment. Refund terms should be visible before payment.
Digital goods screening
We assess product type (software, templates, licenses, media), instant delivery, license terms and anti-fraud for buy-download-dispute patterns.
Fraud score rises on cheap one-off SKUs and weak verification. Watermarks/licenses, download limits and a clear refund window help.
Stripe works for legitimate digital goods with a solid fraud stack. Grey content or keys without rights — stop before intake; MoR or decline.
Niches: how screening usually looks
Not a yes/no ranking — a typical pre-application picture. Outcome still depends on the site, refunds and dispute rate.
| Niche | Typical risk | What we check first | Common format |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS / subscriptions | Medium | Trial, cancel flow, dunning | Processing or own merchant |
| Online courses | Medium | Access delivery, refunds, terms | Merchant / rental for a pilot |
| Marketplace | High | Who sells, Connect vs standard account | Connect or company + bank |
| Digital goods | Medium+ | Instant delivery, license, refunds | Merchant after screening |
| Gaming | High | In-game purchases, geo, age limits | Only after model review |
| Forex / high-risk | Very high | License, offer, money flow | Often a refusal; honest review |
Stripe rules change. We do not promise approval — we match the model first, then the format.
Frequently asked questions about Stripe: Stripe for digital products: delivery, VAT and dispute protection
Can I refund digital goods?
That depends on your policy and the customer’s country. In the EU, withdrawal rules apply, and the terms should be stated explicitly.
Do I need protection against stolen cards?
Yes. Fraud is common in digital goods, so you need configured protection and monitoring.
How do I handle VAT?
The rules depend on the customer’s country and your status. Consult an accountant before launch.
Why do digital goods attract fraud?
Instant delivery plus cheap SKUs suit card testing. Limits, verification, licenses and a tight refund window are required — otherwise Stripe cuts limits.