Learn how to configure Stripe Connect Express for automated affiliate payouts, including onboarding and verification.
Icodrip uses Stripe Connect Express to handle affiliate payouts. Stripe Connect allows you to send payments directly to your affiliates' bank accounts while handling tax form collection, identity verification, and compliance automatically.
With Stripe Connect Express, affiliates go through a streamlined onboarding flow hosted by Stripe. They enter their banking details, verify their identity, and accept Stripe's terms of service. Once onboarded, you can send payouts to them with a single API call — or let Icodrip handle it automatically.
Stripe Connect Express is available in 40+ countries. Affiliates can receive payouts in their local currency, and Stripe handles the currency conversion automatically. There are no monthly fees for connected accounts — you only pay per payout transaction.
When an affiliate signs up for your program, their portal includes a "Set Up Payouts" section. Clicking this button initiates the Stripe Connect Express onboarding flow. The affiliate is redirected to a Stripe-hosted page where they provide their personal and banking information.
The onboarding flow collects the affiliate's legal name, date of birth, address, tax identification number (SSN in the US, equivalent in other countries), and bank account details. Stripe verifies this information and performs identity checks as required by local regulations.
After completing the onboarding, the affiliate is redirected back to their portal with a confirmation. Their payout status changes from "Not Connected" to "Active," and they become eligible to receive payouts. The entire process takes about 5 minutes.
Stripe handles identity verification as part of the Connect Express onboarding. In most cases, affiliates can verify instantly by providing their personal details. Occasionally, Stripe may request additional documentation such as a government-issued ID or a bank statement.
If additional verification is needed, the affiliate receives an email from Stripe with instructions. They can complete the verification by uploading documents through the Stripe portal. Until verification is complete, payouts to that affiliate are held.
You can monitor verification status in your Icodrip dashboard under the affiliate's profile. The status shows as "Pending Verification," "Verified," or "Action Required." For affiliates who need help with verification, direct them to Stripe's support documentation.
Before processing real payouts, test the flow using Stripe's test mode. Create a test affiliate, complete the Stripe Connect onboarding with test data, and trigger a manual payout from your dashboard.
In test mode, Stripe simulates the entire payout flow including bank transfers. You can verify that the correct amount is sent, that Icodrip's records are updated, and that the affiliate sees the payout in their portal.
Check the Stripe dashboard to see the test transfer. It should show as a transfer to the connected account with the correct amount and metadata. Once you are satisfied with the test results, switch to live mode and you are ready to pay real affiliates.
If an affiliate cannot complete the Stripe onboarding, the most common issue is that Stripe Connect is not available in their country. Check Stripe's list of supported countries for Connect Express and communicate this to the affiliate.
Payout failures typically occur due to invalid bank account details or a deactivated connected account. When a payout fails, Stripe sends a webhook notification to Icodrip, which marks the payout as "Failed" and alerts you in the dashboard. The affiliate needs to update their banking information through the Stripe portal.
For affiliates who report they did not receive a payout, check the payout timeline. Bank transfers typically take 2-5 business days depending on the country. If the payout shows as "Paid" in Stripe but the affiliate has not received funds, suggest they contact their bank as the transfer may be in processing.