When you sell tickets on Ticketmaster, you may be wondering when you will receive your payment. Here is a detailed look at how and when Ticketmaster pays sellers after a ticket sale:
How Ticketmaster ticket sales work
On Ticketmaster, fans can purchase tickets to events directly from the venue or promoter running the event. However, Ticketmaster also facilitates resales between fans through their Ticketmaster Resale platform.
If you list tickets for resale on Ticketmaster, you are selling tickets you already own to another fan. Ticketmaster serves as the intermediary to facilitate the transaction between you as the seller and the buyer.
When do you get paid for selling tickets on Ticketmaster?
As the seller, you will not receive payment immediately when your ticket sells on Ticketmaster. Instead, there is a short waiting period for the funds to process:
- When a fan purchases your listed ticket, the buyer’s payment method is authorized and pending until after the event occurs.
- After the event date passes, there is a short review period by Ticketmaster to ensure the event took place and the tickets were valid.
- Once this review period completes (usually within 5-7 business days after the event), Ticketmaster will release the funds to you minus their resale fees.
- The funds are deposited into your chosen payment method on file, such as a bank account, PayPal account, or Ticketmaster “Cash” balance.
So in summary, you will not receive your proceeds from a ticket sale immediately. You can expect to see the money in your account around 5-7 business days after the event takes place.
Why the delay in payment
There are a few reasons Ticketmaster does not pay sellers until after the event:
- Buyer protection: By holding funds until after the event, this protects the buyer if the tickets end up being fraudulent or if the event is cancelled.
- Verification: Ticketmaster waits until after the event to verify it took place and the tickets were valid before releasing funds.
- Reduce fraud: Delayed payments deter fraudulent ticket listings and fake ticket sales on the platform.
So in short, Ticketmaster has put this delayed payment system in place both to protect buyers and minimize fraud risk on their marketplace.
Fees deducted from your payout
When you do receive your payout from Ticketmaster after an event, they will deduct their reseller fees from the amount:
- 20% seller fee – Ticketmaster charges this fee to the seller on the total ticket resale price.
- 10% buyer fee – The buyer actually pays this fee on top of the ticket price.
- $6 per order – A standard order processing fee.
For example, if you sold a ticket for $100, Ticketmaster would deduct $28 in fees from your payout:
- 20% seller fee: $20 deducted
- 10% buyer fee: $10 (paid by buyer, you still receive)
- $6 order processing fee
So your net payout would be $100 – $28 = $72 for that ticket.
How long does a Ticketmaster payment take to process?
Typically you can expect to receive your payment from Ticketmaster within 5-7 business days after an event takes place. However, here are some factors that can affect the timing:
Factor | Impact on Payment Timing |
---|---|
Holidays or weekends | Payments may take 1-2 extra days if event occurs right before a holiday or weekend. |
High volume events | Major concerts or playoff games with very high ticket sales volume can slightly delay some payments. |
Issues with your payout account | If there are any errors or issues with your chosen payout account on file, this can hold up payment processing. |
But in most cases for normal events, you will receive your Ticketmaster payout in 5-7 business days.
How to get paid faster
While Ticketmaster’s payment timing is fixed, here are some tips to help expedite receiving your payout:
- Check account details – Make sure your payout account and routing details are accurate to avoid delays.
- Link PayPal – PayPal transfers tend to process faster than bank payments.
- Use Ticketmaster Cash – Keeping a balance in your TM Cash account allows instant withdrawals.
Getting help with Ticketmaster payments
If you have waited past the standard 5-7 business days and have not received payment from a Ticketmaster sale, here are some options to help resolve the issue:
- Check your chosen payout account to confirm the funds have not arrived.
- Log into your Ticketmaster Seller Account and look under “Transactions History” to see the payout status.
- Contact Ticketmaster Seller Support via phone or their online form to inquire about the delayed payment – they can look into what is holding up the funds.
- As a last resort, reach out to your bank or payment processor like PayPal for assistance.
Being proactive and communicating with Ticketmaster support is key, as they have insight into pending payments and holds that may be delaying your specific payout.
Does Ticketmaster provide seller payout statements?
Yes, Ticketmaster does provide transaction statements to sellers that break down payout details on resold tickets. There are a couple ways to access your Ticketmaster sales statements:
- Download statements – In your Ticketmaster Seller Account, go to “Transactions History” and use the download statement feature for any period.
- Email statements – Ticketmaster will email monthly statements recapping your sales and payouts if requested.
- View account – Your full history of ticket resales, fees, and payouts is viewable directly in your seller account.
These statements are useful for keeping track of your ticket sales activity and payout details.
Does Ticketmaster report earnings to the IRS?
Yes, Ticketmaster will report your ticket resale earnings to the IRS if you exceed 200 transactions and $20,000 in gross sales in a calendar year. If you reach these thresholds, you will receive a 1099-K form summarizing your sales and fees.
Some key things to note about 1099-Ks from Ticketmaster:
- The gross sales amount on the 1099-K includes the buyer fees that you did not actually receive.
- You will have to deduct seller fees separately on your taxes to determine your true net earnings.
- Even without a 1099-K, you are still responsible for reporting any Ticketmaster earnings to the IRS.
So be sure to factor in any Ticketmaster income when filing your taxes each year and save your statements for documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long after an event do I get my money from Ticketmaster?
You can expect to receive payment around 5-7 business days after the event takes place. Ticketmaster waits to distribute funds until after the event date in order to protect buyers and reduce fraud risk on resale transactions.
What are the fees deducted from my Ticketmaster payout?
Ticketmaster deducts a 20% seller fee, 10% buyer fee, and a $6/order processing fee from your resale proceeds. The buyer fee does not impact your payout – only the 20% seller fee and order fee affect your net income.
What if my Ticketmaster payment is late?
If you have not received your payout within 7-10 business days after an event, reach out to Ticketmaster Seller Support. They can investigate what is holding up your funds and help resolve any payout issues.
How do I see a statement of my Ticketmaster sales?
You can download transaction history statements directly from your Ticketmaster Seller Account. These provide details on your tickets sold, fees deducted, and net payouts.
Will I receive a 1099-K tax form from Ticketmaster?
Only if you exceed $20,000 in gross Ticketmaster sales and 200 transactions in a tax year. You are still responsible for reporting earnings under those thresholds.
Conclusion
Selling tickets through Ticketmaster provides a convenient marketplace to resell event tickets, but it does involve a short waiting period to receive your payout. Funds are held until after the event date to protect buyers and reduce fraud risks. As a seller, you can expect payment around 5-7 business days after an event assuming you have verified your account details.
Be sure to keep detailed records of your Ticketmaster sales, fees deducted, and net income earned for tax reporting purposes. By understanding Ticketmaster’s payout timing and process, you can ensure you get paid for your ticket sales in a timely manner.