- Egypt shows up on three Patreon lists
- Egyptian pounds straight into your bank
- PayPal in Egypt: the wait for the local bank
- VAT at 14%, and what it does to your fans' bill
- The W-8BEN and Egypt's place on the US treaty list
- Pricing in dollars and the cost of each fan payment
- Holds, limits and timing
- Frequently asked questions
Egyptian creators can be paid by Patreon in two main ways. Patreon lists Egypt for a bank transfer in Egyptian pounds and also names Egypt in its PayPal supported countries article. The catch is speed and tax: PayPal says a transfer to a local bank in Egypt may take up to 7 business days, and Patreon's table shows VAT at 14%.
Egypt appears on more of Patreon's lists than you might expect, which is good news if you're a creator in Cairo, Alexandria or anywhere else in the country. It also means you have decisions to make. I've read Patreon's help pages and PayPal's Egypt page to lay out what each route involves, and I've left out anything the pages don't state.
Egypt shows up on three Patreon lists
In Patreon's payout guide, Egypt is in the table of countries for bank transfers from US dollars to local currency, with the currency shown as EGP. In Patreon's PayPal supported countries article, Egypt appears in the Middle East and Africa section. And in Patreon's sales tax and VAT table, Egypt appears with VAT at 14%.
Few countries appear in all three, so Egypt's position is good. The practical effect is that a creator there can pick between a direct pound bank payout and PayPal, with Payoneer Wallet as a third option Patreon offers in every country on its bank list.
Egyptian pounds straight into your bank
The bank payout from a US dollar balance costs 0.25 US dollars plus a 1.55% conversion fee per payout, with a 10 US dollar minimum. Patreon says it adds no other conversion fee and that the exact rate may vary slightly depending on when the withdrawal is processed, since exchange rates change through the day.
The Egyptian pound uses the code EGP and is divided into 100 piastres. To register, Patreon says you only need your bank details: the account number and the name on the account. It doesn't support special characters in names, so stick to letters and numbers.
PayPal in Egypt: the wait for the local bank
Patreon's PayPal payout for US dollar earnings costs 1% of the amount, minimum 0.25 US dollars, capped at 20 US dollars, with a 10 US dollar minimum. After that, you still have to get the money from PayPal into a bank, and that is where Egypt differs.
PayPal's Arabic setup and withdraw page says a transfer to the local bank account for users in Egypt may take up to 7 business days. The same page says some PayPal services in some countries are available only for cross-border transactions, and that receiving money requires linking your account to a licensed local partner. I cover the account side in my guide to PayPal in Egypt, and Wise in Egypt looks at another way to receive foreign money.
VAT at 14%, and what it does to your fans' bill
Patreon collects VAT or GST on some payments in places with rules for non-resident suppliers of digital services. The table lists Egypt with VAT at 14%. Patreon says what's taxed depends on the benefit, where the parties are and how the goods or services flow. The tax is charged on top of the fan's payment, so don't count it as earnings.
The W-8BEN and Egypt's place on the US treaty list
Patreon says all creators who aren't US citizens must submit a W-8BEN, or W-8BEN-E for companies, in order to pay out. It's under Settings, Payouts and Taxes, then Tax settings. The IRS list of United States income tax treaties includes Egypt, and the form asks whether you're claiming treaty benefits.
Whether a treaty claim fits your case is a question for an Egyptian accountant. I'm not offering tax advice.
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| What I checked | What the sources say for Egypt |
|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Listed, with EGP as the currency |
| PayPal supported list | Egypt is named |
| Bank payout cost | 0.25 US dollars plus 1.55% per payout |
| VAT on fan payments | 14% |
| PayPal to local bank | May take up to 7 business days |
| US treaty list | Egypt is on the IRS list |
Pricing in dollars and the cost of each fan payment
For creators paid in US dollars, Patreon's processing rate is 2.9% plus 0.30 US dollars for a card or Apple Pay payment, and 3.9% plus 0.30 US dollars when a non-US member pays by PayPal. The table for other payout currencies lists EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, DKK, NOK, SEK, CZK, HKD, HUF, NZD, PLN and SGD. EGP isn't there, so tiers are priced in dollars.
A 2.5% conversion fee applies to member payments when your payout currency differs from what the fan pays in, and a US dollar payout currency avoids it for fans paying in dollars. For a wider view of the costs, Patreon alternatives compares other membership platforms.
Holds, limits and timing
Whenever you add or change a payout method, Patreon puts a 5-day hold on your balance. A payout then typically takes 1-5 days, and you can start one every 24 hours. Payoneer Wallet costs 1.00 US dollars per payout with a 25 US dollar minimum. For most bank transfers Patreon sets no payout limit, though your bank or processor may. Ask your bank before a big withdrawal.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get Patreon money into an Egyptian bank account?
Patreon's payout guide lists Egypt for a bank transfer from US dollars to local currency, with EGP as the currency.
Does Patreon support PayPal in Egypt?
Yes, Patreon's PayPal supported countries article lists Egypt in the Middle East and Africa section.
How long does PayPal take to reach an Egyptian bank?
PayPal's Arabic setup and withdraw page says a transfer to the local bank account for users in Egypt may take up to 7 business days.
Does Patreon charge VAT in Egypt?
Patreon's tax table lists Egypt with VAT at 14%, depending on the benefit and the parties involved. It's charged on top of the fan's payment.
Do Egyptian creators need a W-8BEN?
Yes. Patreon says all creators who aren't US citizens must submit a W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E in order to pay out. Egypt is on the IRS list of United States income tax treaties.
