Question 1

What are Polar's transaction fees?

Accepted Answer

Polar charges 4% + $0.40 per transaction. This includes Stripe's underlying fees (2.9% + $0.30). Additional fees apply: +1.5% for international cards (non-US) and +0.5% for subscription payments.

Question 2

Does Polar include Stripe fees?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Polar covers Stripe's standard 2.9% + $0.30 fee from their 4% + $0.40 rate. However, Stripe's additional fees for international cards (+1.5%) and subscriptions (+0.5%) are passed through.

Question 3

What is a Merchant of Record?

Accepted Answer

As a Merchant of Record (MoR), Polar handles all payment processing, tax compliance, and legal liability for transactions. They collect and remit VAT/sales tax in 100+ countries on your behalf.

Question 4

How does Polar handle refunds?

Accepted Answer

You can issue full or partial refunds on Polar. However, the initial transaction fees are not refunded since credit card networks charge them regardless. Polar may also issue refunds to reduce chargebacks.

Question 5

What are Polar's dispute/chargeback fees?

Accepted Answer

Disputes cost $15 per dispute regardless of outcome. This fee is charged by underlying credit card networks and PSPs. Polar works to proactively reduce chargeback rates across the platform.

Polar Fee Calculator