KYC, Taxes, and Compliance
23 answered questions
KYC, Taxes, and Compliance
Identity checks before your first payout, W-9 for US taxpayers and W-8BEN for everyone else, and how reporting follows what you actually receive.
KYC
Why do I need to complete KYC before a payout?
We confirm who you are before any money leaves, both to protect you and to shut out fraud.
When do I need to complete KYC?
Ahead of your first payout. Now and then we ask sooner, such as before certain purchases or account changes.
What do I need for KYC?
Three photos: the front of a valid government-issued photo ID, the back of that same ID, and a selfie of yourself. Each must be a clear JPEG, PNG, or WebP. You do it right in the payout flow the first time you request, so there is no separate page to visit.
How long does KYC take?
A few minutes for most people. Checks routed to manual review take longer.
Can I keep trading if my KYC is not completed yet?
Yes, you can keep trading. Payouts and a few account actions stay blocked until verification is finished.
Why am I being asked to verify again?
Usually because the first attempt was unclear or something in your details changed.
My identity verification failed. What should I do?
Retry in good light with a sharp camera and an ID that has not expired. If it still will not pass, support can take a look.
Taxes and forms
What tax form do I need to complete?
W-9 if you are a US taxpayer. W-8BEN or the local equivalent if you are not.
Will I receive a 1099?
US taxpayers who collect $600 or more in payouts during a calendar year may get a Form 1099-NEC, normally issued by Jan 31 of the following year.
I am not a US taxpayer. Will I get a 1099?
Generally not. US 1099 forms are typically limited to US taxpayers.
Is the 1099 amount gross or net of payout fees?
Where payout fees apply, the form may show the gross figure. For filing questions, a tax professional is the right call.
I think I should have received a 1099 but I did not. What should I do?
Look in spam first. If you cleared the threshold and it is genuinely missing, write to support.
Will I get tax forms for funded payouts too?
Yes. Reporting follows the payouts you actually receive, no matter the phase.
Am I an employee of Strix Options?
No. There is no employment relationship between traders and Strix.
How should I report my earnings?
As a general matter, payouts you receive are income. Strix cannot give tax advice, so lean on a professional for specifics.
Do you withhold taxes from payouts?
As a rule, no. Where the law requires withholding, we comply.
Where are KYC and tax requirements defined?
The Terms page covers both.
AML and compliance
What is your AML and CTF policy?
We operate an AML and Counter-Terrorism Financing program with KYC, ongoing transaction review, PEP and sanctions screening, and recordkeeping. See the Privacy Policy for related vendor and data details.
Do you screen against sanctions lists?
Yes. We screen against major sanctions lists and politically exposed persons databases. Hits are reviewed before payouts.
Are there countries you do not accept traders from?
Yes. Checkout is closed to Afghanistan, Belarus, the Central African Republic, Cuba, both Congos, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), North Korea, Palestine, Russia, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen — the same list the Terms of Service give for where rewards cannot be sent, because our banking partner cannot pay a reward into any of them. Everywhere else is open, and KYC verification will flag a restricted location.
Can everyone reach the Live stage?
The Evaluation and Funded stages are simulated and open to every country we sell to. The Live stage is different: it is discretionary, never sold, and is the only stage that uses a real Interactive Brokers account. Interactive Brokers does not open accounts for residents of a small number of countries we do sell evaluations to, so a trader living in Burundi, Libya, Nauru, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, or Zimbabwe could not be onboarded to Live even if invited. That affects no Evaluation or Funded account and no reward eligibility at those stages. Very few traders ever reach Live.
Can I trade through a business entity rather than as an individual?
The program is designed for individual traders. Entity-based participation is not standard. Contact support if you have a specific structural question.
Can multiple traders share one payment method?
Each trader account must use a unique identity for KYC and payout. Sharing payment cards across distinct trader accounts is flagged by our payment risk controls.