You can sell art and get paid without a bank account, but the money has to go somewhere
If you create art and want to sell it, you do not need a traditional bank account to receive payment. Payment platforms, digital wallets, and cash-based methods all exist specifically for people without banks. The constraint is not whether you can get paid — it is that every payment method has a different cost, speed, and paper trail, and you need to pick one before you start selling.
The most practical routes are payment apps that work without a bank account (PayPal, Square Cash, Stripe), prepaid debit cards that you load money onto, and cash transactions if you sell in person. Each one handles the money differently: some hold it temporarily, some charge fees to withdraw, some require a Social Security number, and some do not. Your choice depends on where you are selling (online or in person), how often you sell, and whether you want a record of the transactions.
Key Takeaways
- PayPal, Square Cash, and Stripe can receive payments for art sales without requiring a linked bank account, though they may hold the money temporarily or charge withdrawal fees.
- Prepaid debit cards let you load money onto a physical card and spend it like a bank debit card, but you pay fees to load money and sometimes to check your balance.
- Cash sales in person avoid fees and digital platforms entirely, but you have no record of the transaction and no protection if a buyer disputes the sale.
- Most payment platforms require a Social Security number or tax ID to process sales above a certain threshold, even without a bank account.
- If you sell regularly, the fees from payment apps and prepaid cards add up quickly — a 2.9% platform fee plus a $0.30 transaction fee on a $100 sale costs $3.20.
Payment apps that accept art sales without a bank account
PayPal is the oldest and most widely recognized. You create an account with an email address and can receive payments from buyers. PayPal holds the money in your PayPal balance, which you can then withdraw to a bank account, transfer to another PayPal user, or request as a check. If you do not have a bank account, you can request a check, but PayPal charges $1.50 per check and the check takes 5 to 7 business days to arrive. You can also use PayPal's Cash Card, a prepaid debit card linked to your PayPal balance, to spend the money directly.
Square Cash (now called Cash App) works similarly but is designed more for peer-to-peer transfers. You can receive payments from buyers, but the platform is less common for business transactions than PayPal. Money lands in your Cash App balance, and you can transfer it to a linked bank account, request a Cash Card (a prepaid debit card), or keep it in the app. Cash App charges 1.5% plus $0.15 per transaction if you receive a payment as a business, and there is no fee to transfer to a Cash Card.
Stripe is designed for online sellers and creators. It charges 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction, which is higher than some competitors, but it integrates with many art platforms and websites. Stripe requires a bank account to withdraw money, so this route only works if you are willing to open one eventually or use a prepaid card as your withdrawal method.
All three platforms require a Social Security number or tax ID if you receive more than $600 in a calendar year (this is a federal reporting requirement, not a platform rule). They also all hold money temporarily — usually 1 to 3 business days — before it is available to you.
Prepaid debit cards as a holding place for art sales money
A prepaid debit card is a physical card you load money onto, and it works like a bank debit card at stores and ATMs. You do not need a bank account to get one. Many prepaid cards let you receive direct deposits or transfers from payment apps, so you can have PayPal or Square Cash send money directly to the card instead of holding it in an app balance.
The catch is fees. Most prepaid cards charge a monthly maintenance fee ($5 to $10), a fee to load money onto the card ($1 to $3 per load), a fee to check your balance at an ATM ($1 to $2), and a fee to withdraw cash at an ATM that is not in the card's network ($2 to $3). If you sell art regularly and withdraw money frequently, these fees compound. A $100 sale might cost you $5 to $8 in fees by the time you have the cash in your hand.
Some prepaid cards are better than others. NetSpend, Walmart MoneyCard, and Green Dot are widely available and have lower fees than some competitors, but you should compare the specific fees before you choose one. Read the fee schedule carefully — some cards waive the monthly fee if you load money every month, and some offer free ATM withdrawals at certain networks.
Selling art in person for cash
If you sell art at markets, galleries, or directly to buyers, cash is the simplest option. There are no fees, no platforms, and no waiting for money to clear. The buyer hands you cash and you have the money when ready.
The downside is that you have no record of the transaction. If a buyer later claims they never received the art or that it was damaged, you have no proof of the sale. You also have no protection if someone pays with counterfeit cash (though this is rare). For tax purposes, you are responsible for keeping your own records of cash sales — the IRS expects you to report all income, whether it is in a bank account or not.
If you sell regularly in cash, keep a straightforward notebook or spreadsheet with the date, what you sold, the price, and the buyer's name if you have it. This record protects you if the IRS ever asks questions about your income, and it helps you track which pieces sell and at what price.
Selling through platforms that handle payment for you
Some art platforms — Etsy, Shopify, Big Cartel, and Printful — collect payment from buyers and then pay you. These platforms require a bank account to withdraw your earnings, so they do not work if you have no bank account at all. However, if you are planning to open a bank account anyway, these platforms often have lower fees than payment apps and better buyer protection.
If you do not want to open a bank account, you can use these platforms to sell art, but you will need to withdraw your earnings through a payment app or prepaid card. For example, you could set up Etsy to pay into a PayPal account, then transfer from PayPal to a prepaid card. This adds an extra step and sometimes an extra fee, but it works.
Tax reporting without a bank account
The IRS requires you to report all income, whether you receive it in cash, through an app, or any other way. If you sell art regularly — even if it is just a side income — you are expected to report it on your tax return.
If you receive more than $600 through a payment platform in a calendar year, the platform sends you a Form 1099-K (or sometimes a 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC, depending on the platform). This form goes to the IRS, and you need to report the same amount on your tax return. If you receive cash or sell through multiple small platforms, you do not get a 1099 form, but you still owe taxes on the income.
Keep records of all your sales — dates, amounts, what you sold, and how you were paid. If you use a payment app, read your transaction history regularly and save it. If you sell cash, keep that notebook. These records are what you need if the IRS ever asks questions, and they also help you understand your own business.
Comparing costs across payment methods
| Method | Setup Cost | Per-Transaction Cost | Withdrawal Cost | Time to Access Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PayPal | Free | 2.9% + $0.30 | $1.50 per check, or free to PayPal Cash Card | 5–7 days for check; 1–3 days for card |
| Square Cash | Free | 1.5% + $0.15 (business) | Free to Cash Card | 1–3 days |
| Stripe | Free | 2.9% + $0.30 | Requires bank account | 1–3 days |
| Prepaid Card | $0–$10 | None (if funded via app) | $1–$3 per load; $1–$3 per ATM withdrawal | when ready (once loaded) |
| Cash (in person) | Free | None | None | when ready |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Social Security number to sell art online?
Most payment platforms do not require a Social Security number to set up an account, but they do require one if you receive more than $600 in a calendar year. This is a federal reporting requirement, not a platform rule. If you do not have a Social Security number, you can use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead.
What happens if I sell art and do not report the income?
If you receive a 1099 form from a payment platform, the IRS receives a copy too. If your tax return does not match, the IRS will contact you. Even if you do not receive a 1099, you are legally required to report all income. Selling art is a business activity, and income from a business is taxable income.
Can I use someone else's bank account to receive art sales payments?
Technically, payment platforms allow it, but it creates legal and practical problems. The account holder is responsible for the money and the taxes, and if there is a dispute, the platform will contact them, not you. If you and the account holder later disagree about the money, you have no legal claim to it. It is better to open your own account or use a payment method in your own name.
Which payment method has the lowest fees?
Cash sales in person have zero fees, but no record. Square Cash has the lowest platform fees at 1.5% plus $0.15 per transaction for business payments. PayPal and Stripe both charge 2.9% plus $0.30. Prepaid cards have no transaction fees but charge fees to load and withdraw money, so the total cost depends on how often you move money.
Can I switch payment methods later if I change my mind?
Yes. You can set up multiple payment methods and direct different buyers to different ones. You can also change where a platform sends your money — for example, you can tell PayPal to send future earnings to a prepaid card instead of a check. The only constraint is that you cannot move money that is already in a platform without withdrawing it first.