Before in-app purchases load in the sandbox, work in App Review or earn you money, three things in Business in App Store Connect have to be done: the Paid Apps Agreement signed by the Account Holder and showing Active, the tax forms submitted, and a bank account added. Apple's technote on sandbox product loading says the banking and tax information are complete when their sections show an Active status too. Do them in that order: Apple says you sign the agreement before you can submit tax forms, and that the tax forms must be in before Apple can process banking. Then, to be paid, you also need to pass the minimum payment threshold; Apple pays within 45 days of the end of the fiscal month. Once these are done, the in-app purchase setup checker covers the product-side setup.
Why it matters
- Paid apps and in-app purchases. Apple: the Paid Apps Agreement "must be active in order for you to submit or update paid apps and In-App Purchases." When a newer version is waiting, "you won't be able to create a new app or In-App Purchase until you've agreed to the most recent version."
- Testing. Apple's in-app purchase overview: "The agreement must be Active to test In-App Purchases in the sandbox environment." Apple's technote TN3186 lists a missing Paid Apps Agreement and "incomplete or outdated banking or tax information" among the reasons products don't load in the sandbox. If your products come back empty, see StoreKit returning no products in TestFlight or App Review.
- App Review. Apple's App Review help: "Paid In-App Purchases won't function in review until this agreement is active."
- Payouts. Apple pays only if you have a Paid Apps Agreement in effect, banking information on file, earnings above the minimum payment threshold, and any monthly invoicing requirements for your country or region complete.
Free apps don't need it: Apple says joining the Apple Developer Program lets you distribute free apps under the Apple Developer Program License Agreement.
Who can do each step
| Step | Who can do it (Apple's help pages) |
|---|---|
| Sign or accept the Paid Apps Agreement, including new versions and renewals | Account Holder only |
| View agreement status, download a copy | Account Holder, Admin or Finance |
| Submit tax forms | Account Holder, Admin or Finance |
| Add or change a bank account | Account Holder, Admin or Finance; changes made by an Admin or Finance user need the Account Holder's approval |
| View payments and proceeds | Account Holder, Admin or Finance |
Apple's role page describes the Account Holder as "the only user that can sign legal agreements". TN3186 phrases the tax and banking step as something "your Account Holder needs to" do, while the tax and banking help pages also list Admin and Finance. If you are an individual developer, you are the Account Holder and do all of it.
The checklist
- Sign the Paid Apps Agreement. In Business, on the Agreements tab, find the Paid Apps row and click View and Agree to Terms. You may be asked for a two-factor authentication code. Read, then click Agree. Apple notes you can't undo accepting it.
- Submit the tax forms. On the same tab, in Tax Forms, click Add Tax Info next to the form. If none appears, click (+) next to Tax Forms, choose Paid Apps and the form. Which forms appear depends on where your developer account is based:
- US-based: a W-9, with an SSN or ITIN for individuals, or an EIN for businesses.
- Outside the US: usually a W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or W-8ECI; App Store Connect asks questions to choose the right one.
- Some countries and regions have extra items, for example an ABN in Australia, a GST/HST number in Canada, or a business registration number in South Korea. Apple's tax page lists them.
Apple says many tax submissions can't be changed in App Store Connect afterwards and need contacting Apple, so check before you click Submit.
- Add the bank account. In Bank Accounts, click Add Bank Account, choose the bank's country or region, the account currency and type, the account number (and IBAN where used), then the account holder details. Apple's rules:
- Enter the account holder details exactly as they appear on the bank account, or the payment may be rejected.
- Give your bank's own details, not an intermediary or correspondent bank.
- Keep leading zeros in the account number, and don't put an IBAN in the account number field.
- You can receive payments at only one bank.
- If an Admin or Finance user added the bank account, approve it. The change shows as Pending until the Account Holder uses Review Changes. Apple processes approved changes within 24 hours; changes not approved within 30 days are dropped.
- Wait for Active, then test. Check the status in Business (next section). After the agreement is Active, Apple says in-app purchase edits can take up to an hour to appear in the sandbox.
Apple does not publish how long the Processing status usually lasts.
How to check: the statuses
Agreement statuses, from Apple's "View agreements status" page:
| Status | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| New | Not signed. | Account Holder signs it. |
| Pending User Info | Signed, but required information is missing. | Finish tax and banking. |
| Processing | Everything provided; Apple is reviewing. | Wait. |
| Verifying | Apple is reviewing new legal entity details. | Wait. |
| Active | In effect. | Nothing. |
| Active (Pending User) | In effect, but required information is missing. | Finish what is missing. |
| Active (New Agreement Available) | A newer version is waiting. | Account Holder accepts it. |
| Pending (New Legal Entity) | Your legal entity changed; a new contract is needed. | Account Holder signs it. |
| Pending (Update Legal Entity) | Your legal entity changed; new banking or tax forms are needed. | Submit them. |
| Pending (New Agreement Available) | A newer version of a pending agreement is waiting. | Account Holder accepts it. |
| Expired | The agreement expired. | Renew it. |
| Disabled | Your app is removed from the App Store until you provide the required information and Apple accepts it. | Provide it. |
For tax and banking, TN3186 says they are complete when the Tax Forms and Bank Accounts sections show Active. Apple's tax page shows Missing Tax Info for forms you haven't completed. A bank change waiting for approval shows Pending, and only an account marked Not In Use can be removed.
When the money arrives
- Apple pays "within 45 days of the last day of the fiscal month in which the transaction was completed", to the primary bank account on file when the payment is processed. Apple's fiscal month may not match the calendar month.
- Each bank country or region and currency has a minimum payment threshold; pairs not in Apple's table must exceed 40 USD. Until it is reached, Payments and Financial Reports shows Balance Carried Forward and the proceeds move to the next period.
- If a payment is returned, an alert explains why; Apple says to fix the banking details, and payments should resume within two regularly scheduled payment cycles.
- Tax form edits made before the end of the fiscal month apply to that month's earnings; later edits apply to the next month.
FAQ
My Admin set everything up but the agreement is still not Active. Why?
Only the Account Holder can sign the agreement, and bank changes by an Admin or Finance user stay Pending until the Account Holder approves them. Check the agreement row and the Bank Accounts section for a Pending item.
I renewed my membership and in-app purchases stopped loading. What happened?
Apple says that after renewing, the Account Holder must agree to the Paid Apps Agreement again, and TN3186 adds checking whether tax and banking need to be updated too. Look for an Expired or New status in Business.
Do I need the Paid Apps Agreement for a free app with no in-app purchases?
No. Apple says free apps are distributed under the Apple Developer Program License Agreement. You need it for paid apps and in-app purchases.
Can my products load in the sandbox while the status is Processing?
Apple's in-app purchase overview says the agreement must be Active to test in the sandbox. Apple doesn't say anything specific about Processing, so treat it as not ready.
Can I split payments between two bank accounts?
No. Apple says payments go to the primary account on file and that payments to multiple or split bank accounts aren't supported.
Sources
All read on 1 November 2026.
- Sign and update agreements, App Store Connect Help
- View agreements status, App Store Connect Help
- Provide tax information, App Store Connect Help
- Enter banking information, App Store Connect Help
- Overview of receiving payments, App Store Connect Help
- View payments and proceeds, App Store Connect Help
- Minimum payment threshold, App Store Connect Help
- Role permissions, App Store Connect Help
- Overview for configuring In-App Purchases, App Store Connect Help
- Configure In-App Purchases for review in the sandbox, App Review Help
- TN3186: Troubleshooting In-App Purchases availability in the sandbox, Apple Developer Documentation
Apple's statuses, forms and payment rules change; check the pages above for current details.