Affiliate clawback policy template for SaaS (refunds, chargebacks, cancellations)
An affiliate clawback policy explains what happens to commissions when a customer is refunded, charges back, or cancels. This page is written for SaaS affiliate programs, where recurring revenue, refund windows, and monthly payouts make clawbacks especially important. If you don’t define clawbacks, you’ll end up negotiating them. Use the copy/paste template below to make refunds, cancellations, and commission reversals predictable.
Best default for most SaaS teams: approve commissions after the refund window closes, then deduct any later clawback from the next payout instead of inventing exceptions case by case.
Quick answer
An affiliate clawback policy means refunded, canceled, or charged-back revenue does not stay commissionable. A simple SaaS-friendly default is: approve commissions after the refund window, and if a refund happens after payout, deduct it from the next payout.
- • Default refund window: 30 days
- • Default clawback method: deduct from next payout
- • Default threshold pairing: $50 minimum payout
How clawbacks work in SaaS vs ecommerce
The core rule is the same in both models: if the underlying revenue becomes ineligible, the commission can be reversed. The difference is operational. SaaS programs usually deal with subscription cancellations, refund windows, and recurring commissions. Ecommerce programs more often deal with one-time purchases and return windows.
SaaS default
Approve after the refund window closes, define what happens to canceled subscriptions, and deduct post-payout clawbacks from the next monthly payout.
Ecommerce default
Tie commission eligibility to the product return window and reverse commission when an order is refunded, returned, charged back, or flagged as fraudulent.
When clawbacks apply
- • Refunds inside the refund window
- • Subscription cancellations inside the commission approval window
- • Chargebacks / disputes
- • Duplicate or fraudulent payments
- • Policy violations (e.g., prohibited traffic)
What this prevents
- • “You changed the rules” arguments
- • Surprise negative payouts
- • Disputes about refund timing
- • Founder anxiety about open-ended liability
Copy-paste clawback policy
This is written to be understandable by affiliates and enforceable by founders. Customize the bracketed fields.
1) Definitions
“Commission” means the affiliate fee earned on an eligible customer payment. “Clawback” means reversing or deducting a commission when the underlying payment becomes ineligible.
2) Eligibility & refund window
Commissions are only eligible after the refund window closes (default: [30] days). Refunded payments do not earn commission.
3) Chargebacks & disputes
If a payment is disputed, charged back, or deemed fraudulent, the associated commission is ineligible and may be clawed back.
4) How clawbacks are applied
If a commission is clawed back after it was already paid, we may deduct the clawback amount from your next payout. If your balance becomes negative, we may carry it forward and offset against future earned commissions.
5) Payout timing & threshold
Payouts are processed on [monthly] cycles. We pay out approved balances once your approved balance reaches the minimum threshold (default: [$50]).
6) Dispute process
If you believe a clawback was applied in error, contact us within [14] days with relevant details. We may request order identifiers or payment references to verify the underlying event.
Make the policy operational (not just legal)
Policies work when the numbers match reality. If you track revenue in Stripe, the cleanest workflow is: approve after the refund window, export a payout report, then pay affiliates.
Common examples
Refund inside 30 days
Commission is canceled before approval. Nothing gets paid out.
Refund after payout
Deduct the previously paid commission from the affiliate’s next payout cycle.
Chargeback or fraud
Treat it as ineligible revenue and reverse the commission under the same clawback rule.
SaaS cancellation after first invoice
If the customer cancels and receives a refund inside your stated refund window, the commission stays ineligible. If the subscription remains paid past the approval window, the commission can be approved under normal payout rules.
Related payout ops guides
Clawbacks are easiest to explain when they sit inside a complete payout policy. These pages help connect refunds, thresholds, and payout timing into one system.
FAQ
What is an affiliate clawback?
A clawback is when you reverse or deduct previously-approved affiliate commission because the underlying customer payment became ineligible (refund, chargeback, cancellation inside the refund window, fraud).
Should refunded orders earn commission?
Most SaaS programs say no: refunded payments do not earn commission. The simplest approach is to only approve commissions after your refund window closes.
How do clawbacks work if I already paid the affiliate?
The common policy is to deduct the clawed-back amount from the next payout. If the balance becomes negative, you can carry it forward until it is offset by future earnings.
Do I need a separate policy if I use Stripe?
You still need policy language, but Stripe makes the underlying events explicit (refunds/chargebacks). TinyAffiliate focuses on tracking Stripe-attributed revenue and exporting clean payout reports.
Is this only for ecommerce affiliate programs?
No. This template works best for SaaS affiliate programs where refunds, cancellations, and recurring commission timing create payout disputes. Ecommerce programs can adapt it, but the default examples here are written with SaaS in mind.