Roblox DevEx tax change on 1 November 2026: the dates, the forms and what it means for your payout
Roblox has told creators that DevEx payments will be classified as royalties from 1 November 2026, and that US tax may be withheld depending on the tax information on file. The official recommended deadline to request a payout under the old terms is 15 October 2026, and the tax paperwork cut-off is 31 October. This guide sets out what Roblox has published, what it means for different creators, and what is still unclear. It is not tax advice, and Roblox itself says it does not provide tax advice.
The dates that matter
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 15 July 2026 | The Taxes page became available in Creator Hub. DevEx payments carried on through Tipalti with no change. |
| 15 October 2026 | Roblox's recommended deadline to request a DevEx payout before the Terms of Use update. |
| 31 October 2026 | Last day under the current Terms. Tax information submitted by this date sets the withholding rate on your first payouts from 1 November. |
| 1 November 2026 | The updated Terms take effect. DevEx payments are classified as royalties and US withholding may apply. |
What changes and what does not
Payouts still go through Tipalti and you do not need a new Tipalti account. The change is in the paperwork and the tax treatment. Tax information moves from Tipalti to the Taxes page in Creator Hub, which becomes the record for your W-9 or W-8 form, including any tax treaty claim. US withholding is calculated by Roblox before each payout, and Tipalti receives only the net amount.
The DevEx rates themselves are not part of this change. The standard rate is still $0.0038 per earned Robux, with the legacy and US 18+ rates covered in our DevEx guide.
If you are a US creator
With a valid Form W-9 on file, Roblox states US withholding is not required. Roblox checks your taxpayer identification number with the IRS, and if that check fails the form is treated as invalid.
If you do not give all the required information, give an invalid number, or receive an IRS B-Notice, 24% backup withholding applies. For most US creators the practical step is to make sure the W-9 in Creator Hub is complete and validates.
If you are outside the US
Non-US individuals submit a Form W-8BEN, and businesses a W-8BEN-E. With valid information submitted by 31 October, Roblox says 0% to 30% US withholding applies to DevEx payments related to sales to US players, depending on your country of residence and whether a tax treaty is successfully claimed.
To claim a reduced treaty rate the form must be valid and complete, include a taxpayer identification number where required, and list a citizenship or incorporation country that matches your country of permanent residence. If you submit no valid information by 31 October, 24% US backup withholding may apply to your full payout.
Roblox says withholding may apply only to the US-sourced portion of your earnings, which generally means purchases by US players. How that portion is measured is not fully explained, and creators on the Roblox Developer Forum are asking exactly that. Treat any specific effective rate you read elsewhere as unconfirmed until Roblox publishes the method.
What to do this month
- Open the Taxes page in Creator Hub and check your W-9 or W-8 is complete and validated.
- If you were planning to cash out soon, consider requesting before 15 October, as Roblox recommends. Requests are reviewed and cannot be cancelled, and you can only make one completed request a month, so do not rush it if you are not ready.
- Check your Tipalti payout method still works.
- If your situation is complicated, such as a business, several countries or a treaty claim, speak to a tax adviser.
How to think about it in the calculator
The GamerKit calculator already lets you apply a tax rate to your payout. After 1 November, use it as a worst-case test: set it to 0% for a US creator with a valid W-9, and to 30% as the upper end for a non-US creator who cannot claim a treaty reduction. The real figure sits somewhere in that range, and your adviser can tell you where.
FAQ
When does the Roblox DevEx tax change start?
1 November 2026. Tax information submitted in Creator Hub by 31 October determines the withholding rate on your first payouts. Roblox recommends requesting any payout you want under the old terms by 15 October.
Will Roblox withhold tax from my DevEx payment?
It depends on your tax information. US creators with a valid W-9 are not subject to US withholding. Non-US creators with a valid W-8 may see 0% to 30% on the US-sourced portion. Missing or invalid information can trigger 24% backup withholding.
Does the DevEx rate change on 1 November?
No. The rates are separate from the tax change. The standard rate is $0.0038 per earned Robux.
Is this tax advice?
No. This guide summarises Roblox's published documentation. Roblox does not provide tax advice either, so speak to a qualified adviser about your own situation.