On May 1, clients can now see the estimated tax amount under offer details on Any Hire prior to sending the offer to freelancers. By providing visibility of estimated tax amounts, we aim to enhance transparency and reduce confusion about applicable taxes to clients’ Any Hire offers.

In the previou

On May 1, clients can now see the estimated tax amount under offer details on Any Hire prior to sending the offer to freelancers. By providing visibility of estimated tax amounts, we aim to enhance transparency and reduce confusion about applicable taxes to clients’ Any Hire offers.

In the previous experience, clients saw a preview of estimated monthly costs without tax before sending an Any Hire offer. Now, a line for Estimated taxes appears below Processing fee, proving a more accurate estimated total cost for a contract.

Interested in learning more about Any Hire? Check out our article Getting Started on Any Hire. To share feedback or ask questions, join the Community discussion.

On April 21, we launched a three-week test that reorders the steps on the Post a job and invite page, aiming to create a simplified posting experience for clients.

In the current experience, clients first see an option to include a private message to a freelancer, which is followed by writing a

On April 21, we launched a three-week test that reorders the steps on the Post a job and invite page, aiming to create a simplified posting experience for clients.

In the current experience, clients first see an option to include a private message to a freelancer, which is followed by writing a title and description for their job post.

In the new experience, a small percentage of clients first see a banner that says, “Share your job with [freelancer name] and other qualified talent.” The banner clarifies that the job will be posted on Upwork, and it includes the new wording Share job on the posting button.

Underneath the banner, Title is changed to Job title to specify its connection to the job description. Writing a private message to a freelancer is now at the bottom of the page, emphasizing that the action is optional.

To share feedback or ask questions, join the Community discussion.

We recently launched an enhancement to an existing feature that allows clients to download a CSV file of all their contracts. Clients with previous or ongoing contracts can access new fields on the downloadable CSV file, including:

• Email of Contact Person
• Hired By
• Email (Hired By)

More fields wi

We recently launched an enhancement to an existing feature that allows clients to download a CSV file of all their contracts. Clients with previous or ongoing contracts can access new fields on the downloadable CSV file, including:

• Email of Contact Person
• Hired By
• Email (Hired By)

More fields will be added to the CSV file in mid-May, including:

• Offer Sent Date
• Offer Accepted Date
• Contract Start Date
• Target End Date
• Actual End Date

Clients can access the CSV file on the right side of the All Contracts page.

To share feedback or ask questions, join the Community discussion.

Upwork is required to comply with the tax laws of the countries where we do business, including collecting taxes and remitting them—which means sending the money we collect from you to the tax authority of the government that requires the tax.

To remain compliant, Upwork will begin charging value-

Upwork is required to comply with the tax laws of the countries where we do business, including collecting taxes and remitting them—which means sending the money we collect from you to the tax authority of the government that requires the tax.

To remain compliant, Upwork will begin charging value-added tax (VAT) at the end of April 2023. VAT impacts freelancers and clients in these countries:

• Kenya
• Nigeria
• Serbia
• South Africa
• Switzerland

Upwork will also begin charging this tax in Malaysia where it is called sales and services tax (SST).

VAT/SST applies to many digital service purchases that Upwork supplies, such as the purchase of Connects, service fees, and membership fees.

As an optional step, if you have a VAT/SST ID and would like to see it displayed on your invoices, go to your Tax Information page within settings to update your VAT/SST ID. Please note that your VAT/SST ID is different from your tax identification number. If you do not have a VAT/SST ID, there will be a place to acknowledge that on the Tax Information page.

Interested to learn more about how taxes may impact you on Upwork? Check out our tax FAQs for freelancers and clients, or contact your local tax advisor.

Disclaimer: The tax-related information in this article is meant for general information only and should not be considered tax advice. This article may not be updated in real time and may not reflect recent changes. We strongly encourage you to consult your country’s tax authority or tax advisor with questions about your specific situation.

Starting on March 28, a small percentage of visitors browsing the Find Talent pages will see visuals and a brief description of what they can expect if they hire on Upwork. The aim of this four-week test is to guide visitors on how to navigate their hiring needs on the platform.

In the current

Starting on March 28, a small percentage of visitors browsing the Find Talent pages will see visuals and a brief description of what they can expect if they hire on Upwork. The aim of this four-week test is to guide visitors on how to navigate their hiring needs on the platform.

In the current experience, visitors scroll through rows of freelancers before seeing the section How it Works at the bottom of the page. Now, some visitors will see one row of freelancers above straightforward content with visuals that showcase how Upwork works.

Visitors can continue scrolling to see more freelancers and read a detailed description of best hiring practices on Upwork at the bottom of the page.

To share feedback or ask questions, join the Community discussion.

• Catalog homepage with a carousel of Consultations categories and description of how Consultations work
• New Consultations category pages, browsable in Development & IT and Marketing categories, which also include a new Consultations tile
• Catalog search with a new row of Consultations that relate to search keywords

On March 20, we launched a new test feature to help clients searching for freelancers more easily view the information that’s most critical to them. In this test, a small percentage of clients see summarized search results of freelancers’ profiles.

In the current experience, clients are introdu

On March 20, we launched a new test feature to help clients searching for freelancers more easily view the information that’s most critical to them. In this test, a small percentage of clients see summarized search results of freelancers’ profiles.

In the current experience, clients are introduced to freelancers by seeing up to 16 pieces of information from their profiles in search results. Clients scan this information to determine if the freelancers’ services match what they need; however, we found that clients can become overwhelmed and confused with the amount of data in the search results. 

We heard from clients that they only need three pieces of information to determine if freelancers can provide high-quality services that match their needs. During testing, 5% of clients now see a simplified search result that includes a freelancer’s hourly rate, number of completed jobs, and Job Success Score.

“The results of this test will set the foundation for additional improvements we have planned for 2023. Ultimately, our goal is to make searching on Upwork as simple, intuitive, and effective as possible,” shares Product Marketing Manager Yvonne V.

To share feedback or ask questions, join the Community discussion.

Starting March 20, some freelancers will now benefit from the integration of Grammarly, a grammar and spelling typing assistant, as they write proposal cover letters on Upwork. This three-week test aims to support freelancers in crafting high-quality cover letters to win new jobs.

On the Submit

Starting March 20, some freelancers will now benefit from the integration of Grammarly, a grammar and spelling typing assistant, as they write proposal cover letters on Upwork. This three-week test aims to support freelancers in crafting high-quality cover letters to win new jobs.

On the Submit a Proposal page, freelancers will notice Grammarly’s grammar and spelling suggestions as they type their cover letters. Freelancers can accept or dismiss Grammarly’s suggestions. 

"Our goal is to create conditions that will enable qualified freelancers to win work and help them build up reputations on Upwork," shares Product Manager Christine W. 

To share feedback or ask questions, join the Community discussion.

We are excited to announce our new simplified freelancer fee structure, an industry-low rate designed to offer you more ability to price your services competitively and lower the fee on all new talent/client relationships. In combination with our freelancer fee update, we have also made minor adjust

We are excited to announce our new simplified freelancer fee structure, an industry-low rate designed to offer you more ability to price your services competitively and lower the fee on all new talent/client relationships. In combination with our freelancer fee update, we have also made minor adjustments to pricing for clients:

Beginning May 3, 2023, we are moving all freelancers to a 10% fee rate and retiring our sliding scale fee structure. For those currently working on projects at the 5% level of our existing tier structure, we are pleased to honor those rates through the end of 2023.

Beginning April 26, 2023, we're implementing a client contract initiation fee of up to $4.95 on Upwork's Marketplace and Project Catalog. This is a once-per-contract fee, assessed when clients make their first payment to a freelancer.

What these changes mean for freelancers

Ultimately, the purpose of our new pricing is to bring you more job opportunities that translate into work you love with clients you value. We know you work incredibly hard for everything you earn, which is why we are committed to creating the right tools and pricing structure to maximize your earnings potential. We are here to support your success as we shape the future of work together.

Existing contracts with a 20% fee: beginning May 3, 2023, you will see a reduction in your fee rate from 20% to 10% on existing contracts. You don't need to do anything; this will automatically update. Please note the new 10% fee rate includes all contracts with a client –– whether hourly, fixed-price, or a Project Catalog project.

Existing contracts with a 10% fee: these engagements will not experience a change. Please keep in mind if your current contract(s) reaches $10,000 in total billings with a client after May 3, 2023, your fee will stay at a 10% fee rate.

Eligible contracts with a 5% fee: for contracts valued at $10,000 or more on or before May 3, 2023, we are pleased to honor the existing 5% service fee through the end of 2023. After December 31, 2023, all remaining contracts will move to a 10% fee rate.

New contracts: any contract started on or after May 3, 2023, at any value, will have a 10% fee rate.

If you aren’t already doing so, we encourage you to take advantage of some recent enhancements that can help increase your earnings:

• Consultations help you land new relationships and build your reputation as an expert.
• Talent Badges help you get discovered and win more clients.
• Full-time opportunities help when you are ready for a different type of work engagement.
• Availability Badges help you signal to clients that you are available to take on new work.
• Certifications verified by Credly highlight skills, so you can find well-matched opportunities.
• Upwork Academy helps you succeed through an interactive suite of courses and tools.

FAQs

What are the 2023 pricing changes?

• Freelancers will pay a fixed rate of 10% for freelancer service fees on future contract earnings per contract and will no longer have to pay 20% on new contracts. Freelancers who are currently paying a 5% freelancer service fee on a contract will continue to pay 5% on that contract through the end of 2023.
• Clients will pay a one-time contract initiation fee of up to $4.95 at the start of each new contract.

When do the 2023 pricing changes go into effect?

We plan to start making the changes effective on May 3, 2023, Pacific Time for contracts that invoice on or after that date. However, if you’re currently paying a 5% freelancer service fee on a specific contract, the 5% rate will continue through the end of 2023.

Once the fee changes go into effect, you’ll see the 10% freelancer service fee when you create a proposal. You’ll also see it when you enter your hourly rate for the first time or edit your rate on your profile.

Will my current contracts have a change in freelancer service fees when the freelancer service fees change to 10%, or will they continue at their current rate?

If your current contract has a 5% freelancer service fee, you will continue to have that rate through the end of 2023. If your contract has a 20% freelancer service fee, you will switch to the 10% fee on your next invoice.

Will the new freelancer service fee rate be retroactive to the beginning of current contracts? Will freelancers who paid 20% on the first $500 get a refund?

No, the new rate will be effective on future earnings for all current and future contracts. Freelancers who paid 20% freelancer service fees at the beginning of an existing contract will not get a refund.

What if I create a new contract with a client I currently have a 5% rate with?

If you start a new contract, your freelancer service fee will be 10%. The 10% fee applies to all new contracts, even if you have a past or existing contract with the client.

Will agencies be impacted by these changes?

Yes, the 10% freelancer service fee will be for all future earnings on contracts, including agency contracts. For agency contracts that are already paying a 5% freelancer service fee, the 5% rate will continue through the end of 2023.

Will featured jobs get a discounted rate?

No, the rate for featured jobs will be a 10% freelancer service fee.

Will these changes impact my contracts with Enterprise clients, or my Upwork Payroll, Any Hire contracts, or Talent Scout contracts?

Upwork Payroll, Any Hire, and Talent Scout contracts will not be impacted by these fee changes.

If you have an Enterprise contract that has a 5% freelancer service fee, your fee will move to 10% at the end of 2023. If you have a 5% Marketplace contract that switches to a new Enterprise contract during 2023, we will honor the 5% freelancer service fee for the new Enterprise contract through the end of 2023.

Will my Bring Your Own (BYO) contracts be impacted by the freelancer service fee price changes?

If your BYO contract does not currently require any freelancer service fees, you will not see a change. We are not adding freelancer service fees to contracts that do not currently include them.

If you are paying a freelancer service fee on your BYO contract, the new 10% freelancer service fee will apply to your contract. If your contract is already at a 5% freelancer service fee rate, you will continue at the 5% rate through the end of 2023.

Will this pricing change impact my freelancer service fees for Direct Contracts?

No, freelancers who work on Direct Contracts fees will continue to pay a processing fee of 3.4% and no additional freelancer service fees. Your clients will continue to pay their usual processing fee, and we are not charging them a contract initiation fee.

Is the price of Connects changing?

No, the price of Connects is not changing at this time.

You may have noticed we recently adjusted the number of Connects per job to better match the demand for jobs in the Marketplace.

Why is Upwork changing its prices for freelancers?

The value of providing you a thriving platform where you can earn income and grow your business — a place where you can choose how and with whom you want to work, build your reputation, and drive leads — is better reflected and supported by a simpler fixed percentage fee than by the current sliding-scale tiered fee of 20/10/5%.

While we believe this change to a simpler fee structure will benefit most freelancers over the long term, we understand that this change has an immediate impact on freelancers working in higher-value relationships, which is why we are honoring the existing 5% rates through the end of 2023.

What these changes mean for clients

Ultimately, the intended purpose of introducing this new, industry-low rate for freelancers is to bring you the benefit of more competitive prices and access to even more highly skilled talent to help your business grow.

Beginning April 26, 2023, Marketplace and Project Catalog contracts will include a contract initiation fee of up to $4.95.* This is a once-per-contract fee assessed when you first pay a freelancer. These changes only apply to contracts created on or after April 26, 2023, and will be reflected in the first billing cycle.

We will charge this fee when you make the first payment on a contract, and we will add it to the escrow amount that you deposit for a new fixed-price contract. No action is required; this will be an automatic charge for future contracts.

We’d like to take this opportunity to also highlight some of the products and features we’ve created to support your ongoing success on Upwork in all the ways you want to work, from small projects to full-time:

• Consultations provide you the ability to book 1:1 sessions with experts.
• Project Catalog™ allows you to browse pre-defined projects.
• Full-time hiring on Upwork helps you make informed choices in deciding who to hire through contract-to-hire jobs that start with a short-term engagement.

*Contract initiation fees may vary from contract to contract over the next few months as we collect more data and feedback. Once testing ends, we will update our documentation in Community and the Help Center to reflect the final amount.

FAQs

What is the contract initiation fee?

The contract initiation fee is a charge of up to $4.95 for clients on new contracts on Upwork’s Marketplace and Project Catalog. We will charge this fee once per contract when you make the first payment to a freelancer.

When does the contract initiation fee go into effect?

We will begin charging the fee for all new contracts created on or after April 26, 2023, Pacific Time. This is a one-per-contract fee that we will charge with each new contract. It will not be retroactive for existing contracts.

Once the contract initiation fee goes into effect, you will see it as a separate line item during checkout when you make an offer or purchase a project.

Will the contract initiation fee be charged on active contracts created before April 26, 2023?

No, the contract initiation fee will only apply to contracts created on or after April 26, 2023, Pacific Time.

Will you charge the contract initiation fee when the freelancer accepts the contract?

No, we realize that not all contracts have work started on them or funds paid out. We will charge this fee when you make the first payment to a freelancer on the contract, including releasing milestones, making hourly payments, bonuses, or any other payments to freelancers.

On a fixed-price contract, will I have to fund the contract initiation fee in escrow when I fund the contract or first milestone?

Yes, you will fund the once-per-contract initiation fee in the first escrow deposit for fixed-price contracts.

Will I have to deposit the contract initiation fee into escrow when I purchase a project or schedule a consultation? What happens if the project or consultation is canceled?

Yes, you will deposit the fee in escrow. However, if the project or consultation is canceled with no payment released to the freelancer, the contract initiation fee will be returned to you with the rest of your escrow deposit.

Does the fee amount vary by contract value, and how will I know how much my fee will be?

No, the contract initiation fee is a flat fee of up to $4.95. You’ll be able to see the exact amount for your contract when you check out. The contract initiation fee will show as a separate line item.

If a freelancer refunds my contract payment, will you also refund my contract initiation fee?

No, the once-per-contract initiation fee will not be refunded after you have made a payment to a freelancer, even if the freelancer issues you a refund.

If I dispute a contract and win my dispute, will you refund my contract initiation fee?

No, the once-per-contract initiation fee isn’t eligible for a refund after you have made a payment to a freelancer, even if the contract payment to the freelancer is refunded due to a dispute.

Where will I see the contract initiation fee in my invoices and reports? Will it be included in the Weekly Billing Summary?

You will have a separate invoice for the contract initiation fee, which includes the fee and any applicable taxes on the fee. You’ll also see the fee and any applicable taxes as line items on your Transaction History Report. It will not display on your Weekly Billing Summary, which reflects payments to freelancers.

Will I pay the contract initiation fee if I hire an agency?

Yes, you will pay the contract initiation fee for the start of a new contract with an agency.

If I hire multiple freelancers for one job through an agency or through a team proposal, will I have to pay the one-time contract initiation fee on each freelancer’s contract?

Yes, each new contract with a different freelancer will have a once-per-contract initiation fee, even if all the freelancers work for the same agency. If you hire 3 freelancers to work on a job, you’ll pay the fee 3 times.

If I rehire a freelancer I’ve worked with before, will you charge the contract initiation fee?

Yes, the fee is per contract. If you start a new contract, you will pay the contract initiation fee even if you have worked with the freelancer before.

If I close a contract and create a new one to switch from fixed-rate to hourly, or vice-versa, with the same freelancer, will I pay another contract initiation fee?

That depends on whether you have already activated the contract with a payment to the freelancer. Here’s how it works for hourly and fixed-price contracts:

• For contracts that started as hourly: 
• If the freelancer hasn’t logged any hours yet, you can cancel without a contract initiation fee on the initial contract, since we don’t charge the fee until you make your first hourly payment. 
• If the freelancer has already logged hours, you will pay the contract initiation fee on both contracts. You will need to pay the freelancer for the hours they already logged, and we will charge this fee. Then you will pay another contract initiation fee when you fund the first milestone of the fixed-price contract.
• For contracts that started as fixed-price: 
• If you haven’t funded any milestones yet, you can cancel without being charged the contract initiation fee on the initial contract. 
• If you have already funded a milestone or purchased a project but have not yet released a payment to the freelancer, you can get a full refund from escrow as long as your freelancer agrees. 
• If you’ve already released at least one payment to the freelancer, you will have to pay a contract initiation fee on both contracts.

Are you charging the contract initiation fee on Enterprise, Upwork Payroll, BYO, Any Hire, Direct Contracts, or Talent Scout contracts?

No, those services have their own fee structures designed specifically for the features they offer. We are only charging this contract initiation fee on Upwork Marketplace and Project Catalog contracts.

Will the client marketplace fee apply to the contract initiation fee?

No, we will not apply an additional marketplace fee to the contract initiation fee. The client marketplace fee only applies to the contract value for the amount you pay the freelancer.

Service fee update exceptions

Any Hire

Freelancers will not pay service fees when working for a client on an Any Hire contract. These contracts are negotiated with the individual client hiring freelancers they met off of Upwork or who have paid the conversion fee to work with a freelancer they found on Upwork’s Marketplace.

We are not charging a contract initiation fee for Any Hire contracts; this service has its own fee structure designed specifically for the features it offers.

Direct Contracts

Freelancers in a Direct Contract, working with a client without an account who pays through Upwork, will continue to pay the Direct Contracts processing fee of 3.4%. They will not have to pay the 10% freelancer service fee.

We are not charging a contract initiation fee for Direct Contracts; this service has its own fee structure designed specifically for the features it offers.

Bring Your Own (BYO)

Freelancers with a 0% service fee BYO contract will not experience a change in service fees. If a freelancer has a BYO contract with freelancer service fees, those fees will move to or remain at 10% on May 3, 2023.

We are not charging a contract initiation fee for BYO contracts; this service has its own fee structure designed specifically for the features it offers.

Talent Scout

Contracts offered through Talent Scout do not have service fees.

We are not charging a contract initiation fee for Talent Scout contracts; this service has its own fee structure designed specifically for the features it offers.

Enterprise Contracts

Most Enterprise contracts currently have a 10% service fee; the previous sliding scale fee structure did not apply. However, if a freelancer is already paying the reduced 5% fee, they will keep the 5% fee rate through the end of 2023.

We are not charging a contract initiation fee for Enterprise contracts; this service has its own fee structure designed specifically for the features it offers.

Upwork Payroll

Upwork Payroll will not be impacted by these fee changes.

Have a question or feedback? Get help and join the conversation in our feedback forum.