You can get paid in Bitcoin either by sending a client a wallet payment request or by using an invoicing service that accepts Bitcoin. Before sending an invoice, agree on the amount, payment network, deadline, and fees; then verify the payment and save its U.S.-dollar value when received. For U.S. federal taxes, Bitcoin received for freelance work is generally ordinary income, and a later sale or spend can have a separate tax result.
Agree on the payment terms before invoicing
Decide together how the invoice will state the amount: in your usual currency with Bitcoin calculated when payment is made, or as a fixed Bitcoin amount. If you quote Bitcoin, specify when that amount is set; its market value can change between invoicing and payment.
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Also confirm the payment network, deadline, and what counts as payment received. Bitcoin sent through the on-chain network and Bitcoin sent over Lightning use different payment paths. A client’s wallet must support the route you request. Clarify who pays any network or processor fees, and whether the invoice is considered paid when a payment is detected or when the wallet or service reports its required status.
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Receive Bitcoin directly in a wallet
A wallet can create a payment request or display a QR code for a client to scan. Give the client the request for the network you agreed to use; do not assume an on-chain address can receive a Lightning payment, or vice versa. Bitcoin.org describes QR-based wallet receiving and Lightning as a route designed for near-instant payments with minimal fees on small payments, but actual fees and timing are not guaranteed. See Bitcoin.org’s guide for individuals and its business guidance.
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Check the wallet’s security guidance and protect access to it. With a wallet under your direct control, you are responsible for safeguarding access; a hosted wallet instead relies on a service provider. The right choice depends on how you plan to manage the funds, not on a universal best-wallet rule.
Use an invoicing service
An invoicing service can manage payment requests and settlement options, which may be useful if your client prefers a conventional invoice. As one U.S.-specific example, Square documents Bitcoin payments over Lightning for eligible sellers using Square Invoices. Invoices remain denominated in U.S. dollars; payments convert automatically to USD by default, with an option for the seller to choose Bitcoin settlement. Check the service’s current eligibility, availability, and terms before relying on it. Details are in Square’s U.S. support documentation.
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Send the invoice and verify payment
- Write the agreed terms on the invoice. Include the invoice amount and denomination, the accepted network, the payment deadline, and who is responsible for fees. If the Bitcoin amount can change with the exchange rate, state when it will be calculated.
- Provide the correct payment request. Generate a wallet request, address, or QR code for the agreed network, or use the invoicing service’s payment instructions. Confirm that the client’s wallet can use that network.
- Check the payment status before marking the invoice paid. Verify the amount and network in your wallet or processor and follow that tool’s status or confirmation information. There is no universal confirmation count that applies to every payment route.
- Save the receipt details. Keep the invoice identifier, receipt date and time, Bitcoin amount, U.S.-dollar fair market value at receipt, fees, and transaction or processor reference.
Choose what to do with the Bitcoin
After payment, you can retain the Bitcoin, convert it through a service, or spend it. Keeping it leaves you exposed to changes in its market value; converting or settling in U.S. dollars can reduce that exposure but does not remove the need to retain records. A direct wallet gives you control of the receiving wallet, while a processor may handle conversion or settlement under its own terms. Consider custody, volatility, and fees before deciding.
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This section covers U.S. federal tax guidance, not the rules of other countries or state and local obligations. The IRS treats digital assets as property for federal tax purposes. It says the fair market value in U.S. dollars when received is ordinary income for services paid in digital assets. For an independent contractor, that amount is self-employment income; IRS guidance points contractors to Schedule C for these payments. See the IRS digital assets overview, its virtual currency FAQs, and its digital asset FAQs. The cited digital-asset FAQ answers were added December 15, 2025.
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Record the USD fair market value at receipt and preserve the documents that establish it. Keep the invoice, payment date and time, amount received, fees, and transaction or processor record together. The IRS says to keep records of digital-asset receipts and later sales, exchanges, or other dispositions.
If you later sell, exchange, or spend the Bitcoin, that is a separate disposition that may produce a gain or loss. The IRS FAQ describes the value at receipt as the asset’s basis for this purpose. Receiving Bitcoin for work therefore does not make the payment exempt from income reporting, and the later transaction may require its own records and tax treatment. Consult a qualified tax professional about your circumstances, especially if you are outside the United States or have complex transactions.
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