Should you pass a referral fee through to your client?

Usually a partner is not required to pass a referral reward through to the client, and the published program facts describe no pass-through. Whether you should depends on your profession's rules and engagement terms. Disclose in writing, and do not promise a credit until you have checked your own rules and the signed agreement.

Should you pass a referral reward through to the client?

Usually you are not required to, and the published program facts describe no pass-through. Whether you should is a question about your own profession's rules and your engagement terms. Some professionals credit third-party compensation against fees by rule, some do it by choice, and many never need to because they disclose and the client consents.

The one thing not to do is promise a pass-through before you have read the program terms and your own rules. A promise made to a client can create obligations you cannot meet. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

What is actually true

The partner reward is a share of SourceX's fee. It is never deducted from what the company receives, so the company's price is the same whether or not you are paid.
The reward becomes payable only after the buyer pays and SourceX receives its fee. Until then there is nothing to share.
Partner economics beyond the published facts are set by the signed agreement and the terms. Nothing on this page creates a right to assign, split or rebate a reward.
No reward is guaranteed, so a promise to credit "the reward" against an invoice may refer to money that never arrives.

Four options, compared

Option	How it works	Upside	Tradeoff
Disclose and keep	Tell the client in writing; the client consents; you keep the reward	Simple	Client may feel the conflict is larger than it is
Credit against fees	After the reward is received, reduce a later invoice	Aligns incentives with the client	Needs a written clause; timing is uncertain because payment may come long after you invoice
Donate or decline	Register as a partner but waive the reward for this client	Removes the conflict	Check whether the program allows a waiver in your signed agreement
Do not participate	Skip this client	No conflict	The client may lose a useful option

CPAs in particular should read the AICPA rule on commissions and referral fees. As summarized in the AICPA Code text, a member generally may not accept a commission for recommending a product or service to a client when the firm also performs certain attest work for that client, and permitted referral fees must be disclosed. Your state board can be stricter; see the guides for Illinois, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Lawyers face a different set of fee rules, and the answer varies by state, as the explainer on ABA Rule 5.4 shows.

How to answer when a client asks

Keep the reply honest and short.

Do not write a number, a percentage or a date into any client document. Do not promise a credit you have not cleared with your own counsel and the signed partner agreement.

If the concern is valid

If your rules do require crediting or refusing third-party compensation, the safest course is to decline the reward for that client or not introduce the company. If your rules allow crediting by choice, put the clause in the engagement letter before the introduction, describe it as "any reward I actually receive," and keep records of what was received and when. The way to document client consent before an introduction gives the file structure.

When the question does not matter

You are not a licensed professional and have no fiduciary relationship with the owner.
The introduction is between two businesses you do not serve.
Your employer is the partner and receives the reward, not you.

Next step

Decide your policy in writing, then register as a partner and use the company fit checker to test whether a client belongs in the program at all. The explainer on the referral fee agreement is useful if a colleague will share the work.

Step 1Share your linkSend your personal link to a company you know.
Step 2Company appliesThe company applies itself at /apply.
Step 3Buyer selects and paysThe buyer selects and pays for the data and SourceX receives its fee.
Step 4You get your rewardYour share of SourceX fees becomes payable.

Common questions

Does SourceX deduct the partner reward from the company's payment?

No. The reward is a share of SourceX's own fee and is never taken out of what the company receives. The company sees one all-in price, with SourceX's fee included and no separate charges, so passing a reward through is a choice for the partner, not a mechanism of the program.

Can I rebate part of my reward to my client?

The program terms and your signed agreement decide whether rewards can be assigned, split or waived. Do not offer a rebate until you have read them. Also check your professional rules, because rebates, credits and disclosure duties can differ even where accepting the reward is permitted.

What if my client asks how much I will earn?

Say that the reward is a share of SourceX's fee, payable only after a deal is completed and paid, and refer them to the published program page. Avoid giving a figure in a client conversation. Rewards are capped and not guaranteed, so an estimate could mislead the client.

Is crediting a reward against fees safer than keeping it?

Not automatically. Crediting can reduce the appearance of a conflict, but it adds timing risk because the reward may arrive long after your invoice, or never. It also may not satisfy a rule that requires a specific form of disclosure or consent. Confirm with your professional body.

Do I still need client consent if I pass the reward through?

Often yes. Passing the money on does not remove the fact that you recommended the program, and many rules turn on disclosure and informed consent rather than who ends up with the money. Keep the written consent either way.

Free resources

NPV calculator — Net present value with a discounted cash flow table.
Time value of money calculator — Future and present value with optional regular payments.
Business DSCR calculator — Debt service coverage from cash flow and loan terms.
All free tools · MCP resource center

By SourceX Partnerships Team · Published 2026-10-09 · Updated 2026-10-09

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