> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.outpost.pub/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Payment Processing

> Questions about how subscriptions, renewals, and payment failures are handled.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How do subscription renewals work?">
    Stripe handles subscription renewals automatically. On each renewal date, Stripe charges the member's payment method. If successful, Ghost extends the member's access period.

    You don't need to do anything for renewals — they're fully automated.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What happens when a member's renewal payment fails?">
    When Stripe reports a payment failure:

    1. Stripe retries the charge automatically on the schedule configured in your Stripe dashboard (Stripe's Smart Retries / Subscription settings → Manage failed payments). The retry window and grace period live in Stripe, not in Outpost.
    2. Outpost triggers the payment failure email flow during the retry window, if you've set one up.
    3. If a retry succeeds or the member updates their payment method, the member's status returns to active.
    4. If Stripe exhausts its retries without a successful charge, Stripe cancels the subscription and Ghost moves the member out of paid access.

    To change the retry behavior or the grace period, edit your Stripe subscription settings. To change the emails sent during the retry window, edit your [Failed Payment Flow](/features/failed-payment-flow) in Outpost.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can members update their payment method?">
    Yes. Members can update their payment method through their Ghost member portal, and Outpost picks up the change automatically.

    If need be, you can go into Stripe and send a subscriber a payment change form link.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I change the credit card I use for my Outpost subscription?">
    Go to **Settings → Publication Details** and scroll to the subscription section. Click **View invoices and payment method** — this takes you to Stripe, where you can update your card on file.

    Your next billing cycle will automatically use the new payment method.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do refunds for my subscribers work?">
    These are rare and you can handle these from your Stripe account.

    Refunds don't automatically cancel the subscription — you can refund and keep the member active, or refund and cancel at the same time.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can members pause their subscription?">
    Outpost and Ghost don't have a native "pause" feature. Options for members who want to pause:

    * Cancel and resubscribe later (they lose their billing date and may face a new rate)
    * Upgrade to annual billing to reduce renewal frequency
    * Contact support for a manual comp extension
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do members in different countries pay different taxes?">
    Outpost and Ghost do not manage tax calculation directly. If your publication needs to collect VAT, GST, or sales tax, enable Stripe Tax in your Stripe account. Stripe Tax calculates and collects the appropriate tax based on the member's location. Check the Ghost documentation for this.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I offer a free trial?">
    Yes. When creating a tier, set a trial period (in days). Members who subscribe to a tier with a trial period aren't charged until the trial ends. During the trial, they have full paid access.

    You can also create trials via offers — a trial offer applied to a tier without a built-in trial period.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>