Earning from YouTube: monetisation requirements, income sources and payments in Lithuania
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YouTube is one of the few platforms that share advertising revenue with creators in Lithuania as well. However, between “I uploaded a video” and “I got the money” there are specific thresholds, agreements and a tax form that many people find out about only when a quarter disappears from their payment.
This part of the guide covers YouTube monetisation step by step according to the official Google help pages: what a channel needs in order to earn, what the income consists of, what share is left to the creator, when and how payments are made and what you must fill in regarding US taxes.
In short
- The Partner Program requires 1 000 subscribers and 4 000 watch hours in 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days.
- The creator keeps 55 % of advertising revenue from regular videos, 45 % from Shorts, 70 % from memberships and viewer support.
- Payment is made through AdSense once you have accumulated 70 €. If you do not submit tax information, up to 24 % of all your earnings may be withheld.
What a channel needs in order to earn
You can earn from advertising only once you have been accepted into the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). The programme operates in Lithuania. The requirements are two lists: what the channel must comply with and which threshold it must reach.
| Conditions for the channel | Threshold (one of the two) |
|---|---|
| You follow the YouTube channel monetisation policies | 1 000 subscribers and 4 000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months |
| You live in a country where the programme operates | |
| The channel has no active Community Guidelines strikes | |
| 2-Step Verification is turned on in the Google account | 1 000 subscribers and 10 million valid Shorts views in the last 90 days |
| The channel has access to advanced features | |
| One active AdSense for YouTube account is linked to the channel |
Watch hours and Shorts views are counted separately: hours from the Shorts feed do not count towards the 4 000 hours. Once you reach the threshold, you apply in YouTube Studio. The channel as a whole is reviewed by automated systems and people, and a decision is usually given within about a month. If rejected, you can appeal within 21 days or apply again after 30 days.
YouTube has also announced that from 1 February 2027 it is updating the terms of the Partner Program and creators will need to accept them again, so check the requirements on the help page before applying.
What the income consists of
| Source | How it works | Creator's share |
|---|---|---|
| Ads on regular videos | Ads are shown before the video, during it and next to it | 55 % of net revenue |
| Ads in the Shorts feed | Revenue from ads between short videos is pooled and shared among creators according to views | 45 % of the revenue allocated to the creator |
| YouTube Premium | A share of subscription revenue when Premium members watch your content | Shorts – 45 % of the revenue allocated to creators; elsewhere – according to the contract module |
| Channel memberships | Viewers pay monthly for additional content or badges | 70 % of net revenue |
| Super Chat, Super Stickers, Super Thanks | One-off viewer support during streams and videos | 70 % of net revenue |
| Shopping | Tagging your own or partners' products in videos | Depends on the programme terms |
For each source you have to accept a separate contract module in YouTube Studio: for ads on regular videos, for Shorts and for viewer support. Until the module is accepted, revenue from that source is not counted.
How much is that in euros? YouTube does not publish this, because the amount depends on the viewers' country, the topic, the season and how much advertisers are paying at the time. You will see the exact figures for your channel only in YouTube Studio analytics.
When and how payments are made
The money is paid not by YouTube but by AdSense – Google's advertising system. The process is as follows:
- Once you have accumulated 10 €, AdSense lets you choose a payment method and asks you to verify your address and identity.
- Once you have accumulated 70 €, the payment threshold is reached – from then on the money is paid out in the usual monthly cycle.
- If the threshold is not reached, the amount is carried over to the next month and keeps accumulating.
You will see which payment methods are available in your country in the AdSense account itself. One active AdSense for YouTube account must be linked to the channel.
The US tax form: what to fill in straight away
Google is required to withhold US tax on the earnings a creator receives from viewers in the United States. That is why all creators who earn must submit tax information in their AdSense account, regardless of which country they live in.
| Situation | What is withheld |
|---|---|
| Tax information submitted | 0–30 % only on earnings from US viewers; the rate depends on whether your country has a tax treaty with the USA |
| Information not submitted, the account is an individual's | 24 % of all earnings worldwide |
| Information not submitted, the account is a business one, outside the USA | 30 % of earnings from US viewers |
If your viewers are mostly in Lithuania, once the form is submitted the withholding will be small or there will be none. If it is not submitted, you may lose almost a quarter of everything. You fill in the form in your AdSense account, in the section on tax information.
This is only the US tax. In Lithuania YouTube income is income from your activity, which has to be declared. Which form of activity suits you is explained in the ACS.lt article “Self-employment: a certificate or a business certificate”.
What to expect in the first year
- Until the threshold – zero. Until the channel is accepted into the programme, there is no advertising revenue, no matter how many views you have.
- 4 000 hours is a lot. That is 240 000 minutes of watch time per year. A ten-minute video that people watch on average halfway through needs about 48 000 views.
- You may have to wait several months for the first payment even after acceptance, until 70 € accumulates.
- Advertising is rarely the main source for a small channel. Sponsors and affiliate links in the description work from the first viewer and do not depend on the programme thresholds.
What you can do without waiting for 1 000 subscribers
- Add affiliate links to the products you show or mention, and label them as advertising.
- Invite viewers to a newsletter or another channel that belongs to you, not to the platform.
- Create content that is found in search for a long time: how-to guides, reviews, comparisons.
Frequently asked questions
How many subscribers do you need for YouTube to start paying?
1 000 subscribers and 4 000 watch hours in 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days. Then you can apply to the Partner Program.
Does YouTube monetisation work in Lithuania?
Yes, the Partner Program is available in Lithuania.
How much does YouTube pay per 1 000 views?
There is no fixed rate. The amount depends on the viewers' country, the topic and advertising prices; you will see the figures for your channel in YouTube Studio.
When will I get my first payment?
When 70 € has accumulated in your AdSense account and your identity and address have been verified and a payment method chosen.
Do I have to fill in the US tax form if I live in Lithuania?
Yes. If tax information is not submitted, 24 % of all earnings may be withheld for an individual's account.
Sources
- YouTube. YouTube Partner Program overview & eligibility
https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/72851?hl=en - YouTube. YouTube Partner Program availability
https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/7101720?hl=en - YouTube. How to earn money on YouTube
https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/72857?hl=en - YouTube. YouTube partner earnings overview
https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/72902?hl=en - YouTube. YouTube Shorts monetization policies
https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/12504220?hl=en - YouTube. U.S. tax requirements for YouTube earnings
https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/10391362?hl=en - Google AdSense. Payment thresholds
https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/1709871?hl=en
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