Sometime around the update to version ~2.10.0, Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) started collecting a percentage of sales off the top of its American users’ sales using Stripe Connect. This was initially 2% sometime around early 2019, but increased to 3% in September 2023, presumably to help keep EDD+Stripe connection under active development.
I don’t think they should charge repository plugin version users, especially when they have clearly not come through on providing a safe and quick connection with Stripe like was advertised. Even if they did come through, it’s just… everything everyone hates about the worst of WordPress. Ick. As of Easy Digital Downloads version 3.6.0, EDD was still using the Stripe API version 2020-03-02, and only updated to version 2022-11-15 in version 3.6.3, December 23 2025. WAIT WHUT?!
As of January 2026, the latest API available from Stripe is dated 2025-12-15. EDD is avoiding coding around three years of breaking changes. I mostly get it, but also… they’re being paid–and promised–to do exactly that: code around breaking changes.
This is annoying me. Three percent is a lot to pay to use dinosaur code! An alternative solution for EDD developers would have been to just roll back Stripe support entirely for free users, and only offer it to paying EDD plugin users. There was time to make that decision somewhere in that black hole between version 2.9 and 3.0…
ANYWAY. Try the following steps as a workaround, and pay 0% in Stripe Connect Application Fees:
Step 1
Install the following code in your WP child theme functions.php or by using Code Snippets (a WP plugin that helps you add snippets like this to your website).
The following steps will not work with the very old, deprecated Stripe “Card Element” payment method. I urge you to upgrade to Payment Elements. This also will not work if you are also using the Square gateway alongside Stripe (it will disrupt Square).
/**
* You will set your country to something other than US
* (Mexico) in settings (Step 2) but
* this filter will set it back to US for when it matters
*/
function my_filter_edd_shop_country( $country ) {
return 'US';
}
add_filter( 'edd_shop_country', 'my_filter_edd_shop_country' );
// Stop EDD from setting the `stripe_connect_account_country` option
remove_action( 'admin_init', 'edds_stripe_connect_maybe_refresh_account_country' );
/**
* If this option does not exist, it defaults back to
* the country set in 'edd_shop_country' when it's important
*/
if ( function_exists( 'edd_delete_option' ) ) {
edd_delete_option( 'stripe_connect_account_country' );
}
/**
* To fix/adjust tax readouts, you'll need to watch for
* illogical combo of Mexico + your US state, and return the correct tax
*/
function my_filter_edd_formatted_tax_rate( $formatted, $rate, $country, $state ) {
/**
* IMPORTANT replace your state; California used as example below
* List of states two-letter codes can be found at:
* /wp-content/plugins/easy-digital-downloads/i18n/states-us.php
*/
if ( 'mx' === strtolower( $country ) && 'CA' === $state ) { // IMPORTANT replace CA with your two-letter US state, in quotes
$rate = edd_get_tax_rate( 'US', $state );
$rate = round( $rate * 100, 4 );
$formatted = $rate .= '%';
}
return $formatted;
}
add_filter( 'edd_formatted_tax_rate', 'my_filter_edd_formatted_tax_rate', 99, 3 );Step 2
Change this one setting in your WordPress Admin:
Go to EDD General settings -> Business Info -> Business Country and set your country to Mexico. You will notice you will still be able to set your US state, so set that correctly. This Mexico setting should not affect anything else. If it does, just let me know and I’ll try to fix that.
With the changes above (steps 1 and 2) your charges will still route through EDD’s connection with Stripe (Stripe Connect) instead of your own connection, but no fee will be charged.
Did it Work?
If not, I have a more robust working solution for this situation. My solution bypasses EDD’s connection with Stripe completely, and uses the latest version of the API. It *is* quicker, just as secure, and more private.
I you’re interested in that more robust solution, reach out to me. Otherwise the simple one-two punch solution described above should work fine for you, until EDD patches it.
Did I help?
I’ve probably just saved you a ton of cash, right? A little one-time donation helps me a lot. Maybe buy me a coffee ($3) or a foofoo coffee drink ($5) or a couple pints of ice cream ($10)? I freakin’ LOVE ice cream!
And to developers at EDD, I’m sorry, but after a long time watching this situation, I had to call it out. Until something changes (maybe in version 4.0?), I’ll leave this up. (This post is backdated a couple years.)