Where does Steam money go?

When you refund a purchase on Steam, the money can go back to your original payment method, such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, or PayPal, or it can be added to your Steam Wallet, which can then be used to purchase other games or items on the platform. The Steam Wallet is a digital currency method created by Valve that allows users to purchase items on the Community Market, as well as software and other content from the Steam Store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Understanding Steam Wallet and Refunds

1. What happens if I have never had a Steam Wallet balance on my Steam account? If you have never had a Steam Wallet balance on your Steam account, the funds will be added in the currency of the Steam store.
2. Can I get a refund in my Steam Wallet if I already have an existing balance? If you have an existing Steam Wallet, the funds will be added in your Steam Wallet’s current currency, regardless of the current balance.
3. What can I use Steam funds for? Funds in your Steam Wallet may be used for the purchase of any game on Steam or within a game that supports Steam transactions.

Refund Process and Options

4. Does Steam refund go back to credit card? As part of the refund process, you can choose where you receive your money, which can go into your Steam Wallet or back to another payment method you have tied to your account.
5. Is refunding to Steam wallet faster than card? Yes, the funds will be given and usable faster if you refund back to the wallet and not the original payment method.
6. How long does Steam refund to wallet take? After the refund has been accepted, if you refunded to your Steam Wallet, the money is available in about 24 hours, while refunds to outside payment sources like PayPal or bank account may take up to 14 days.

Steam Wallet Management

7. Does money stay in your Steam Wallet forever? Wallet funds do not expire, and it can’t “turn to zero” unless you spend it.
8. How much money can you have in your Steam Wallet? Currently, Steam Wallet balances are restricted to $2000, with similar limits applied in other currencies.
9. What is the difference between Steam wallet and card? Steam Gift Cards work like a gift certificate, while Steam Wallet Codes work like a game activation code, both of which can be redeemed on Steam for purchases.

Refund Policies and Practices

10. Is Steam generous with refunds? Steam does not have a limit on refunds and will refund any program, app, or game purchased on the Steam store as long as you did not use it longer than two hours or owned it longer than two weeks.
11. Are Steam refunds easy? Valve will issue a refund for any title requested within 14 days of purchase and played for less than 2 hours, with consideration for requests outside these rules.
12. Will Steam refund a game after 14 days? Yes, it’s possible to get a refund after 14 days, but the chances of succeeding will be lower, requiring a reasonable explanation.

Taxes, Payments, and Legal Considerations

13. Does Steam pay taxes for you? Steam pricing is VAT inclusive in all countries where amounts are collected, with Valve remitting the tax collected on sales to the appropriate tax authorities periodically.
14. Is Steam getting a lawsuit 2023? There have been legal actions against Valve for anticompetitive practices, but the status of current lawsuits can vary, with some cases requiring individual arbitration claims for compensation.
15. Why are people suing Steam? Valve is alleged to use its dominance over PC game distribution to impose and maintain a 30% commission on nearly every sale made through its store, which is claimed to exceed what would prevail in a competitive market.