New advertisers on TikTok can receive ad credits by registering through an official TikTok entry point, meeting the eligibility requirements, and reaching a qualifying spend threshold within the offer window — typically 30 days. The credit is then applied directly to your TikTok Ads Manager account balance.
The exact offer you see depends on your region and when you sign up. Not every account is guaranteed a credit, but most new self-serve SMB accounts in supported countries will see a promotion at registration if one is currently active.
Who Qualifies for New Advertiser Ad Credits
Before walking through the steps, check that your situation fits the eligibility criteria TikTok applies:
- Your account must be a self-serve SMB account (not an Agency or Business Center-created account)
- The ad account must be new — no prior advertising activity on TikTok Ads Manager
- Only one new ad account per TikTok for Business account is eligible
- If your TikTok for Business account already has an active ad account, a second account under the same login won’t qualify
- Accounts identified as highly similar to previously active advertisers may be excluded
- Your account must remain compliant with TikTok’s advertising policies
TikTok’s new advertiser credit program covers a wide range of regions, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Bangladesh, and dozens more. You can find the full list in TikTok’s incentive program documentation.
Step-by-Step: Getting TikTok Ad Credit as a New Advertiser (Without TikTok Shop)
Most new business advertisers fall into this category, you’re running campaigns for a website, app, service, or brand rather than a TikTok Shop storefront.
Step 1: Register Through an Official TikTok Entry Point
Go to ads.tiktok.com or getstarted.tiktok.com to create your account. These are the official entry points where active promotions are displayed during registration.
If a promotion is live when you sign up, you’ll see the offer on screen before completing your account setup. If the banner isn’t visible, the offer period may have ended or you may be in a region without an active promotion at that time.
The best practice TikTok recommends: register as soon as you see a promotion banner. Once the banner disappears, the offer is no longer valid.
Step 2: Complete Your Account Setup and Get Approved
Fill in your business details, select your time zone and currency, and submit your account for review. TikTok will approve new accounts typically within one business day if your information is accurate.
Set up your payment profile before launching any campaign. Ad credits are only issued to accounts with an approved payment method — either automatic (credit card) or manual (prepaid balance).
Step 3: Find Your Coupon in Ads Manager
Once your account is created and a promotion is attached:
- Log in to TikTok Ads Manager
- Click the ticket icon in the upper-right corner of the dashboard
- Or navigate to Tools → Payments → Promotions
This section shows your active coupon, the promotion validity period, qualifying spend tiers, and which ad products the credit applies to. Check this page to confirm your coupon is active before spending any money.
Step 4: Understand Your Coupon Type
TikTok offers two main types of new advertiser incentives:
Ladder Coupon (Spend X, Get Y)
This is the most common format. You spend a real cash amount during a set earning window, and once you hit a qualifying tier, TikTok issues the corresponding credit reward.
Example: A “Spend $200, Get $200 / Spend $500, Get $500” offer with a 30-day window.
- Registering on May 1 means your earning window runs from May 1 to May 31
- Spending $500 within that period unlocks the $500 reward
- The credit is issued within 1–7 business days after completing the threshold, and the credit will be applied immediately after reaching the highest tier ($6,000).
You can only land on one tier. You cannot use the free credits you’ve received to count toward reaching the next spend tier.
Cashback Coupon (Percentage-Based)
Some promotions offer a percentage back on every ad charge, with no minimum spend required. A percentage of each charge is deducted automatically as it accrues.
Step 5: Launch Your First Campaign Within the Earning Window
Your qualifying spend must happen within the promotion window — typically 30 days from registration. Spend that falls outside this window doesn’t count toward the threshold, even if your account is still active.
When calculating your budget, remember:
- Only out-of-pocket (real cash) spend counts — ad credits you’ve already received don’t contribute to the next tier
- Spend must be on eligible ad products as specified in your promotion details
- Taxes are generally excluded from qualifying spend calculations
Step 6: Check When Your Credit Is Issued
After hitting the qualifying spend tier:
- Highest tier advertisers: Credit issued within 1–3 business days of reaching the threshold
- Lower-tier advertisers: Credit issued 1–7 business day after the earning window closes
To confirm your credit has been applied: go to Tools → Payments → Promotions in Ads Manager. The credit will show in your account balance and be used automatically before any remaining cash balance on your next campaign.
Step 7: Use Your Credit Before It Expires
Every ad credit has an expiration date, visible in the Coupon Progress → Details section of your Ads Manager account. Credits that are unused by that date expire without extension.
Key rules on how credits work:
- Credits are applied before your cash balance on each campaign
- Credits cannot be transferred, refunded, or redeemed for cash
- Credits are valid only in the same currency as your Ads Manager account
- Credits can only be used on new advertising, not to settle existing debts
Step-by-Step: Getting Ad Credit as a TikTok Shop Seller
If you sell through TikTok Shop, the process is slightly different. Your advertiser account is often created automatically when your shop is approved.
- Go to Seller Center
- Click Marketing → Shop Ads
- Connect your advertiser account (or create a new one if prompted)
- Look for a promotion banner — in some regions you’ll need to click “Join Now” to manually enroll; in others, enrollment is automatic, and the banner will say “Create Campaign.“
- If enrollment is automatic, your coupon is issued once you publish your first GMV Max campaign
- To track progress: go to Seller Center → Marketing → Shop Ads → Ads Dashboard → Coupon Progress
TikTok Shop ad credits available in: US, GB, VN, TH, ID, MY, PH, SG, JP, FR, IT, DE, IE, ES, MX, BR.
What to Do If You Don’t See a Promotion
Not all accounts will see a promotion banner at registration. A few reasons this happens:
- No active promotion is running in your region at that time
- Your TikTok for Business account is linked to a previously active ad account
- Your account was flagged for similarity to an existing advertiser
If you believe your ineligibility status is incorrect, you can submit an appeal through Tools → Payments → Promotions in Ads Manager.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to receive TikTok ad credits after qualifying?
Credits for the highest spend tier are issued within 1–3 business days of hitting the threshold during the earning window. For lower tiers, the credit arrives within 1–3 business days after the 30-day earning window closes.
Can I use my TikTok ad credit to reach the next spend tier?
No. Only real out-of-pocket spend counts toward qualifying thresholds. Credits already received do not contribute to reaching a higher tier.
Where do I find my TikTok ad credit in Ads Manager?
Go to Tools → Payments → Promotions inside your TikTok Ads Manager account. You can also access it through the ticket icon in the top-right corner of the dashboard.
Do TikTok ad credits expire?
Yes. Every ad credit has an expiration date. You can find it in Coupon Progress → Details within Ads Manager. Unused credits are forfeited after that date — TikTok does not extend expiry dates.
Can I get ad credits on multiple TikTok Ads Manager accounts?
Only one new advertising account per TikTok for Business account is eligible for new advertiser credits. Additional accounts under the same TikTok for Business login won’t qualify, even if they’re brand new.
What happens to my credits if my account is suspended?
TikTok reserves the right to withhold or withdraw ad credits if your account violates advertising policies or community guidelines. Credits cannot be refunded for suspended campaigns.
