There a couple of reasons why the amount of money you receive from Shutterstock is lower than the amount that was reflected in your Unpaid Earnings before they reset to 0.
Even though the payment cycle resets on the 1st of each calendar month, we need a few days in the beginning of the new calendar month to run a few quality control checks to ensure our calculations are accurate. During that time, your unpaid earnings will reflect all of your accrued earning, including those you made in the first few days of the new payment cycle. Learn more about the Shutterstock payment cycle.
it is very likely that the discrepancy is the result of tax deductions. Please visit the Tax Center and read our W-8BEN FAQ for more details. The amounts shown in your Shutterstock Earnings Summary represent pre-tax earnings. However, the payment notification email displays the payment amount which you will receive, taking into account any tax deductions made based on your W-8 status. If you are not a US citizen or resident, taxes are deducted based on your country of residence. Once payment has been processed, the details of the tax deduction will be reflected in your Payment History. For more information regarding your W-8 status, please visit the Tax Center and read our W-8 FAQ.