If you’re a self publishing UK Author, self-publishing your books through Amazon KDP, then you’ll have seen a notice in your account dashboard requesting that you complete a ‘tax interview’.
The intention is to make the whole process of declaring your tax status and confirming your eligibility for tax withholding easier.
Before Reading On… Here’s My Information Disclaimer
Website Designs Chester does not offer legal, financial or accounting advice. I/We are not lawyers or accountants. Please ensure that you undertake your own due diligence and employ the services of a tax specialist if you require one.
A Simply Complex Process?
I covered the easy steps to obtaining your EIN and therefore your eligibility, as a UK Author, to claim a 0% US tax withholding rate in my previous article.
Now you can apply for your EIN online directly in KDP by completing the interview questions.
Although this is a simple form, with several step by step questions, there does appear to be a couple of questions that are making it a little more complex for people as they go through it.
Individual or Business?
Depending upon your actual circumstances (refer to my disclaimer), you are probably classed as ‘an individual’, even though you may be operating as a business. Therefore, you’ll complete the ‘Personal Information’ section as an individual.
Do You Have a TIN?
If you’ve already applied for your EIN directly from the IRS, as covered previously here, you would answer ‘Yes’. Then continue with each question.
If NOT, then say NO and follow the steps through to obtaining your EIN via Amazon’s online application process.
W-8BEN Online Visual
Once you have completed the whole process, you should be shown a visual of your W-8BEN form and it should look like this image on the right.
Click the image to view larger version
(will open in new window).
Check your details are correct, then proceed to complete.
Completed or Not?
If, as in my case, you have already obtained your EIN via the IRS, and you have completed the tax interview correctly, then you will see something similar to the notice shown below.
As a UK Author, it’s reassuring to see that ‘Applicable withholding rate’ of 0%.
- Otherwise you’ll see either a warning that some of your information is incorrect, in which case you go back and amend the appropriate section…
- … or you’ll see a notice saying something to the effect that your application is under review with the IRS.
Have you completed your tax interview and was it easy or complex?
Special Thanks to Morgen Bailey
Special Thanks to Morgen BaileyMorgen has been teaching writing groups around Northampton since 2005. She says: “It’s especially exciting to bring my skills to a wider audience.” And as she always shares my pages with her students – here’s a special Thanks to Morgen.
Read More about Morgen’s Northampton Writing Courses