Radoslav

Q: US TAX ID - The Big Dilemma

Well... I`m from Bulgaria and want to publish books with Ibooks Author. I read everything for IRS and ITIN ect, contact with four US tax consulting companies and US embassy here, But I need to fly to London or Paris to local office of IRS where accredited notary make a copy of my ID card...

 

I just want to sell e-book in Apple store, I no want to start a company or business in US or something...

 

I know how for 90% from of you that's is not a problem because you a US citizens, but for international authors this is nightmare :|

 

Once again, please not delete my post I know for other posts here for US TAX ID, but if Anyone can give ANY suggestion for easy way to get this Tax ID and publish book please say it. Thanks.

 

p.s. I perfectly know this is the law, but the procedure is so complicated and very close to impossible...

Posted on Jan 27, 2012 12:05 PM

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Q: US TAX ID - The Big Dilemma

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  • by tndom,

    tndom tndom Jan 31, 2012 4:49 AM in response to ndebello-com
    Level 1 (40 points)
    Jan 31, 2012 4:49 AM in response to ndebello-com

    ndebello-com - It would just be put on hold, so to speak, while your number became permanent record. No problem, just a bit more waiting!

  • by Radoslav,

    Radoslav Radoslav Jan 31, 2012 5:37 AM in response to pyramid-ant
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 31, 2012 5:37 AM in response to pyramid-ant

    Pyramid-ant, I'm sure Apple can send money everywhere with international SWIFT bank transfer and we no need US bank account.

  • by jamy.s,

    jamy.s jamy.s Jan 31, 2012 10:56 AM in response to pyramid-ant
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jan 31, 2012 10:56 AM in response to pyramid-ant

    Or do individuals outside the US need to have an American bank account?

    Funds are wired to an account you nominate - doesn't need to be a US bank account

  • by jlc1978,

    jlc1978 jlc1978 Jan 31, 2012 11:27 AM in response to tndom
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jan 31, 2012 11:27 AM in response to tndom

    Again - get some competent tax advice. The IRS may decide you earned that income in the US and thus is subject to US taxation; so it is important to make sure you do everything right. The last thing you want is the IRS after you for a few dollars in sales. Unfortunately, tax law can be complex and the hassle of fixing a problem makes doing some real upfront work important.

  • by tndom,

    tndom tndom Jan 31, 2012 11:30 AM in response to jlc1978
    Level 1 (40 points)
    Jan 31, 2012 11:30 AM in response to jlc1978

    I would regard the IRS office in the US Embassy in London a dispenser of competent tax advice.

  • by jlc1978,

    jlc1978 jlc1978 Jan 31, 2012 11:56 AM in response to tndom
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Jan 31, 2012 11:56 AM in response to tndom

    I would regard the IRS office in the US Embassy in London a dispenser of competent tax advice.

     

    I'm not trying to be argumentative, but in general anything the IRS tells you is their best guess and not binding on them - the law is. They don't know the details of your situation and will give you their best guess as to what to do. If they tell you something that is wrong you are still on the hook.

     

    My experience is that a tax advisor, familar with your circumstances, is best equipped to ensure you do thiings right; especially when you may be establishing a US presence for tax law purposes.

  • by pyramid-ant,

    pyramid-ant pyramid-ant Jan 31, 2012 12:30 PM in response to jamy.s
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 31, 2012 12:30 PM in response to jamy.s

    Thanks for that information Jamy.s and Radoslav and tndom...

  • by buildyo23,Helpful

    buildyo23 buildyo23 Feb 1, 2012 1:07 AM in response to ndebello-com
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 1, 2012 1:07 AM in response to ndebello-com

    I’m a self publishing author from Austria and my company name under which I pay taxes is the German equivalent to “First Name Last Name Publishing”.

    I have no SSN or ITIN or anything like that.

     

     

    I faxed the SS-4 form a week ago but I think I must have filled it incorrectly because I never received the promised reply after 4 business days.

     

     

    So I called the number 001 267 941 1099 yesterday at about 23:00 and was put on hold.

    No need to press any phone key just wait and listen to the nice music.

     

     

    After about 30 minutes a man answered, told me his name and his IRS number and asked what he can do for me.

    I said my name is …, I’m calling from Austria and I would need an EIN number.

     

     

    The first question was about my role in my company: Sole Proprietor

    Then

    Do you have a Social Security Number (SSN): No.

    Then

    First Name

    Last Name

    Phone number

    Company Name

    Street address

    House number

    City

    Postal code

    Country

    Month of Business start: January

    Year: 2001

    Reason for applying: I said that I think the correct answer is “Compliance with IRS withholding regulation”

     

     

    This took about 10 minutes because I slowly spelled every letter to him and he confirmed the letters and numbers by repeating them.

    (It would have been faster and more fool proof if I had spelled like this “A like Apple”, “C like Charlie”.)

     

     

    After this the man told me that he had activated my EIN and that I would receive a letter with my EIN in about 4 weeks.

    And then … he gave me my EIN number over the phone.

    It is formated like this: 9x-xxxxxxx (Enter it without the dash in Apples online form)

     

     

    My costs so far are a 40 minutes long distance call to the USA.

    If you can spell the English alphabet you can do it.

    Also look up the correct phone code for calling you from within the USA.

    I hope this encourages others from outside the USA in a similar situation to call the IRS under the above number.

  • by buildyo23,

    buildyo23 buildyo23 Feb 1, 2012 2:12 AM in response to buildyo23
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 1, 2012 2:12 AM in response to buildyo23

    I forgot to say thanks so much Nick (ndebello-com)

     

    Also another question was what my company does. I answered book publisher.

  • by trilogy1000,

    trilogy1000 trilogy1000 Feb 1, 2012 2:25 AM in response to buildyo23
    Level 1 (45 points)
    Feb 1, 2012 2:25 AM in response to buildyo23

    My reading of the EIN application was that you were required to file a US Tax return. Is that everyone's understanding with an EIN as opposed to an ITIN? (where you don't need to)

  • by tndom,

    tndom tndom Feb 1, 2012 9:32 AM in response to trilogy1000
    Level 1 (40 points)
    Feb 1, 2012 9:32 AM in response to trilogy1000

    What part of the application made you think that, trilogy1000?

  • by trilogy1000,

    trilogy1000 trilogy1000 Feb 1, 2012 12:40 PM in response to tndom
    Level 1 (45 points)
    Feb 1, 2012 12:40 PM in response to tndom

    I was signing up as a sole proprietor:

     

    "Sole proprietors (self-employed individuals) report all business income and expenses on their individual tax returns (Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, Schedule C, E, or F)"

  • by Kathrin76,

    Kathrin76 Kathrin76 Feb 1, 2012 1:04 PM in response to buildyo23
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 1, 2012 1:04 PM in response to buildyo23

    Hi Buildyo23,

     

    I am from Germany and thank you for your helpful answer.

    Do you have a company, or was the company name you answered an ispired answer?

     

    I am a teacher in Munich and had some books, that I want to transfer into iBooks, but I have no company on my own. Do you think that this is necessary?

     

    Thank you for your answer.

     

    Kathrin

  • by buildyo23,

    buildyo23 buildyo23 Feb 1, 2012 1:28 PM in response to Kathrin76
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 1, 2012 1:28 PM in response to Kathrin76

    Hi Kathrin,

     

    I don't know if you can get away with just your name. Maybe yes. In my case I have this business name, I didn't make it up. As a self publisher you are allowed to name your publishing business "Verlag Kathrin Schmidt" or "Kathrin Schmidt Verlag". Other names would not be free and would require a registration in Austria or Germany.

    If you already publish books you have a (self) publishing company besides your daytime job as a teacher. I see nothing wrong with it.

     

    Message was edited by: buildyo23

  • by triviani,

    triviani triviani Feb 1, 2012 9:59 PM in response to Radoslav
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Publishing
    Feb 1, 2012 9:59 PM in response to Radoslav

    I'm interested as well to get an US tax ID, so I can sell in the bookstore.

     

    I'm a non-USA citizen, non-USA resident . Next week I will be 5 days in Guam, would I be able to get an US tax ID over there?

     

    Is it feasible or it will it be a sea of paperwork involving long waits?

    Thanks!

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