resourcecy

Q: Do non-US residents Really Need SSN/ITIN or EIN to sell iBooks??

Hi there

 

I am a resident from Australia and I have no ties (work or personal) to the USA.

 

I would like to publish my books on iBooks. But the form requires me to provide a US tax ID. Is this really required? Please advice, thanks!

 

Regards

iBook, Tax, EIN, SSN, ITIN, iBook

Posted on Jun 7, 2011 9:12 PM

Close

Q: Do non-US residents Really Need SSN/ITIN or EIN to sell iBooks??

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

first Previous Page 5 of 5
  • by Tom Gewecke,

    Tom Gewecke Tom Gewecke May 17, 2014 5:56 PM in response to flemishgael
    Level 9 (79,055 points)
    May 17, 2014 5:56 PM in response to flemishgael

    flemishgael wrote:

     

    I jad hoped to sell my books on the ibooks store, but if I have to go through the whole process of applying for an ITIN as an individual author I'd rather not.

     

     

    For those who find it too much trouble to sell directly, Apple provides a list of approved aggregators who do that work in your place:

     

    Screen Shot 2014-05-17 at 5.55.36 PM.png

  • by flemishgael,

    flemishgael flemishgael May 18, 2014 5:40 AM in response to Tom Gewecke
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 18, 2014 5:40 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

    I have published via Smashwords before. Does that mean I have an ITIN already?

  • by Tom Gewecke,

    Tom Gewecke Tom Gewecke May 18, 2014 6:10 AM in response to flemishgael
    Level 9 (79,055 points)
    May 18, 2014 6:10 AM in response to flemishgael

    flemishgael wrote:

     

    I have published via Smashwords before. Does that mean I have an ITIN already?

     

    I think you would only have obtained one if you were trying to avoid the  withholding taxes.  See 8a at

     

    https://www.smashwords.com/about/tos

  • by KitschWitch,

    KitschWitch KitschWitch May 23, 2014 9:34 AM in response to Tom Gewecke
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 23, 2014 9:34 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

    I don't know about iBooks, but assume it would be similar to KDP on Amazon?

     

    Here is a great post on the differences between EIN and ITIN for non_US residents, and the easiest way to apply:

    http://catherineryanhoward.com/2012/02/24/non-us-self-publisher-tax-issues-dont- need-to-be-taxing/

     

    Read the comments as well, especially about being a business/company/sole trader.

    HTH--

  • by vinnyvg,

    vinnyvg vinnyvg May 23, 2014 3:11 PM in response to KitschWitch
    Level 4 (1,880 points)
    Desktops
    May 23, 2014 3:11 PM in response to KitschWitch

    None USA resident Individuals are required to supply an EIN.

     

    The details are in the Contracts and Banking section of  Paid book application.

     

    It is a simple application process and best made by telephone.  There are threads dealing  with this which  give  full details.

     

    Costs to much to phone teh  USA from ??? country - I purchased $10 International phone card to make the call.

    I was connected for around 15 minutes. total cost to me was AU$3 plus about  50 cents off the card - whuch went on to give me 3 hours call time to the UK!

     

    The  tax ramifications are minimal and  most countries have reciprical agreements with the USA, so  if Apple withhold tax money.... they tell you the amount and you  use that in your annual tax return, when you add you book income,  you do not pay double tax.

     

    I have yet to see a post on any of the iBooks / iBooks Author rrelated  support groups - about  tax issues after  12 months sales details are returned on the sellers tax return.

  • by KitschWitch,

    KitschWitch KitschWitch May 23, 2014 6:44 PM in response to vinnyvg
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 23, 2014 6:44 PM in response to vinnyvg

    I use "Skype to Go"--call from your landline (o any landline), and the cost is the usual Skype call rate. In this case, from Aus to USA, 5.6c connection fee and 2.5c per minute.

  • by lizburkinshaw,

    lizburkinshaw lizburkinshaw Jul 16, 2014 2:41 PM in response to resourcecy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 16, 2014 2:41 PM in response to resourcecy

    UK residents DO NOT need an EIN - confirmed by the Apple Legal team. See below. Hope this helps everyone! All i needed was my IBAN...


    Dear Team,

     

    I'm not sure how, but when setting up my tax details on iTunes Connect i was faced with a page on which to enter my UK tax details. At the time i did not have an EIN, but now that i do i can't enter it. Please can this be entered onto my account for me?


    Liz


    Hi,

    You do not need an EIN. Your contract is in effect, and you are ready to upload and sell books.

    Please let me know if you have any further questions.

     

    Best regards,

    The iTunes Store Legal Team

    1 Infinite Loop, MS: 36-4ISM/ Cupertino, CA 95014, USA

    iBookStoreContracts@apple.com / Fax: 408-974-9105


     

    Thank you. I uploaded my first book three weeks ago and it still isn't in the stores. There is lots of confusing info on your discussion sites and even the itunes connect page says everyone must have an EIN for a paid books account. I wondered whether my first book is taking so long to publish because I had filled something in wrong?

     

    Thank you

    Liz

     

    Hi,

    Nothing is wrong, we just changed our policy!  So when you are an individual, NOT in the United States, you do not need an EIN.

     

    If you want to check up on the status of your book approval process, please email ibooks@apple.com.

     

    Please let me know if you have any further contract questions.

    Best regards,

    The iTunes Store Legal Team

    1 Infinite Loop, MS: 36-4ISM/ Cupertino, CA 95014, USA

  • by flemishgael,

    flemishgael flemishgael Jul 16, 2014 3:22 PM in response to lizburkinshaw
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 16, 2014 3:22 PM in response to lizburkinshaw

    How about Ireland? Or is that only for UK residents?

  • by Tom Gewecke,

    Tom Gewecke Tom Gewecke Jul 16, 2014 4:14 PM in response to flemishgael
    Level 9 (79,055 points)
    Jul 16, 2014 4:14 PM in response to flemishgael
first Previous Page 5 of 5