US TAX ID - The Big Dilemma

Very true. For what it's worth, I rang the US Embassy in London, and talked to their IRS office.

I have applied and received an EIN, which I have been told is probably a mistake (I should have been told to get an ITIN), but that I should keep and use it anyway. I was then told that once I have filed a W8-BEN with Apple that I should not need to file any returns.

Just need to wait 2 weeks for my EIN to become part of permanent record, and then Apple can perform a tax ID check and accept me.

This is a loooong process.

I am in Australia and I got hold of the Australian iBookstore representative.

I have opened a bookstore for my organisation without an EIN, ITIN or any other IRS accronym.

You should have a local rep in the UK that should be able to help you with this.

I think, from my vague memory, that i just emailed iBookstore support and it was smooth sailing from there. Before that, I made numerous phone calls and wasted a lot of time.

jamy.s, is the iBookstore rep you spoke to in Aus? If so is there any chance you could pass along their details - either an email address or phone number? I seem to be hitting walls wherever I turn.

I've just set up a temp email account you can use - itin@torchpublishing.com.au I'd be most appreciative if you could help out. In the meantime I'll look around for iBookstore support...

cheers

I just went to irs.gov, called the number listed there (not the 800 one), gave my own company's data to a very kind lady, and got my EIN.

Immediatly.

I inserted that EIN in the Apple form that I was compiling, and it has been accetped.

So now I am simply waiting for Apple's response.

Hope this helps.

Nick

I am from Italy, sorry for forgetting to mention that!

Nick

No. They asked me if I had a social security number (and an american telephone number, by the way), but of course I answered " NO", which is fine, as long (I guess) as my company is from outside the US.

Nick

Can it be individual rather than company?

And I assume this is a non-US company? Is there any consequences of using a non-US company?

Thanks!

> Can it be individual rather than company?

>

I really don't know, sorry!

> And I assume this is a non-US company?

> Is there any consequences of using a non-US company?

>

Yes, it is an Italian company.

About the consequences: I really don't know right now.

I will let you know when I will get the answer form Apple, or when I would be able to sell some thousands books... :-)

Nick

For what it's worth, I am an individual and I got an EIN. Although, as I said earlier in the thread, the IRS man from the embassy in London told me this was likely a mistake. The reason for my confusion is that one of the application criteria on the EIN application form was 'to comply with IRS withholding regulations', which I thought referred to what Apple would be doing if I didn't get this tax code (they would withhold 30%, not to be confused with their 30% cut, for taxation purposes). I believe now what it refers to is that I would be the one doing the withholding. Whoops. I will let people know in here if I run into any problems, but, again, the man I talked to from the embassy said that I should use it as I have it, and that once I'd filed a W-8BEN with Apple (detailing not to tax me on earnings in the US) things should be right with the world.

ndbello.com - I'm sorry to inform you that your application, like mine, is likely to not be successful. This is because EINs take two weeks to become part of permanent record, which they must be before Apple will be able to check your information.

To tndom: thanks fot the info.

Let me see if I got it correctly: are you meaning that my application would be totally&forever usuccessful, or are you meaning that I am simply supposed to wait for my EIN to become part of permanent record, after which I would have Apple's approval?

Thanks!

Nick

This a very interesting discussion. For individuals living outside the US, once you have a U.S. Tax ID from the IRS, an Apple Paid Books Account, an ISBN for your book, and you book has been accepted on the iBook Store and you are lucky enough to sell your books, where does the percentage of the revenue due to you actually go? To the credit card registered with Apple? To your bank in your own country? Or do individuals outside the US need to have an American bank account?

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!