Aussie Readers discussion

Hi All,

Sorry if this belongs in a different folder, but I could not see a better one to put this topic in.

I have a question about Tax!

As an Australian author, I am wondering what I have to do to get myself sorted for tax time! As I am now getting regular (if small) cheques from both Amazon US and UK as well as paypal transactions from Smashwords, what do I need to do to make tax time bearable and understandable? Should I be sending a W-8BEN and a W-7 form to Amazon US and the IRS? Is there anything else I need? What about the UK? Am I looking at being slugged a heck of a lot at tax time because of my extra income (it will not me more than a few thousand dollars)?

Any advice or feedback is greatly appreciated.

~Robert Day
www.robertdaybooks.com

Have you thought of going to a tax consultant about these questions? It possibly will be quicker than asking here.

Don't get me wrong I'm not discounting the info you may recieve but it might put your mind at ease abit more.

Robert wrote: "Hi All,

Sorry if this belongs in a different folder, but I could not see a better one to put this topic in.

I have a question about Tax!

As an Australian author, I am wondering what I have..."

Robert - Not sure where you are located, but maybe you could contact the Arts Law Centre (National) http://www.artslaw.com.au/or one of the Society of Authors orgs? I believe that the Tax Office are very helpful over the phone too.

Hi Robert, I'm an Aussie author. I'll pm you. It's all good and legal. :)

Okay Robert. I emailed you with some contacts and information. Good luck.

Oh and The Arts Law Centre is fabulous too, but when I phoned the Australian tax office the person I spoke to didn't know how to get an American Tax Number and so I phoned the Australia Buisness hotline. If you have an Australian ABN number you can phone the American Tax office direct and ask for a AIN number, which they give over the phone, then send the document via post. The American tax office were very helpful and said that was an American tax number. Add that to your Amazon and Smashwords account and you'll pay less tax. Of course check with the Arts Law Centre too.

Amazon and Smashwords both have pages providing all links and informaiton on gettign a US ITIN, that is a US taxfile number.

To fil out your Aust return go to the local ATO tax office enquiries counter and get them to help you with your spcific royalty queries. They are the experts.

Stephen wrote: "Amazon and Smashwords both have pages providing all links and informaiton on gettign a US ITIN, that is a US taxfile number.

To fil out your Aust return go to the local ATO tax office enquiries..."

Stephan I did that and they said I had to send my driver's licence to America with those forms as I don't have a passport. That meant driving around Australia without a licence, which is illegal, so I went the other route and it was sorted over the phone with the American tax office. All you need is an ABN number and then to ask for an EIN number. I couldn't believe how smooth it all went.

Patricia wrote: "Hi Robert, I'm an Aussie author. I'll pm you. It's all good and legal. :)"

Hi Patricia, I have a slightly different problem. I have an EIN number already, but am thinking of signing up with a small American publisher. In the contract, it says that I would be responsible for my own tax - she won't be deducting it as Amazon etc was. How do I pay directly from Australia to the US, do the IRS accept the W8Ben etc? Or who do I ask with these questions? So confusing, I just got the handle on it all for CS, KDP and Smashwords :)