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Shutterstock Photographer Forum Forum Index : Tax Witholding Discussion for Foreign Submitters :
*** TAX FORM MESSAGE *** Please use this thread
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kost


Joined: 23 Jul 2006
Posts: 370
Post Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 1:20 am     Reply with quote

I've filled the form again having this message. Nothing wrong yet hapened ^)))
spe


Joined: 07 Sep 2006
Posts: 66
Post Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 1:40 am     Reply with quote

My newly filled form still in pending status, hope they'll sort out this soon, I mean before payout :), as I don't want -30% from income just because of some glitch.
princesszelda


Joined: 21 Oct 2009
Posts: 105
Location: London, UK
Post Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 2:25 am     Reply with quote

Ok this has confused me. I got the same message. I've only been with SS for a few days so I have no idea what all this is about, but glad I'm not the only one.

As I live in the UK, I didn't think I had anything to do with taxes in the US. I've just completed all my tax forms in the UK. Someone please explain :/
lightkeeper


Joined: 20 Oct 2006
Posts: 174
Post Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 2:49 am     Reply with quote

It was a glitch most probably - my "tax form" message disappeared without filling the form again ...
lucabertolli


Joined: 09 May 2008
Posts: 117
Post Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:02 am     Reply with quote

I filled the form again, I hope nothing strange will happen (like another 5%).
claudiodivizia


Joined: 14 May 2007
Posts: 220
Location: www.postpop.co.uk
Post Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:22 am     Reply with quote

princesszelda wrote:
Ok this has confused me. I got the same message. I've only been with SS for a few days so I have no idea what all this is about, but glad I'm not the only one.

As I live in the UK, I didn't think I had anything to do with taxes in the US. I've just completed all my tax forms in the UK. Someone please explain :/


princesszelda,

exactly - if you live in the UK you don't have to pay taxes in the USA since it's a treaty country

but you need to tell that to shutterstock!

if you just subscribed and that message was there since the beginning and you havent filled the form yet, then you must click on tax centre (on the home page) > IRS Form W-8 BEN --- Group A2, A3 or B2 and
Online W-8 BEN Form and fill that form; leave fields that don't apply blank - e.g. U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number

if you already did, and see this message again, please ignore it for now since it seems it's just a bug (but could some admin please confirm? thanks)

PS: great illustractions, I like your colours
frenchtoast


Joined: 12 Jul 2006
Posts: 1258
Location: GTA Canada
Post Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:33 am     Reply with quote

completed again, just figured they still hadn't received word about the first one I completed and wanted another filed with the government....not like the government could possibly lose any paperwork ;)
princesszelda


Joined: 21 Oct 2009
Posts: 105
Location: London, UK
Post Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:54 am     Reply with quote

claudiodivizia wrote:
princesszelda wrote:
Ok this has confused me. I got the same message. I've only been with SS for a few days so I have no idea what all this is about, but glad I'm not the only one.

As I live in the UK, I didn't think I had anything to do with taxes in the US. I've just completed all my tax forms in the UK. Someone please explain :/


princesszelda,

exactly - if you live in the UK you don't have to pay taxes in the USA since it's a treaty country

but you need to tell that to shutterstock!

if you just subscribed and that message was there since the beginning and you havent filled the form yet, then you must click on tax centre (on the home page) > IRS Form W-8 BEN --- Group A2, A3 or B2 and
Online W-8 BEN Form and fill that form; leave fields that don't apply blank - e.g. U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number

if you already did, and see this message again, please ignore it for now since it seems it's just a bug (but could some admin please confirm? thanks)

PS: great illustractions, I like your colours


Phew! That's a relief.
So as an individual, I fill in via A2, the W-8BEN?
I get freaked out by these kinds of things - it's bad enough filing a UK tax return for being self-employed (urgh!).
As I have a tax reference number as a self-employed person, is it better to enter that number under Part 1 question no. 7 (Foreign tax identifying number), even if it is optional?

Thanks for your nice comment about my illustrations. Since being accepted at SS last Friday, I have been amazed by the number of downloads for such a small portfolio! The other agencies I'm with had really s-l-o-w sales!
cretolamna


Joined: 25 Aug 2009
Posts: 2
Post Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:07 am     Reply with quote

princesszelda wrote:
[quote="claudiodivizia
Phew! That's a relief.
So as an individual, I fill in via A2, the W-8BEN?
I get freaked out by these kinds of things - it's bad enough filing a UK tax return for being self-employed (urgh!).
As I have a tax reference number as a self-employed person, is it better to enter that number under Part 1 question no. 7 (Foreign tax identifying number), even if it is optional?



You will need to get an ITIN (apply using form w-7) and once you get that ITIN you can then fill in W-8BEN.

Since you are in London, easiest way is to go to the US Embassy as they have an IRS section. You will need a filled out copy of the w-7, proof of ID (Passport) and reason for application - a royalty statement from an agency.

Takes about fives minutes and you are then in the system and can chase up any problems. Dead easy.
claudiodivizia


Joined: 14 May 2007
Posts: 220
Location: www.postpop.co.uk
Post Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:13 am     Reply with quote

princesszelda wrote:

Phew! That's a relief.
So as an individual, I fill in via A2, the W-8BEN?


yes

princesszelda wrote:

I get freaked out by these kinds of things - it's bad enough filing a UK tax return for being self-employed (urgh!).


this summer before you joined, there's been a long discussion here about taxes, we were all freaked out but luckily the community on these forums has been very helpful

princesszelda wrote:

As I have a tax reference number as a self-employed person, is it better to enter that number under Part 1 question no. 7 (Foreign tax identifying number), even if it is optional?


not sure about that (I left it blank being optional)

princesszelda wrote:

Thanks for your nice comment about my illustrations. Since being accepted at SS last Friday, I have been amazed by the number of downloads for such a small portfolio! The other agencies I'm with had really s-l-o-w sales!


you're welcome! yes, this site is the best seller for most of us, just keep uploading: if you do, you will continue to sell both old and new pictures, while if you stop uploading even older pictures will sell less eventually

Last edited by claudiodivizia on Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:16 am; edited 1 time in total
princesszelda


Joined: 21 Oct 2009
Posts: 105
Location: London, UK
Post Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:15 am     Reply with quote

cretolamna wrote:
princesszelda wrote:
[quote="claudiodivizia
Phew! That's a relief.
So as an individual, I fill in via A2, the W-8BEN?
I get freaked out by these kinds of things - it's bad enough filing a UK tax return for being self-employed (urgh!).
As I have a tax reference number as a self-employed person, is it better to enter that number under Part 1 question no. 7 (Foreign tax identifying number), even if it is optional?



You will need to get an ITIN (apply using form w-7) and once you get that ITIN you can then fill in W-8BEN.

Since you are in London, easiest way is to go to the US Embassy as they have an IRS section. You will need a filled out copy of the w-7, proof of ID (Passport) and reason for application - a royalty statement from an agency.

Takes about fives minutes and you are then in the system and can chase up any problems. Dead easy.


Thanks Cretolamna. Then how come it says:

Group A2 -- If you are submitting to Shutterstock as an individual and are a resident of a country that has a tax treaty with the U.S., then please submit Form W-8BEN digitally on Shutterstock's website to benefit from the reduced or zero withholding rate that is specified in your country's tax treaty. Note that a U.S. Tax ID # (TIN) is not required for Group A2.
mnyjhee


Joined: 22 Mar 2009
Posts: 1
Post Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:24 am     Reply with quote

+1, the same message.
cretolamna


Joined: 25 Aug 2009
Posts: 2
Post Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:25 am     Reply with quote

princesszelda wrote:


Thanks Cretolamna. Then how come it says:

Group A2 -- If you are submitting to Shutterstock as an individual and are a resident of a country that has a tax treaty with the U.S., then please submit Form W-8BEN digitally on Shutterstock's website to benefit from the reduced or zero withholding rate that is specified in your country's tax treaty. Note that a U.S. Tax ID # (TIN) is not required for Group A2.


Not the advice I got from Getty and certainly not what the IRS told me but I cannot comment on the status of the 'royalties' coming from SS.
claudiodivizia


Joined: 14 May 2007
Posts: 220
Location: www.postpop.co.uk
Post Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:25 am     Reply with quote

of course it's possible to apply for an ITIN at the embassy in London if needed for other businesses / agencies, but that's useless (for Shutterstock) since Shutterstock confirmed officially - also on various forum posts by admins - that an ITIN is NOT required
princesszelda


Joined: 21 Oct 2009
Posts: 105
Location: London, UK
Post Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:40 am     Reply with quote

claudiodivizia wrote:
of course it's possible to apply for an ITIN at the embassy in London if needed for other businesses / agencies, but that's useless (for Shutterstock) since Shutterstock confirmed officially - also on various forum posts by admins - that an ITIN is NOT required


Claudiodivizia,

Thank you so much for your replies. I can now fill in the form with confidence - yay!
As Shutterstock is the only agency I'm earning money from, I'll not bother with that ITIN - yay! ...although I may consider doing it in the future...

Thanks again :D (I wish we had nice smiles to use here)
 
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