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shevs
Joined: 31 Jul 2008
Posts: 1658
Location: Belgium
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 11:49 am
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I'd like to keep this thread just for questions for SS, in the hope that a clear list will make them answer.
Please no side-notes or comments, just a clear, simple question list...
1: Does the mail Shutterstock sent us qualify as signed document to send along with the W-7? |
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luceluceluce
Joined: 10 Dec 2008
Posts: 2616
Location: Aquafun, Minsk
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 11:54 am
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2. How long do we have before tax gets deducted? (should it ultimately prove necessary to apply for ITIN) |
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bevstofko
Joined: 11 Feb 2008
Posts: 123
Location: www.stofko.ca
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 11:55 am
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If we increase our minimum payout while awaiting our ITIN, will that avoid having the 30% deducted on our earnings in the interim? |
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algol
Joined: 03 Oct 2007
Posts: 617
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 11:56 am
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Sounds good. Then I'llpost my original questions over again.
1. Can I put my SS portfolio "on hold" while I look into this properly and get advice from my own government? I don't want to delete my images and find it's not necessary.
2. Can SS please let us know exactly which parts of US law are being referenced here. Someone has already talked to the tax office here and they say they need to know this in order to give the correct reply.
3. Can SS please define the terms they are using for our commission payments? What type of "Royalties" are they. Our tax treaty with the US explicitly states that artist and author royalties are exempt from witholding tax. There is no mention of needing to register anything with the IRS or claiming back any tax against our own tax returns. |
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mantonino
Joined: 27 Oct 2004
Posts: 1090
Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 11:58 am
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| algol wrote: | | Our tax treaty with the US explicitly states that artist and author royalties are exempt from witholding tax. |
Not sure you guys want answers in this thread but the ITIN "proves" you are from the country you say to prevent people like me from claiming I'm from Russia to not pay US taxes. It requires proof. For us, it requires W-9, for you, ITIN. Hope that is clear. |
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bjwynnyk
Joined: 03 Mar 2009
Posts: 9
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 12:03 pm
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What if you did not receive a letter? |
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zu1u
Joined: 14 Apr 2009
Posts: 77
Location: Romania
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 12:03 pm
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| mantonino wrote: | | algol wrote: | | Our tax treaty with the US explicitly states that artist and author royalties are exempt from witholding tax. |
Not sure you guys want answers in this thread but the ITIN "proves" you are from the country you say to prevent people like me from claiming I'm from Russia to not pay US taxes. It requires proof. For us, it requires W-9, for you, ITIN. Hope that is clear. |
Well SS already has our photo ids, isn't that proof enough where we are from? |
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mantonino
Joined: 27 Oct 2004
Posts: 1090
Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 12:07 pm
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| zu1u wrote: | | Well SS already has our photo ids, isn't that proof enough where we are from? |
I'm sorry, I don't think you understand ITIN. It is an application to the IRS for an individual taxpayer id number, such as our social security number. You are applying to the US government for a number. Shutterstock cannot give you a number so any info you have submitted to them does not help your ITIN application.
http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96287,00.html#who |
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mantonino
Joined: 27 Oct 2004
Posts: 1090
Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 12:20 pm
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My question would be this:
Will this apply to sales to US buyers only? |
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bevstofko
Joined: 11 Feb 2008
Posts: 123
Location: www.stofko.ca
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 12:27 pm
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More questions:
- Will an EIN be acceptable in place of an ITIN? Many people here submit images though their own company.
- On the W-8BEN form with the foreign tax indentifying number be required in the SS online form or will it be optional?
Expanding on the EIN, is it valid for ALL contributors? The SS-4 form (which is the application form for EIN) gives instructions for "a foreign person needing an EIN to comply with IRS withholding regulations". This form does not require us to send in notarized passports and, in fact, may be completed online. This would be a much simpler process for most submitters. |
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zu1u
Joined: 14 Apr 2009
Posts: 77
Location: Romania
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 1:15 pm
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| mantonino wrote: | | zu1u wrote: | | Well SS already has our photo ids, isn't that proof enough where we are from? |
I'm sorry, I don't think you understand ITIN. It is an application to the IRS for an individual taxpayer id number, such as our social security number. You are applying to the US government for a number. Shutterstock cannot give you a number so any info you have submitted to them does not help your ITIN application.
http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96287,00.html#who |
I do believe I understand what ITIN is, what I don't get is why we as individuals need it? Why do we as individuals, citizens of another country, have to apply for a god damn number issued by the us gov / irs. I do pay taxes and I even agree to pay my share for the US because my country has a treaty signed with them, but I do not want to go through the time and money wasting trouble of getting a number in order to stop blatant thievery. Because even if we do get the ITIN we do not get anything in return for our tax dollars.
And it damn well should only apply to US sales. |
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mantonino
Joined: 27 Oct 2004
Posts: 1090
Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 1:21 pm
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| zu1u wrote: | I do believe I understand what ITIN is, what I don't get is why we as individuals need it? Why do we as individuals, citizens of another country, have to apply for a god damn number issued by the us gov / irs.
And it damn well should only apply to US sales. |
You need it because Shutterstock is an agent for you. They sell your items in the US. That means you are transacting business in the US.
The only benefit you get is the right to sell images in this country. Sad but true. We have to have an EIN or SSN to work in the US, why wouldn't foreigners have to have one to "work" in the US? You do work in the US in that you sell to US based businesses and transact business through an agent in NY. Not sure past that. Try not to shoot the messenger though, I'm just trying to help! :) |
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zu1u
Joined: 14 Apr 2009
Posts: 77
Location: Romania
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 1:32 pm
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I understand, and I appreciate it, but this is all so frustrating. I will most likely wait and see what happens, if the outcome will not be in my favour, I will remove myself from SS. |
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mackin43
Site Admin
Joined: 20 Mar 2008
Posts: 427
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 1:40 pm
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Yes. Print it out and it should be fine.
| shevs wrote: | I'd like to keep this thread just for questions for SS, in the hope that a clear list will make them answer.
Please no side-notes or comments, just a clear, simple question list...
1: Does the mail Shutterstock sent us qualify as signed document to send along with the W-7? |
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mackin43
Site Admin
Joined: 20 Mar 2008
Posts: 427
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 1:41 pm
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We have some flexibility here but would like you to get started as soon as possible. We'll do what we can to work together on this.
| luceluceluce wrote: | | 2. How long do we have before tax gets deducted? (should it ultimately prove necessary to apply for ITIN) |
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