The Amazon KDP tax interview | A simple 4 Step tutorial for authors

This tutorial on the Amazon Tax Interview is dedicated to all those indie authors braving the online publishing space. I am aiming to keep it short and sweet, see you on the other side.

WHAT?

The Amazon KDP Tax Interview or Tax Questionnaire is a short online process that every author who plans to publish with Amazon KDP will need to complete before publishing their books.

I can typically complete the survey within the time needed to finish a good cup of coffee ☕ (~10 mins)

WHY?

The goal of the tax interview is simply to get paid the full amount due to you from sales of your eBook or paperback books currently listed on the platform. Said differently, an author taking the interview wants to see a “Withholding Rate” of 0%.

As per the Amazon KDP support pages, if you do not complete or renew your tax questionnaire or interview, your royalties will be subjected to a withholding amount of 30%

Note

Authors without TIN (Tax Identification Number) or an author residing in a country without a tax-treaty with the US, you may not be able to reach 0% 😭

WHEN?

When creating your KDP profile

The Amazon tax interview or tax questionnaire will need to be completed when first opening your Amazon KDP account, ideally before your first book is published.

Renewed every few years

For veterans of the KDP platform, your tax interview will need to be updated every few years. My reminder below was emailed by Amazon after 4 years had passed.

WHERE?

Amazon KDP’s tax interview is found within your KDP Account section. Once logged in KDP dashboard, simply select the “Your Account” hyperlink in the menu grey menu strip.

 

  

What information will be required by Amazon KDP during the interview?

From what I can see, you won’t need to have too much prepared in advance for the interview. Beside perhaps having some form of Tax Number (TIN) ready.

• Full name
• Country of citizenship
• Country of Tax Residence
• Permanent address
• Mailing address
• Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
  • It is possible (not recommended) to complete the interview without this.

Important

My goal is to help you complete the interview and continue with your Amazon publishing journey. I put this tutorial together to help the nervous author to complete the online interview. My answers and tax withholding results are unique to me, please don’t copy them blindly. Answer the following questions to the best of your ability, if you are genuinely stuck following Amazon support pages or contacting KDP team directly may be your best bet.

Individual vs Business

I find the tax interview infinitely easier when conducting the interview as an “Individual” as opposed to completing the interview as a “Business”. Bear this in mind as it will be one of the first questions asked once the questionnaire is started.

 

 

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KDP Tax Interview Tutorial

STEP 1: Finding the Tax Interview

• Sign in or join using the KDP Signing Page [kdp.amazon.com]
• After signing in or joining KDP, you should be directed to the default bookshelf page seen below.

  

STEP 2: Finding the Tax Interview

• Select the “Your Account” section in the top grey menu strip
• We are now in the KDP account setup section. This section contains details on your identity, banking and tax information. Every author signing up to KDP for the first time will need to complete the Personal Identity, Banking and Tax Information sections before being allowed to publish.
• Scroll down the account screen to find the relevant Tax Interview/ Questionnaire section.
• Select “Update/ Access Tax Profile” button.

  

STEP 3: Meet Your Tax Dashboard

Welcome to your Amazon KDP Tax Dashboard!

• The version I am seeing below seems to be a newer version of the dashboard, not all of you may be seeing the exact same thing, depending on when you are attempting the tax interview process.
• As seen from the alerts in red, I am being asked to renew my tax forms. Note, your exact screen and alerts may read differently if you are accessing the Tax Dashboard for the very first time.
• I scroll down just a tad until I see and select the “Update tax profile” button.

 

 

STEP 4: Navigating the KDP Tax Interview (Part 1)

First Questions

• What is your tax classification? (Individual/ Business)
• Are you a United States (U.S.) citizen, U.S. permanent resident (green card holder), or other U.S. resident alien? (Yes/ No/ Not Sure)
• Are you acting as an intermediary agent, or other person receiving payment on behalf of another person or as a flow-through entity? (Yes/ No)

Tax Identity Information Questions

• Full name
• Country of citizenship
• Permanent address
• Mailing address
• Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
  • US TIN
  • Non-US TIN
  • Unable to provide

 

 

STEP 4: Navigating the KDP Tax Interview (Part 2)

Your Country of Tax Residence

• Select your appropriate country of your tax residence.
• As an example, after selecting “South Africa” as my Country of Tax Residence, I am told I am eligible for tax treaty benefits.

Unsure if your specific country has a tax treaty with the US?

  

STEP 4: Navigating the KDP Tax Interview (Part 3)

Preview and Sign

• This is a summary of the tax -related info shared with Amazon thus far. I won’t share a screenshot here for privacy reasons.
• I am asked to provide a digital signature twice.
• I scan the preview provided on screen to ensure I am happy with the information shared before clicking the yellow “Submit Form” button at the bottom of the screen.

STEP 4: Navigating the KDP Tax Interview (Part 4)

Final Screen

• Here I am able to confirm a 0% withholding. This means ALL royalties due are released to me by Amazon.
• I am also able to download a PDF edition of the completed tax interview. This is a good idea if you were unsure of any questions within the tax interview and wanted to run them past your accountant.
• Finally, I select the yellow “Exit Interview” button.

Scrolling to the bottom of my account screen within the KDP dashboard, I again see the message that the “Tax Questionnaire Completed” with 0% withheld.

I click the golden “Save” button found at the bottom of the screen – just to be safe 😊

Done ♥

For those setting up your Amazon KDP account for the first time, don’t forget to confirm your personal identity and banking information sections are completed too.

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Notes