GCU Forum - Attn: Non-US Based GCU Artists

Mike_47592

GCU Administrator
artist

Posts: 40

Re: Attn: Non-US Based GCU Artists
Reply #15 - Dec 17^th, 2010, 4:32pm

Hello everyone,

I love all the comments

. The email did come from me and yes, that is my last name. The email is real. The information we are requesting on the W8-BEN is required by the United States Government.

We have received many emails and forum posts. My staff and I are going through them and will respond to each individually that requires a response.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

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cheryl_133782 Gold Member artist Posts: 1350	Re: Attn: Non-US Based GCU Artists Reply #16 - Dec 17^th, 2010, 4:37pm Hi Mike I've sent mine to you via email so you should have it there now. Cheryl
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Dania_139824 GCU Newbies artist Posts: 8	Re: Attn: Non-US Based GCU Artists Reply #17 - Dec 18^th, 2010, 11:28pm Are you kidding me? 30% for non-US based artist. I think this is outrageous, If this is the case I will delete the account, too much bureocracy for such small amount of money. Please confirm if this is already implemented and true. Thank you for your help ( I received the mail a couple days ago) Dania
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Eve_138255

Ex Member

Re: Attn: Non-US Based GCU Artists
Reply #18 - Dec 19^th, 2010, 12:34am

Quote from Dania_139824 on Dec 18^th, 2010, 11:28pm:

Are you kidding me? 30% for non-US based artist. I think this is outrageous, If this is the case I will delete the account, too much bureocracy for such small amount of money. Please confirm if this is already implemented and true. Thank you for your help ( I received the mail a couple days ago)

Dania

I'm from Australia and waiting to hear what other none US based artists think of this. I don't even earn enough to pay tax in my own country.

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Norma_133903 Senior Member artist Posts: 485	Re: Attn: Non-US Based GCU Artists Reply #19 - Dec 19^th, 2010, 1:21am I am in the UK, so I will not have to pay any tax. Have you checked the list to see if your country is exempt?
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Rosanne_132497 Gold Member artist Posts: 611	Re: Attn: Non-US Based GCU Artists Reply #20 - Dec 19^th, 2010, 1:38am Australia is listed at 5% in the tax treaty schedule. Most countries seem to have rates much less than 30%. Cheers, Rosanne
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Corrie_131338

Gold Member

Posts: 1611

Re: Attn: Non-US Based GCU Artists
Reply #21 - Dec 19^th, 2010, 1:38am

Don't panic. If your country is exempt (like the Netherlands) you only need to fill out the IRS form W8-BEN, return it to Mike, and you will not be taxed on your royalties. I think Mike included a link to a list of countries with a tax treaty with the U.S. in his email. Unfortunately, I don't have a copy. Can someone kindly post the links Mike gave to the form and the list here for the benefit of artists who may need them?

Corrie
http://www.corrieweb.nl

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Rosanne_132497

Gold Member
artist

Posts: 611

Re: Attn: Non-US Based GCU Artists
Reply #22 - Dec 19^th, 2010, 1:41am

Quote from Corrie_131338 on Dec 19^th, 2010, 1:38am:

Don't panic. If your country is exempt (like the Netherlands) you only need to fill out the IRS form W8-BEN, return it to Mike, and you will not be taxed on your royalties. I think Mike included a link to a list of countries with a tax treaty with the U.S. in his email. Unfortunately, I don't have a copy. Can someone kindly post the links Mike gave to the form and the list here for the benefit of artists who may need them?

Corrie
http://www.corrieweb.nl

Good idea and here they are:

"According to United States Government tax collection requirements, GCU needs to obtain additional information from you. Because you are not a resident of the United States and your GCU artist fees are considered United States source income the artist fees we pay you are subject to United States income tax. GCU may have to withhold and submit to the United States Government up to 30% of the artist fees we pay you. However, in most cases the rate is less than 30% or there is an exemption so no withholding is required. Please keep reading to see how this affects you.
The percent to be withheld from you depends on agreements made between your country and the United States Government in the form of tax treaties. Some country’s tax treaties have an exemption from withholding so we do not have to withhold. For example, Canada, Netherlands and the United Kingdom have a tax treaty whereby no withholding is required. A list of countries and the applicable withholding rate can be downloaded here:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/community/tax_treaty_schedule.pdf

If you are being paid license fees or royalties from other United States web based sites like Zazzle you probably have already gone through this exercise. Unfortunately, we don’t make these rules but do have to abide by them.
We need you to download, complete and fax/email/mail to us a W8-BEN form. This is a United States Government form where you provide us information about your foreign status that includes country (so we can determine the applicable withholding rate, if any).

* The form can be found at this link - http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw8ben.pdf
* The applicable instructions can be found at this link - http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/iw8ben.pdf "

Cheers,

Rosanne

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Dania_139824 GCU Newbies artist Posts: 8	Re: Attn: Non-US Based GCU Artists Reply #23 - Dec 19^th, 2010, 6:19am Complicated issue, according to the link provided with the tax treaty schedule for different countries, many have 0, meaning don't pay nothing and don't fill out any forms? ...this requirement threatens the live hood and the meaning of internet as well!
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Corrie_131338 Gold Member Posts: 1611	Re: Attn: Non-US Based GCU Artists Reply #24 - Dec 19^th, 2010, 6:44am Dania, you need to fill out the IRS form even if your country pays 0 withholding. If you don't, you could have the maximum amount withheld from your royalties, as I understand it. Corrie
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Mindy GCU Administrator Community Manager Posts: 6566 Gender:	Re: Attn: Non-US Based GCU Artists Reply #25 - Dec 20^th, 2010, 12:20pm This is a VALID email that needs your attention if you are an artist located outside of the United States. Mike Fake is our CFO. A real person, and quite a nice fellow at that We must have these forms on file for ALL non-U.S. based artists even if your country withholdings are 0%. Other questions?
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Karen_131257

Senior Member
artist

Posts: 332

Re: Attn: Non-US Based GCU Artists
Reply #26 - Dec 20^th, 2010, 7:06pm

I got the email from Mike before I saw Mindy`s post, and knew it was genuine because I had already had the same thing crop up from stock photo sites... too much red tape and beurocracy for such tiny financial reward for all my hard work, selling only maybe one image a week it really wasn`t worth it!
I have deleted all my accounts and removed all my images.

My online work does not make me much money to start with, I already pay taxes in my own country, why should I pay in a country I don`t live or work in? What I earn online isn`t enough to even have to pay tax for it here, it`s a pittance really but I rely on it to help me keep my car on the road so I can get around and do my proper work- which is voluntary and non profit, sometimes a donation for expenses is made but I don`t earn a living from it!

I am not very good with forms, my eyesight is pretty bad and the words all end up scrambled on the page and make no sense to me... coupled with the inability to hold and use a pen for any length of time and you can see it`s a real struggle for me. I also cannot for the life of me see how I could "sign" an electronic form so I could email it back (which allowed me to fill in information but not sign it electronically). I ended up having to print it out... which made it even harder to read... sign it and pay a hefty postage to send to America, I will have to sell 3.5 cards just to cover the stamp!
I just hope I have read and completed it correctly.

However I LOVE being part of GCU so I have done my part and sent the form in... but I must warn you my area is snowed in, the mail hasn`t been collected since last thursday and there are currently no deliveries either, so it may take a little while to get to you!

Karen

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Oma_132016

Full Member
artist

Posts: 240

Re: Attn: Non-US Based GCU Artists
Reply #27 - Dec 21^st, 2010, 5:20am

Some advice please!

Ok...let me get this straight...I'm from Trinidad (small island in the Caribbean) and according to the link, I don't have to pay anything (0%).

Do I still have to fill out the forms...if I do, which one? I'm sorry if these questions are silly but I would really like to do the right thing the first time so I wouldn't have to keep redoing the forms. Any help would be appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Oma.

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Antoinette_138008

Junior Member
artist

Posts: 93

Re: Attn: Non-US Based GCU Artists
Reply #28 - Jan 1^st, 2011, 5:24am

Still struggling with the form, have a hard time understanding the explanation, let alone the form itself Tongue

I have 2 questions and I hope someone can help me!

1)
It says: 7. Foreign tax identifying number (optional)
but in the explanation it says: if your country of residence for tax purposes has issued you a tax identifying number, enter it here

Is it optional or is it mandatory???

2)
If I check 9a - The Netherlands, do I need to fill in something at 10? I don't think so, but I want to make sure.

Thanks in advance!

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Antoinette_138008

Junior Member
artist

Posts: 93

Re: Attn: Non-US Based GCU Artists
Reply #29 - Jan 1^st, 2011, 5:25am

Quote from Oma_132016 on Dec 21^st, 2010, 5:20am:

Some advice please!

Ok...let me get this straight...I'm from Trinidad (small island in the Caribbean) and according to the link, I don't have to pay anything (0%).

Do I still have to fill out the forms...if I do, which one? I'm sorry if these questions are silly but I would really like to do the right thing the first time so I wouldn't have to keep redoing the forms. Any help would be appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Oma.

Yes Oma, you need to fill out the form, no matter what.

You can find the form here:
http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw8ben.pdf

and instructions how to fill out the form are here:
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/iw8ben.pdf "

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