Amazon Tax Withhold - Unbelievable - Tax identity did not match IRS records

tom999

Before some days I got the an amazon standard mail saying "The information you provided in your tax identity did not match IRS records"

At the tax identity interview I entered all info correctly with a tax professional and double checked it (including my name).
My EIN number is about 4 weeks old (I entered it 3 days after they faxed it and in the amazon form I marked that it is not more than 60 days old).

The EIN number has a hyphen included. After entering the number, the hyphen was deleted by the amazon script. Maybe it has something to do with it? Also, in my fax to the IRS I wrote "Bavaria" as province. Maybe I have to input "BY" instead of "Bavaria" in the amazon form?

Now I have no clue why my tax identity did not match IRS records and I will get NO SUPPORT from amazon. They only told me the standard things like "Misspelling your name, not including your middle initial or middle name,...."

So now amazon withold 30% taxes even I'm not a US resident and even I have an EIN number.

So what can I do now??? Such ignorant behavior is unbelievable for me.

ar2rsawseen

Oh I hate when they can't state exactly where is the problem.
We had similar issues with ios for almost 6 months, when our license expired and we could not renew it.
And it was all about guessing, changing, submitting, failing

tom999

Yes, that's a big problem.

Anybody have an idea how to speed up this whole process? I sent the form a second time now and changed the content of one input field but maybe I have to try things 5-6 times and each time I have to wait 3(!) weeks for reviewing... For me it looks like amazon is playing for time so they can keep more money from the developers. I doubt that they will pay a tax return on revenue a developer made from before. I think that such procedure is just illegal.

ar2rsawseen

can't you submit scanned online form, you have to send it by post every time?

tom999

No, not by post. A developer can send the form only online.

ar2rsawseen

and you are saying, they are reviewing it for 3 weeks?

tom999

Yes, the procedure is the following: Fill a tax interview -> Submit -> Wait 3 weeks -> Accepted/Declined

OZApps

Getting the ITIN (I think i UK you call it the EIN) is as difficult and painful as extracting perfectly healthy teeth. Send the application to IRS with a Photocopy of the passport (they do not accept any other document, for all other documents they need the originals) but it has to be attested by the issuing authority, a JP cannot attest it. They send you a letter stating that you have 7 days to send them the documents and there are no extensions, calling them they suggested that let this one lapse and then you can apply afresh.

Any Aussie developers that got through this process of getting an ITIN, please let me know who needs to certify the photocopy, does it need to be Apostled, Notarized or simply stamped with the DIAC stamp.

tom999

I know. But thats not my problem. I already got an EIN number. But amazon just wrote "The information you provided in your tax identity did not match IRS records". But no info about which input field caused it...

So now I have to try... wait 3 weeks... -> declined again -> try again... -> wait another 3 weeks... and so on... And amazon takes my money...

ar2rsawseen

Anyway to check IRS records and compare to your information?

tom999

I don't know. Anybody have an info about it?